Standing Stone

Standing Stone is Paul McCartney's second major foray into classical music, following 1991's Liverpool Oratorio. Commissioned by EMI to mark their centenary, the work is a symphonic poem based on a long narrative poem McCartney wrote about the origins of Celtic culture and the mystery of standing stones. Unlike his previous classical work, which was a collaborative effort with Carl Davis, Standing Stone saw McCartney taking a more direct role in the composition process, famously using a computer and MIDI software to translate his musical ideas into notation. The album was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Chorus at Abbey Road Studios, conducted by Lawrence Foster. While critics at the time were divided on its structural rigor, the album was a commercial success in the classical charts, showcasing McCartney's ability to apply his melodic sensibilities to a much larger, more complex canvas. It stands as a significant marker of his late-career desire to transcend the boundaries of popular music.