Peter Maxwell Davies by Stewart R. Craggs

Author:Stewart R. Craggs [Craggs, Stewart R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, General, Sociology
ISBN: 9781351765022
Google: TyIuDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-07-12T03:26:37+00:00

1979

Black Pentecost (J218)

Cantata for mezzo-soprano, baritone and orchestra

Text: Greenvoe (George Mackay Brown)

Adagio – Allegro molto

Lentissimo

Lentissimo – Allegro

Andante – Adagio

Date of composition: 1979

Commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra with funds made available by the Arts Council of Great Britain

2+1.2+1.2+1.2+1/43.2.0/timpani percussion (5)/celesta/strings

Duration: 53 minutes

First performance: London, Royal Festival Hall, 11 May 1982. Jan DeGaetani (mezzo-soprano), Michael Rippon (baritone) and the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Simon Rattle

Publication: Chester Music. Score © 1983

Manuscript: British Library, London. Add. Mss. 71331–71333, Vols. LXXX–LXXXII: compositional charts (3 pp.) and sketches; drafts in condensed score in pencil; full score in pencil (2 volumes): movements I–III, dated “March, A pril–May and May–June 1979”; movement IV, dated “Bunertoon July 1979”

Recording: Collins Classics 1366–3 (1993) Della Jones (mezzo-soprano), D. Wilson-Johnson (baritone)/BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Peter Maxwell Davies

Bibliography:

Anon., “Black Pentecost: a commentary”, Times Literary Supplement, 21 May 1982, p. 556

Cook, N., “Orchestral, Choral”, Musical Times, 123 (July 1982), p. 490 (A review of the first performance)

Davies, Peter Maxwell, Composer’s note, MaxOpus

Griffiths, P., Short note, MaxOpus

Johnson, S., “Maxwell Davies”, Gramophone, 70 (August 1993), p. 70 (A review of the Collins Classics recording)

Pruslin, S., Extended note, MaxOpus

Wamaby, J., “Record Review”, Tempo, no.185 (June 1993), pp. 45–46 (Comments on the Collins Classics recording)

Note: This work was written in response to the threat of uranium mining in the Orkneys

Solstice of Light (J219)

For tenor solo, mixed chorus (SATB) and organ

1.

New Hills and Lochs and Shores

2.

The Mild Circle of the Sun

3.

We Rowed Blindly North and North

4.

Green Whirls of melted Ice

5.

The Hills, the Skies, the Sweet and Salt Waters

6.

Earthbreakers, Hewers of Mighty Stone

7.

Circles of Stone on the Blank Moor

8.

Solstice of Light

9.

The Celtic Priests

10.

The White Weave of Peace

11.

Hawkship

12.

Norsemen

13.

Invocation of the Dove

14.

Prayer for These Islands: New Troves

Text: George Mackay Brown

Date of composition: 1978–1979

Dedication: For Norman Mitchell and the St Magnus Singers and Richard Hughes

Duration: 50 minutes

First performance: Kirkwall (Orkney), Cathedral Church of St Magnus, 19 June 1979. Neil Mackie (tenor), Richard Hughes (organ) and the St Magnus Singers, conducted by Norman Mitchell

First London performance: Queen Elizabeth Hall, 3 February 1981. BBC Singers, conducted by John Poole

Publication: Boosey & Hawkes. Choral score © 1979

Manuscript: British Library, London. Add. Mss. 71427–71428, Vols. CLXXVI–CLXXVII: draft in condensed score, dated “Bunertoon 18 January 1979”; wrapper dated “December [1978] – January [1979]”; full score in ink. Sketches and compositional charts at Add. Mss. 71389

Recording: Argo 436 119–2 (1992) N. Mackie (tenor)/C. Hughes (organ)/Choir of King’s College Choir, Cambridge/Nicholas Cleobury

Bibliography:

Brown, George Mackay, Note, MaxOpus

Davies, Peter Maxwell, Composer’s note, MaxOpus

Davies, Peter Maxwell, Spoken introduction, MaxOpus

Driver, P., “First Performances: 1979 St Magnus Festival”, Tempo, no. 130 (September 1979), pp. 35–36, 38 (Comments on the first performance)

Griffiths, P., Extended and short notes, MaxOpus

Pettitt, S., “Recitals”, Musical Times, 122 (April 1981), pp. 256–57 (A mention of the first performance)

Whittall, A., “Maxwell Davies”, Gramophone, 70 (February 1993), p. 70 (A review of the Argo recording)

Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society’s Silver Jubilee Salute (J220)

For instrumental ensemble

An arrangement of a work by Ronald Aim, written for H.M. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in September 1978

Date of arrangement: 1979

Flute (doubling piccolo), clarinet, horn, percussion (1), violin,

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