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Douglas Coombes
1935 -
Great Britain, England
Douglas Coombes (01/01/1935), an English composer and conductor (born in Bristol). He is a popular lecturer and course director and directs around 30 courses annually for teachers as well as directing choral workshops, home and abroad. He is a widely respected Member Adjudicator of the British and International Federation of Festivals working frequently in this country and overseas; he has just been appointed Chairman of the Adjudicators' Council of the Federation. In 2000 he was one of the adjudicators in the Sainsbury's Choir of the Year competition. He is President of the South Hampstead Girls Schools Choirs and is a member of various organisations - Association of British Choral Directors, British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, Mechanical Copyright and Phonographic Society, Musicians' Union, Society of Authors and Performing Rights Society. He is also one of the Patrons of the British Kodaly Academy.
Requiem
This full-length choral work (duration approximately 1hr 15min) for SATB soloists, SATB choir & orchestra, is the result of a commission from 'The Mastersingers of Philadelphia' (USA), who, enamoured of Douglas Coombes' work, having performed his Mass, asked him to write a new work for them. They gave the world premiere in December 1997, the British premiere having taken place in July 1999. All of the movements of the Mass are included with the addition of 'Libera Me' and a final 'In Paradisum' which brings this monumental work to a peaceful and serene conclusion. Douglas Coombes exploits the full dramatic and emotional content of the Latin words; driving, rhythmic passages contrast with melodies of exquisite beauty and invention.
This work (tonality: E minor; E major; C sharp minor) was written for The Mastersingers of Philadelphia (director, Robert J. Reilley) premiere: 14/12/1997. This requiem contains:
01. Introit 02. Kyrie 03. Dies irae 04. Tuba mirum 05. Rex tremendae 06. Recordare 07. Ingemisco 08. Confutatis 09. Lacrymosa 10. Pie Jesu 11. Domine Jesu Christe 12. Hostias 13. Sanctus 14. Benedictus 15. Agnus Dei 16. Lux aeterna 17. Libera me 18. In paradisum |