composer, conductor, singer, tuba
“I commissioned Dominic to write for my new group 'Philomel' because I had been impressed by his On the Beach, a choral work I'd performed with the experimental vocal group The CoMA Singers (part of Contemporary Music for all). The confident writing for voices, the great textures and a perfect sense of spacing and pacing in that work was also displayed in the commissioned piece Night Song, an atmospheric and challenging - but very satisfying - piece for 6 sopranos. I had no doubt in asking him to continue to write for Philomel, this time a smaller work Rhythm Herd.”
“Performing and learning the two quartets composed by Dominic McGonigal has proved to be a rare artistic experience. Both compositions extending the players of Pro Musica Quartet technically and emotionally. Our grateful thanks to you, Dominic.”
“Dominic's piece La Fleur des Eaux was a joy to perform; his understanding of the technical abilities of my voice-type meant that it sat comfortably and naturally in my range, enabling me to give the music the necessary emotion and detail that this well-crafted piece deserved. The panel were equally impressed and gave me a distinction as a result. Thank you, Dominic!”
“Dominic's music is a great discovery: his music infuses words with its hypnotic, haunting rhythmic life, his powerful aural imagination, and the way he brings out such a range of emotional colours in the texts he sets, from his Mass to his latest work for Philomel.”