The Edinburgh Quartet perform Slanting Rain by Alasdair Nicolson the McEwen Commission for 2015

The Edinburgh Quartet perform Alasdair Nicolson's Slanting Rain (2015)

Sir John Blackwood McEwen (1868 - 1948)

Sir John Blackwood McEwen (1868 - 1948) © National Portrait Gallery, London

Quartet for strings: 2 violins, viola and cello, in C minor. May 1928. Score, 37 autograph manuscript

Autograph score of McEwen's Quartet for strings in C minor, May 1928

The Ixion Ensemble 2014, Yann Ghiro, Duncan Strachan and Simon Smith

The Ixion ensemble (2014), L to R: Duncan Strachan, Simon Smith and Yann Ghiro

70 Years of Creativity in Scottish Chamber Music

Renowned composer, teacher and University of Glasgow graduate Sir John Blackwood McEwen bequeathed the residue of his estate to the University to help promote the performance of Scottish chamber music.

Since the bequest, a rich catalogue of new Scottish music by the likes of Sally Beamish, James MacMillan, Thea Musgrave, Eddie McGuire, Helen Grime, John Maxwell Geddes, Aileen Sweeney, John Lunn, Emily Doolittle and John Purser has been commissioned and premiered at the University.

 

Multidisciplinary composer, musician and University of Glasgow alumnus Fergus Hall is the recipient of the McEwen Commission for 2026 and his new work for soprano, flute, violin and percussion will be premiered by the IPSA Collective in the University Memorial Chapel on Friday 29th May.

Watch the premiere of the 2024 commission, Three pieces from the East End by Aileen Sweeney

Watch the premiere of the 2024 commission, Three pieces from the East End by Aileen Sweeney

 

 

An excerpt from the 2014 commission, Ixion by Stuart MacRae

Watch a scored excerpt of the 2014 commission — Stuart MacRae's Ixion

Decorative design element

Listen to… the 2023 McEwen Commission - Colin Broom's The Big Freeze