MacMillan, James: Í (A Meditation on Iona) (1996) 17'
for strings and percussion
Scoring
perc(1):t.bells/steel pans/lg thundersheet-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
World Premiere
2/21/1997
City Hall, Glasgow
Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Joseph Swensen
Composer's Notes
This work came about through a collaborative experiment with the sculptress Sue Jane Taylor. It is a pensive and reflective work for strings and percussion lasting about fifteen minutes, and is mostly slow and static. It is built around a few recurrent melodic motives which revolve n a cyclic and episodic structure. Sometimes the material is very simple, like a single tolling metallic sound accompanied by slowly shifting chords, or a fragmented and hesitant solo violin or viola accompanied by patiently evolving clusters and chords. Sometimes, the material is more assertive involving trills, tremolandi and glissandi and low heavy chords with primally simple percussive ideas.
The whole is intended to give an impression of the island of Iona where St. Columba lived, and died in 597. It is a place of stark and desolate beauty, a focus of deep spiritual resonance and historical significance.
James MacMillan
Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer
Press Quotes
"Lamenting violins; eruptive, angular drumming; shivering bells: here was a piece with a strong if mysterious sense of place."
The Times
Recommended Recording
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Joseph Swensen
BIS 1019
for strings and percussion
Scoring
perc(1):t.bells/steel pans/lg thundersheet-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
World Premiere
2/21/1997
City Hall, Glasgow
Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Joseph Swensen
Composer's Notes
This work came about through a collaborative experiment with the sculptress Sue Jane Taylor. It is a pensive and reflective work for strings and percussion lasting about fifteen minutes, and is mostly slow and static. It is built around a few recurrent melodic motives which revolve n a cyclic and episodic structure. Sometimes the material is very simple, like a single tolling metallic sound accompanied by slowly shifting chords, or a fragmented and hesitant solo violin or viola accompanied by patiently evolving clusters and chords. Sometimes, the material is more assertive involving trills, tremolandi and glissandi and low heavy chords with primally simple percussive ideas.
The whole is intended to give an impression of the island of Iona where St. Columba lived, and died in 597. It is a place of stark and desolate beauty, a focus of deep spiritual resonance and historical significance.
James MacMillan
Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer
Press Quotes
"Lamenting violins; eruptive, angular drumming; shivering bells: here was a piece with a strong if mysterious sense of place."
The Times
Recommended Recording
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Joseph Swensen
BIS 1019
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MAXWELL DAVIES 2014
Explore the music of Peter Maxwell Davies in preparation for his 80th birthday in 2014, with audio clips and information on key works.
EXPLORE MAX