Rory MacDonald; Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Our Gilded Veins

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has long been known for championing British contemporary music and, following two albums entirely dedicated to Thomas Wilson, the orchestra now turns to other leading composers of the contemporary scene. Devised by conductor Rory Macdonald, the programme includes works that share the themes of loss, love and life: Jay Capperauld'sOur Gilded Veinstakes centre-stage, alongsideWithin Her Arms, Anna Clyne's 'fragile elegy' (The New Yorker), James MacMillan's legend-basedThe Death of Oscarand the commemorativeFor Zoe, Martin Suckling'sMeditation (after Donne)- which features church bells from across Scotland - and Peter Maxwell Davies'sFarewell to Stromness(in an arrangement for strings by Rosemary Furniss), which arguably features the composer's most recognisable tune.