Get to know the composer behind the music
Long read
“There’s something for me particularly intoxicating about the idea of telling a story through music.”
We deep dive into the world of Stuart MacRae, an award-winning, multi-genre Scottish composer whose work spans opera, instrumental, vocal and electroacoustic music.
Scroll down for more interviews, musical content and a Music Patron-exclusive piano improvisation.
Composer in the Spotlight: Stuart MacRae
Get to know Stuart and his work through music and interviews recorded exclusively for Music Patron.
Interview background music: Stuart MacRae
Photo credits: Foxbrush Films
Wherever he is in the world, the Highlands are never far away
“I loved everything about the Highlands…the scenery, the tradition, the folklore, the people.”
Growing up in Inverness and spending school holidays on the Isle of Skye, Stuart explains why the Highlands endures as a source of inspiration for his music.
“…the rich history of people that lived on the land as well as the flora and fauna and the landscape itself …they would kind of find a way out when I was writing music somewhere, hundreds of miles away.”
He’s a technological nerd (his words!)
“The fact that the sounds come from nature is not so important to me, regardless of where the sounds come from, once they’re in the computer they’re raw material”
Capturing field recordings from his physical environment, Stuart uses everyday sounds found in nature – such as birdsong or rain – as a source of both musical inspiration and unique raw material.
He’s a musical omnivore
“What excites me is hearing something new… the most important thing for any creative person is to stay awake and alive to what’s going on. You might not like most of it but something is going to grab your attention”
What music does a music maker listen to? Stuart explains why when it comes to his own listening, he casts the net wide.
Listen. Watch. Read. Connect.
Find more interviews, video and music content from Stuart on his Music Patron page.
If you’re enjoying this deep dive into Stuart’s creative world, consider becoming one of his patrons, so you can connect further with him and his work.
Brand new music
“I didn’t know what I was going to play at all before beginning. In an improvisation, from that point on, whatever has come first creates the context for what follows, and I try to stay within the spirit of that context while gently stretching it out.”
A pause in the interviews meant an opportunity for some music.
We captured Stuart composing ‘in the moment’ with a piano improvisation he later decided to title Droplets.
“I try not to be judgemental about what I’m hearing as I’m playing – if something isn’t quite what I expected, I adjust what follows, and try to integrate it into the whole so that it feels ‘right’. In written or composed pieces, I am a lot more self-critical and may go over things many times to get them right!”
Listen: terra firma (2023)
In January 2023, Stuart self-released his album terra firma.
Read Stuart’s personal reflections on what led to the album’s creation and listen to the tracks from the album.
Watch: Earth, thy cold is keen (2023)
Take a moment to watch mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean and violin-and-cello duo Sequoia (with Stuart himself on the harmonium) perform the prologue from Stuart’s latest album Earth, thy cold is keen which was released earlier this year by Delphian Records.
Film by Foxbrush Films
Continue your Music Patron journey
We hope you’ve enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look. This kind of connection is Music Patron – a meaningful opportunity to discover more about a composer’s world, and feel the impact of supporting new music creation.
Listen. Watch. Read. Connect.
Find more interviews, video and music content from Stuart on his Music Patron page.
