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'Caritas Live' Releases:

Introducing our NEW series:

'CARITAS LIVE' No. 1-11 (Catalogue Numbers: ABZ 141CD-ABZ 151CD) are now available on 11 separate Compact Discs. Buy now in our Caritas Music Store.

The 'Caritas Live Series,' available on 11 different CDs contains a wide variety of pieces by Scottish-based composer James Douglas. These CDs were all recorded live and feature many exciting pieces for Organ, Piano, Cello, Trumpet and Flute amonst others. Click here to buy these and many other CDs now.

For further information on these and other CDs Click here.

A Selection of Caritas Releases

1) 'Visions of Glory' (CD, ABZ 121CD) by James Douglas and David Adam

2) 'Cry of the Deer' (CD, CCBZ 271CD) by James Douglas and David Adam

3) 'Cloud of Unknowing' (CD, ABZ 130CD) by James Douglas

4) 'A Vision' (CD, ABZ 110CD) by James Douglas

Concert Reviews

1) Nine World Premieres by Composer James Douglas lifts the audience (27th October 2008)

9 new works by Composer James Douglas premiered at The Macphail Theatre in Ullapool have lifted the spirits of the enthusiastic audience. Despite unsettled weather on the evening, a large audience turned out to hear the latest music by Composer James Douglas. The highlights of the evening included ‘Café Society’ written about 5 Parisian Cafes, ‘Waltz for Anna’ a new moving and elegant waltz and ‘Pilgrim’s Song’ based on words from Pilgrim’s Progress: sung superbly by Baritone Richard Mein. The audience left feeling deeply inspired, moved and motivated by this astonishing Composers music, which was a real mood lifter for all.

Further details in our Blog

(CDs available online from Caritas Music Store www.caritas-music.co.uk).

2) Pianist and Composer James Douglas delights with The Ullapool Experience…

Pianist and Composer James Douglas delighted an enthusiastic and emotional audience in Ullapool, Ross-shire, Scotland, with his stunning performance of his work ‘The Ullapool Experience’ for solo Piano on Thursday 21st August 2008. This moving and inspirational work accompanied nearly 200 photos of Scotland by his wife photographer Helen Douglas, with music composed about all the places featured in the photographs. James Douglas has been inspired by the Highlands of Scotland for over 40 years and has written music about the area and has released numerous CDs featuring his wife’s photography. In the Concert, James Douglas performed individual works entirely from memory, including ‘To Loch Assynt,’ ‘Gruinard Bay,’ ‘Summertime Song,’ ‘Ullapool Fanfare,’ ‘The Hills are Lonely’ and ended with accompanying his daughter Katharine Douglas in the title track of their recent CD ‘Peace of the Highlands.’

Audience Comments on the evening included: ‘You have moved me to tears,’’ ‘your music speaks to my soul’ ‘looking forward to your next Concert in October!’ and ‘Different from the usual, we really enjoyed the evening.’

3) ‘Trumpets dazzle as ‘Highland Glory’ by James Douglas premieres in North West Scotland…’

Trumpeters Alistair Neally and Pam Brown dazzled the audience with the World Premiere of ‘Highland Glory’ by James Douglas, in North West Scotland last Saturday 3rd November, at The Macphail Centre in Ullapool. James Douglas had the unique idea of writing a piece of music dedicated to the people of the Highlands and Islands and many of them travelled from all over Scotland to hear this stunning work as well as many other exciting and triumphant works by Douglas. Other highlights included popular works ‘The Ullapool Fanfare’ (which began and ended the Concert; a new Ullapool tradition), ‘To Beinn Ghoblach’ for Solo Flute, ‘Autumn Serenade’ performed beautifully by Alistair Neally and the stunning solo performance by Richard Mein (Baritone) of ‘Wrestling Jacob,’ showing off his presence and command of the stage, with all this music by Ullapool based Composer James Douglas. During the interval James Douglas and other artists joined the audience for some refreshments and also signed copies of his new CD: ‘Peace of the Highlands,’ which received rapturous applause after its performance of the title track by father and daughter: James and Katharine Douglas and flautist George Gwilt. The evening ended leaving the audience feeling uplifted and refreshed by their evening of amazing music and all of them left feeling better for their evening out. A night not to be missed!  

4) ‘Inverness Cathedral’ premiered in Inverness Cathedral, Inverness, Capital of the Highlands (26th July 2007)

Composer James Douglas (based in Ullapool), gave the World Premiere of his ‘Inverness Cathedral’ on Thursday 26th July at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Inverness. This majestic Organ work was performed as part of a Lunchtime Music Programme during The Flower Festival at The Cathedral during InvernessFest and the Highland Year of Culture 2007. James Douglas, an eminent Organist and Composer, performed the piece himself and was delighted at its reception from the Audience. The Concert began with a warm introduction from the Provost of the Cathedral: The Very Reverend Alex Gordon and he, Visitors, and members of the Congregation enjoyed a dynamic recital from this exciting Organist and Composer. James Douglas also gave the world’s first performance of ‘To the Cairngorms,’ a set of three pieces written for the people of Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey. Many people commented on the superb sound of the Organ; the versatility of Douglas’ music for the Organ (it was indicated that it would be suitable for performance also by an Orchestra), and it is hoped that James Douglas and his music will return to the Cathedral very soon. At the end of the Concert, copies of his new very successful CD: ‘Peace of the Highlands’ were on sale as well as through Wesley Owen Books & Music in Castle Street, Inverness.

5) 'Peace of the Highlands creates quite a stir in Ullapool’ (12th July 2007)

The Music of Composer James Douglas, as featured in the BBC series ‘Sahara with Michael Palin,’ has been performed throughout Europe, Great Britain and the USA and his new CD ‘Peace of the Highlands’ has created quite a stir in Ullapool and throughout the Highlands. James and his Ensemble: ‘The Glorious Company,’ celebrated the launch of their new CD in front of a packed and delighted audience at The Macphail Centre with a superb ‘Summertime Song Concert’ on last Friday 6th July. The music was spectacular with particular solo spots for George Gwilt (Flute), Pam Brown (Trumpet) and Richard Mein (Baritone) all accompanied by James Douglas. In a recent newspaper interview, James Douglas’ music was quoted as being ‘Music inspired by the melody of the land,’ (Inverness Courier Tuesday 26th June 2007) and his new CD certainly describes that love of both melody and the beautiful North West Scotland where much of his inspiration comes from.

 He told the audience in The Macphail Centre that in particular the Highlands in Winter influenced some of his writing (A Procession of White Mountains for Flute & Piano), as well as seeing the beautiful gardens at Inverewe (To Inverewe Garden for Flute & Piano) and the immediate surroundings of local businesses, cafes and bookshops in Ullapool, all of which helped to inspire the music for his new recording.

 ‘Peace of the Highlands’ by James Douglas is now on sale throughout the Highlands and Islands or is available direct from Caritas Music Publishing www.caritas-music.co.uk (Credit Cards accepted, no charge for postage worldwide).

6) 'A GREAT CONCERT' (3rd March 2003)

It takes some good music, nowadays, to produce a really great and meaningful concert. At the Caritas 5^th Birthday Concert on Saturday 1^st February 2003 at Christ Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, Scottish Composer James Douglas and "The Glorious Company" produced some memorable performances of his music: "Threnody for Lost Time" (A Threnody for 9/11 in NY, USA), "Four Ghazals"; "Double Prelude No. 4 (Macchu Picchu);" and included The World Premieres of "Golden Prelude" for Flute & Piano, "Toccata: Caritas 5" for Organ and "Gabaldoni"s Trumpet" for Trumpet & Piano.

Audience reaction: "Stunning!"

The photograph shows Katharine H. Douglas (Director) cutting the cake at the concert on 1st February 2003 to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Caritas Music Publishing (Photograph © 2003 Wired Nomad Ltd)

For further information please contact: 

Email: caritas@caritas-music.co.uk  

Fax: + 44 (0) 1854 612 938

Post: Caritas Music Publishing, Achmore, Moss Road, Ullapool, IV26 2TF, Ross-shire, Scotland.

 

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Achmore, Moss Road, Ullapool, IV26 2TF
Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1854 612 938
e-mail: info@caritas-music.co.uk