Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Second Symphony is his 'Sea Symphony', a complex, virtuosic work that explores in absorbing, increasingly dynamic fashion, the ocean's proximity and what the composer calls 'the architecture of it's forms'. Both themes and orchestration are masterly. The percussion section is richly voiced, adding considerably to the symphony's very particular, rugged and varied sound world. St Thomas Wake, by contrast, is a disquieting but bravura exercise in parody, evoking memories of the composer's experiences during the Second World War. Universally acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of our time, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies has made a significant contribution to musical history through his wide-ranging and prolific output. He lives in the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland, where he writes most of his music.
