What is James MacMillan?
'''James MacMillan''' (born July 16, 1959) is a [[composer]] and [[conductor]]. MacMillan was born at [[Kilwinning]], [[North Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]]. He studied [[music]] at the [[university|universities]] of [[Edinburgh]] and [[Durham]]. He writes a lot of music for the [[Scottish Chamber Orchestra]]. They play music at [[school]]s so that children can listen and join in with his music. ==Important music== ''The Confession of Isobel Gowdie'' (1990) about a woman who lived in the 1600s. Many people believed in [[witch]]es then. In 1662 Isobel Gowdie was accused and tried for witchcraft. It was an unusual trial. She confessed without torture, There is no record of an execution. She walked away after confessing. ''Veni, veni, Emmanuel'' (1992) is like a [[percussion]] [[concerto]]. It is a piece for one percussion player who plays lots of percussion instruments, and an [[orchestra]]. The main tune is the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[hymn]] tune ''Veni, veni, Emmanuel'' (also sung as ''O come, O come Emmanuel''). Scottish percussionist [[Evelyn Glennie]] played it at a [[BBC Proms|BBC Prom]] in 1992. ''Quickening'' is music for a [[counter-tenor]], two [[tenor]]s, and [[Bass (vocal range)|baritone]] soloists; children’s [[choir]], mixed choir, and large orchestra. It is about [[birth]] and new [[life]]. The children’s choir sing the words of the unborn baby. They stand on a balcony or somewhere far away from the other choir and the orchestra. Some of the words are “[[Glossalalia]]” (nonsense words). It was performed at a BBC Prom in 1999. == Other websites == *[http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/composer/composer_main.asp?composerid=2799 James MacMillan at Boosey & Hawkes] {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:MacMillan, James}} [[Category:20th-century British composers|MacMillan, James]] [[Category:21st-century British composers|MacMillan, James]] [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Scottish musicians]] [[Category:People from North Ayrshire]]