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Symphony No. 2 (Davies)

The Symphony No. 2 by Peter Maxwell Davies was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in celebration of its centenary, and was composed in 1980. Seiji Ozawa conducted the world premiere with the BSO on 26 February 1981 at Symphony Hall, Boston. The same forces performed the New York premiere on 4 March that year at Carnegie Hall.[1]

Symphony No. 2
by Peter Maxwell Davies
The composer in 2012
KeyB minor
OccasionCentenary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recorded1993 (1993)
Movements4
Premiere
Date26 February 1981 (1981-02-26)
LocationSymphony Hall, Boston
ConductorSeiji Ozawa
PerformersBoston Symphony Orchestra

Character and materials edit

The symphony is in B minor, though the key does not figure in the title and the tonality is not entirely conventional. It has been characterised as "focused atonality ... a new tonality without neo-classicism".[2] For example, instead of the usual dominant, F, throughout the symphony Davies uses E, a semitone lower and a tritone above the tonic—a technique used earlier by Bartók in the first movement of his Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.[3] An additional unifying element used throughout the work is the plainsong "Nativitas tua, Dei Genitrix", a chant for the birthday of the Virgin Mary, which also happens to be the composer's birthday.[4] The symphony has been characterised as Davies's La Mer,[5] and compared, both in quality and in structure, to Vaughan Williams's Sixth Symphony.[6]

Instrumentation edit

The symphony is scored for two flutes, piccolo (doubling alto flute), two oboes, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, double bassoon, four horns, three trumpets, two trombones, timpani, glockenspiel, crotales, marimba, harp, and strings.

Analysis edit

The symphony is in four movements, corresponding loosely to the traditional symphony plan:

  1. Allegro molto – Allegro
  2. Adagio
  3. Allegro molto, leggiero
  4. Adagio, flessibile – Poco più mosso – Più mosso – Moderato – Allegro

The first movement begins with an introduction presenting all of the germ cells used in the entire symphony. This is followed by a sonata-allegro, in which the usual development is replaced by a succession of transformation processes.

The second movement is in the tritone-related key of F minor. A slow theme in the cellos, presenting "an almost Elgarian demeanour"[5] is followed by four variations—called "doubles" by the composer[7]—for bassoon, horn, oboe, and trumpet.

The third movement resembles a scherzo and trio, and is in F major.

The final movement returns to the tonal centre of B. It begins as a passacaglia, recalling the finale of Brahms's Fourth Symphony only of a more episodic nature.[3] However, it gradually evolves, first into a character similar to the first movement, and then into the manner of a traditional symphonic finale.

Discography edit

  • Peter Maxwell Davies: Symphony No. 2. BBC Philharmonic, Peter Maxwell Davies (cond.). Recorded Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, September. 1993. CD recording. Collins Classics 14032. [St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent]: Lambourne Productions, 1994. Reissued as part of Peter Maxwell Davies: Symphony No. 2 / St. Thomas Wake. CD recording and MP3 download. Naxos 8572349. [N.p.]: Naxos, 2012.

References edit

Sources

  • Davies, Peter Maxwell. 1994. "Symphony No. 2". Booklet accompanying Peter Maxwell Davies: Symphony No. 2. BBC Philharmonic, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (cond.). CD recording. Collins Classics 14032. [St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent]: Lambourne Productions Limited.
  • Dunnett, Roderic. 1994. Record Review: Maxwell Davies: The Lighthouse, Chamber Opera in 2 Parts by Ian Comboy; Christopher Keyte; Maxwell Davies; Neil Mackie; BBC Philharmonic; Maxwell Davies: Symphony No. 2 by BBC Philharmonic; Maxwell Davies; Maxwell Davies: Symphony No. 3 by BBC Philharmonic; Maxwell Davies. Tempo, new series, no. 191 (December): 53–54.
  • Henahan, Donal (5 March 1981). "Music: Symphony No. 2 of Peter Maxwell Davies". The New York Times.
  • Károlyi, Ottó. 1994. Modern British Music: The Second British Musical Renaissance—From Elgar to P. Maxwell Davies. Rutherford, Madison, Teaneck: Farleigh Dickinson University Press; London and Toronto: Associated University Presses. ISBN 0-8386-3532-6.
  • Whittall, Arnold. 1983. "Symphony No. 2 by Peter Maxwell Davies". Music & Letters 64, nos. 3–4 (July–October.1983): 318–320.

Further reading edit

  • Jones, Nicholas. 2002. "Peter Maxwell Davies's Basic Unifying Hypothesis: Dominant Logic". The Musical Times 143, no. 1878 (Spring): 37–45.
  • McGregor, Richard E. 1996. "The Maxwell Davies Sketch Material in the British Library". Tempo, new series, no. 196 (April): 9–19.
  • McGregor, Richard. 2000. "Max the Symphonist". In Perspectives on Peter Maxwell Davies, edited by Richard McGregor, 115–137. Aldershot Hants., Burlington Vermont, Singapore, and Sydney: Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 1-84014-298-7.
  • Owens, Peter. 1994. "Revelation and Fallacy: Observations on Compositional Technique in the Music of Peter Maxwell Davies". Music Analysis 13, nos. 2–3 (October): 161–202.
  • Warnaby, John Surtees. 1991. The Music of Peter Maxwell Davies Based on the Writings of George Mackay Brown. Ph.D. diss. United Kingdom: Open University.
  • Wintle, Christopher. 1981. "Tradition, Imagination and Self-Parody: Peter Maxwell Davies' Second Symphony, The Lighthouse", The Times Literary Supplement (7 August).

External links edit

symphony, davies, symphony, peter, maxwell, davies, commissioned, boston, symphony, orchestra, celebration, centenary, composed, 1980, seiji, ozawa, conducted, world, premiere, with, february, 1981, symphony, hall, boston, same, forces, performed, york, premie. The Symphony No 2 by Peter Maxwell Davies was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in celebration of its centenary and was composed in 1980 Seiji Ozawa conducted the world premiere with the BSO on 26 February 1981 at Symphony Hall Boston The same forces performed the New York premiere on 4 March that year at Carnegie Hall 1 Symphony No 2by Peter Maxwell DaviesThe composer in 2012KeyB minorOccasionCentenary of the Boston Symphony OrchestraRecorded1993 1993 Movements4PremiereDate26 February 1981 1981 02 26 LocationSymphony Hall BostonConductorSeiji OzawaPerformersBoston Symphony Orchestra Contents 1 Character and materials 2 Instrumentation 3 Analysis 4 Discography 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksCharacter and materials editThe symphony is in B minor though the key does not figure in the title and the tonality is not entirely conventional It has been characterised as focused atonality a new tonality without neo classicism 2 For example instead of the usual dominant F throughout the symphony Davies uses E a semitone lower and a tritone above the tonic a technique used earlier by Bartok in the first movement of his Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta 3 An additional unifying element used throughout the work is the plainsong Nativitas tua Dei Genitrix a chant for the birthday of the Virgin Mary which also happens to be the composer s birthday 4 The symphony has been characterised as Davies s La Mer 5 and compared both in quality and in structure to Vaughan Williams s Sixth Symphony 6 Instrumentation editThe symphony is scored for two flutes piccolo doubling alto flute two oboes two clarinets bass clarinet two bassoons double bassoon four horns three trumpets two trombones timpani glockenspiel crotales marimba harp and strings Analysis editThe symphony is in four movements corresponding loosely to the traditional symphony plan Allegro molto Allegro Adagio Allegro molto leggiero Adagio flessibile Poco piu mosso Piu mosso Moderato Allegro The first movement begins with an introduction presenting all of the germ cells used in the entire symphony This is followed by a sonata allegro in which the usual development is replaced by a succession of transformation processes The second movement is in the tritone related key of F minor A slow theme in the cellos presenting an almost Elgarian demeanour 5 is followed by four variations called doubles by the composer 7 for bassoon horn oboe and trumpet The third movement resembles a scherzo and trio and is in F major The final movement returns to the tonal centre of B It begins as a passacaglia recalling the finale of Brahms s Fourth Symphony only of a more episodic nature 3 However it gradually evolves first into a character similar to the first movement and then into the manner of a traditional symphonic finale Discography editPeter Maxwell Davies Symphony No 2 BBC Philharmonic Peter Maxwell Davies cond Recorded Studio 7 New Broadcasting House Manchester September 1993 CD recording Collins Classics 14032 St Mary Cray Orpington Kent Lambourne Productions 1994 Reissued as part of Peter Maxwell Davies Symphony No 2 St Thomas Wake CD recording and MP3 download Naxos 8572349 N p Naxos 2012 References edit Henahan 1981 Whittall 1983 319 a b Karolyi 1994 127 Davies 1994 3 a b Dunnett 1994 54 Whittall 1983 318 Davies 1994 4 Sources Davies Peter Maxwell 1994 Symphony No 2 Booklet accompanying Peter Maxwell Davies Symphony No 2 BBC Philharmonic Sir Peter Maxwell Davies cond CD recording Collins Classics 14032 St Mary Cray Orpington Kent Lambourne Productions Limited Dunnett Roderic 1994 Record Review Maxwell Davies The Lighthouse Chamber Opera in 2 Parts by Ian Comboy Christopher Keyte Maxwell Davies Neil Mackie BBC Philharmonic Maxwell Davies Symphony No 2 by BBC Philharmonic Maxwell Davies Maxwell Davies Symphony No 3 by BBC Philharmonic Maxwell Davies Tempo new series no 191 December 53 54 Henahan Donal 5 March 1981 Music Symphony No 2 of Peter Maxwell Davies The New York Times Karolyi Otto 1994 Modern British Music The Second British Musical Renaissance From Elgar to P Maxwell Davies Rutherford Madison Teaneck Farleigh Dickinson University Press London and Toronto Associated University Presses ISBN 0 8386 3532 6 Whittall Arnold 1983 Symphony No 2 by Peter Maxwell Davies Music amp Letters 64 nos 3 4 July October 1983 318 320 Further reading editJones Nicholas 2002 Peter Maxwell Davies s Basic Unifying Hypothesis Dominant Logic The Musical Times 143 no 1878 Spring 37 45 McGregor Richard E 1996 The Maxwell Davies Sketch Material in the British Library Tempo new series no 196 April 9 19 McGregor Richard 2000 Max the Symphonist In Perspectives on Peter Maxwell Davies edited by Richard McGregor 115 137 Aldershot Hants Burlington Vermont Singapore and Sydney Ashgate Publishing ISBN 1 84014 298 7 Owens Peter 1994 Revelation and Fallacy Observations on Compositional Technique in the Music of Peter Maxwell Davies Music Analysis 13 nos 2 3 October 161 202 Warnaby John Surtees 1991 The Music of Peter Maxwell Davies Based on the Writings of George Mackay Brown Ph D diss United Kingdom Open University Wintle Christopher 1981 Tradition Imagination and Self Parody Peter Maxwell Davies Second Symphony The Lighthouse The Times Literary Supplement 7 August External links editWork details Boosey amp Hawkes Audio on YouTube BBC Philharmonic Davies conducting Portal nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Symphony No 2 Davies amp oldid 1083528343, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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