Raymond MacDonald

MacDonald was born in Glasgow (Scotland) to a family steeped in the arts (his father Hamish MacDonald was a contemporary artist) and studied at Glasgow University, where he obtained a PhD in psychology studying the therapeutic effects of music for individuals with learning difficulties.{{Cite news |url-status=live |archive-date=2023-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818102706/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-herald-1130/20080920/282132107252336 |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-herald-1130/20080920/282132107252336 |title=Hamish MacDonald |date=20 Sep 2008 |first=Rebecca |last=McQuillan |publisher=The Herald |access-date=18 August 2023 |via=PressReader}}{{Cite thesis|title=Structured music workshops for individuals with learning difficulties : an evaluation study|url=https://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b1606695|publisher=University of Glasgow|date=1996|degree=PhD |first=Raymond Alfredo Rossi|last=MacDonald}}{{Cite web|last1=Hargreaves|first1=David J.|last2=MacDonald|first2=Raymond|last3=Miell|first3=Dorothy|editor1-first=Susan|editor1-last=Hallam|editor2-first=Ian|editor2-last=Cross|editor3-first=Michael|editor3-last=Thaut|date=2016-01-01|title=Musical Identities|url=https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198722946.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780198722946-e-45|access-date=2021-03-24|website=The Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198722946.013.45|isbn=978-0-19-872294-6}} After completing his PhD, MacDonald worked as artistic director for Limelight, a music production company specialising in training and developmental opportunities for people with impairments.{{Cite web|title=One on one ...with Raymond MacDonald {{!}} The Psychologist|url=https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-22/edition-12/one-one-raymond-macdonald|access-date=2021-03-22|website=thepsychologist.bps.org.uk}}{{Cite web|title=Limelight Music|url=https://limelightmusic.org.uk/|access-date=2021-04-16}}

MacDonald’s work is informed by a view of improvisation as a social, collaborative and uniquely creative process that provides opportunities to develop new ways of engaging musically. He plays in many collaborative free improvisatory contexts, and his roots in jazz and pop music can be heard across all areas of his performance and composition.{{Cite web|title=Raymond Macdonald|url=https://glasgowinternational.org/artists/raymond-macdonald/|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Glasgow international}} His unique approach of combining music and psychology and incorporating other artistic disciplines has been used to develop collaborative projects and ongoing working relationships around the world.{{Cite web|last=Kee|first=Joanne|date=2013-09-09|title=An interview with Raymond MacDonald|url=http://jazz.org.au/raymond-macdonald/|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Jazz Australia}} He began his performing career playing guitar in Remember Fun, as part of the indie scene in Glasgow in the late 1980s and moved into jazz playing with saxophone quartet The Hung Drawn Quartet and a jazz trio, Another Hairdo.{{Cite web|last=Jazz|first=All About|title=Raymond MacDonald: Man with Two Brains article @ All About Jazz|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/raymond-macdonald-man-with-two-brains-raymond-macdonald-by-duncan-heining.php|access-date=2021-03-22|website=All About Jazz|date=7 January 2016}} 

MacDonald has collaborated with musicians across the spectrum of international contemporary music, such as Marilyn Crispell, George Lewis, David Byrne, Jim O’Rourke, Damo Suzuki, Kang Tae Hwan, Axel Dorner, Tatsuya Nakatani, Tony Buck, Michael Zerang, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura.{{Cite web|last=ORCID|title=Raymond MacDonald (0000-0002-9748-4480)|url=https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9748-4480|access-date=2021-03-22|website=orcid.org}} His list of UK collaborators is equally extensive, and includes Evan Parker, Nurse with Wound, Fred Frith, Keith Tippett, Barry Guy, Harry Beckett, Keith Rowe, Lol Coxhill, Maggie Nicols, Steve Noble, Steve Beresford, the London Improvisers Orchestra (LIO), and Future Pilot A.K.A. He is a founding member of the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (GIO) and co-leads the George Burt-Raymond MacDonald Quartet.  He plays with Alister Spence and Sia Xray in Sensaround and has long standing duo partnerships with Marilyn Crispel and Gunter "Baby" Sommer.{{Cite web|title=heart/noise, by Sensaround|url=https://hellosquare.bandcamp.com/album/heart-noise|access-date=2021-03-24|website=hellosQuare}}

MacDonald instigates and collaborates on cross-disciplinary projects and has worked with visual artists, dancers, writers and filmmakers. Cross-disciplinary projects include collaborations with Christine Borland, Simon Starling, Martin Boyce, Douglas Copland, a BBC Radio 3 commission Between the Ears for Burt-MacDonald Quintet (BMacD5), and an ongoing collaboration Scarecrows & Lighthouses with Boyce and David Mackenzie.{{Cite web|title=A new order set to music Visual artist Martin Boyce has formed his own park life with a soundtrack by an innovative collaborator, reports Moira Jeffrey|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11911021.a-new-order-set-to-music-visual-artist-martin-boyce-has-formed-his-own-park-life-with-a-soundtrack-by-an-innovative-collaborator-reports-moira-jeffrey/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=HeraldScotland|date=22 November 2002 }}{{Cite web|title=Scarecrows & Lighthouses, part one: Scarecrows, Tramway, Glasgow|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13047209.scarecrows-lighthouses-part-one-scarecrows-tramway-glasgow/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=HeraldScotland|date=13 February 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Biography|url=https://raymondmacdonald.co.uk/biography.html|access-date=2021-03-24|website=raymondmacdonald.co.uk}} MacDonald has also worked with Mackenzie on film soundtracks, including Young Adam (2003), Outlaw King (2018) and short film What is Essential? that debuted on Netflix as part of their anthology series Homemade, (2020).{{Cite web|title=Outlaw King Album – Department Odd|url=https://departmentodd.com/outlaw-king-album/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=departmentodd.com}}{{Cite web|title=Department Odd – a creative avenue for projects – most of which are evolving slowly.|url=https://departmentodd.com/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=departmentodd.com}} Other contributions to music for film and TV include soundtracks for Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising (2010), and Scottish Television series Taggert.

• This is not improvised but that is: Lockdown 2020 (2020), with daughters Eva and Maria. Broadcast as part of [https://improvfest.ca/archive-if2020/ Improvfest 2020], hosted International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation, Guelph, Canada. {{Cite web|title=Event Archive|url=https://improvfest.ca/archive-if2020/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Improvisation Festival}}{{Citation|title=This is not improvised but that is: Lockdown 2020| date=10 August 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kny7lEPTb4E |access-date=2021-06-02}}
• Theatre of the Home (2021), with Maria Sappho{{Citation|title=GIOfest XIII - Theatre Of The Home by Maria Sappho and Raymond MacDonald| date=30 January 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hil1WY79Gnc |access-date=2021-03-28}}{{Cite web|title=with Raymond MacDonald|url=https://www.mariasappho.com/with-raymond-macdonald|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Sappho}}
• Duet for two people who have never met (2020), with Rachel Joy Weiss.{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Robin|title=Raymond MacDonald + Rachel Joy Weiss|url=https://hcmf.co.uk/programme/raymond-macdonald-rachel-weiss/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival}}
• Return to Y'Hup: The world of Ivor Cutler (2020), a reimagining of the first release by Scottish poet and composer Ivor Cutler. Co-created with Matt Brennan and Malcolm Benzie.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-30|title=Return to Y'Hup: The World of Ivor Cutler review – tribute to surreal poet's fantasy island|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/30/return-yhup-world-ivor-cutler-review-glasgow|access-date=2021-03-28|website=the Guardian}}{{Cite web|date=2020-01-18|title=Citizen Bravo, Raymond MacDonald and Friends: Return to Y'Hup: The World of Ivor Cutler review – charming tribute to a national treasure|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/18/citizen-bravo-raymond-macdonald-friends-return-yhup-world-of-ivor-cutler-review|access-date=2021-03-28|website=the Guardian}}
• Still My Sleepy Fortunes (2019), new work commissioned by Creative Scotland to mark the centenary of Scottish writer Muriel Spark.{{Cite web|title=Musical celebration of Muriel Spark to take centre stage at Edinburgh Festival Fringe|url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/musical-celebration-muriel-spark-take-centre-stage-edinburgh-festival-fringe-546460|access-date=2021-03-28|website=www.scotsman.com|date=22 May 2019 }}{{Cite web|title=Celtic Connections: Raymond MacDonald & Friends - Works Inspired by Muriel Spark at The Glad Cafe, Glasgow on 18 Jan 2019|url=https://www.thegladcafe.co.uk/events/2019-01-18-celtic-connections-raymond-macdonald-and-friends-works-inspired-by-muriel-spark-the-glad-cafe|access-date=2021-03-28|website=The Glad Cafe|date=18 January 2019 }}
• Silent Music | Seeing Sound (2019), exhibition of graphic scores at The Royal Scottish Academy with ongoing collaborator Jo Ganter (visual artist and print maker). {{Cite web|date=2018-12-17|title=SILENT MUSIC {{!}} SEEING SOUND {{!}} Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture|url=https://www.royalscottishacademy.org/exhibitions/silent-music-seeing-sound/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=www.royalscottishacademy.org}} {{Cite web|date=2015-06-01|title=Graphic Scores: Jo Ganter & Raymond MacDonald|url=https://gantermacdonald.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/graphic-scores/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=ganter {{!}} macdonald}}
• Together (2017), a new score commissioned by PRS Foundation with musician Christian Ferlaino for Lorenza Mazzetti's 1956 silent film.{{Cite web|title=Live tour of new commission for 'Free Cinema' film 'Together' (1956): Beyond Borders|url=https://prsfoundation.com/grantees/beyond-borders-live-tour-new-commission-free-cinema-film-together-1956/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=PRS for Music Foundation}}
• [https://www.glasgowimprovisersorchestra.com Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra], founding member (2002 - present)
• Guitar and Saxophone duo with musician [https://jerreid.com Jer Reid]{{Citation|last=Owen|first=Benjamin|title='Calling Names' Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid|date=2021-04-23|url=https://vimeo.com/540640489|access-date=2021-06-02}}

Between 2000 and 2012, MacDonald worked in the Psychology Department at Glasgow Caledonian University, where he led the Glasgow Caledonian Music Psychology Research Group. Since 2012, he has held the position of Professor of Music Psychology and Improvisation at Edinburgh University and was Head of The School of Music between 2013 and 2016. He was editor of the journal Psychology of Music between 2006 and 2012.{{Cite web|last=Max-Planck-Institut|title=IDEA Lecture with Raymond MacDonald: The Art of Becoming: what is improvisation and why is it important|url=https://www.aesthetics.mpg.de/en/research/department-of-music/events/veranstaltungen-musik-detail/article/idea-lecture-with-raymond-macdonald.html|access-date=2021-03-26|website=www.aesthetics.mpg.de}} He runs workshops and lectures internationally on issues relating to composition, improvisation, music education, health and wellbeing and musical communication.

• MacDonald, R. and Wilson, G. (2020), The Art of Becoming: How Group Improvisation Works New York: Oxford University Press.{{Cite book|last1=MacDonald|first1=Raymond A. R.|url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190840914.001.0001/oso-9780190840914|title=The Art of Becoming: How Group Improvisation Works|last2=Wilson|first2=Graeme B.|date=2020-06-25|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-084091-4|edition=1|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190840914.001.0001}}

• MacDonald R.A.R, Miell D & Hargreaves D.J.  EDS (2017), The Oxford Handbook of Musical Identities Oxford: Oxford University Press.{{Cite book |title=Handbook of musical identities |date=2017 |editor=Raymond A. R. MacDonald |editor2=David J. Hargreaves |editor3=Dorothy Miell |isbn=978-0-19-175999-4 |edition=First |publisher=Oxford University Press |oclc=975027391}}
• MacDonald R.A.R, &. Kreutz, G Mitchell, L.A., EDS (2012),  Music, Health and Wellbeing Oxford: Oxford University Press.{{Cite book |title=Music, Health, and Wellbeing |date=2012-02-23 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-958697-4 |editor-last=MacDonald |editor-first=Raymond |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199586974.001.0001 |editor-last2=Kreutz |editor-first2=Gunter |editor-last3=Mitchell |editor-first3=Laura}}
• Hargreaves D.J.  Miell D & MacDonald R.A.R, EDS (2012), Musical Imaginations Oxford: Oxford University Press.{{Cite book |title=Musical imaginations: multidisciplinary perspectives on creativity, performance, and perception |date=2012 |editor=David J. Hargreaves |editor2=Dorothy Miell |editor3=Raymond A. R. MacDonald |isbn=978-0-19-956808-6 |publisher=Oxford University Press |oclc=753300206}}
• Miell, D. MacDonald R.A.R, & Hargreaves D.J. EDS (2005), Musical Communication Oxford: Oxford University Press.{{Cite book |title=Musical communication |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |editor=Dorothy Miell |editor2=Raymond A. R. MacDonald |editor3=David J. Hargreaves |isbn=0-19-852936-8 |oclc=58546138}}
• MacDonald R.A.R, Miell D & Hargreaves D.J.  EDS (2002), Musical Identities Oxford: Oxford University Press.{{Cite book |title=Musical identities |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |editor=Raymond A. R. MacDonald |editor2=David J. Hargreaves |editor3=Dorothy Miell |isbn=1-4237-0562-9 |oclc=667096025}}

• MacDonald, R.A.R , Burke, R.L.  De Nora , T, Sappho Donohue, M. and Birrell, R. (2021)  Our Virtual Tribe: Sustaining and Enhancing Community via Online Music Improvisation Frontiers in Psychology.{{Cite journal|last1=MacDonald|first1=Raymond|last2=Burke|first2=Robert|last3=De Nora|first3=Tia|last4=Sappho Donohue|first4=Maria|last5=Birrell|first5=Ross|date=2021-02-23|title=Our Virtual Tribe: Sustaining and Enhancing Community via Online Music Improvisation|journal=Frontiers in Psychology|volume=11|pages=623640|doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.623640|issn=1664-1078|pmc=7940664|pmid=33708151|doi-access=free}}
• MacDonald, R.A.R. and Birrell, R. (2021) Flattening the curve: Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra’s use of virtual improvising to maintain community during COVID-19 pandemic. Critical Studies in Improvisation.{{Cite journal|last1=MacDonald|first1=Raymond|last2=Birrell|first2=Ross|date=2021-05-06|title=Flattening the Curve: Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra's Use of Virtual Improvising to Maintain Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic|url=https://www.criticalimprov.com/index.php/csieci/article/view/6384|journal=Critical Studies in Improvisation / Études critiques en improvisation|volume=14|issue=2–3|issn=1712-0624}}
• MacGlone, U. M.; Vamvakaris, J.; Wilson, G. B. & MacDonald, R. A. R. (2020) ‘Understanding the effects of a community music programme for people with disabilities: a mixed-methods, person-centred study’. Frontiers in Psychology.{{Cite journal|last1=MacGlone|first1=Una M.|last2=Vamvakaris|first2=Joy|last3=Wilson|first3=Graeme B.|last4=MacDonald|first4=Raymond A. R.|date=2020-12-14|title=Understanding the Wellbeing Effects of a Community Music Program for People With Disabilities: A Mixed Methods, Person-Centered Study|journal=Frontiers in Psychology|volume=11|pages=588734|doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.588734|issn=1664-1078|pmc=7768027|pmid=33381067|doi-access=free}}

• {{Official webpage|url=http://raymondmacdonald.co.uk/}} (for recording work)

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Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:Academics of the University of Edinburgh

Category:British male saxophonists

Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow

Category:FMR Records artists

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