Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1976 in Inverness, Scotland

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Stuart MacRae is a Scottish composer who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on August 25, 1976, in Inverness, Scotland, MacRae grew up in a family of musicians. His father, Ronald MacRae, was a composer and conductor, while his mother, Jennifer MacRae, was a pianist. MacRae's parents played a significant role in his early musical education, and he began composing at a young age. MacRae attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in Glasgow, where he studied composition with James MacMillan and Nigel Osborne. He also studied at the University of Manchester with John Casken and the Royal College of Music in London with Julian Anderson. MacRae's early works were influenced by the music of his father, as well as by the Scottish landscape and culture. His first major work, "Gaudete," was written in 1996 and premiered at the Edinburgh Festival. The piece, which was inspired by the medieval carol of the same name, features a choir and orchestra and showcases MacRae's skill at blending traditional and contemporary musical styles. In 1998, MacRae won the Mendelssohn Scholarship, which allowed him to study in Berlin with Hans Werner Henze. This experience had a significant impact on MacRae's music, and he began to incorporate more avant-garde and experimental elements into his compositions. MacRae's breakthrough work came in 2001 with his opera "The Assassin Tree," which was commissioned by the Royal Opera House in London. The opera, which was based on a short story by the Scottish writer Iain Banks, tells the story of a man who travels to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of his father. The work was praised for its innovative use of electronic music and its haunting, atmospheric score. Since then, MacRae has continued to produce a wide range of works, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, and operas. His music is known for its complex harmonies, intricate rhythms, and vivid orchestration. He has been commissioned by a number of prestigious organizations, including the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the London Symphony Orchestra. One of MacRae's most acclaimed works is his 2008 opera "Ghost Patrol," which was commissioned by Scottish Opera. The opera, which was based on a short story by the American writer Ambrose Bierce, tells the story of a group of soldiers who are sent on a mission to investigate a mysterious signal in the desert. The work was praised for its innovative use of technology, including live video projections and electronic music. MacRae's other notable works include his 2010 violin concerto "A Scotch Bestiary," which was commissioned by the BBC Proms and features a solo violinist accompanied by a large orchestra. The piece is inspired by the Scottish landscape and features a series of musical portraits of various animals, including a stag, a hare, and a cuckoo. In 2015, MacRae was commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra to write a new work for their centenary season. The resulting piece, "Labyrinth," is a large-scale orchestral work that explores the idea of a maze or labyrinth. The work features a complex, multi-layered structure and showcases MacRae's skill at creating intricate, detailed musical textures.

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