3 minute read
Sir James MacMillan
This March, in partnership with the BBC SSO, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow Life, is an exciting proliferation of performances celebrating new compositions by one of Scotland’s most successful contemporary composers – Sir James MacMillan. As part of this month-long celebration, we present two major premieres - Concertino for Horn and Strings (World Premiere) and Stabat Mater (Scottish Premiere).
Our superb Principal Horn, Alec Frank-Gemmill is the soloist for the Concertino arrangement of the composer’s thrillingly theatrical Horn Quintet. It’s an opportunity to hear the full extent of the capabilities of the french horn – an instrument that MacMillan cherishes from his time spent playing in brass ensembles as a young musician. Our celebration culminates in MacMillan’s Stabat Mater for chorus and string orchestra, where we are thrilled to be joined by conductor Harry Christophers and his widely-acclaimed choir, The Sixteen. Here is what MacMillan has to say on the piece:
“The text is a 13th-century hymn meditating on the suffering of Mary, the mother of God, as she stands at the foot of the cross. Stabat Mater Dolorosa (“The grieving mother stood … at the foot of the Cross”) – these are the first words of a long poem, 20 stanzas in full, whose subject is Mary as she beholds her dying son. This is a kind of ultimate, spiritual Kindertotenlied (a song on the death of a child). The poem goes beyond mere description. It invites the reader and the listener to partake in the mother’s grief as a path to grace, and as part of a believer’s spiritual journey. I also quote the Stabat Mater at
the beginning of my opera Inés de Castro, where the Latin text provides an anxious underlay to a choral scene where the Portuguese people are gathering for prayer under the looming threat of war with the Spanish. So there are twin aspects to this 13th century hymn: on the one hand the very human relationship of parent and child and, on the other, Mary as an intercessor between Man and God.”
Sir James MacMillan will take to the stage in the first half of this concert to direct Tryst – a 1989 SCO commission which has since been performed to great effect all over the world. Inspired by a love poem of the same title by William Souter, the piece demonstrates highly effective treatment of one very simple melody. It is a melody that MacMillan strongly associates with commitment, intimacy, faith and love, but it is also saturated with a sadness as if all these things are about to expire. ––––––Prior to our Glasgow performance of the Horn Concertino, students from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will perform a pre-concert recital. We also invite you to hear the composer discuss this work and his relationship with the SCO, alongside Svend Brown at both our Edinburgh and Glasgow performances of Stabat Mater.
Macmillan’s Stabat Mater 23-24 March Edinburgh and Glasgow
YOUR ORCHESTRA, YOUR SAY...
––––––Your opportunity to comment and have your say. Whether it is via social media or by sending us a letter, we love to hear from you. ––––––
The gauntlet has been thrown down.... Who's next to take up the #mannequinchallenge?
Any takers Edinburgh International Festival, Hebrides Ensemble, #SCOChorus, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland? SCO (Facebook) We always knew @keyboardkris’s Mozart would be fantastic, but tonight’s unsung @SCOmusic hero was @DuncanWardMusic - more please! Anthony Mudge @awmudge
We thoroughly enjoyed the wind soloists’ concert last Sunday. It was also good to see the students (students? Who would have guessed?) being so warmly encouraged by the professionals. It was, for us, the perfect culmination of a week in Edinburgh… Best wishes to a fine band.
Mr and Mrs Philips, Chamber Sunday attenders, Customer Email
@SCOmusic were on fire tonight [Maxwell Davies] and I think @Rumongamba might have had some whisky in his porridge this morning. Julie Robertson @JuJuDollie
You [Peter Whelan, Principal Bassoon, and Alison Green, Sub Principal Bassoon] need to get your own show! I’m thinking the new Mel and Sue for when Bake Off moves to Channel 4!
[Watch the interview with our delightful bassoon duo on SCO’s YouTube or Facebook page] Al Asdair (Facebook) JOIN THE CONVERSATION
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