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Today, I have the job of tidying up the 4 th movement, Tide. All fifteen minutes are written. Most of it is orchestrated as the sounds in my head were mostly specific combinations of instrument. I still have to orchestrate the opening section as I didn’t have time in the moment of composition to do the full scoring.  I’ve been reflecting on the shape and scale of this last movement. It's in three section, following the architecture of the tide, starting with the calm stillne

I’ve just listened to the playback of the whole of the 4 th movement for the first time. Yesterday morning, only the middle section was complete. The rest was in fragments like a broken pot on the floor. There was some nice material and I had the structure mapped out in my notebook. The middle section rises through the modes. The final section settles back down returning to a triumphant D mixolydian. It’s an epic ending, founded on the big tune slowed down in the bass, with

This is supposed to be Jazz After Shopping.  L'Archiduc | Iconic Brussels Art Deco Bar | Cocktails & Live Music   For me, it’s jazz after composing.  Jazz at L'Archiduc 27 December 2025 Jazz After Shopping.MOV   It’s like a sorbet, cleansing the palette after a day immersed in the final section of the 4 th movement. This finale is based on an augmentation (slowing down) of the big tune in the bass – trombones, tuba, double bass. I’ve had the harmonic structure noted down in

When London Medical Orchestra conductor Oliver Till spoke to composer Dominic McGonigal about the group’s forthcoming 70th anniversary, a...

We have a date! The Ave Verum will be premiered at the London Festival Of Contemporary Church Music on Saturday 18 May. It will feature...

Saxophonist Sam Corkin put together the album commissioning 15 pieces from composers, with a brief to write something new using an...

It’s always nerve-racking having a premiere of one of your pieces, especially at a high profile event in front of an audience of 1300....

Thank you to Janet Oates and Philomel for an amazing concert on St. Cecilia’s Day. ‘Rhythm Herd’ was beautifully performed! Thank you for...

“Night Song” with the BBC Singers, 18th September 2018 At BBC’s Maida Vale studios, it’s like walking the length of a ship’s interior to...

Premiere of Dominic McGonigal’s two string quartets, ‘In Conversation’ and ‘Mathilda’, 26th September 2018 Lumen URC church, in London’s...

Ahead of the premiere of Dominic McGonigal’s two string quartets the 26th of September at Lumen by Kings Cross he has completed this Q&A....

Dominic’s Night Song , entered into BASCA’s call for scores, was selected for the BBC Singers workshop on Tuesday 18 September at Maida...

On the 26th of September 2018 the Quartet Pro Musica will perform two premières – Dominic McGonigal’s first string quartet In...

On November 24th 2018, Dominic McGonigal’s Rhythm Herd will premiere with Philomel at the Swiss Church, Covent Garden. “I commissioned...

Philomel Singers commissioned a new work, Night Song , from Dominic McGonigal, first performed in March 2018 in London.

When Janet Oates approached me to write something for the inaugural concert of Philomel, my first reaction was shock at scoring a piece...