James Macmillan - Confession Of Isobel Gowdie, Music -gamit of human emotion Options

[Semele]

Just been having a discussion with an old friend of mine I haven't seen in years. We got on to this composition ( I haven't heard of it btw ) and my friend who has heard it performed said their companion ( non- musical ) got really upset because of the violence within this work.

I know this subject about music being the gamit of emotion has been brought up before,but my question is have other members heard this work performed and did the subject raise the same emotion.

Starting to do some research now...via google,naturally ;) but thoughts appreciated.

Also can anyone recommend some good recordings of it.

Here is a link I've just found.

http://aspentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art_ti...07220008&Ref=AR

Thanks All.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/discoveringmusic/pip/7j5qe/

Ahhh....might be here.

This post has been edited by Semele: Sep 6 2005, 01:12 PM

[neil.clarinet]

Haven't heard this piece, but I have heard The World's Ransoming, and his Cello Concerto. I am thinking of doing my masters thesis on Scottish art music. Obviously he is a leading Scottish composer. His music is certainly very evocative, and has quite striking images. Certainly quite heavy on the ears, the extent depending on your own appreciation of music.

[Semele]

Hi Neil.

Thanks for your reply. I've started to listen to the R3,but run out of time...teaching in 5 mins.

Interesting to know you are thinking of doing your thesis on Scottish Art Music. I don't know how broad this subject is,but may I recommend you listen to the complete soundtrack of a cult movie entitled "The Wicker Man"....Edward Woodward,Christopher Lee,Britt Ekland.

I've actually emailed Gary Carpenter and if you do a google search on the title and/or Mr Carpenter's name it might interest you.

[woodwind]

There's an excellent recording of Isobel Gowdie with Jerzy Maksymiuk and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orch. It won a Gramophone Award a few years ago and I think it's still available on the Koch reord label, catalogue number 476 2646.

[Semele]

Woodwind

Thanks for that.

Instead of typing in "The confession of..."and just the lady's name...google has brought up a lot of stuff. Not nice,but an interesting history lesson to say the least.

I believe she was innocent as were a whole lot of other people.

History repeats itself in one shape or another.

Crikey...MacMillan was brought up in Cumnock.I have telephoned that area code quite a few times. :angry: very weird.

Here is a link with Mr M looking very handsome,but later pics show he has a tendency to put on weight....and he's not the only one that suffers from weight flucuation....

http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/composer/co...composerid=2799

Ok...sorry I'm digressing.I'm off!

This post has been edited by Semele: Sep 6 2005, 08:49 PM

[Deborah]

It was premiered at the Proms a few years ago (late 1980s or early 1990s IIRC). I wasn't there, but it was broadcast on television a few days later; I watched the broadcast and liked the piece. It's since gone on to become one of the few modern works which has been performed after its premiere.

James MacMillan described it as the Requiem that Isobel Gowdie never had (her having been burned as a witch and so on).

[Storini]

The World's Ransoming is wonderful: Cor Anglais players owe MacMillan deeply.