Announcing James Cook Organ Symphonies performed by Kevin Bowyer

Posted by Divine Art Recordings Group on

14 February, 2024

Foremost British organist Kevin Bowyer makes his first appearance on the Divine Art label with a recording of two symphonies for organ by James Cook. This will be the ninth album of Cook’s music from Divine Art, ranging from operatic extracts, many organ works, and sacred choral and vocal compositions. The two works on this new album are his Symphony No 8 (“Olympian”) and No. 9 (“Apollonian”). Both symphonies were written in 2006 and orchestrated in 2011. The recording was made on the organ of Glasgow University Memorial Chapel in 2023.

James Cook (b.1963) briefly studied composition at Oxford University during the Hilary Term of 1994. Prior to that he composed works which include ‘A Carrollean Symphony’, ‘Symphony in Yellow’ and the ‘Jude the Obscure Symphony’.

After his stint at Oxford he wrote sacred vocal music, much of which has been released on the Divine Art and Diversions labels. From the year 2000 he turned to writing organ music and in 2006 completed a sequence of nine organ symphonies, four of which have also been released by Divine Art. Since 2010 he has concentrated on composing opera, four of which make up a cycle of Biblical operas. His first opera, ‘Dorothy’ was performed by Secret Opera at Theatre N16 in London in December 2015.

Kevin Bowyer (b.1961) has enjoyed a prolific recording and recital career and is known for his powerful performances of the most challenging contemporary works including music from Ferneyhough, Sorabji, Maxwell Davies and many more, but he has a very wide repertoire from all periods, including recordings of the complete organ works of J.S. Bach, Brahms, Jehan Alain, Alkan and others.

Album details

Title: James Cook: Organ Symphonies 8 & 9
Label: Divine Art
Catalogue number : DDX 21136
Composer : James Cook
Works : Organ Symphony No, 8 (“Olympian”); Organ Symphony No. 9 (“Apollonian”)
Performer: Kevin Bowyer (organ of Glasgow University Memorial Chapel)
Recorded in 2023
Release date to be confirmed, between July and October 2024.

James Cook Recordings

James Cook: The Liebestod Symphony

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“David’s Liebestod” – Extracts from operas by James Cook

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The Heavenly Anchorage

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James Cook: From Wonderland to Heaven

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Empyreum: Heroines in Heaven

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Exequy and Elysium

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The Everlasting Habitations

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The Way to Heaven

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Heaven’s Happiness

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Tags : Divine Art, James Cook, Kevin Bowyer, organ

Divine Art Announces Mini-Album from Composer James Cook

Posted by Divine Art Recordings Group on

30 August, 2021

January 2022 will see the release of a mini-album (31 minutes duration, longer than an ‘EP’) on the mid-priced Diversions label, containing five arias from operas by British composer James Cook.

The album showcases items from the operas Jane the Quene (2014) and Abishag (2019). The former relates the tale of Lady Jane Grey, the tragic ‘nine days Queen’ who so briefly ascended to the throne (but was never formally crowned) in July 1553. Abishag dramatizes a story found in the First Book of Kings.

Both operas have a young female character at their centre, sung by soprano Joanna Songi. Tenor Roberto Abate sings three roles: Queen Jane’s husband, Lord Guilford Dudley, and Abishag’s lustful suitor (Adonijah), and her true love, Solomon.

The role of the dying King David in ‘Abishag’ is sung by baritone Adam Green in David’s Liebestod, the title of the aria (and the album) an indirect tribute to the work of Wagner in Tristan und Isolde.

The piano accompaniment is played by Paul McKenzie.

James Cook (b.1963) briefly studied composition at Oxford University during the Hilary Term of 1994. Prior to that he composed works which include ‘A Carrollean Symphony’, ‘Symphony in Yellow’ and the ‘Jude the Obscure Symphony’. After his stint at Oxford, he wrote sacred vocal music, much of which has been released on the Divine Art and Diversions labels. From the year 2000, he turned to writing organ music and in 2006 completed a sequence of nine organ symphonies, four of which have also been released by Divine Art.

Since 2010 he has concentrated on composing opera, four of which make up a cycle of Biblical operas. His first opera, Dorothy was performed by Secret Opera at Theatre N16 in London in December 2015.