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Happy 60th Birthday!

James MacMillan discusses the birth of his political and religious views plus the writing of his Cello Concerto for Rostropovich and Veni Veni Emmanuel for Evelyn Glennie.

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

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 鈥 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
大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vanska, conductor

Veni, Veni Emmanuel
Evelyn Glennie, percussion
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Jukka Pekka Saraste, conductor

Presenter: Donald Macleod
Producer: Rosie Boulton

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Sir James MacMillan

    For Ian

    Performer: John York.
    • Black Box BBM1067.
    • Black Box.
    • 5.
  • Sir James MacMillan

    Cantos Sagrados: Identity

    Performer: The Elysian Singers Of London. Conductor: Sam Laughton. Performer: Carl Jackson.
    • Signum SKU SIGCD507.
    • Signum.
    • 6.
  • Sir James MacMillan

    Cello Concerto (2nd movement: The Reproaches)

    Performer: Raphael Wallfisch. Performer: 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Osmo V盲nsk盲.
    • BIS CD989.
    • BIS.
    • 3.
  • Sir James MacMillan

    Veni, Veni, Emmanuel for percussion and orchestra

    Performer: Evelyn Glennie. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jukka鈥怭ekka Saraste.
    • Sony 88697579962.
    • Sony.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Tue 16 Jul 2019 12:00

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