Composer of the Week: James MacMillan

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: James MacMillan (b 1959): A zoo, a lament and a protest

James MacMillan (b 1959)

A zoo, a lament and a protest

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, James MacMillan (b 1959), A zoo, a lament and a protest

MacMillan criticises Scotland in a speech and his music: A Scotch Bestiary and Shamnation

MacMillan criticises Scotland in a public address and his music: A Scotch Bestiary and his Second Piano Concerto, the last movement of which is entitled Shamnation.

Sir James MacMillan is reflecting on his prolific life in composition as he celebrates his 60th birthday this week. 

By 1999 James had become the most successful Scottish composer ever and the most often performed. But he remembers that not everything was straightforward. He gave a lecture at the Edinburgh Festival under the title Scotland’s Shame, claiming that Scotland was a country riven with anti-Catholic bigotry. The controversy that followed rumbled on for years and still leaves him confused. 

His criticism of Scotland found its way into two of the works in today's programme: A Scotch Bestiary and his Second Piano Concerto, the last movement of which is entitled Shamnation. 


A Scotch Bestiary 
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Wayne Marshall, piano
James MacMillan, conductor

Tenebrae Responsories
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers, conductor

Sarah’s Lament – Months from Now, from Clemency 
Christine Abraham, soprano.
Boston Lyric Opera
David Angus, conductor

Shamnation (3rd mvt of Piano Concerto No 2) 
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Wayne Marshall, piano
James MacMillan, conductor


Presenter: Donald Macleod
Producer: Rosie Boulton

Composer of the Week: James MacMillan (b 1959)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Sir James MacMillan reflects on his life in composition as he celebrates his 60th birthday

Sir James MacMillan is reflecting on his prolific life in composition as he celebrates his 60th birthday this week.

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Composer of the Week

James MacMillan (b 1959)

A zoo, a lament and a protest

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