Iles Medal Presentation for McCabe
14th July 2015
The Iles Medal is being presented for McCabe's Creative Contribution to the Brass Band Movement. It was due to be presented to him following the British Open Brass Band Championships, at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on September 6 2014, but he was regrettably unable to attend due to illness.
McCabe wrote a number of works for brass band, including Cloudcatcher Fells, a popular work within the brass band world. Others include Images, Salamander, and Desert II: Horizon. His final work for brass band was The Maunsell Forts, subtitled 'Nocturne for Brass Band'. It celebrates the courage and dedication of the front-line defenders of Britain, situated in lonely gun emplacements in the Thames and Medway Estuaries, against mass bombing, and submarine raids during the Second World War. A recording of this work will be released on a commemorative CD by NMC.
The Iles Medal was named after the major brass band figure, John Henry Iles and was first awarded in 1948. Previous recipients have included Harry Mortimer and Elgar Howarth.
