Late Liverpool Composer’s Award Collection Set for Auction

A significant collection of items belonging to the late Liverpool composer John McCabe will be auctioned later this month, including prestigious awards and his CBE medal. McCabe, who passed away on February 13, 2015, at the age of 75, is remembered for his extensive contributions to music, which began at a remarkably young age.

Born in Huyton on April 21, 1939, McCabe displayed prodigious talent, composing 13 symphonies by the age of 11. His mother, an amateur violinist, nurtured his early interest in music. McCabe attended the Liverpool Institute during the 1950s, where he was a contemporary of Paul McCartney. He later studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music—now known as the Royal Northern College of Music—and in Munich, before embarking on a successful international career as both a composer and pianist.

Throughout his prolific career, McCabe composed works across various genres, focusing primarily on large-scale compositions. His catalogue includes seven symphonies, 15 concertante works, and eight ballet scores. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1983.

One of McCabe’s final pieces, Christ’s Nativity, was commissioned by the Hallé Choir and premiered in Manchester in 2014. He maintained a long-standing relationship with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, which performed many of his works, including the Piano Concerto No 1, commissioned for the Southport Centenary Festival. Notably, McCabe performed the concerto himself under the direction of conductor Sir Charles Groves.

The auction will take place on September 17, 2023, at Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s Medals and Militaria Auction in London. Among the items to be sold as a single lot, estimated to fetch between £1,500 and £2,000, are McCabe’s CBE medal and two Ivor Novello awards from 1976 and 2014.

This collection not only reflects McCabe’s remarkable achievements but also serves as a testament to his enduring legacy in the field of music. For those interested in acquiring a piece of musical history, the auction presents a unique opportunity to honor the life and work of this influential composer.