James Macmillan (b 1959)

He was born 16 July 1959 in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, but grew up in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock. 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.

He studied composition at the University of Edinburgh with Kenneth Leighton and at Durham University with John Casken. A trip to Darmstadt International Summer Course confirmed in him a longing to build on musical traditions of the past rather than abandoning all that has gone before.

He caught the attention of the classical establishment with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's premiere of The Confession of Isobel Gowdie at the BBC Proms in 1990. Isobel Gowdie was one of many women executed for witchcraft in 17th-century Scotland.

The Storm from Into the Ferment

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

James MacMillan, conductor

Berserking (1st movement)

It is Finished, from Seven Last Words from the Cross

Polyphony

Britten Sinfonia

Stephen Layton, conductor

Presenter: Donald Macleod

Producer: Rosie Boulton

James MacMillan discovers music in his Catholic family and East Ayrshire community.

He discusses his regret at joining the Communist Party at the age of 14 because of the hurt it caused his grandfather. And his early search for some kind of fusion of Christian theology and Marxist philosophy, including the influence on his music of a radical movement that grew up in South America as a response to the widespread poverty and the ill-treatment of ordinary people.

He also remembers his friendship with Mstislav Rostropovich which led to the commissioning of his Cello Concerto, written at the time of the Dunblane shooting. And he describes the creation of his next great musical success: Veni, Veni Emmanuel - the percussion concerto he wrote for his friend Evelyn Glennie

For Ian

John York, piano

Cantos Sagrados (Identity)

The Elysian Singers

Carl Jackson, organ

Sam Laughton, conductor

The Reproaches, from Cello Concerto

Raphael Wallfisch, cello

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Osmo Vanska, conductor

Evelyn Glennie, percussion

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Jukka Pekka Saraste, conductor

Presenter: Donald Macleod

Producer: Rosie Boulton

MacMillan's strong political and religious views and his two concertos written for friends

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.

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)

Presenter: Donald Macleod

Producer: Rosie Boulton

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

He considers his connection with his listeners and the importance of hearing stories from audiences about their reactions to his music. With this in mind, he's made a habit of writing music for the communities in which he lives. He also describes the daily habit of composition and the need to sometimes allow the creative process to rest.

James encountered Wagner's Ring Cycle as a child. He was entranced by this music and happily remains under its spell today.

O Radiant Dawn, from Strathclyde Motets

The Sixteen

Harry Christophers, conductor

Miserere

Oboe Concerto

Nicholas Daniel, oboe

Britten Sinfonia

James MacMillan, conductor

Mal: I cannot say I haven't dreamt a 1,000 times of killing him (Act 3 Scene 3 from The Sacrifice)

Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera

Anthony Negus, conductor

Presenter: Donald Macleod

Producer: Rosie Boulton

MacMillan considers his connection with his listeners and the process of composition.

The establishment of the Cumnock Tryst is James's way of bringing an inclusive music festival to his community in Ayrshire.

He also describes the composition of his Violin Concerto, which was inspired by a dream he had following the death of his mother. And he talks about the death of his granddaughter and the impact that this has had on his life and music.

Domus Infelix Est - An Unhappy House

The Elysian Singers

Sam Laughton, conductor

One

Britten Sinfonia

James MacMillan, conductor

Prelude (St Luke Passion)

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra,

Netherlands Radio Choir, National Youth Choir

Markus Stenz, conductor

Benedicimus Deum coeli (Strathclyde Motets)

The Sixteen

Harry Christophers, conductor

Song and Dance (Violin Concerto, 3rd movement)

Vadim Repin, violin

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Donald Runnicles, conductor

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem (Stabat Mater)

Presenter: Donald Macleod

Producer: Rosie Boulton

Music brings sharing to James's community and solace to his family in difficult times.