john mccabe, (21 april 1939 – 13 february 2015) was a british composer and pianist. he created works in many different forms, including symphonies, ballets, and solo works for the piano. he served as principal of the london college of music from 1983 to 1990. guy rickards described him as "one of britain's finest composers in the past half-century" and "a pianist of formidable gifts and wide-ranging sympathies" .