Hebrides Ensemble - Peter Maxwell Davies: The Last Island (2017) [Official Digital Download]

Peter Maxwell Davies's later music powerfully evokes the isolated majesty of his Orkney island home, yet it also bears witness to his talent for friendship – to his associations, both personal and musical, with friends and supporters in Scotland and further afield. Among the warmest was with William Conway, whom Davies first encountered as principal cellist of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and for whom he wrote the demanding solo part of his second Strathclyde Concerto. And it was for the Hebrides Ensemble, founded by Conway in 1991, that Davies wrote several of the most impressive and personal works to arise from his late engagement with chamber music – a genre in which he had previously worked rarely, here revealed as the 'last island' of this remarkable and prolific composer's output. On its second Delphian album, the Ensemble reciprocates Davies's friendship with definitive performances of works from his last decade, including the single completed movement of a string quartet left unfinished at his death.

Tracklist:

Peter Maxwell Davies (1934 - 2016)

1 The Last Island, Op. 301 15:41
2 A Postcard from Sanday, Op. 318 03:10
3 String Trio, Op. 290 10:02
4 2 Nocturnes, Op. 307: No. 1, — 02:46
5 2 Nocturnes, Op. 307: No. 2, — 01:46
6 Lullaby for Violin & Cello 03:34
7 Oboe Quartet, Op. 323 16:12
8 A Birthday Card for Jennifer 00:47
9 Sonata for Violin & Piano, Op. 289 18:05
10 String Quartet Movement, Op. 338 04:42