Stuart MacRae composed a trio for clarinet, cello and piano for the 2014 McEwen Commission. The piece, Ixion premiered on Thursday 6 November 2014 at the Concert Hall, University of Glasgow.  

Performed by Yann Ghiro, Duncan Strachan and Simon Smith. The piece takes its title from the Greek myth in which Ixion is tricked by Zeus into seducing a cloud (Nephele) in the shape of Zeus's wife, Hera; his eternal punishment is to be fixed to a burning wheel in the heavens.

A full programme note and composer and performer biographies can be found in the McEwen concert programme 2014.

Ixion excerpt 1

Ixion excerpt 2

Ixion excerpt 3

Ixion excerpt 4

Premiere of Stuart MacRae's Ixion commissioned by the University of Glasgow (McEwen Memorial Concert commission, 6 Nov 2014)
L to R: Duncan Strachan (cello), Yann Ghiro (clarinet), Dr Jane Stanley (curator of McEwen Bequest), Simon Smith (piano), Stuart MacRae (composer)

L to R: Duncan Strachan (cello), Yann Ghiro (clarinet), Dr Jane Stanley (Bequest curator), Simon Smith (piano), Stuart MacRae (composer)