On Saturday 8 November the Exeter Philharmonic Choir, conductor Howard Ionascu and Bristol Ensemble will give the first performance of Cecilia McDowall’scantata, ‘The Weather Book‘, a joint commission with top Swedish chamber choir, the Gustaf Vasa Kammarkör.
‘The Weather Book‘, a three movement 20-minute cantata, which explores the history of weather and meteorology, was written especially for the EPC by one of the UK’s leading contemporary composers and highlights Exeter’s unique status as the home of the UK’s Met Office.
The first movement of The Weather Book, ‘Celsius Rising’, was performed by the Gustaf Vasa Kammarkör, conductor Lars Fredén, in March 2025 in their home city of Stockholm. Swedish soprano Agnes Auer will be coming to Exeter to give the première of the entire work, with the addition of the second and third movements composed especially for EPC. It was sheer chance that the two choirs approached Cecilia at the same time to commission a bespoke work. The result is a composition that links the two countries through reference to aspects of the history of the weather and meteorology.
Cecilia’s inspiration for the joint commission was to link the UK and Sweden through references to climate. She worked with poet and librettist Kate Wakeling to discover different aspects of weather-related topics. Cecilia says, “Swedish scientist Anders Celsius was my first thought, although I had only been aware of his name in connection with his establishing the centigrade temperature scale. But my wonderful poet and librettist, Kate Wakeling, discovered so much more about this remarkable man whose scientific work spanned many other interests, including a detailed study of the Northern Lights. This led him to make a ground-breaking connection between the Aurora Borealis and changes in the magnetic field of the Earth.
“Kate also drew attention to Celsius’ belief in the need for ‘extensive scientific data, collected methodically and over long periods, a somewhat radical approach in his day. It was a fortuitous discovery that Exeter Philharmonic Choir is based in the home city of the UK’s Meteorological (‘Met’) Office, an institution which holds many important historical archives relating to weather and, in particular, to its founder, Captain Robert FitzRoy. His vessel, the HMS Beagle, took on board two famous men, evolutionist Charles Darwin and Francis Beaufort, creator of the Beaufort Wind Scale. With his naval background, FitzRoy understood the importance of gathering information about the weather at sea to prevent calamity wherever possible. Kate has drawn on FitzRoy’s own ‘Weather Book’ for the last movement of this work.
“She has also found an important source for the middle movement, called ‘History of Air’. In 1856, the American scientist and women’s rights campaigner Eunice Newton Foote conducted a series of experiments that proved for the first time that altering the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere changes its temperature. This relationship between carbon dioxide and the earth’s climate is one of the key principles of modern meteorology and continues to shape our understanding of the greenhouse effect and climate science as a whole.”
This album presents a stunning collection of recent cantatas by acclaimed composer Cecilia McDowall, performed by the Choir of Royal Holloway, Orchestra Nova, and conductor George Vass. Known for her ‘spicy rhythms and colours’ (Gramophone), McDowall’s music weaves vibrant textures and emotional depth, drawing listeners into a compelling journey.
The featured works explore diverse themes, from the haunting beauty of ice in The Ice is Listening, to the celestial wonders of Music of the Stars. Also included is the chamber orchestra version of A Winter’s Night, a joyful Christmas cantata.
McDowall’s distinct choral voice shines through, blending introspective reflection with exuberant energy, making this an essential addition to the choral repertoire.
Album Booklet (PDF)
Rowan Pierce (soprano)
The Choir of Royal Holloway
Orchestra Nova
George Vass (conductor)
Tenebrae will release their new album, ‘A Prayer for Deliverance’, on Friday 20th June 2025.
Mixing iconic choral works with music by some of today’s most exciting composers, this varied programme is centred around themes of rest. Cecilia McDowall’s ‘Standing As I Do Before God’ (published by Oxford University Press) is a poignant illustration of nurse Edith Cavell’s final moments before her death, when she was executed by a German firing squad after helping Allied servicemen escape into neutral territories. The soprano soloist, Emma Walshe, sings Cavell’s own words, and the choir support her with poet Seán Street’s reflection on her final steps. It is a powerfully moving piece – read the description for the full text.
‘I have seen death so often that it is not strange or fearful to me.
Standing as I do in view of God and eternity,
I realise patriotism is not enough:
I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.’
And when the time was close,
For once her eyes filled with tears,
Then she quietly rose, walked silently through the stilled prison,
The grey dawn light, passed gas flame,
Tired flowers, out beyond her final night,
A flame alight in hours before infinity,
In the presence of death leaving all enmity:
In view of God we are air after breath.
Standing as I do.
Commissioned by ORA Singers and Suzi Digby OBE, O clap your hands re-imagined marks the 400th anniversary of Orlando Gibbons this year. Cecilia McDowall was asked to write a ‘reflection’ on Gibbons’ ‘O clap your hands‘. The joyful text of Psalm 47 lends itself to much playfulness amongst the voices. Written for a cappella double choir the piece leads to a finalrousing call to ‘clap your hands.’
https://www.orasingers.com/
The Rodolfus Choir is proud to perform a 1 hour concert of Cecilia McDowall’s recent choral works, prior to making premiere recordings of this wonderful music for Signum Records. Featuring works for choir & ‘cello (including the extended Night Flight) and McDowall’s three Shakespeare settings, When time is broke, this concert reflects the composer’s love of the natural world in many of the compositions that will be performed.
The Rodolfus Choir is a leading UK youth choir for young people aged 16-23, many of whom have attended a Rodolfus Choral Course. Singers from across the UK are invited to sign up to take part in exciting events throughout the year. Our aim is to offer professional, high-quality choral singing opportunities and to share wonderful choral repertoire with diverse audiences across the UK and beyond.
‘Cello – Leo Popplewell
Conductors – Ralph Allwood MBE & Elinor Cooper
Tickets may be obtained from
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-rodolfus-choir/t-avnoaen
The Royal College of Organists is to recognise the achievements of three distinguished musicians, Cecilia McDowall, Sofi Jeannin and Gary Cole, by awarding them its highest honour, the RCO Medal, at a ceremony in March.
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