Ancient Modernity Louise McMonagle

• Errollyn Wallen (b. 1958): Postcard for Magdalena:
• 1 Wallen: Postcard for Magdalena 01:11
• Ailie Robertson (b. 1983): Skydance:
• 2 Robertson: Skydance 05:18
• Corrina Hewat (b. 1970): My Love Dodging Rizla (Arr. for Solo Cello by Louise McMonagle):
• 3 Hewat: My Love Dodging Rizla (Arr. for Solo Cello by Louise McMonagle) 06:32
• Josephine Stephenson (b. 1990): Anamnesis:
• 4 Stephenson: Anamnesis 04:23
• Lisa Robertson (b. 1993): the light through forest leaves:
• 5 Robertson: the light through forest leaves 05:21
• Alex Groves (b. 1991): Single Form (Sarabande):
• 6 Groves: Single Form (Sarabande) 04:42
• Liza Lim (b. 1966): Cello Playing ~ as Meteorology:
• 7 Lim: Cello Playing ~ as Meteorology 10:02
• Caroline Shaw (b. 1982): in manus tuas:
• 8 Shaw: in manus tuas 08:41
• Lisa Streich (b. 1985): Minerva:
• 9 Streich: Minerva 08:47
• John Maxwell Geddes (1941 - 2017): Callanish IV:
• 10 Geddes: Callanish IV 07:03
• Zoë Martlew (b. 1968): Salat Babilya:
• 11 Martlew: Salat Babilya 04:11
• Total Runtime 01:06:11

Info for Ancient Modernity

Known for her work as a member of the award-winning Riot Ensemble, Scottish cellist Louise McMonagle’s first solo album showcases her deep commitment to collaboration with the composers of our own time.

From John Maxwell Geddes, one of her early musical mentors, to leading composers of the present day such as Liza Lim and Errollyn Wallen, and younger figures including Lisa Streich, Caroline Shaw and Josephine Stephenson, these works draw on the most modern techniques to reinventancient material, including folk tunes, Baroque bass lines, the sound of the Arabian oud, and ancient Gaelic psalmody.

Louise McMonagle, cello

Louise McMonagle
thrives on playing repertoire that goes beyond the mainstream, playing music by living composers, and creating programs including many commissions and premieres. Solo performances include Wigmore Hall, Schlewswig Holstein Music Festival (DE), Open Music Graz (AT), KM28 Berlin, as well as numerous broadcasts on BBC radio. ​

In April 2025 Louise will release her first solo album Ancient Modernity with Delphian Records. The album features music by living composers who reinvent ancient material, including folk tunes, baroque basslines, Arabic oud techniques, and ancient Gaelic psalms. ​

In 2024 Louise was invited to play a solo show in Scotland Unwrapped, a concert series celebrating Scottish musicians at Kings Place London. Also in 2024, Louise commissioned and premiered two new works for cello and electronics in 360, by Aaron Holloway Nahum and Tonia Ko. Further world premieres include Ailie Robertson's Skydance commissioned for Louise by Riot Ensemble, which won the Dorico award for Solo Work at the 2021 Scottish Awards for New Music. Louise's video premiere was featured in The Strad magazine. Hannah Kendall's piece Tuxedo: Hot Summer No Water (also commissioned for Louise by Riot Ensemble) led to numerous performances across Europe, including HCMF in the UK, and Louise's premiere recording will be released on NMC Recordings in 2025. Round By The Ness written for Louse by jazz saxophonist/composer Trish Clowes was featured at the London Jazz Festival 2022.

Cellist Louise McMonagle thrives on playing repertoire that goes beyond the mainstream, playing music by living composers, and creating programs including many commissions and premieres. Solo performances include Wigmore Hall, Schlewswig Holstein Music Festival (DE), Open Music Graz (AT), KM28 Berlin, as well as numerous broadcasts on BBC radio. ​

"...perfectly controlled by charismatic cellist Louise McMonagle" - Tempo Magazine ​

"...plays with a clarity and precision that only emphasises the sheer mind-bending weirdness of the piece" - The Wire ​

In April 2025 Louise will release her first solo album Ancient Modernity with Delphian Records. The album features music by living composers who reinvent ancient material, including folk tunes, baroque basslines, Arabic oud techniques, and ancient Gaelic psalms. ​

In 2024 Louise was invited to play a solo show in Scotland Unwrapped, a concert series celebrating Scottish musicians at Kings Place London.

Also in 2024, Louise commissioned and premiered two new works for cello and electronics in 360, by Aaron Holloway Nahum and Tonia Ko.

Further world premieres include Ailie Robertson's Skydance commissioned for Louise by Riot Ensemble, which won the Dorico award for Solo Work at the 2021 Scottish Awards for New Music. Louise's video premiere was featured in The Strad magazine.

Hannah Kendall's piece Tuxedo: Hot Summer No Water (also commissioned for Louise by Riot Ensemble) led to numerous performances across Europe, including HCMF in the UK, and Louise's premiere recording will be released on NMC Recordings in 2025. Round By The Ness written for Louse by jazz saxophonist/composer Trish Clowes was featured at the London Jazz Festival 2022.

Louise is a member of UK contemporary music group Riot Ensemble who perform regularly around Europe, including Wien Modern (Austria), Arctic Arts (Norway), Time of Music (Finland), Wigmore Hall (London), and Dark Music Days (Iceland). Described as “volcanically creative” (The New Yorker), “the supergroup of top soloists playing new music” (The Guardian), and “Always impeccable; Entrancing and highly seductive” (The Times), Riot Ensemble have given around 250 World and UK Premieres by composers from more than 30 countries. Their discography includes releases on HCR/NMC Recordings and Coviello Classics. In 2020 they were awarded the Ernst von Siemens Ensemble Prize, and in 2024 they were shortlisted for the RPS "Best Ensemble" Award. ​

Louise has also enjoyed playing as a guest in chamber groups such as Mivos Quartet, Anzu Quartet, Ragazze Quartet, London Symphony Orchestra Discovery, London Sinfonietta, and United Strings of Europe. ​

Louise was recently invited to give a lecture recital at the Royal Academy of Music (London), where she showcased forty excerpts from innovative contemporary cello repertoire and many extended techniques. Louise has also delivered workshops at Trinity Laban, Royal Northern College of Music, Berklee College of Music, Boston University, University of Southampton, Royal Holloway University, Crossroads Festival at the Mozarteum (AT), Austrian Cultural Forum and the Zagreb Biennale.​​​

Booklet for Ancient Modernity