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Walking For West Door, 1st Movement Of Cathedral Symphony 

Dominic McGonigal
Aug 6
1 min read

Thursday, 6th of August 2026



I am walking for West Door, the first movement of the Cathedral Symphony.  


When the London Medical Orchestra commissioned me to write something for their 70th anniversary, neither of us expected a symphony. The inspiration came from cathedral architecture – West Door, Nave, Choir and Tower. 


The symphony opens with West Door, with three massive chords mirroring the three great tympani of Lincoln Cathedral. The movement is built on a motif that, here, is elongated in the bass, like a cantus firmus. The full orchestra creates huge chords, from the bass up to the piccolo, with violins and trumpets providing the decoration. That is contrasted with quiet, delicate figuration in the strings and wind, adding a sense of mystery from the start. 


#HelpGetThisRecorded by the City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra at their beautiful Smecky Music Studios. Every donation helps get us there! 


DONATE HERE:


Walking West Door.mp4 Walking for West Door, 1st movement of Cathedral Symphony 



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