This dreamlike and evocative piece from Peter Maxwell Davies was originally composed for Flute and orchesta. Here it is presented as Flute with Piano reduction and still captures the wonder and sanctuary of the composer's home surrounded by seabirds and seals that fire the imagination in childlike ways evoking images of mermaids and angels. The Flute solo is both tranquil and highly virtuosic and is well supported by the Piano accompaniment. The piecewas first performed in May 1999 at the Royal Concert Hall Dublin.

Piccolo and Piano Reduction. This work was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was first performed on 23 April 1997 by Stewart McIlwham and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer. Thethree movements should be played without a break.The piccolo may have obvious limitations as a solo instrument but Davies is not one to shirk a challenge. What he does is to play with the stereotypical modes of the instrument so that the military ?pipe and drum? effect is hinted at near the beginning of the third movement while the jaunty manner is recalled at the close of the first but as through a veil. A potentially comic partnership with the bassclarinet is also dignified when the two instruments engage in meditative dialogue in the second movement.Duration c. 15 minutes.Study Score on sale. Conductor's score and orchestral parts are available on hire.

The solo flute here is kept in high profile by the absence from the orchestra not only of other flutes but also of violins and oboes; in addition the trumpets are used sparingly (they do not for instance play in the slowmovement) so that for much of the time the flute is playing against a mellow ensemble of clarinets horns bassoons and low strings. If this is nevertheless one of Davies's most open-spirited pieces that comes partly from theready flights of the soloist partly from its glockenspiel accompaniments in the outer movements (replaced by ticking claves in the Adagio) partly from the dancing character of so much of the music and partly from the harmonicclarity in a light region not far from C minor.