James MacMillan (b. July 16, 1959) is a Scottish classical composer.
MacMillan was born at Kilwinning, Ayrshire, United Kingdom. From the age of 4, he was brought up in nearby Cumnock, attending the local Roman Catholic school. His earliest compositions were written in 1969.
He studied composition at the University of Edinburgh with Rita McAlister, and at Durham University with John Casken, gaining a PhD in 1987. He was a music lecturer at the University of Manchester from 1986–1988.
After his studies, MacMillan returned to Scotland, composing prolifically, and becoming Associate Composer with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra , working on education projects.
He came to the attention of the classical establishment with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra 's premiere of The Confessions of Isobel Gowdie at the Proms in 1990. Isobel Gowdie was one of many women executed for witchcraft in 17th century Scotland. According to the composer, "the work craves absolution and offers Isobel Gowdie the mercy and humanity that was denied her in the last days of her life" (programme note).
The work's international acclaim spurred more high-profile commissions, including a percussion concerto for his fellow Scot, Evelyn Glennie. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel was premiered in 1992 and has become MacMillan's most performed work. He was also asked by Mstislav Rostropovich to compose a violoncello concerto; this was premiered by Rostropovich in 1997.
James MacMillan's compositions are infused with the spiritual and the political. Catholicism has inspired many of his pieces, including many sacred works for choir, e.g. Magnificat (1999), and several Masses. This central strand of his life and compositions was marked by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in early 2005, with an an unparalleled survey of his music entitled From Darkness into Light. MacMillan and his wife are lay Dominicans, and he has collaborated with Michael Symmons Roberts , a Catholic poet, and also Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Scottish traditional music has had a profound musical influence, and is frequently discernible in his works. When the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999 after 292 years, MacMillan's fanfare accompanied the Queen into the chamber. Weeks after the opening ceremony, MacMillan lauched an outspoken attack on sectarianism in Scotland in a speech entitled Scotland's Shame. (BBC News)
MacMillan's use of (even subliminally) familiar themes, coupled with his colourful orchestration, has made his music more accessible than the more academic style of avant-garde composers. This accessibility is further demonstrated by the range of his liturgical music: his Mass of 2000 was commissioned by Westminster Cathedral and contains sections which are for liturgical use only, some of which the congregation may join in [1]; his St. Anne's Mass and Galloway Mass do not require advanced musicianship, being designed to be taught to a congregation.
James MacMillan was appointed composer/conductor with the BBC Philharmonic in 2000, and is contracted until 2006. His collaboration with Symmons Roberts is continuing with his second opera, based on the ancient Welsh tales of the Mabinogion. This is expected to be premiered by Welsh National Opera in 2006.
Key works
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Last updated: 05-29-2005 05:18:54
