james sclater
composer
James Sclater believes that his music should be challenging for the performer,
should give each listener something of substance upon which to reflect,
and should express the complexity of human emotions that give our lives
depth and meaning. He works in many different musical genres, a reflection
of his desire to integrate his music with the community as a whole.
Located in Clinton, Mississippi, Sclater has won annual ASCAP awards for
serious music since 1991 and is a six-time winner of the music award from
the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. He taught for forty years at
Mississippi College and played clarinet in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
for 29 years. He has fulfilled commissions for music from many ensembles and
individuals.
His works include:
- “Concerto for Orchestra,” written for the 80th birthday
of noted author Eudora Welty
- “The Christmas Gift,” a chamber opera regularly performed by
the Children's Musical Theatre in Cheropovets, Russia
- “Light upon Silver,” a song cycle based upon
photographs by the composer's father, with texts by the composer and Patricia Sclater
- “Serenade for Clarinet and Strings”
- “Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble”
See the entire works list
About this piece
Sclater's Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble won a 2011 Classical Music Award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. Competition judge Jack Gallagher wrote about the work "...James Sclater's Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble, rich in imagination, color and invention, is a strikingly ambitious three-movement work of majestic scope and achievement. Strongly conceived across an epic span of nearly one-half hour, it traverses with impressive assurance a sweepingly wide narrative arc featuring brilliantly deployed keyboard passages complemented by a multitude of rhythmically vital, compellingly crafted textures for the entire ensemble. The ardent breadth, depth and vigor of the opening movement are succeeded by a yearningly expressive slow movement of patrician beauty and lyricism. The spirited finale continues the expansive discourse of the opening movements, concluding the work with impressive gravitas. The disposition and deployment of the solo instrument remains notably idiomatic and beautifully realized throughout. Balances are clearly and carefully achieved and the scoring for wind ensemble exhibits great clarity, revealing an intimate conversance with the medium. The vibrant personality and seriousness of purpose of Mr. Sclater's Piano Concerto commend the work as a deeply expressive, uncommonly distinguished example of its genre." All three movements are available on YouTube. Score and parts are available from the composer.
Listen to other works at YouTube
News and events
Sclater has recently completed "Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres," a work scored for SATB Chorus and Orchestra commissioned by the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi. His recent "Serenade (2011) for Clarinet and String Quartet" will be premiered in March 2012 at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. Selections from his song cycle "Reflections in the Mirror of Childhood" have recently been uploaded to youtube and are available for listening.
Contact
Contact information for inquiries, correspondence, ordering unpublished music or commissioning a work:
jsclater@comcast.net
