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  1. Home
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  3. Peter Maxwell Davies, Selected Writings
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
October 2017
Print publication year:
2017
Online ISBN:
9781316662519
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316662519
Subjects:
Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Music, Music, Music Criticism
Series:
Music since 1900
Information

Book description

This book brings together an extensive and varied collection of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's written and spoken-word items for the first time. Spanning the composer's entire career, this compendium offers a balanced selection of Davies's articles and essays, speeches and lectures, interviews, radio broadcasts, programme notes, tributes and letters to newspapers. A number of items are published for the first time, including a new article from Davies himself (commissioned specially for this book), and several BBC radio broadcast interviews and talks from the 1960s. The structure of the book is chronological and divided into three parts, allowing readers to trace the development of Davies's thought and work over time, and to place each item in its biographical and historical context. The introduction and notes by Nicholas Jones place the writings in context, making this volume invaluable for those interested in the music and wider culture of post-war Britain.

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Contents

Page 1 of 4

Contents

Page 1 of 4

References

Bibliography

This bibliography is an updated version of the checklist of source material published in Peter Maxwell Davies Studies.1 It is divided into the following sections: (1) Academic writings; (2) Articles, essays and letters to journals and newspapers; (3) Lectures and speeches; (4) Libretti and texts; (5) Interviews: (a) Books, journals, theses and online written sources; (b) Newspapers; (c) Television, online videos and CD recordings; and (6) Radio broadcast talks and interviews: (a) British Library and BBC Sound Archives; (b) BBC Radio International. Programme notes are not included; neither are Davies’s private letters or his sixty-four volumes of private journals and diaries (the journals and diaries have been deposited at the British Library but are currently under embargo by Davies’s Estate). The content of each category is arranged in chronological order.

(1)

(1) Academic Writings

‘An Introduction to Indian Music’, 2 vols. (Mus. Bac. dissertation, University of Manchester, 1956).
(2)

(2) Articles, Essays and Letters to Journals and Newspapers

‘The Young British Composer’, The Score, 15 (March 1956), 84–5.
‘News from Italy’ [short note concerning the musical life in Italy in the winter of 1957–8], The Score, 22 (February 1958), 65.
‘Problems of a British Composer Today’, The Listener, 62 (8 October 1959), 563–4.
‘Formal Principles in “Prolation” for Orchestra’ [essay, incomplete draft, c. 1960], British Library, Add MS 71311, fols. 17–23.
‘In Classes Where They Sing and Play’, Times Educational Supplement, 10 February 1961, 245.
‘Composing Music for School Use’, Making Music, 46 (Summer 1961), 7–8.
‘Sessions’s Opera Stirs Berliners’ [review of the premiere of Roger Sessions’s Montezuma], New York Times, 21 April 1964, 43.
‘A Letter’, Composer, 15 (April 1965), 22–3.
‘The Young Composer in America’, Tempo, 72 (Spring 1965), 2–6.
‘Where Our Colleges Fail’, Times Educational Supplement, 10 February 1967, 463.
‘Sets or Series’, The Listener, 79 (22 February 1968), 250.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies on Some of his Recent Work’, The Listener, 81 (23 January 1969), 121.
‘Composer’s Forum’, Musical Events, 24 (January 1969), 23–4.
‘The Orchestra is Becoming a Museum’, in ‘The Symphony Orchestra – Has it a Future?’, Composer, 37 (Autumn 1970), 6–8.
‘Taverner: Synopsis and Documentation’, Tempo, 101 (June 1972), 4–11.
‘Pax Orcadiensis’, Tempo, 119 (December 1976), 20–2.
‘Benjamin Britten: Tributes and Memories’, Tempo, 120 (March 1977), 4.
‘Symphony’, Tempo, 124 (March 1978), 2–5.
‘Foreword’, in Michael Tippett O.M.: A Celebration, ed. Lewis, Geraint (Tunbridge Wells: The Baton Press, 1985), 7.
‘Arts Council and the RPO’ [letter], The Times, 5 December 1991, 17.
‘London’s Need for All Its Orchestras’ [letter], The Times, 9 August 1993, 13.
The Cheltenham International Festival of Music, 1945–1994 [article] (in-house publication, 1994).
‘Influence of Aboriginal Music’, MaxOpus [online], March 1997, www.maxopus.com.
‘Notes from the Antarctic: Glacial Harmony’, The Observer, 18 January 1998, 5.
‘Music to Our Ears: Well Done DFEE’ [letter], Times Educational Supplement, 21 January 2000, 24.
‘Four Composition Questions Answered’, MaxOpus [online], April 2000, www.maxopus.com.
‘Foreword’, in Perspectives on Peter Maxwell Davies, ed. McGregor, Richard (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2000), viii–ix.
‘Notes from a Cold Climate: The Diary of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’, in Davies, Peter Maxwell et al., Notes from a Cold Climate: Antarctic Symphony (Symphony No. 8) (London: Browns, 2001), 13–48.
‘Studying with Petrassi’, Tempo, 225 (July 2003), 7–8.
‘Is Serious Music Doomed?’, Incorporated Society of Musicians Music Journal, June 2005, 28–32 [abridged version of Davies’s lecture ‘Will Serious Music Become Extinct?’ – see below].
‘BBC Proms’, MaxOpus [online], September 2011, www.maxopus.com.
‘Letter from Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in Support of the Ulster Orchestra’, 2 December 2014, www.ulsterorchestra.com.s173242.gridserver.com/news/letter-from-sir-peter-maxwell-davies-in-support-of-the-ulster-orchestra.
‘Foreword’, in MacAlindin, Paul, Upbeat: The Story of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq (Dingwall, Ross-shire: Sandstone Press Ltd, 2016).
(3)

(3) Lectures and Speeches

‘Music Composition by Children’, contribution to the fourteenth symposium of the Colston Research Society, Bristol University, 2–5 April 1962, in Music in Education, ed. Grant, Willis (London: Butterworths, 1963), 108–24.
‘Music by Schubert, Beethoven, Schoenberg and Maxwell Davies, Introduced and Played by Peter Maxwell Davies’, an illustrated lecture given at the Bath Festival, Little Theatre, 23 June 1969; recording available at the BBC Sound Archive, T34065.
‘Tradition and an Individual Talent’, National Sound Archive lecture series, 13 March 1984; recording available at the British Library Sound Archive, T8585WR.
‘Music in Schools’, Presidential Address to the Schools Music Association’s North of England Education Conference, Chester, 2 January 1985.
‘Is Anybody Listening? Reflections on the Composer’s Relationship with Society Today’, British Library Stefan Zweig Series lecture, 23 May 1995; recording available at the British Library Sound Archive, H4607.
‘Will Serious Music Become Extinct?’, The Royal Philharmonic Society Lecture, 24 April 2005.
‘Religion and Politics: A Creative Involvement’, speech given at the Bleddfa Centre, Knighton, Powys, 26 November 2005; transcript available on MaxOpus, www.maxopus.com.
‘A Case for Classical Music, Old & New’, keynote speech given at the Incorporated Society of Musicians Annual Conference, 10 April 2007; transcript published in Incorporated Society of Musicians Music Journal, June 2007, 16–21.
‘Musica Speculum Mundi?’, lecture delivered at Kings Place Festival, 5 October 2008.
‘A Disorientating Ruckus’, keynote speech given at the conference ‘Composers: Who Needs Them? Composers and the Community’, The Worshipful Company of Musicians in association with The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, The Royal Over-Seas League, London, 8 October 2008.
‘ArtMusFair 2009: Shaping the Future of Contemporary Music’, keynote speech, Glasgow, 29 October – 1 November 2009.
‘The Changing Face of “New” Music’, New Music Insight Lecture, Institute of Musical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London, 11 June 2013; video recording available at: www.music.sas.ac.uk/music-video/new-music-insight/sir-peter-maxwell-davies.
(4)

(4) Libretti and Texts

I Can’t Compose Today (1966), two-part canon for mixed voices [unpublished].
Notre Dame des Fleurs (1966), music-theatre work, text in French.
Illuxit Leticia (1966), for two unaccompanied voices [unpublished].
Taverner (1962–8, partly reconstructed 1970), opera in two acts, libretto after letters and documents of the sixteenth century.
Blind Man’s Buff (1972), masque, text after nursery rhymes and Georg Büchner’s satirical play Leonce und Lena (1836).
Wedding Telegram (for Gary Kettel) (1972), for soprano and instrumental ensemble [unpublished].
A Puzzle-Canon for Gay News (1972), for four unaccompanied male voices, text in Latin [published in Gay News, 13 (December 1972), 13].
The Martyrdom of St Magnus (1976), chamber opera in nine scenes, libretto based on the novel Magnus (1973) by George Mackay Brown, and his translation of a poem (in An Orkney Tapestry, 1969) from Njal’s Saga (thirteenth-century Icelandic saga).
Cantata Profunda Op. 2002 (1977), for ‘Heldentenor und übergrosses Hammercembalo’ [unpublished].
Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (1977–8), masque, text based on medieval French legend as presented in Goutier de Coinci’s miracle play in verse, Les Miracles de la Sainte Vierge (c.1220).
The Two Fiddlers (1978), opera in two acts for young people to play and sing, libretto based on George Mackay Brown’s short story for children of the same name (1974).
Kirkwall Shopping Songs (1979), for young children.
The Lighthouse (1979), chamber opera in one act with a prologue, libretto based on A Star for Seaman by Craig Mair.
Cinderella (1979–80), pantomime opera in two acts for children to play and sing.
The Yellow Cake Revue (1980), comments in words and music on the threat of Uranium mining in Orkney.
The Medium (1981), monodrama for solo mezzo-soprano.
The Rainbow (1981), music-theatre work for young children to sing and play.
Seven Songs Home (1981), for a capella children’s voices.
Songs of Hoy (1981), masque (for children).
The No. 11 Bus (1983–4), music-theatre work.
First Ferry to Hoy (1985), for youth choir, instrumental ensemble, recorders and percussion group.
The Peat Cutters (1985), cantata (for brass band, youth choir and young children’s choir).
A Grace (1986), for unison voice(s) and instrument, text in Latin.
Resurrection (1986–7 [first commenced in 1963]), opera in one act with a prologue.
Six Songs for St Andrew’s (1988), song cycle for very young children to play and sing.
The Great Bank Robbery (1988–9), music-theatre work for children to play and sing.
Hircus Quando Bibit (1989), for voice and piano [unpublished].
Jupiter Landing (1989), music-theatre work in one act for children to play and sing.
Dinosaur at Large (1989), music-theatre work in one act for children to play and sing.
Dangerous Errand (1990), music-theatre work for very children to play and sing.
The Spiders’ Revenge (1991), music-theatre work for children to play and sing.
A Selkie Tale (1992), music-theatre work for children to play and sing.
The Turn of the Tide (1992), for orchestra, children’s chorus and young instrumentalists.
Seven Summer Songs (1993), for young children.
Song for Roderick (1999), for unaccompanied mixed voices [unpublished].
Wedding Anthem (1999), for unaccompanied mixed voices [unpublished].
Grand Oratorio: The Meaning of Life (2000), for male voices with castanets and tambourine [unpublished].
Otter Island (2003), cantata for children’s voices, with piano accompaniment.
Musica Benevolens (2011), concert overture for orchestra, SATB chorus, military trumpets and audience participation.
The Hogboon (2015), children’s opera, with professional orchestra and chorus.
(5)

(5) Interviews

(a)

(a) Books, Journals, Theses and Online Written Sources

‘Peter Maxwell Davies’, in Schafer, Murray, British Composers in Interview (London: Faber and Faber, 1963), 173–82.
‘The Origins of Vesalius: Peter Maxwell Davies Talks to Tom Sutcliffe’, Music and Musicians, 18 (December 1969), 24 and 74.
‘A Question of Identity: Blind Man’s Buff and Taverner’ [interview with Tom Sutcliffe], Music and Musicians, 20 (June 1972), 26–8.
‘Taverner: Peter Maxwell Davies Talks to Stephen Walsh About his New Opera’, Musical Times, 113 (July 1972), 653–5.
[Interview with Davies], in Schlotel, Brian, ‘A Study of Music Written for Use in Education by Some Modern British Composers’ (PhD thesis, University of Reading, 1974).
‘Safer “Out” than In: Peter Maxwell Davies in Conversation [with Alison Hennegan]’, Gay News, 168 (May–June 1979), 19–20.
‘Ancient and Modern 3’ [interview with Richard Bolley], Early Music, 8/4 (October 1980), 3 and 5.
‘Conversations with the Composer’, in Griffiths, Paul, Peter Maxwell Davies (London: Robson Books, 1982), 101–31.
‘Interview mit Peter Maxwell Davies’ [interview, in German, with Brunhilde Sonntag], Zeitschrift für Musikpädagogik, 8/21 (1983), 3–17.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies and The Fires of London’ [interview with Dorle J. Soria], HiFi/Musical America, 33 (September 1983), 6–8, 31–2 and 40.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies and his Opera The Martyrdom of St Magnus – An Interview With the Composer [and Henning Lohner]’, Interface, Journal of New Music Research, 13/4 (1984), 225–47.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies’, in Griffiths, Paul, New Sounds, New Personalities: British Composers of the 1980s (London: Faber and Faber, 1985), 31–8.
‘Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: A Conversation with Bruce Duffie’ [online], Autumn 1985, www.bruceduffie.com/pmd.html.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies’ [interview with John Schneider], Guitar Review, 65 (Spring 1986), 1–7.
‘Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in Conversation with Timothy Walker [Part 1]’, Classical Guitar, 6/4 (December 1987), 11–12, 14, 16 and 18; and ‘Part II’, 6/5 (January 1988), 19–20 and 22.
‘Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’, in Dufallo, Richard, Trackings: Composers Speak with Richard Dufallo (New York and London: Oxford University Press, 1989), 143–55.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies’s Symphony No. 4’ [interview with Stephen Pruslin], Musical Times, 130 (September 1989), 520–1 and 523.
‘Getting the MAX Habit’ [interview with C. Main], Music Teacher, February 1990, 13.
[Various comments], in Seabrook, Mike, Max: The Life and Music of Peter Maxwell Davies (London: Victor Gollancz, 1994).
‘A Creature of Many Sounds: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Gives His Views on the Horn [to Jonathan Stoneman]’, The Horn Magazine, 4/3 (1996), 18–9.
‘Eighty Questions for a Sane Composer’ [interview with Mark Alburger], Twentieth Century Music Journal, 5 (July 1998), 1–10.
‘Modern British Composers and British Brass Playing: Interview [with Christopher Horn]’, The Brass Bulletin, 101 (1998), 106–9.
‘Conversation with the Composer’, in Jones, Nicholas, ‘Analytical Perspectives on the Third Symphony of Peter Maxwell Davies’ (PhD thesis, Cardiff University, 1999), Vol. I, 259–80.
‘Max Exposure: An Interview with Peter Maxwell Davies [and David Bündler]’, 21st Century Music, 7/7 (July 2000), 13–6.
[Various comments], in St Magnus Festival: A Celebration, ed. Beasant, Pamela (Kirkwall, Orkney: Orcadian Ltd, 2002).
‘Maxwell Davies and the String Quartet: Paul Driver Talks to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies About the Role of the String Quartet Throughout His Work’, Composition Today [online], October 2002, www.compositiontoday.com/articles/max_string_driver.asp.
‘Max’s Orkney Saga’ [interview with Kenny Mathieson], Northings – Highlands and Islands Arts Journal [online], 2 June 2003, www.northings.com/2003/06/02/sir-peter-maxwell-davies-2/.
‘Charting a Creative Relationship’ [Alistair Peebles discusses George Mackay Brown’s life and work with Davies], Northings – Highlands and Islands Arts Journal [online], 1 April 2006, www.northings.com/2006/04/01/max-on-gmb/.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies: Taverner’ [interview with Daniel Jaffé], Classical-Music.com (official website of BBC Music Magazine) [online], 8 December 2009, www.classical-music.com/article/peter-maxwell-davies.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies’ [interview with Michael Hooper regarding Wardour Castle Summer School] [online blog], 7 June 2010, www.wardourcastlesummerschool.wordpress.com.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies in the 1950s: A Conversation with the Composer’ [with Nicholas Jones], Tempo, 254 (October 2010), 11–19.
‘Interview with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies – Kommilitonen!’ [with Ben Hogwood], Classical Source [online], March 2011, www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_features.php?id=9033.
‘Sir Peter Maxwell Davies on Why Life’s Tough for Young Composers’ [interview with Elizabeth Davis], Classical-Music.com (official website of BBC Music Magazine) [online], 7 June 2012, www.classical-music.com/article/sir-peter-maxwell-davies.
‘Vaughan Williams and his Successors: Composers’ Forum’ [interview with Thomson, Aidan J.], in The Cambridge Companion to Vaughan Williams, ed. Frogley, Alain and Thomson, Aidan J. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013), 299–306.
‘Talking to Composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Conductor Christopher Austin at the Livorno Music Festival’, LivornoNow [online], September 2013, www.livornonow.com/talking_to_composer_sir_peter_maxwell_davies_and_conductor_christopher_austin_at_the_livorno_music_festival.
[Symphony No. 10] [interview with Tom Service], London Symphony Orchestra Season 2013/14 Concert Programme, 24–5.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies’, in Palmer, Andrew, Encounters with British Composers (Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer, 2015), 321–32.
(b)

(b) Newspapers

‘Out of the Labyrinth’ [interview with Paul Griffiths], The Times, 5 September 1984.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies: Interview [with James Wierzbicki] regarding Eight Songs for a Mad King’, St Louis Post-Dispatch, 17 November 1985.
‘Max Factory’ [interview with Michael Church], The Independent, 9 May 1997.
‘The Island is Full of Noises’ [interview with Adam Sweeting], The Guardian, 17 July 1998.
‘The Composer with Some Remote Control: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies talks to Christopher Morley’, Birmingham Post, 17 February 1999.
‘Seduced by the Sounds of Silence: Peter Maxwell Davies Tells Patricia Nicol Why Orkney Inspires Him’, The Sunday Times, 20 June 1999.
‘A Lusty Horn and a Roman Carnival: Two Important New Works [Roma Amor and Concerto for Horn and Orchestra] by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Bear Witness to His Still Abundant Creativity’ [interview with Nick Kimberley], The Independent, 28 April 2000.
‘Silent Harmonies from the Ice Field’ [Davies talks to Hilary Finch about the Antarctic Symphony], The Times, 20 April 2001.
‘Orcadian Rhythm’ [interview with Gillian Bowditch], The Sunday Times, 16 June 2002.
‘Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: On Her Majesty’s Service’ [interview with Roderic Dunnett], The Independent, 15 March 2004.
‘Interview: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: Airs to the Throne’ [interview with Gillian Bowditch], The Scotsman, 29 May 2004.
‘Sounds and Silence’ [interview with Stephen Moss], The Guardian, 19 June 2004.
‘The Max Factor’ [interview with Hilary Finch], The Times, 9 July 2004.
‘To the Very Ends of the Earth – Peter Maxwell Davies on Putting the Sounds of the Antarctic into Music’ [interview with Michael Church], The Independent, 11 February 2005.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies’ [interview with Sue Fox], The Sunday Times, 3 April 2005.
‘Queen’s Composer Sounds Note of Dissent’ [interview with Charlotte Higgins], The Guardian, 16 April 2005.
‘Going to the Max’ [Davies talks to Richard Morrison about the 30th anniversary of the St Magnus Festival], The Times, 28 April 2007.
‘I’ve Written as Well as I Can’ [interview with Igor Toronyi-Lalic], The Spectator, 2 September 2009.
‘We Owe the Queen an Awful Lot’ [interview with Paul Clements], The Telegraph, 5 September 2009.
‘Interview: Peter Maxwell Davies’ [with Kate Molleson], The Herald, 6 November 2013.
‘Making Music is a Social Contract’ [interview with Alexandra Coghlan], The New Statesman, 30 January 2014.
‘Peter Maxwell Davies at 80: “The Music Knows Things That I Don’t”’ [interview with Tom Service], The Guardian, 19 August 2014.
‘Max at 80: Old Rebel May Have Mellowed, But Spark Remains’ [interview with Kate Molleson], The Herald, 10 September 2014.
(c)

(c) Television, Online Videos and CD Recordings

‘Two Composers, Two Worlds: Dudley Moore and Peter Maxwell Davies’ [30-minute BBC documentary], Monitor, directed by Humphrey Burton, edited by Huw Wheldon, broadcast BBC Television, 26 February 1961 [some of the footage is used in the British Music Day programme and the Classic Britannia series – see below].
One Foot in Eden: A Film about Orkney and the Music of Peter Maxwell Davies [50-minute Arts Council England film (ACE077)], directed by Barrie Gavin, produced by Platypus Films, broadcast 19 January 1978; available to view online (from ac.uk domain addresses only), http://artsonfilm.wmin.ac.uk/filmcollection.html.
‘The Musical House That Max Built: A Profile of the Composer’, The South Bank Show (London Weekend Television), directed by Bryan Izzard, edited by Melvyn Bragg, broadcast ITV, 21 March 1982.
British Music Day: Peter Maxwell Davies [Davies talks to Charles Hazlewood about his life and music in this 30-minute programme], directed by Deborah May, BBC Classical Music Production, broadcast BBC Knowledge, 3 September 2000.
‘Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in conversation with Paul Driver [22 May 2004]’ [CD recording], Peter Maxwell Davies: Miss Donnithorne’s Maggot and Eight Songs for a Mad King, Psappha (Psappha Ltd, PSACD1001, 2004), track 17.
Antarctic Symphony [Davies discusses and conducts the Antarctic Symphony in this one-hour film], presented by Mary Ann Kennedy, produced by Mike Newman Productions for BBC Scotland, broadcast BBC4, 5 March 2005.
The Culture Show [10-minute segment in which Davies talks to Charles Hazlewood about his Royal Philharmonic Lecture (see above) and the role of the community composer], produced by the BBC, broadcast BBC2, 14 April 2005.
‘Max Speaks: A Recorded Interview’ [2-hour interview with Roderic Dunnett, CD recording], Peter Maxwell Davies, A Portrait: His Works, His Life, His Words (Naxos, 8.558191–92, 2006), CD 2.
‘Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in conversation with Paul Driver [17 July 2006]’ [CD recording], Peter Maxwell Davies: Mr Emmet Takes a Walk, Psappha, cond. Etienne Siebens (Psappha Ltd, PSACD1002, 2007), track 19.
Classic Britannia: Sixty Years of British Classical Music [BBC television documentary series], broadcast BBC4, 22 June, 29 June and 5 July 2007; a specially recorded interview with Davies appears in episodes 1 (‘The Landscape Changes: 1945–1962’) and 2 (‘Modernism and Minimalism: 1962–1980’).
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies [Davies in interview at the 2009 Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Music Festival, online video], uploaded 30 May 2009, Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ps_1-J2vto; Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UNlzScWi78.
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Talks About Composition and Conducting [with Martin Handley, online video], uploaded 11 September 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=e01fvTVUra4.
Interview: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies [Davies previews a concert of his own music at Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ, Amsterdam, online video], uploaded 1 December 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc9ebAKPRn4.
In Confidence [60-minute conversation with Laurie Taylor], broadcast Sky Arts 1, 28 April 2011.
The Art of Composition [Davies in conversation with Paul Morley and Christopher Austin, online video], uploaded 22 June 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh8FQer0u0A.
Max: A Musical Portrait of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies [60-minute BBC television documentary], broadcast BBC4, 15 July 2011.
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies [Davies in interview at the 2012 Trondheim Chamber Music Festival, Norway, online video], uploaded 1 October 2012, www.maxopus.com/resources.aspx.
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies [Davies talks about Advent Calendar and The Choirbook for the Queen, online video], uploaded 27 November 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iKFOZHEN_Q.
Peter Maxwell Davies: The Lighthouse [Davies discusses his chamber opera, online video], uploaded November 2012, www.maxopus.com/resources.aspx.
‘Richard Casey/Peter Maxwell Davies interview’ [CD recording], Peter Maxwell Davies: Piano Works, 1949–2009, Richard Casey (piano) (Prima Facie, PFCD017/018, 2013), CD 2, track 17.
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies on his new Tenth Symphony [online video], uploaded 9 January 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbAtDXeRWHw.
‘An interview with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Antonio Pappano’ [CD recording], Peter Maxwell Davies: Symphony No. 10, London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, cond. Antonio Pappano, Markus Butter (baritone) (LSO Live, LSO0267, 2014), track 5.
Proms 2014: Masterworks [BBC television programme celebrating the 80th birthdays of Davies and Harrison Birtwistle, presented by Tom Service], broadcast BBC4, 11 September 2014.
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: Master and Maverick [60-minute BBC television documentary, presented by Tom Service], broadcast BBC4, 3 April 2016.
Recording the Naxos Quartets of Peter Maxwell Davies [online video], uploaded 6 April 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHZJGPwZxhY.
(6)

(6) Radio Broadcast Talks and Interviews

(a)

(a) British Library and BBC Sound Archives

The following items are available to listen to at the British Library Sound Archive [BLSA] and the BBC Sound Archive [BBCSA]; the LP/Tape/CD catalogue number is given for each item.

‘Has Modern Music Gone Too Far?’ [Davies in discussion], BBC recording, 19 March 1960 (BBCSA, LP26416) [currently unavailable].
‘Bath Festival’ [Davies as conductor, harpsichordist and speaker], BBC recording, 16 June 1962 (BBCSA, T28376).
‘Composer’s Portrait’ [Davies talks to Roger Smalley about his work and introduces some of his music], broadcast BBC Third Programme, 22 November 1965 (BLSA, NP946R; BBCSA: T30362).
‘Composers Today No. 3: Innovation’ [Davies in conversation with Alexander Goehr and Hans Werner Henze], broadcast BBC Third Programme, 25 June 1967 (BLSA, P210R; BBCSA: T31962).
‘The Lively Arts’ [Alan Blyth interviews Davies concerning L’Homme Armé and Revelation and Fall], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 February 1968 (BLSA, M1216W).
‘Messiaen and the Music of Our Time’ [Davies in discussion with Alexander Goehr and Charles Groves], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 March 1968 (BLSA, NP454W).
[John Amis interviews Davies regarding Eight Songs for a Mad King and St Thomas Wake], BBC recording, 30 June 1969 (BBCSA, LP32956).
‘Meet the Composer’ [Davies introduces music of his own choice and discusses its influence on his development], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 21 July 1969 (BLSA, NP1464W and NP1465W).
‘Modern Music: Peter Maxwell Davies’ [Davies talks to Stephen Walsh about Revelation and Fall], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 30 January 1970 (BLSA, NP1506R).
‘A Word in Edgeways: The Artist in Contemporary Society’ [Brian Redhead in discussion with Davies, V.S. Naipaul and Mitzi Cunliffe], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 October 1971 (BBCSA, T34250).
‘Music Magazine’ [Davies in interview with C. Ford], BBC recording, 8 July 1972 (BBCSA, T60642).
‘Arts Commentary: The Making of an Opera’ [Jeremy Noble talks to Davies and others concerned with the production of Taverner], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 15 July 1972 (BLSA, NP2005W; BBCSA: LP34683 f-b01).
‘Today in Scotland’ [Jameson Clark interviews Davies regarding Stone Litany], BBC recording, 20 September 1973 (BBCSA, LP35758 f02).
‘Musica Nova’ [Davies, Luciano Berio, György Ligeti and Martin Dalby in interview with Frederick Rimmer], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 September 1973 (BBCSA, LP35758 f01).
‘Concert at Horsham’ [Davies introduces Hymn to St Magnus], BBC recording, 18 February 1975 (BBCSA, T37428).
‘Conversation’ [Davies introduces Hymn to St Magnus and talks about his life on Orkney and his association with George Mackay Brown], broadcast BBC Radio 3, c. 1976 (BLSA, NP4380W).
‘The Conductor and the Composer’ [Davies in discussion with Sir Charles Groves] broadcast BBC Radio 3, 16 March 1977 (but recorded in 1972) (BLSA, M7027BW; BBCSA: LP37610).
‘St Magnus Festival’ [Davies talks to John Amis], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 24 June 1977 (BLSA, T1539R).
‘Not Now I’m Listening’ [Davies talks about Runes From a Holy Island], BBC recording, 6 November 1977 (BBCSA, T38304 02).
‘Music Weekly’ [Davies talks to Michael Oliver about the First Symphony], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 5 March 1978 (BBCSA, T54277).
‘Petrassi at Seventy-Five’, broadcast BBC Radio 3, 14 July 1979 (BLSA, M8076BW; BBCSA: T054839).
‘Profile: Peter Maxwell Davies’ [interview with Ted Harrison], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 June 1980 (BLSA, NP3943R; BBCSA: LP40046 f02).
‘Kaleidoscope’ [Davies talks to Michael Oliver about The Lighthouse], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 September 1980 (BLSA, NP4124BW).
‘Edinburgh International Festival 1980: Festival Comment’ [Davies talks to Elaine Padmore about The Lighthouse], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 5 September 1980 (BLSA, NP4130BW).
‘An American Voice: The Life and Music of Aaron Copland’ [David Wheeler talks to Davies and others], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 10 November 1980 (BLSA, T3487W; BBCSA: T054804).
‘Music Weekly’ [Davies talks to Michael Oliver about the Second Symphony], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 9 March 1981 (BLSA, NP4798BW; BBCSA: LP40087 b01-b02).
‘St Magnus Festival, Orkney 1981’ [Davies introduces the first broadcast of The Rainbow], BBC recording, 22 June 1981 (BBCSA, T049166).
‘Desert Island Discs’ [Davies in conversation with Roy Plomley], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 June 1983 (BLSA, T5687BW; C639/275).
‘Prom Talk’ [Jeremy Siepmann interviews Davies and Elgar Howarth], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 7 August 1983 (BLSA, NP7133BW).
‘Big City’ [Davies talks about The No. 11 Bus], broadcast BBC Radio London, 19 March 1984 (BLSA, NP7779NW).
‘Symphonies and Silence’ [the programme follows Davies around various events in 1984, including the St Magnus Festival], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 February 1985 (B200/2).
[Untitled: Davies comments on the shape and structure of the Third Symphony], BBC recording, July 1985 (BBCSA, LP80932 b06).
‘Any Questions?’ [Davies is a panel member on the news and current affairs programme, chaired by John Timpson], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 July 1985 (BLSA, T8238R).
‘A Word in Edgeways: Creativity and Interference’ [Brian Redhead in discussion with Davies, Anne Devlin and Jeff Nuttall], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 August 1986 (BLSA, B1100/2).
‘Kaleidoscope: Works in Progress’ [Michael Berkeley talks to Davies about composing and the importance of teaching music to children], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 September 1987 (BLSA, 1CDR0021066).
‘St Magnus Festival’ [Davies reflects on the first 12 years], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 21 July 1988 (BLSA, B3019/4).
‘Proms 1988’ [Davies talks to Nicholas Kenyon], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 11 September 1988 (BLSA, B3232/4).
‘Kaleidoscope’ [Davies talks to Paul Vaughan about Resurrection], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 September 1988 (BLSA, B3269/2).
‘Richard Baker Compares Notes’ [discussion with Davies], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 April 1989 (BLSA, B4169/2).
‘Proms 1989’ [Davies talks to Michael Berkeley about the Fourth Symphony and his close association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 10 September 1989 (BLSA, B4727/05).
‘Kaleidoscope’ [Davies talks to Paul Allen], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 November 1989 (BLSA, B4979/01).
‘Music Weekly’ [Davies talks to Michael Oliver about ‘Maxfest’ at the South Bank Centre], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 25 March 1990 (BLSA, B5689/2).
‘Music Weekly’ [Davies and others talk to Michael Oliver about music education], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 15 July 1990 (BLSA, B7025/01).
‘Kaleidoscope’ [Davies talks to Christopher Cook], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 April 1990 (BLSA, B5718/10).
‘Mainly for Pleasure: Radio Goes to Town’ [Davies talks to Chris De Souza at the Cheltenham International Festival of Music], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 July 1991 (BLSA, B8441/01).
‘The Weaver of Time’ [Davies and others talk to Kevin Crossley-Holland about George Mackay Brown], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 October 1991 (BLSA, B8716/2).
‘Proms 1992: Interval Talk’ [Davies talks to Anthony Burton about conducting his own and other composers’ works], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 13 August 1992 (BLSA, H538/07).
‘Peter Maxwell Davies on Vaughan Williams’ [concert interval interview], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 25 September 1992 (H678/1).
‘Interview with Peter Maxwell Davies’ [Mike Seabrook interviews Davies on his life and works], private recording, 5 January 1993 [or 1994?] (BLSA, C1618/1, C1618/2, C1618/3).
‘Peter Maxwell Davies’ [Davies talks to Chris De Souza about his four decades of music-making], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 21 November 1994 (BLSA, H4291/2).
‘Fairest Isle: Purcell, Our Contemporary?’ [Michael Berkeley talks to Davies and other musicians about Purcell’s place in the musical pantheon and his influence on composers today], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 8 January 1995 (BLSA, H4508/2).
‘Night Waves’ [Christopher Cook and Davies discuss the world premiere recording of Resurrection], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 4 July 1995 (BLSA, H7034/3).
‘Music Matters’ [Davies talks to Ivan Hewett about the influence of Sibelius on his work], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 November 1995 (BLSA, H6149/2).
‘Proms News’ [Davies talks to Stephen Johnson], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 4 August 1996 (BLSA, H7557/1).
‘[Stewart] Collins and [Stuart] Maconie Live at the Mercury Music Prize’ [interview with Davies concerning the nomination of the Collins Classics CD recording (14642) of The Beltane Fire and Caroline Mathilde], broadcast BBC Radio 1, 10 September 1996 (BLSA, H7767/2).
‘The Third at 50’ [Humphrey Carpenter introduces programmes celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Third Programme and Radio 3 with reminiscences from Davies and others], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 29 September 1996 (BLSA, H7839/2).
‘The Envy of the World (1): No Fixed Points’ [Humphrey Carpenter talks to Davies and others about the origins of the Third Programme in September 1946], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 29 September 1996 (BLSA, H7833/4).
‘Clashing of Symbols’ [Nicola Heywood Thomas looks at the symbolism and characters of The Doctor of Myddfai with help from Davies and David Pountney], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 5 October 1996 (BLSA, H7887/2).
‘Music Machine: Equations and Creation’ [Verity Sharp talks to Davies to find out the ways in which he uses numbers; they also discuss the use of mathematical patterns by other composers], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 July 1997 (BLSA, H9052/3).
‘Music Matters’ [Davies talks to Ivan Hewett about his visit to Antarctica], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 January 1998 (BLSA, H9630/1).
‘Music Machine: Music and Children’ [Verity Sharp talks to Davies about writing for children’s theatre], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 30 April 1998 (BLSA, H9906/3).
‘Artists’ Question Time’ [Davies, Martyn Brabbins and Nicholas McGegan answer questions from a studio audience], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 October 1998 (BLSA, H10505/2).
‘Masters of Their Art’ [Davies in conversation with Susannah Simons], broadcast Classic FM, 16 January 1999 (BLSA, H10966/1).
‘Desert Island Discs’ [Davies in conversation with Sue Lawley], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 January 2005 (BLSA, 1CDR0022853).

The following items have not yet been added to the existing catalogues. However, the British Library Listening and Viewing Service can be contacted with details of the title and broadcast date of any BBC broadcast post-1992 and they will attempt to retrieve a copy for listening from the BBC.

‘Performance on 3’ [Davies talks to Piers Burton-Page about Worldes Blis, Eight Songs for a Mad King and St Thomas Wake and introduces performances of these works by the BBC Symphony Orchestra], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 3 February 2004.
‘Today’ [Davies talks to Edward Stourton about his appointment as Master of the Queen’s Music], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 March 2004.
‘BBC Proms 2004’ [Davies talks to Piers Burton-Page about the Antarctic Symphony], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 4 August 2004.
‘BBC Proms Composer Portraits: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ [Davies talks to Andrew McGregor about his music and introduces performances of his chamber works by the Artea String Quartet], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 4 August 2004.
‘Composer of the Week: Peter Maxwell Davies’ [Davies in conversation with Donald Macleod – 1: Seascapes and Wave Types, 2: Early Music, 3: Community and Communication, 4: Orkney Stories, 5: Into the New Millennium], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 6–10 September 2004.
‘Front Row’ [on his 70th birthday, Davies talks to Mark Lawson about his career], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 September 2004.
‘Music Matters’ [Davies talks to Tom Service about the position he holds as the Master of the Queen’s Music, the future of contemporary classical music, and the government’s recently announced Music Manifesto], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 3 April 2005.
‘Private Passions’ [Davies in conversation with Michael Berkeley], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 16 April 2006.
‘Music Matters: Radio 3 40th Anniversary Special’ [Davies explains how his composing life has been enriched by Radio 3], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 6 October 2007.
‘Music Matters’ [Davies talks to Tom Service about writing the ten Naxos String Quartets], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 13 October 2007.
‘Music Matters’ [Davies talks to Tom Service about his life on Sanday and its impact on his music], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 10 October 2009.
‘Music Matters’ [Davies talks to Tom Service about Kommilitonen!], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 March 2011.
‘Start the Week’ [Davies, Victoria Williamson, Trevor Cox and Waldemar Januszczak in conversation with Tom Sutcliffe], broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 January 2014.
‘Music Matters: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Harrison Birtwistle at 80’ [interview with Tom Service], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 21 June 2014.
‘Music Matters’ [Tom Service presents a tribute to Davies], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 March 2016.
‘Composer of the Week: Peter Maxwell Davies’ [Davies in conversation with Donald Macleod – 1: Farewell to Stromness, 2: Back to the Future, 3: Music for All, 4: Island Life, 5: Rage Against the Dying of the Light], broadcast BBC Radio 3, 13–17 March 2017.
(b)

(b) BBC Radio International

The following radio programmes, available from BBC Radio International (formerly BBC Transcription Service), can be listened to at the British Library Sound Archive. These discs were made for overseas broadcast and are not dated in the same way as conventional radio broadcasts.

‘Talking About Music 144: Peter Maxwell Davies [in discussion with John Amis]’ (BLSA, 1LP0153900 S2 BD2, BBC Transcription side number 128690).
‘Talking About Music 153: Roger Woodward and Peter Maxwell Davies [in discussion with John Amis]’ (BLSA, 1LP0200129 S1 BD1, BBC Transcription side number 131588).
‘Talking About Music 215: Peter Maxwell Davies [in discussion with Michael Berkeley]’ (BLSA, 1LP0202427 S1 BD2, BBC Transcription side number 141952).
‘Talking About Music 248: Peter Maxwell Davies [in discussion with Michael Oliver]’ (BLSA, 1LP0203599 S2 BD2, BBC Transcription side number 146268).
‘Talking About Music 281: Peter Maxwell Davies on Orkney’ (BLSA, 1LP0204751 S1 BD2, BBC Transcription side number 151121).
‘Talking About Music 305: Sir Michael Tippett: An 80th birthday tribute [from Davies and other musicians]’ (BLSA, 1LP0205469 S1 BD1, BBC Transcription side number 154195).
‘Talking About Music 367: Peter Maxwell Davies [in discussion with Nicholas Kenyon]’ (BLSA, 1LP0207025 S1 BD2, BBC Transcription side number 160159).

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