Introducing Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie (1847-1935): Scottish Composer, Musician and Academic

Introduction: Alexander Campbell Mackenzie is one of three composers who were instrumental in creating a renaissance of Scottish music. The other two were Hamish McCunn and John Blackwood McEwen. Naturally, there have been many others who have contributed to this revival, from the late-Victorian period until the present day. On a wider scale, Mackenzie, along with Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry and Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was associated with the renewal of British music in the second half of the 19th century

Mackenzie is largely forgotten, at least by today’s concertgoers, although he does retain a foothold in the catalogues of recorded music. Where he is recalled, it is usually for his works that are infused with the mood of Scotland – Burns Rhapsody, Piano Concerto and Pibroch Suite. That does not mean he indulges in Tartan sentimentality. His romantic sounding music owes a huge debt to Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, neither of whom were parochial, Mackenzie’s operas and dramatic cantatas are now forgotten, apart from the occasional revival. One sign of hope for his standing as a cosmopolitan European/Scottish composer in the 21st century is the forthcoming recording of the entire corpus of piano music by Christopher Howell.

Brief Biography of Alexander Campbell Mackenzie:

• Born at 22 Nelson Street, Edinburgh on 22 August 1847.
• Aged only ten years old he went to Germany to school at Schwarzburg-Sondershausen in the Central German province of Thuringia. There he studied violin with K.W. Ulrich and theory with Eduard Stein.
• In 1862 he continued studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London after gaining a King’s Scholarship. He studied violin there with Prosper Stainton and composition with Charles Lucas.
• Returning to Edinburgh in 1865 he worked as a violinist and conductor.
• During 1874, Mackenzie married Mary Malina Burnside. They had one daughter, Mary.
• In 1881 he removed to Florence where he stayed for seven years. During this period, he befriended Franz Liszt.
• On 22 February 1888, Alexander Mackenzie was appointed principle of the Royal Academy of Music, succeeding the late George Macfarren. Mackenzie moved to London, where he stayed for the remainder of his life.
• He played a key role in establishing the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in 1889.
• Important works composed during the 1880/90s included the cantatas The Bride (1881) and Jason (1882); the operas Colomba (1883) and The Troubadour (1886); a ‘Scottish’ Concerto for piano (1897); three Scottish rhapsodies; and an overture, Britannia (1894).
• He assumed role of Principal Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Society during 1892.
• In 1894 Alexander Mackenzie gave the first British performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.6 ‘Pathetique’ on 28 February1894.
• He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1895 and latterly appointed KCVO (Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order) by King George V in 1922.
• In 1903 Mackenzie went on a ‘fact-finding’ visit to Canada to investigate Canadian folksong. This resulted in his orchestral Canadian Rhapsody (1905)
• He resigned as principal of the RAM during 1924 and was succeeded by fellow-Scottish composer John Blackwood McEwen.
• In 1927 his autobiography, A Musician's Narrative was published.
• Alexander Campbell Mackenzie died on 28 April 1935 at his home at 20 Taviton Street, Gordon Square, London on 28 April 1935.

Six Key Works:

These works are all available on CD or download. There are several other works that would appear to demand interest and possible professional recording.

• Concerto for piano, op.55 ‘Scottish’
• Quartet for Piano and Strings in E flat major, op. 11
• Britannia Overture
• Burns’ Second Scottish Rhapsody
• Violin Concerto in C sharp minor, op.32
• Pibroch Suite for violin and orchestra, op.42

Brief Bibliography:

Mackenzie, Sir Alexander Campbell, A Musician's Narrative (Cassell and Co., London, 1927).

Farmer, Henry George, A History of Music in Scotland (Hinrichsen, London 1947)

Purser, John, Scotland’s Music: A History of the Traditional and Classical Music of Scotland from Early Times to the Present Day (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh,1992)

If you can only listen to two CDs of Alexander Campbell Mackenzie’s music:

Mackenzie, Alexander Campbell, Violin Concerto, Pibroch Suite for violin and orchestra, Malcolm Stewart (violin), Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Vernon Handley (Concerto); David Davies (Pibroch), Hyperion CDA66975, 1998.

Mackenzie, Alexander Campbell, Overture: The Cricket on the Hearth, op.62, Twelfth Night: incidental music, op.40, Benedictus for orchestra, op.37, no.3, Burns ‘Second Scotch Rhapsody’, op24, Coriolanus: incidental music, op.61, BBC Scottish Symphony/Martyn Brabbins, Hyperion CDA66764, 1995

And finally, if you have only time to hear one work:

This must be the Scottish Concerto for piano and orchestra. This was composed in 1897 for performance by Paderewski. There is no doubt about the ‘Scottish’ antecedents of this work with ‘well-known’ tunes in each movement. Yet ,they are seen through prism of virtuosity and all the appurtenances of a large and powerful late romantic piano concerto. The concerto begins with a strong ‘allegro maestoso’ balanced by a heart-felt second subject.  The core of the work is the gorgeous slow movement that musicologist John Purser has described as ‘ardent, and yet deeply nostalgic.’ It is a love song (probably unrequited) for the beloved seen through the eyes of the Scottish landscape. All is put to rights in the final movement, which is a romping reel, from start to finish.

The Scottish [Piano] Concerto was released on Hyperion CDA67023 in 1998. The disc included fellow Scot (by adoption, born in Berkshire) Donald Tovey’s Piano Concerto in A major, op.15 (1903). Marytn Brabbins conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony, with Steven Osborne as soloist in both works.