Peter Maxwell Davies

Job (Vocal Score)-A substantial work for four soli SATB chorus and orchestra using text from the translation of Stephen Mitchell's The Book Of Job. Like Vaughan Williams in his Job: A Masque for Dancing Davies was inspired inpart by William Blake's 21 engravings for the Book of Job. His oratorio however is less dependent on find parallels for Blake's visual details given the direct poetry in David Lemon's adaptation of the Stephen Mitchelltranslation from the biblical original it is hardly surprising that the spotlight should be so much on Job's suffering litany. The baritone has the lion's share of the setting though the other soloists occasionally reinforce hisplea and chorale-like episodes universalize his predicament. Davies frames with work with two seminal plainsong-like passages; there is also plenty of dramatic contrast both within Job's monologues and in the vivid orchestralwriting for the smarmy Comforters the initially shrill God who finally appears out of a dazzling orchestral whirlwind and the animal life he uses to illustrate the wonders of creation to a humbled Job.Commissioned by theUniversity of British Colombia it was first performed in May 1997 by Valdine Anderson (soprano) Linda Maguire (mezzo soprano) Paul Moore (tenor) and Kevin McMillan (baritone) with the Vancouver Bach Choir and the CBC VancouverOrchestra conducted by the composer.Vocal score with piano reduction of the orchestral score. Duration c. 70mins.

If Davies's Cello Concerto has already evoked comparisons with Elgar's that is perhaps an indication not only of its wealth of solo melody (there is hardly a page where the cello is not singing or if not that thendancing) and of its predominantly slow tempos but also of its musical stature. This second Strathclyde concerto is a virtuoso piece for the entire ensemble which is used almost throughout as a clutch of soloists rather than asa tutti block. The general tone is one of passionate but interior dialogue especially in the opening Moderato and the slow movement; and though the finale is more extrovert the work ends back in quietness and rumination.

This work was commissioned by Alistair Grant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the second Jacobite rising (1745-6). It was first performed on 15th October 1997 at the City Halls Glasgow conducted by Peter Maxwell Davies. Scored for Soprano Alto Tenor and Bass solo Chorus and orchestra. Duration c.40 minutes. Vocal score on sale Conductor's score and orchestral parts on hire.

Chamber opera in a prologue and one act. A ghost story telling of the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers in the Hebrides. This is a mystery story in the form of a chamber opera. The prologue is set as acourt of enquiry into the unexplained disappearance of the three keepers from a lighthouse. Questions are posed by a solo horn which may sound from among the audience and three officers give answer. Gradually they move fromstraight testimony into fantastical imaginings of evil during a 'flashback' to the lighthouse; but then we snap back to the courtroom. In the main act the three singers become the vanished keepers. They have been together formonths long enough to be fully aware of each other's weaknesses; petty bickerings suggest a relationship which is stable but liable to become highly unstable at any moment. They sing songs to reduce the tension Blazes beginningwith a rough ballad of street violence accompanied by violin and banjo. Sandy's song with cello and out-of-tune upright piano is a thinly disguised description of sexual bliss and Arthur's with brass and clarinet is atub-thumping hymn. But the songs serve only to resurrect in their minds ghosts from the past and as the fog descends each of the keepers becomes convinced that he is being claimed by the Beast. They prepare to meet its dazzlingeyes which become the lights of the relief vessel and the three men reappear as officers met at the lighthouse only by an infestation of rats. They leave and at the end the last hours of Blazes Sandy and Arthur begin to playover again.Study Score. Duration c. 1h 25mins.

Corpus Christi With Cat And Mouse is a setting of fragments selected from the Richard Hill Commonplace Book an early 16th century manuscript in the library of Balliol College Oxford. Commissioned by the Master andFellows of Balliol College to commemorate the centenary of the death of Benjamin Jowett Master of Balliol 1870-1893 this work was first performed by the Chapel Choir of Balliol College conducted by Mark Dawes in November1993.For unaccompanied SATB choir. This vocal score includes a piano accompaniment for rehearsal purposes.

Westerly Gale in Biscay Salt in the Bread Broken-Part of the Hawkes Pocket Scores Series

A setting of the Liber Usualis plainsong for unaccompanied SATB chorus written for the Feast Of he Archangel St. Michael. The piece was first performed by the Chior Of Westminster Abbey in July 2004 at Tewkesbury Abbey. Afull Organ or Piano accompaniment is provided for rehearsal purposes only.

This motet for unaccompanied SATB choir was commissioned for the 500th anniversary of King's College Cambridge. This is a setting in Greek of an Orthodox prayer to Christ as Son and Word God and Man risen and saving. The prayeris led by a solo tenor and sung mostly by the men with the upper voices entering only for an appeal to Wisdom (sofia) and the final alleluia.It was first performed in 1991 in King's College Chapel by the choir of King's Collegeconducted by Stephen Cleobury.

This is the sacred comedy among Manwell Davies' pieces of music-theatre. Brought on by a children's wind band in a 7/8 march the juggler presents himself at an abbey and is accepted by the abbot the only singing character.The other monks are the clarinettist percussionist and flautist all of whom play 'duets' with the juggler as he is put to mundane tasks; sweeping preparing food washing clothes all done with much horseplay. The same threemonks then present their offerings to the Virgin in the form of flamboyant instrumental arias. Left alone the juggler offers his own skills to the accompaniments of Renaissance dances for piano with cello (who also providesupport and commentary throughout). The other members of the community return and are appalled but the image of the Virgin suddenly springs to life as a violinist who plays her own solo acceptance. The abbot acknowledges herjudgement and the juggler is escorted boisterously out by the band.

Continuant la richesse de la musique chorale de Maxwell Davies grâce à son rôle de maître de musique de la Reine, ' An céleste Song ' est le deuxième carol délicieux à la Royal Collection' et est adapté pour les chorales dans tous les domaines. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) Et Orgue