Entire program devoted to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
Tuesday 27 October 2009
Double play is a series of the Amsterdam ‘Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ’. Here composers conduct and vice versa. In this edition Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (1934) presents a selection from his vast oeuvre. It has been quite some time since the famous British composer conducted his own work in the Netherlands. Davies has developed from an ‘enfant terrible’ of British musical live to one of the most prominent composers of this time. This yielded him the title of ‘Sir’ and his appointment to ‘Master of the Queen’s Music’.
Orkney
Stylistically, emotionally and thematically Davies has very broad approach. Scottish culture and particularly the culture of the Orkney Islands, where he lives a secluded life, is an important source of inspiration to the composer. This group of islands is being threatened by the effects of global warming. Davies reports on this in his recent composition Last Door of Light.
Postman
Jimmack the Postie is a portrait of Sir Peter’s postman (postie). He wrote the piece for Ian Barr in recognition of his efforts for the St. Magnus Festival in Orkney. Ian Barr is chairman of the Scottish Postal Board.
Wedding
In An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise with a succession of Scottish tunes the orchestra depicts wedding festivities. While echoes of the wedding are heard in the distance, the sun rises, which is represented by a bagpipe. Together orchestra and bagpipe bring the piece to a rousing conclusion.
Clarinet
Sir Peter has written 10 Strathclyde concertos, each for a different solo instrument. The Strathclyde Concerto nr. 4 features the clarinet and orchestra. In the two-movement concert he demonstrates all aspects of this instrument, from the virtuoso to the slow, mainly in the low register. A cadenza leads to the coda introducing a Scottish melody.
Sir Peter’s website
The Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic conducted by Peter Maxwell Davies
Friday 4 December 2009, 8.15 pm
Amsterdam: Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
Tickets at € 23,-, reduced price € 18,50
Soloists
Dimitri Ashkenazy, clarinet
Gunther Haussknecht, bagpipe
Program
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
Jimmack the Postie
Strathclyde Concerto nr. 4
Last Door of Light (Dutch première)
An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise
The Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic will also be giving concerts in het Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam on Saturday 20 February and Friday 14 May 2010.
