Today will mark 2 weeks since my beloved father died. On 1st February, Dad (James Douglas Composer) passed away peacefully. He would have been 90 this summer. Until he passed away, I had no idea that the end was coming but he is now at peace.

James Douglas was born in 1932 in Dumbarton and music was to be his life. During WW2 he and his grandmother (who brought him up) were evacuated several times. In Broughton near Biggar, The Borders, James was taught the piano by Polish soldiers who were billeted nearby. He remembered this fondly, as his Piano teacher was away at the War, as he would say. James won a scholarship to Broughton High School and left school to study for a Music Diploma in Munich, Salzburg and Paris, being awarded an LRAM and an ARCM respectively. He married in the late 1950s and had 2 sons, however, sadly his first wife took her own life (An event which would have a profound effect on his life and his own well-being at times).

In 1967 he got a Music teaching job at The Edinburgh Academy and thereafter met his 2nd wife Helen (A primary teacher there), they married in 1968 and spent almost 54 years married together. Dad often said that Helen was his inspiration, his muse and much of his music was dedicated to her. The spell at The Edinburgh Academy (12 years in all) was a creative and inspiring time, allowing James to be commissioned for a work to be performed at The 150th anniversary of the school’s opening for The Usher Hall, Edinburgh. He also was commissioned for a new work to be performed during The Edinburgh International Festival called The 7 Deadly Sins, this was also premiered at The Stirling Festival in 1973.

James went on to Compose Music professionally all of his life, in fact when notifying his death, the only correction I had to make was to mark his profession as Composer, rather than Composer (Retired). He never retired and was still recording music only 2 months ago before he died. He was delighted that his music became available online as well as on CD and he marvelled at where people listened to his music from. The legacy of his music will continue forever.

You could say that on this day my life changed forever. In fact only time will tell how my life will change. The one constant is Dad’s Music. When we planned the funeral, it was by singing 2 hymns and in fact listening and choosing some of his music, which got us as a family through the ordeal. Music will keep us connected and will also have a profound effect on the future too. On this day will last forever I hope. Rest in Peace Dad. xx

Katharine Douglas