Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

September 8, 1934 in Manchester, England

Death

:

March 14, 2016 in Orkney, Scotland

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Peter Maxwell Davies was a British composer and conductor who was born on September 8, 1934, in Salford, Lancashire, England. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a trumpet player and his mother was a singer, and they both encouraged their children to pursue music. Davies began his musical education at the age of six, when he started taking piano lessons. He later learned to play the violin and the trumpet, and he also sang in his school choir. He attended the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied composition with Richard Hall and piano with Gordon Green. He graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Music degree. After graduation, Davies worked as a freelance composer and conductor. He was appointed the first conductor of the New Music Manchester ensemble in 1959, and he also conducted the Pierrot Players, a group of musicians who specialized in contemporary music. In 1962, he co-founded the Fires of London, a chamber ensemble that performed his own works as well as those of other contemporary composers. Davies' early works were influenced by the serialism of composers such as Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern. However, he soon began to develop his own style, which was characterized by a strong sense of drama and a fascination with the natural world. His music often incorporated elements of folk music and medieval music, as well as sounds from the environment, such as bird calls and the sound of waves. One of Davies' most famous works is his opera "Eight Songs for a Mad King," which was first performed in 1969. The opera tells the story of King George III, who suffered from mental illness, and it features a solo baritone who sings and acts out the role of the king. The music is highly theatrical, with the baritone using a variety of vocal techniques, including speaking, shouting, and singing in falsetto. Another notable work by Davies is his Symphony No. 1, which was composed in 1973. The symphony is based on the Orkney Islands, where Davies lived for many years. The music is inspired by the landscape and the history of the islands, and it incorporates elements of Scottish folk music and the music of the ancient Picts, who once inhabited the islands. Davies was also known for his work as a conductor. He was the conductor of the BBC Philharmonic from 1985 to 1991, and he also conducted many other orchestras around the world. He was particularly interested in promoting the music of contemporary composers, and he often included their works in his programs. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Davies was also a teacher. He taught at the Dartington College of Arts in Devon from 1962 to 1966, and he later taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the University of Manchester. He was also a visiting professor at many universities around the world. Davies was knighted in 1987 for his services to music, and he was appointed Master of the Queen's Music in 2004. He continued to compose and conduct until his death on March 14, 2016, at the age of 81. Overall, Peter Maxwell Davies was a highly influential composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His music was characterized by a strong sense of drama and a fascination with the natural world, and he was particularly interested in promoting the music of contemporary composers. His legacy continues to inspire musicians and audiences around the world.

More....