Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
About Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
"...it will be Max's recent music – as opposed to the music he composed in the 50s and 60s – that will be his real legacy. For it is this that is a summation of a lifetime of listening in and with landscape, of being useful as a composer, a teacher, and an inspiration to his colleagues, and it is a visionary renewal of a richness of musical discourse that you might have thought impossible at the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st." - Tom Service
Universally acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of our time, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies made a significant contribution to musical history through his wide-ranging and prolific output. In a worklist that spans more than five decades, he wrote across a broad range of styles, yet his music always communicates directly and powerfully, whether in his profoundly argued symphonic works, his music-theatre works or witty light orchestral works.
Maxwell Davies was born in 1934 in Salford, Manchester. He studied with Richard Hall at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where together with Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr and John Ogdon he formed the New Music Manchester Group. He continued his studies with Goffredo Petrassi in Rome. In the early 1970s he moved to the Orkney Islands north-west of the Scottish mainland, where he lived the rest of his life.
Maxwell Davies’ major dramatic works include full-length ballets Salome (1978) and Caroline Mathilde (1991), music-theatre works Eight Songs for a Mad King (1969) and Miss Donnithorne's Maggot (1979), and operas Resurrection (1987), The Lighthouse (1979), The Doctor of Myddfai (1995), and Taverner (1962-68/1970), which was released by NMC Records on a Grammy-nominated disc with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Oliver Knussen. Maxwell Davies’s opera Kommilitonen! (Young Blood!) (2010) received critical acclaim for its world premiere run of performances at London’s Royal Academy of Music, with the Daily Telegraph labelling the composer “A Master Symphonist”.
Maxwell Davies’ huge output of orchestral work comprises ten symphonies - hailed by the Times as “the most important symphonic cycle since Shostakovich” – as well as numerous concerti including the Strathclyde Concerti (1986-96) and most recently his violin concerto Fiddler on the Shore (2009), written for Daniel Hope and first performed in 2009 by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and at the BBC Proms. Maxwell Davies’ light orchestral works include An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise (1985) and Mavis in Las Vegas (1996), and five large-scale works for chorus including the oratorio Job (1997). His landmark cycle of ten string quartets, the Naxos Quartets, was described in the Financial Times as “one of the most impressive musical statements of our time”.
Orchestral works with Schott include Last Door of Light (2008) for the Camerata Salzburg and Carinthischer Sommer, Overture to St Fancis of Assisi (2009) for the BBC SSO as part of Glasgow's festival celebrating his 75th birthday in 2009, and Reel of Spindrift, Sky (2011) for the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. One of his last major works, Symphony No. 10 (2013), was commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, and was premiered by the LSO under Sir Antonio Pappano at the Barbican Centre in February 2014.
Maxwell Davies held the position of Composer/Conductor with both the Royal Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras. He guest-conducted orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestra. He had close links with the St. Magnus Festival, Orkney’s annual arts festival, which he founded in 1977, was Composer Laureate of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Visiting Professor at Canterbury Christchurch University and the Royal Academy of Music.
Many of Maxwell Davies’ works have been recorded over the years, and Naxos launched a major re-release of a seventeen-disc series of recordings, including a number of significant works such as the symphonies, The Lighthouse (1979), An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise and the Strathclyde Concerti.
Maxwell Davies was knighted in 1987 and appointed Master of the Queen's Music in 2004, in which role he sought to raise the profile of music in Great Britain, as well as writing many works for Her Majesty the Queen and for royal occasions. He was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the New Year 2014 Honours List. He passed away in Orkney, Scotland, in 2016.
- Sir Peter Maxwell Davies - The Max Trust
- Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is also published by Wise Music and Boosey & Hawkes
Worklist
Gallery
Products
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Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, CelloSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-25In stock€4.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, ViolaSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-24In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, ContinuoSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-22In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, PercussionSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-20In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Horn IISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-19In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Horn ISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-18In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trombone IISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-17In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trombone ISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-16In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trumpet III in CSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-15In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trumpet II in CSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-14In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trumpet I in CSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-13In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trumpet III in BbSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-12In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trumpet II in BbSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-11In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Trumpet I in BbSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-10In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Oboe IIISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-06In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Oboe IISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-05Out of stock€4.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Oboe ISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-04In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Flute IIISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-03In stock€3.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Editor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Individual part, Flute IISeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994-02In stock€4.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesEditor: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: 5 Voluntaries
Instrumentation: school orchestraProduct number: ED 10994In stock€8.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for mezzo soprano and ensembleComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano and ensembleLanguage: Latin
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for mezzo soprano and ensembleComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreInstrumentation: mezzo-soprano and ensembleLanguage: ItalianProduct number: ED 12611In stock€15.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Separate editionInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 13515 Q11794In stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 1340
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: BH 6501449In stock€27.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for orchestraComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 1282
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: BH 6501082In stock€12.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
from "O Magnum Mysterium"Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: Alleluia, pro Virgine Maria
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB) a cappella or with string quartet or 4 woodwindsn ad libitumLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 11274In stock€5.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for flute, oboe, two clarinets, horn and bassoonComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, horn and bassoon
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four pieces for pianoComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 14046Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 1119
Instrumentation: bagpipe and orchestraProduct number: BH 6500810In stock€30.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 1202
Instrumentation: 7 instrumentsProduct number: BH 6501014In stock€16.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 1264
Instrumentation: flute (alto flute), clarinet (basset clarinet), marimba, piano, viola, celloProduct number: BH 6501034In stock€23.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Winthrop Rogers Church Choral Series, No. 113
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB), organ (piano) ad libitumLanguage: LatinProduct number: BH 5400249In stock€2.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
text from "Christmas Poem" by George Mackay BrownComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesEdition: Choral scoreSeries: The Royal Collection
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Product number: ED 13283Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesEdition: Choral scoreInstrumentation: mixed choir (SATB) and organProduct number: ED 13212Product TypeIn stockAs low as €4.99Incl. Tax
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for SATB choirComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesEdition: Choral score, piano accompaniment for rehearsal onlyInstrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Product number: ED 13065Product TypeIn stockAs low as €2.99Incl. Tax
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serenade for chamber orchestraComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: chamber orchestra
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SerenadeComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Carolísima
Instrumentation: chamber orchestraProduct number: ED 12491In stock€23.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for children's chorus, chorus (SATB), military band, military trumpets and trombones and orchestraComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: children's chorus (unbroken voices), chorus (SATB), symphony orchestra, military band and military brassLanguage: Latin, English
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for string quartet and string orchestraComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: string quartet and string orchestra
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from "The Two Fiddlers"Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreInstrumentation: violin and ensembleProduct number: BH 6400223In stock€12.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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from "The Two Fiddlers"Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: violin and pianoProduct number: BH 1000534In stock€12.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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A collection of new pieces for pianoMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: pianoLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 21470In stock€10.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Reflections on the life and work of Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907)Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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Earle Brown Contemporary Sound SeriesComposer: David Bedford | Luciano Berio | Sir Harrison Birtwistle | Earle Brown | Morton Feldman | Bruno Maderna | Sir Peter Maxwell Davies | Luigi Nono | Richard OrtonEditor: Earle BrownInterpreter: Seymour Barab | Don Butterfield | Jacques Castagner | Alan Ray Hacker | Don Hammond | Philip Kraus | Walter Lewis | Jane Manning | Richard Orton | Francis Pierre | Matthew Raimondi | David Soyer | Mary Thomas | John Tilbury | Walter Trampler | David Tudor | Moray WelshConductor: Luciano Berio | Bruno Maderna | Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesOrchestra/ensemble: The English Chamber Orchestra | The Pierrot PlayersMedia Type: 3 CDsEdition: 3 CDs in slipcaseProduct number: WER 69312In stock€36.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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MotetComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreInstrumentation: soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB) and ensembleLanguage: LatinProduct number: BH 6400410In stock€13.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Music-theatre worksComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reductionInstrumentation: male voice and ensembleLanguage: EnglishProduct number: BH 11657In stock€26.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Music-theatre worksComposer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 1170
Instrumentation: male voice and ensembleLanguage: EnglishProduct number: BH 6500882In stock€26.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies | Henry PurcellMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreInstrumentation: 6 instrumentsProduct number: BH 6400208In stock€30.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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from "The Yellow Cake Revue"Composer: Sir Peter Maxwell DaviesMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: BH 100544In stock€12.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping