Andrew Downes - Three Dramatic Cantatas (Choir of Robinson College)

Information

Composer: Andrew Downes

Cain and Abel, Op. 21

The Death of Goliath, Op. 17

A Child Is Singing, Op. 24

Paula Downes, soprano

Alison Daniels, mezzo-soprano

Jonathan Midgley, bass-baritone

David Trippett, piano

Choir of Robinson College, Cambridge

Will Sims, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Prima Facie

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The late 1970s and early 1980s represented a highly creative period for British composer Andrew Downes, highlighted by three powerful dramatic cantatas combining vivid theatricality with profound moral themes. The Death of Goliath (1978) reframes the biblical story through the giant's perspective, while Cain and Abel (1981) adopts the framework of a Greek tragedy for chorus and soloists. That same year, Downes addressed contemporary nuclear anxieties in A Child is Singing (1981), an antiwar work supporting global peace organizations. Together, these pieces demonstrate Downes’ distinct ability to synthesize ancient narratives and modern human concerns into emotionally resonant, compelling musical experiences.

Andrew Downes (1950–2023) was a distinguished English composer and educator whose work bridged Late Romantic traditions with world music, jazz, and rock influences. Educated at St John’s College, Cambridge, and the Royal College of Music under Herbert Howells, Downes led the Department of Composition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for 30 years. His prolific output—encompassing six symphonies, an opera, concerti, and extensive sacred music—earned international acclaim through worldwide broadcasts, over 30 recordings, and high-profile commissions performed in venues like Prague’s Rudolfinum. Recognized for his lyrical expression and contrapuntal mastery, Downes created an enduring musical legacy grounded in both tradition and contemporary diversity.

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