The string quartet has been important to James MacMillan since his early years, with his first example, Etwas zurückhaltend, dating from 1982.
Composer Biography
Sir James MacMillan, born in Kilwinning, Scotland, studied music at the University of Edinburgh and composition with John Casken at the University of Durham.
Performer Biography
The Royal String Quartet's career breakthrough came with an invitation to BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme and a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Potton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk, on July 13-15, 2017, with Simon Eadon as Recording Engineer and Andrew Keener as Recording Producer.
Performer Biography
The Royal String Quartet, celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2018, is known for combining classical and contemporary music and promoting lesser-known Polish works.
Composition History
MacMillan has used the string quartet medium to express a sense of loss, dedicating works like Memento to a deceased friend and For Sonny to a friend's grandson.
Composer's Artistic Vision
MacMillan's music often synthesizes his Roman Catholic faith, socialist ideals, and relationship with his homeland, resulting in a strong sense of narrative inspired by history or theology.
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