James MacMillan

James MacMillan studied at University of Edinburgh and Durham University. The recorded working language is English. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are opera. Employment is recorded with University of Manchester. Works named in the authority record are The Confession of Isobel Gowdie. Distinctions recorded are Commander of the Order of the British Empire, honorary doctor of the Royal College of Music, Knight Bachelor and Classic Brit Awards.

MacMillan was born at Kilwinning, in North Ayrshire, but lived in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock until 1977. His father is James MacMillan, a carpenter, and his mother is Ellen MacMillan (née Loy). He studied musical composition at the University of Edinburgh with Rita McAllister and Kenneth Leighton, obtaining a BMus degree in 1981, and later at Durham University with John Casken, where he completed a PhD degree in Composition in 1987. At Durham he was a member of the College of St Hild and St Bede as an undergraduate student and the Graduate Society while studying for his doctorate. He was a lecturer in music at the Victoria University of Manchester from 1986 to 1988. After his studies, MacMillan returned to Scotland, composing prolifically, and becoming Associate Composer with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, often working on education projects. As a young man he was briefly a member of the Young Communist League.

He came to 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. According to the composer, "On behalf of the Scottish people the work craves absolution and offers Isobel Gowdie the mercy and humanity that was denied her in the last days of her life." The work's international acclaim spurred more high-profile commissions, including a percussion concerto for fellow Scot Evelyn Glennie: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel. It was premiered in 1992 and has become MacMillan's most performed work. He was also asked by Mstislav Rostropovich to compose his Cello Concerto, which Rostropovich premiered in 1997. MacMillan was composer and conductor with the BBC Philharmonic from 2000 to 2009, following which he took up a position as principal guest conductor with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic. His collaboration with Michael Symmons Roberts continued with his second opera, The Sacrifice (based on the ancient Welsh tales of the Mabinogion), premiered by Welsh National Opera in 2007. Sundogs, a large-scale work for a cappella choir, also using text by Symmons Roberts, was premiered by the Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble in 2006. Further successes have included the St John Passion jointly commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Sir Colin Davis at its world premiere in 2008.

MacMillan married Lynne Frew in 1983; they have three children. He also had a grandchild who had Dandy–Walker syndrome.

After the Tryst (violin and piano – 1988) Cantos Sagrados (choir and organ – 1989) The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (orchestra – 1990) The Berserking (piano concerto – 1990) Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (percussion concerto – 1992) Seven Last Words from the Cross (cantata: choir and strings – 1993) Inés de Castro (opera, libretto: Jo Clifford – 1991–95) Britannia! (orchestra – 1994) Christus Vincit (1994), for SSAATTBB and soli Three Scottish Songs, voice and piano (text: William Soutar) (1995) Cello Concerto (1996) The World's Ransoming (cor anglais and orchestra – 1996) Symphony: Vigil (1997) Quickening (soloists, chorus and orchestra – 1998) Symphony No. 2 (1999) Mass (choir and organ – 2000) Cello Sonata No. 2, dedicated to Julian Lloyd Webber The Birds of Rhiannon (orchestra + optional chorus, text: Michael Symmons Roberts – 2001) O Bone Jesu (2001), for SSAATTBB + soli Symphony No. 3 "Silence" (2002) Piano Concerto No. 2 (2003) A Scotch Bestiary (organ and orchestra – 2004) In splendoribus sanctorum (2005) (Introit for the Fifth Sunday of Lent; for soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus, obbligato trumpet and/or organ; from the Strathclyde Motets) Sun-Dogs (2006) The Sacrifice (opera, 2007) St John Passion (2008) Piano Concerto No. 3 "The Mysteries of Light" (2008) Miserere, mixed chorus a cappella (2009) Violin Concerto No. 1 (2009) Oboe Concerto (2010) Clemency (2011) Woman of the Apocalypse (2012) St Luke Passion (2013) Viola Concerto (2013) Percussion Concerto No. 2 (2014) Symphony No. 4 (2015) Stabat Mater (2015) A European Requiem (2015) Larghetto for orchestra (transcription of Miserere, 2017) Symphony No. 5 "Le grand Inconnu" (2018) Her tears fell with the dews at even (2020) A Christmas Oratorio (2021) Violin Concerto No. 2 (2021) "Who shall separate us?", anthem for the state funeral of Elizabeth II (2022) Composed in August, Robert Burns song (2023), World Premiere (2024)

MacMillan, James (11 October 2008). "In harmony with heaven". The Tablet. pp. 12–13.

Capps, Michael (Summer 2007). "Warld in a roar: the music of James MacMillan". Image: A Journal of the Arts and Religion. 54: 95–108. Spicer, Paul. "James MacMillan: Choral Music: a practical commentary and survey. Boosey & Hawkes (2001, updated 2021)

Picard, Anna; Review; The Independent, 16 May 2010 Morrison, Richard; Review; Times Online 14 May 2010 Ashley, Tim; Review; The Guardian, 17 May 2010

Review; Gramophone, September 2009

Sweeney, Charlene; "Composer James MacMillan says Scotland in denial over anti-Catholicism"; Times Online, 8 December 2009 (subscription required) Grey, Richard; "Composer's note of anger over music education"; Scotland on Sunday, 20 November 2005