James MacMillan

Donald Macleod talks to composer James MacMillan as he celebrates
his 60th birthday


One of the UK’s most prolific living composers, James MacMillan
was born on the 16th of July 1959 in Ayrshire. His grandfather
introduced him to brass band music and his primary teacher taught
him the recorder. The combination of these musical experiences
sparked a lifelong passion in James to make and create music of
his own. As well as James’s journey into music, we’ll hear about
the birth of James’s political and religious views, and his
critiques of Scotland which finds their way into his writing.
Donald and James discuss the importance of the composer’s
connection with his listeners and performers. His festival, the
Cumnock Tryst, brings musical sharing to his community in
Ayrshire, and his religious music continues to bring solace even
in very difficult family times.


Music featured: The Storm (Into the Ferment) Berserking (1st
movement) It is Finished (Seven Last Words from the Cross) The
Confession of Isobel Gowdie For Ian Cantos Sagrados (Identity)
The Reproaches (Cello Concerto) Veni, Veni Emmanuel A Scotch
Bestiary Tenebrae Responsories Clemency: Sarah’s Lament Piano
Concerto No 2 (3rd movement - Shamnation) O Radiant Dawn
(Strathclyde Motets) Miserere Oboe Concerto The Sacrifice: Act
III, Scene 3 Domus Infelix Est - An Unhappy House One Prelude (St
Luke Passion) Benedicimus Deum coeli (Strathclyde Motets) Violin
Concerto (3rd movement – Song and Dance) Fac, ut portem Christi
mortem (Stabat Mater)


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Rosie Boulton for BBC
Wales


For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for James MacMillan
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006sjd


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z