Album Review: Paul McCartney – ‘Ecce Cor Meum’

By Jeff Swindoll Dec 19, 2006, 18:54 GMT

Paul McCartney\'s new "classical" oratorio is called Ecce Cor Meum, which translates as "Behold My Heart." The idealistic texts, also by McCartney, are meditations on goodness, spirituality, peace, and love, and are well served by the pretty, Romantic melodies; the long choral and orchestral sections flow one into the next. The Interlude (composed after the death of his wife, Linda), with its lovely oboe solo, is simple and moving. The ...more

Paul McCartney’s choral piece is eight years in the making.  He was asked to compose the piece for a premiere at the new concert hall at Magdalen College, Oxford by its then president Anthony Smith (1998-2005). 

“His hope was for a choral piece which could be sung by young people the world over – something equivalent to Handel’s Messiah” according to the liner notes.  Talk about big shoes to fill - though Sir Paul seemed up to the challenge. 

The piece was taking shape when in 1998 Linda McCartney died of cancer.  Sir Paul’s composition of the choral obviously slowed down, but an initial version was ready for a performance some three years later.  Sir Paul eventually finished the composition but it was not completed in time for the opening of the concert hall as it was first envisioned.

However, it was a spiritual journey for him and let him deal with the loss of Linda.  The near one-hour piece is broken up into four movements (not too familiar with the proper terminology), “Spiritus,” “Gratia,”(with an interlude or lament here) “Musica,” and “Ecce Cor Meum.” 

The choral is very good, but I’m not sure that it’s going to replace Handel.  However, it is an interesting work from a talented musician and will be an interesting change of pace for his fans. 

‘Ecce Cor Meum’ is now available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information.