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James Douglas

On this page: | Recordings & Printed Music | Notable Works |

Composer James Douglas, photo Copyright 2008James Douglas: Composer, Pianist, Recording Artist, Accompanist, Conductor and Organist.

All Photos © Copyright 2020, Katharine H. Douglas, Eschenbach Editions (unless otherwise stated)

Born 1932 in Dumbarton, Scotland, most of his life was based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Eschenbach Editions is sad to announce that James Douglas passed away in early February 2022. An obituary will be forthcoming.

Composer website: http://www.jamesdouglas-composer.com

Artist Spotify Profile: https://artists.spotify.com/c/artist/7r2YPhcTw7v5K3AM7Elkhy/profile/overview

Biography: (Summary):

Compositions by James Douglas include: 15 symphonies (Sky Canticles, Musica della Passione, Symphony with Organ, From the Deeps, Majestas Divini, Musica dalla Serenissima, Rituals in Transformed Time, Meditation on the Divine, Fire and Love, A Time for Singing, Torridon, Canti Spirituali, Le Mystere de Noel, La Corona, Metamorphosis), Traurigkeit for String Orchestra; String Quartet 1; String Quartet II, orchestral works, cello music, 32 flute / flute & piano works; works for Violin / Violin & Piano; (including such virtuoso solos as 'To Foinaven,' 'The Sun Dancing,' ''I see the 21st Century approaching' ' and over 15 other works for Violin & Piano), music for woodwind (Emblems for 8 woodwind and 3 brass), music for brass (Formations for 11 Brass & Brass Quintet), Instrumental works include: The Christ Church Sequence (75 chamber works 2001-06), The Glorious Sequence (2006-), The Highlands and Islands Sequence (56 works 1968-2007), Music for the 21st Century 1-5 (2008), Lindisfarne Music (words by David Adam), A Tide That Sings (words by G R D Maclean), piano music, 'Visions of Glory,' Words: Rev Canon David Adam, Music: James Douglas (published 1989 Eschenbach Editions): sung by Caritas Voices: Linda Howie, Soprano, Joan Busby, Mezzo-soprano, Clifford Hughes, Tenor, Rudolph von Sinner, Baritone and with Michael Bonaventure, Organ (tracks 10 & 12). 36 organ recital works (including Advent Meditations, From the Deeps, Symphony for Organ: Clouds of Mystery, Praise Sion; Switzerland, Concerto for Organ, Trilogia, A Vision, Nativity Recessional, Le Soleil dansant, High Mountains I, Glory to Glory, To the Cairngorms, Inverness Cathedral and Le Christ est Ressucite); works for Organ / Piano, stage works: Mask: 7 Deadly Sins, premiered Stirling Festival 1973 and Edinburgh Int Festival 1974 (Libretto: Robert Nye / Masks: Aileen Campbell Nye). Full Biographical details can be found in International Who's Who (published by Routledge 2019); The Oxford Dictionary of Music; British and International Music Yearbook; Debrett's People of Today (final edition published 2017) and Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Douglas_(composer)

Please consult up to date directories for full details of Compositions (old information is out of date).

Transmissions:

James Douglas' music has been broadcast on National TV, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Alba, The Open University and on Local, National and International radio and TV stations throughout the world. Notable inclusions of his music have been in TV series such as Michael Palin: 'Sahara' and 'The Queen: Britain's longest reigning Monarch,' and 'Heartbeat' with transmissions and retransmissions worldwide. James Douglas' Music now features on the Caritas Media Music Channel on YouTube. The first film includes music from the DVD 'A Visual and Musical Journey' by James and Helen Douglas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9bztdumQF4&feature=share

Recordings / Printed Music:

18 Compact Discs by Douglas have been commercially released by Caritas Records and can all be purchased from the Caritas Music Store here, with no charge for postage on all orders over £10 worldwide. The latest CD is called 'Dancing round the North' which was released on 26th November 2019. A selection of Sheet Music by James Douglas has been printed by Eschenbach Editions and can be purchased here Alternatively for selected works, a Performers score may be available for professional performances only. Please contact The Promotions Department: eschenbach@caritas-music.co.uk in the first instance.

 

 

Selected notable works:

Representation:

James Douglas is represented by his Music Publishers: Eschenbach Editions All performances of Music by James Douglas must be licensed through PRS Ltd and all Recordings should be licensed through MCPS Ltd.

Contact:

Eschenbach Editions (Publishers),

Achmore, Moss Road
Ullapool, IV26 2TF

E-mail: eschenbach@caritas-music.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1854 612 236

 

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