2016 Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)

Subject: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 08:40 PM

A bit of a loose cannon was Max, often penning music that was not especially approachable, but he should at least be remembered here as he did call on a fair bit of Scottish material at times for his compositions. His appointment as Master of the Queen's Music turned him from a staunch republican into a staunch monarchist, somewhat infuriatingly. But he never minded being infuriating!

Subject: RE: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: GUEST,wdyat12
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 09:15 PM

Bruce Gagnon and I used to play Farewell to Stromness by Peter Maxwell Davies on our radio show at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, WBOR 91.1 FM. Here is the link to this very beautiful anti-nuke tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N_YJhE3vmw
How come this blue clicky thing didn't turn blue?

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 10:03 PM

click 

Subject: RE: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: GUEST,wdyat12
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 10:42 PM

Guest,
How did you do that? I've been away from mudcat too long. The last time I had cookies was I think 2001.
               
wdyat12

Subject: RE: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 11:59 PM

I heard the story on National Public Radio today.

Prolific and multifaceted British composer and conductor Peter Maxwell Davies died Monday at age 81 at his home in the Orkney Islands, off the northern coast of Scotland. His death, from leukemia, was reported on the websites of both his publisher and his management company.

Called the "harlequin of British music" for more than five decades in a tribute by author Paul Griffiths, Maxwell Davies leaves a trove of varied works. Within some 300 pieces, there are 10 symphonies (hailed by the Times of London as "the most important symphonic cycle since Shostakovich"), concertos, operas, song cycles, chamber music of all kinds, ballets, choral pieces and music for children. His latest work, The Hogboon, an opera for children, will debut with the London Symphony Orchestra June 26. He'll be remembered for both his controversial, expressionistic early works and later, more lyrical pieces incorporating elements of folk music, such as An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise, a 1985 tone poem that features bagpipes.

You'll find the rest of the story following the link.

Subject: RE: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: GUEST,Blandiver (Astray)
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 05:28 AM

RIP & much respect.

1972

Subject: RE: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 07:15 AM

I liked his earlier, crazier stuff the best but I'll give the later pieces more of a hearing.

He once wanted to adopt one of my kittens, but Mingus peed on his drapes so they parted company after a week.

Subject: RE: Obit: Max (Peter Maxwell Davies)
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 11:59 AM

We had a request at one of our residential care homes for 'Farewell to Stromness' so I made a simple arrangement for tenor guitar, drawing quite heavily on the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet version, and also Catriona McKay's version for harp. Played it at a gig today! Went down well! (thanks Max!)