Last News
After a short illness, John passed away at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on the 24th March 2022 with his son Andy by his side. This was just a short 6 months after his beloved wife, Margaret, passed away. During the last couple of years of his life, John took a break from composing, deciding to concentrate on the written word. He wrote many short stories and poems, and he planned to publish them on his website in due course.
Meanwhile, here is one of his poems, which I think you would agree illustrates John’s creative imagination and witty sense of humour.
Cloudy in the North
It’s been cloudy in the north
Ever since she went away,
And in the darkened landscape
There’s no sign of a rainbow.
Out of the cumulus, I see a heap
Of patient, unwashed clothes,
And in the stratus, layer upon layer
Of unspoken thoughts.
The cirrus cloud brings forth
A curl of hair I cherished,
As the burning arrows of nimbus
Rain down to pierce the heart.
Cirrostratus, altostratus, nimbostratus
Shout angry words at me,
As she left in a torrent of hailstones
And took the umbrella too!
Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Scarsdale Church, New York City
The King’s Toccata (US premiere) – Sandro Russo (organ)
Sunday, 24 November 2019 at 9 p.m
BBC Scotland
Classics Unwrapped – extended interview by Jamie MacDougall on John McLeod and his music
Tuesday, 5 November 2019 at 1:10 p.m
Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh
Songs from Above and Below – Taylor Wilson (mezzo-soprano) and Margaret Murray McLeod (piano)
Sunday, 27 October 2019 at 10:30 a.m
Dunblane Cathedral
St. Cuthbert’s Mass – Choir of Dunblane Cathedral with Kevin Duggan (organ)
Saturday, 14 September 2019 at 2:00 p.m
National Mining Museum, Newtongrange
Song of the Golden Bird (from Songs from Above and Below) – Barbara Cole Walton (soprano) and Michal Gajzler (piano)
Wednesday, 21 August 2019 at 7:30 p.m
Stoller Hall, Manchester
Piano Sonata No.1 – Murray McLachlan (piano)
Tuesday, 13 August 2019 at 12:30 p.m &
Saturday, 3 August 2019 at 12:00 noon
St. Andrew’s and St. George’s Church, Edinburgh &
Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh
Animal Songs – Sally Carr (soprano), Calum Robertson (clarinet) and Anna Michels (piano)
Thursday, 21st February 2019
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
A Dramatic Landscape – Matas Scerbauskas (clarinet), RCS Wind Orchestra conducted by Nigel Boddice
News from Griffin Music June 2018
John McLeod – 2 major albums of his music were released this summer
plus performances at major festivals and an exciting new commission!
McLeod continues to enjoy a resurgence in his music over the last few years since his success at the 2014 BBC Proms with an early orchestral work, The Sun Dances. Its distinctive colour and drama are equally evident in this new recording, ‘Out of the Silence’, covering music composed over 40 years and including a spectacular showpiece in the Percussion Concerto played here by the fabulous Dame Evelyn Glennie and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the composer’s direction. Delphian Records DCD34196.
The second release is a double album of McLeod’s complete piano music. Generously filled with over 158 minutes of music, it includes all five piano sonatas and Murray McLachlan’s transcription of the ‘Fantasy on themes from Britten’s ‘Gloriana’, originally scored for guitar and now a virtuosic showpiece for the keyboard. Murray McLachlan, who performs most of the works, is one of Britain’s most celebrated pianists and has a long and prolific recording history. On the same album, Rose McLachlan, performing the Hebridean Dances, makes her recording debut at the age of 14. Divine Art Records MSV77207
Apart from this CD release, McLeod’s music continues to create interest at major festivals and elsewhere.
Malaysian pianist Bobby Chen will be performing McLeod’s Three Protest Pieces at the Ulverston International Festival on 14th June. Then on 25th June, the outstanding young British guitarist, Michael Butten, will play McLeod’s Fantasy on themes from Britten’s ‘Gloriana’ at the St Magnus International Festival (Orkney) – repeating it later in the final of the New Elizabethan Award at the Royal Academy of Music, London on 6th July.
An exciting new commission from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Looking ahead, 25th October (Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh) and 26th October (City Halls, Glasgow) see the first performances of McLeod’s Nordic Fire – Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, commissioned by the SCO for the brilliant viola player Jane Atkins. The title refers to the amazing light, color,r and energy of the aurora borealis – that natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, especially near the northern magnetic pole. It will be conducted by Joseph Swensen.
For more information, please ring Griffin Music +441314413035