Studying in Germany
Donald Macleod focuses on Mackenzie's time in Germany, where he studied at a young age with Kapellmeister Eduard Stein, and performed violin in the Weimar Ducal orchestra.
Presented by Donald Macleod. Young Alexander Mackenzie is left by himself to study in Germany.
Sir Alexander Mackenzie rose from humble beginnings in Edinburgh, to become not only a celebrated and international composer, but also the Principal of the Royal Academy of Music. Along with Parry and Stanford he was a significant player in the renaissance of British music, and was pivotal in establishing the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. During his career commissions regularly came his way, including concertos, oratorios and operas. He eventually returned to London, after further spells in Edinburgh and Italy, where he remained for the rest of his life, composing and managing the RAM. He was honoured by Queen Victoria for his services to music, and he received the Gold Medal from the Royal Philharmonic Society. During his long career his music was premiered by the likes of Sarasate and the Carl Rosa opera company. W.S Gilbert and Lewis Carroll both approached Mackenzie with collaborative projects in mind, and as a conductor he worked with Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Liszt, and Saint-Sa毛ns to name only a few.
Alexander Mackenzie was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, where his father performed as a violinist in the Theatre Royal. In the light of his own deteriorating health, Mackenzie senior wanted to make provision for his son's musical education and so took him to Germany, where he studied at a young age with Kappelmeister Eduard Stein, and played violin in the Weimar ducal orchestra. Aged fifteen, young Alick, as he was known, returned to Britain and took up further studies at the Royal Academy of Music, earning his keep by playing in theatre orchestras in London. He started writing music at this time and when he returned to live in Edinburgh in 1865, he was instrumental in setting up regular chamber music concerts there, along with founding a string quartet which gave the premiere of his own Quartet in G major.
Benedictus, Op 37 No 3
大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins, conductor
The Bonnie Banks o'Loch Lomond
Kathryn Rudge, mezzo-soprano
James Baillieu, piano
April Weather (Spring Songs, Op 44 No 5)
Kathryn Rudge, mezzo-soprano
James Baillieu, piano
Valse s茅rieuse (Trois Morceaux, Op 15 No 1)
Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano
String Quartet in G
Edinburgh Quartet
Producer Luke Whitlock.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Johann Sebastian Bach
Two-Part Invention in B minor, BWV 786
Performer: Glenn Gould.- Bach: Two and Three part inventions: The Glenn Gould Collection.
- Sony Classical.
- 13.
-
![]()
Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie
String Quartet in G major - Molto Vivace
Ensemble: Edinburgh Quartet.- Meridian: CDE84445.
- Meridian.
- 5.
-
![]()
Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie
6 Pieces for violin and piano Op 37 - no 3 Benedictus
Orchestra: 大象传媒 Scottish S O. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.- HYPERION : CDA 66764-.
- HYPERION.
- 1.
-
![]()
Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie
The Bonnie Banks O'Loch Lomond
Performer: James Baillieu. Singer: Kathryn Rudge. -
![]()
Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie
Spring Songs Op 44 - no 4 April Weather
Performer: James Baillieu. Singer: Kathryn Rudge. -
![]()
Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie
Trois Morceaux Op15 - no 1 Valse serieuse
Performer: Hiroaki Takeuchi. -
![]()
Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie
String Quartet in G major
Ensemble: Edinburgh Quartet.- Meridian: CDE84445.
- Meridian.
- 5.
Broadcasts
- Mon 6 Feb 2017 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Mon 6 Feb 2017 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.