DAVIES, Peter Maxwell
b Manchester, 8 September 1934
He was educated at Leigh Grammar School, Royal Manchester College of Music and Manchester University. In 1957 he won an Italian government scholarship to study in Rome. From 1959 to 1962 he was director of music at Cirencester Grammar School. In 1962 he was awarded a Harkness Fellowship and went to Princeton University Graduate Music School; he gave a series of lectures in Austria, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand in 1965; and in 1966 was composer-in-residence at the University of Adelaide, South Australia. In May 1967 he formed, with Harrison Birtwistle, the Pierrot Players. He lived in a remote Dorset village until
1970, and since then he has made his horn e in the Orkneys. In 1979 the University of Edinburgh awarded him an honorary doctorate of music.
1952 (18)
Quartet Movement, for string quartet
1955 (21)
Sonata for trumpet and piano
1956 (22)
Five Pieces for piano, Op 2
Stedman Doubles, for clarinet and percussion (revised 1968)
Clarinet Sonata (1956-7)
1957 (23)
Alma redemptoris mater, for instrumental ensemble
St Michael, sonata for seventeen wind instruments
1958 (24)
Sextet
Stedman Caters (revised 1968)
Prolation, for orchestra
1959 (25)
Ricercar and doubles on 'To Many a Well', for instrumental ensemble
Five Motets, for SATB soloists, double choir and instrumental ensemble
Five Klee Pictures, for school, amateur or professional orchestra (revised 1976)
William Byrd: Three Dances, arranged for school or amateur orchestra
1960 (26)
O Magnum Mysterium, for unaccompanied SATB, with two instrumental sonatas and organ fantasia
Five Voluntaries, arranged for school or amateur orchestra
Organ Fantasia from O Magnum Mysterium
1961 (27)
String Quartet
Ave Maria, Hail Blessed Flower, carol for SATB
Te lucis ante terminum, for SATB and instrumental ensemble
1962 (28)
First Fantasia on In Nomine of John Taverner, for orchestra
Four Carols, for SATB unaccompanied
Leopardi Fragments, for soprano, contralto, and instrumental ensemble
The Lord's Prayer, for SATB unaccompanied
Sinfonia for chamber orchestra
1963 (29)
Veni Sancte Spiritus, for SATB soloists, SATB and small orchestra
1964 (30)
Seven In Nomine, for instrumental ensemble (1964-5)
Second Fantasia on John Taverner's In Nomine, for orchestra
Shakespeare Music, for instrumental ensemble
Ave, Plena Gracia, for SATB with optional organ
1965 (31)
Ecce manus tradentis, for SATB soloists, SATB chorus and instrumental ensemble
Revelation and Fall, for soprano and sixteen instruments (revised 1980)
Shall I Die for Mannis Sake?, carol for SA with piano
The Shepherd's Calendar, for young singers (SATB)
and instrumentalists
1966 (32)
Notre dame des fleurs, for soprano, mezzo-soprano, counter tenor and instrumental ensemble
Five Carols, for SA unaccompanied
Solita, for flute with musical box
1967 (33)
Antechrist, for instrumental ensemble
Five Little Pieces for piano
Hymnos, for clarinet and piano
1968 (34)
Missa Super L'Homme Armé, for speaker or singer (male or female)
and instrumental ensemble (revised 1971)
Stedman Caters, for instrumental ensemble
Purcell: Fantasia on a Ground and two Pavans, realisation for instrumental ensemble
1969 (35)
St Thomas Wake, foxtrot for orchestra on a pavan by John Bull
Worldes Bliss, for orchestra
Eight Songs for a Mad King, for male voice and instrumental ensemble
Eram Quasi Agnus, instrumental motet
Gabrielli: Canzona, realisation for chamber ensemble
Vesalii Icones, for dancer, solo cello and instrumental ensemble
1970 (36)
Taverner, opera in two acts
Points and Dances from Taverner, instrumental dances and key-board pieces from the opera
Sub Tuam Protectionem, for piano
Ut Re Mi, for piano
1971 (37)
From Stone to Thorn, for mezzo-soprano and instrumental ensemble
Bell Tower (Turris campanarum sonantium), for percussion
Buxtehude: Also hat Gott die Welt Geliebet, cantata for soprano and instrumental ensemble; realisation including 'original' interpretation
Suite from The Devils for instrumental ensemble with soprano obbligato drawn from the sound track of Ken Russell's film
Suite from The Boyfriend for small orchestra; drawn from the sound track of Ken Russell's film, based on the musical by Sandy Wilson
1972 (38)
Blind Man's Buff, masque for soprano (or treble), mezzo-soprano, mime and small orchestra
Fool's Fanfare, for speaker and instrumental ensemble
Hymn to St Magnus, for instrumental ensemble with mezzo-soprano obbligato
Tenebrae super Gesualdo, for mezzo-soprano, guitar and instrumental ensemble
Canon in memoriam Igor Stravinsky, puzzle canon for instrumental ensemble
Lullabye for Lillian Rainbow, for guitar
J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C, sharp minor, 'The 48', Book 1, realisation for instrumental ensemble
Dunstable: Veni sancte spiritus - veni creator spiritus, realisation plus original work, for instrumental ensemble
1973 (39)
Stone Litany - Runes from a House of the Dead, for mezzo-soprano and orchestra
Renaissance Scottish Dances, for instrumental ensemble (anon arranged by Maxwell Davies)
Si quis diligit me, motet for instrumental ensemble (Peebles and Heagy, arranged by Maxwell Davies)
Purcell: Fantasia on One Note, realisation for instrumental ensemble
1973-4 (39-40)
Fiddlers at the Wedding, for mezzo-soprano and instrumental ensemble
1974 (40)
Dark Angels, for voice and guitar
Miss Donnithorne's Maggot, for mezzo-soprano and instrumental ensemble
All Sons of Adam, motet for instrumental ensemble (anon Scottish sixteenth century, arranged by Maxwell Davies)
Psalm 124, motet for instrumental ensemble (Peebles, Fethy, anon arranged by Maxwell Davies)
J. 5. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C# major, 'The 48', Book I, realisation for instrumental ensemble
1975 (41)
Ave maris Stella, for instrumental ensemble
The Door of the Sun, for viola
The Kestrel Paced Round the Sun, for flute
The Seven Brightnesses, for clarinet in Bb
Three Studies for percussion, for eleven percussionists
My Lady Lothian's Lilte, for instrumental ensemble with mezzo-soprano obbligato (realisation)
Stevie's Ferry to Hoy, for piano (beginners)
1976 (42)
Three Organ Voluntaries, (formerly Three Preludes for Organ)
Kinloche His Fantassie, realisation for instrumental ensemble
Anakreontika, Greek songs for mezzo-soprano and instrumental ensemble
The Blind Fiddler, song cycle for soprano and instrumental ensemble
Symphony No 1
The Martyrdom of Saint Magnus, chamber opera in nine scenes without interval for mezzo-soprano, tenor, two baritones, bass and instrumental ensemble
1977 (43)
Non pater noster, prayer for SATB and organ
Westerlings, for unaccompanied SATB
Runes from a Holy Island, for instrumental ensemble
A Mirror of Whitening Light, for instrumental ensemble
Ave rex angelorum, for SATB unaccompanied or with organ
Our Father Whiche in Heaven Art, motet for instrumental ensemble (Angus arranged by Maxwell Davies)
1978 (44)
The Two Fiddlers, opera in two acts for young people to perform
Le Jongleur de Notre Dame, masque for baritone, mime/juggler,
instrumental ensemble and children's band
Salome, ballet in two acts and nine scenes for full orchestra
Four Lessons, for two clavichords
Dances from The Two Fiddlers for instrumental ensemble
1979 (45)
Black Pentecost, for mezzo-soprano, baritone and orchestra
Solstice of Light, for tenor solo, SATB chorus and organ
Nocturne for alto flute
Kirkwall Shopping Songs, for children's voices, recorders, percussion and piano
The Lighthouse, chamber opera in one act with prologue for tenor baritone, bass, and instrumental ensemble
1980 (46)
Cinderella, pantomime opera in two acts for children to play and sing
The Yellow Cake Revue, comment in words and music on the threat of uranium mining in Orkney for voice and piano
Farewell to Stromness, piano interlude from The Yellow Cake Revue, arranged for guitar by Timothy Walker
Yesnaby Ground, piano interlude from The Yellow Cake Revue
A Welcome to Orkney, for instrumental ensemble
Little Quartet, string quartet for young musicians
Symphony No 2
1981 (47)
The Medium, monodrama for mezzo-soprano
Piano Sonata
The Rainbow, short music theatre work for young children to sing
and play
Hill Runes, for guitar
The Bairns of Brugh, for chamber ensemble
Little Quartet No 2, string quartet for young musicians
Tenor arias from The Martyrdom of Saint Magnus, for solo tenor, piano or organ
Lullabye for Lucy. for SATB
Salome, reduction for theatre orchestra of ballet score (1978)
for
thirty-eight instruments
Brass Quintet, unconducted
Seven Songs horn e, for unaccompanied children's voices SAA
1982 (48)
Songs of Hoy, masque for children's voices and instruments
Sea Eagle, for horn
Image, Reflection, Shadow, for instrumental ensemble
Sinfonia Concertante for chamber orchestra
Organ Sonata
Tallis: Four Voluntaries, arranged for brass quintet
Tallis: Four Voluntaries, arranged for brass band
Gesualdo: Two Motets, arranged for brass quintet
Gesualdo: Two Motets, arranged for brass band
March - The Pole Star, for brass quintet
March - The Pole Star, for brass band
1983 (49)
Birthday Music for John, trio for flute, viola and cello
Into the Labyrinth, cantata for solo tenor and chamber orchestra
Sinfonietta Accademica, for chamber orchestra
1984 (50)
Agnus Dei, for two solo sopranos, viola and cello
Sonatine for violin and cimbalom
Unbroken Circle, for instrumental ensemble
The Number
11 Bus, music theatre work for tenor, mezzo-soprano,
baritone, two dancers, mime and instrumental ensemble
Guitar Sonata
One Star, At Last, carol for SATB
Symphony No 3