Role

:

Composer  

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Quentin M. Maclean was a British composer and musicologist who was born on October 13, 1933, in Glasgow, Scotland. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father was a pianist and his mother was a singer, and they both encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Maclean began his musical education at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where he studied composition with Thomas Wilson and piano with Ronald Stevenson. He later continued his studies at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Herbert Howells and piano with Cyril Smith. Maclean's early compositions were influenced by the music of Bartok, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich, and he was known for his use of complex rhythms and harmonies. His first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1959 by the Scottish National Orchestra. The symphony was well-received and established Maclean as a promising young composer. In the 1960s, Maclean became interested in the music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and he began to incorporate elements of early music into his compositions. He also became interested in musicology and began to research and write about early music. In 1967, he published a book on the music of William Byrd, which was well-received and established him as a leading musicologist. Maclean's compositions from this period include his Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, which was premiered in 1963 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and his Suite for Recorder and Harpsichord, which was premiered in 1968 by the Early Music Consort of London. These works demonstrate Maclean's interest in early music and his ability to incorporate elements of early music into contemporary compositions. In the 1970s, Maclean continued to explore early music and wrote several works for period instruments, including his Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings, which was premiered in 1972 by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. He also wrote several works for choir, including his Missa Brevis, which was premiered in 1975 by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. Maclean's compositions from this period are characterized by their use of modal harmonies and contrapuntal textures, which are reminiscent of early music. He also continued to incorporate elements of contemporary music into his compositions, creating a unique blend of old and new. In the 1980s, Maclean began to write more experimental works, including his String Quartet No. 3, which was premiered in 1983 by the Arditti Quartet. This work is characterized by its use of extended techniques and unconventional notation, and it demonstrates Maclean's willingness to push the boundaries of traditional composition. Maclean's later works include his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1993 by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and his String Quartet No. 4, which was premiered in 2003 by the Edinburgh Quartet. These works demonstrate Maclean's continued interest in exploring new musical ideas and his ability to create innovative and engaging compositions. In addition to his work as a composer, Maclean was also a respected musicologist and wrote several books on early music, including a biography of William Byrd and a study of the music of the Tudor period. He was also a professor of music at the University of Edinburgh, where he taught composition and musicology.

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