Angel of the Battlefield

for SSATB unaccompanied
McDowall's poignant Angel of the Battlefield, originally commissioned by the Glasgow School of Art Choir as part of the Composeher project, is both an exposition on the horrors of war and a celebration of healers. Inspired by renowned nurse Clara Barton, who cared for Union soldiers during the American Civil War, this piece's text is drawn from Barton's own words, the poetry of Sean Street, and the African American spiritual There is a balm in Gilead.
The first movement sets the scene, intermingling Clara's courage and resolve with a longing for healing. The second movement, gentle and reflective, explores the toll discipline and self-sacrifice take on the heart and mind of the healer. Finally, the third movement, in its rapidity, sharp rhythms, and urgency, lays bare the horrors of war.