Jackson Free Press

From the moment the modern composer pulled up in his little red truck wearing jeans and tennis shoes, to the final moments of conversation in Cups Espresso Café in Clinton, James Sclater exuded approachable, down-to-earth warmth.

Listening to his music is like peering into a kaleidoscope where multi-faceted colors and shapes translate into unpredictable sound and rhythm.

Sclater is a talented and accomplished classical composer who just won his sixth award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. His most recent award is for his 2010 composition, "Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble," which musicians in Mississippi and Georgia have performed in the past year.

One of the competition judges described this piece as, "a strikingly ambitious three-movement work of majestic scope and achievement."

He is a tall man with graying hair, kind eyes and a gentle spirit. In a soft-spoken voice, he recalled growing up in Mobile, Ala., as a "Coast boy," and learning to play piano and clarinet as a child.

He spoke nostalgically and proudly about his daughter, Patricia, and talked fondly about his teaching career at Mississippi College. At age 67, he is enjoying retirement with his wife, Judy, in Clinton.

"Composing is something I did after I earned a living," he says.

Creating music has been always been a passion for Scalter who, throughout the course of his life, has created many beautiful compositions performed all over the United States.

He spoke about his composition process matter-of-factly.

"The thing I've learned is that you just have to get a routine and do it. You have to learn some skills and then you have to sit down and do it," he says.

"I used to have this idea that you go out and sit under the trees, and you wait for inspiration, but that doesn't get it... The hardest thing is to decide what you want to do and to limit yourself. It's just like any other job: You learn as much as you can and then sit down and work at it."

Sclater holds three music degrees: a bachelor's degree in theory composition and master's in music from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, and a doctorate in music composition from the University of Texas. He taught music composition and theory for 40 years at Mississippi College.

He recently launched a website, http://www.jamessclater.com, and is compiling recordings of his work online. In addition to his site, you can hear his compositions on YouTube. His retirement allows him to devote more time to some of his hobbies such as reading, writing, and photography, as well as playing clarinet with the Mississippi Wind Symphony. He is continuing his life's passion of composing music.

"I'd like to keep writing, and what I'm hoping in the future is that I can get some performances in other areas of the country. My plans are just more of the same stuff."

Previous Comments

ID

163867

Comment

Dr. Sclater is easily one of the most talented and kind-hearted people I've met. Two of our most prized possessions are original compositions he wrote for us celebrating the births of our daughters. Congrats, Jimmy!

Author

crpiii

Date

2011-06-23T13:06:44-06:00