PETER MAXWELL DAVIES - Symphony No.5 - Composer's Note - Instrumentation & Duration

Oct 13, 2026

Composer's Note for Symphony No.5 by Peter Maxwell Davies. The work is written for the Philharmonia Orchestra, reflecting a long-standing relationship and featuring challenging first trumpet and first horn parts. The symphony draws on material from the youth-orchestra piece Chat Moss (1993), while a hidden source connects two plainchants from the Liber Usualis and a passage from Habakkuk 3:3. Sibelius’s approach to self-generating form is also central, with related historical context and performance details described.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages92

Reading Time2 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

Composer's Note

Hidden sources and influences

Commissioning and performance history

Instrumentation

Duration

784 .2 DAV HPS 1288 BOO8EYGHAMKES e 沪S 1.68 PETER MAXWELL DAVIESSYMPHONY NO.5 C BECKET7 UNIVERSIT)Leeds Metropolitan 4nivrs17-05041835 884子 | LEEDS METROPOLITAN
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY | | --- | | 1705041835 | | 儿 | | 97928 | | 20.8.08 | | 5 | 78.20 Commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra,with part of thefunds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain. Symphony No.5 was written in January 1994 and first performedon 9 August 1994 at a BBC Promenade Concert at theRoyal Albert Hall,London,by the Philharmonia Orchestra,conducted by Sir Peter Maxwel Davies. First recording:Collins Classics 14602with the same performers # Composer's Note Symphony No.5 was written for the Philharmonia Orchestra,with whomlhave built up a strong relationship over the years.As a result,I wrote withthe individual players very much in mind,most especially the deliberatelychallenging Ist Trumpet and Ist Horn parts for John Wallace and RichardWatkins respectively. The Symphony is based on material from my youth orchestra piece ChatMoss(1993),but behind both pieces is a hidden source:two plainchantsfrom the Liber Usualis -the 'Haec dies'Easter music and 'Domine audivi'from Habakkuk 3:3.The music of Sibelius,in particular its possibilities of self-generating form,was also central to my thinking,having recently studied andconducted Sibelius'sSymphonies 6 and 7 with several orchestras P.M.D. # Anmerkung des Komponisten Symphony No.5 wurde fur das Philharmonia Orchestra geschrieben,zudem ich über die Jahre eine feste Beziehung aufgebaut habe.Infolgedessenhabe ich beim Komponieren stets bestimmte Musiker im Sinn gehabt,vorallem John Wallace bzw.Richard Watkins bei den bewuBt anspruchsvollenParts der ersten Trompete und des ersten Horns. Die Sinfonie stütztsich auf Material aus meinem Stuck Chat Moss(1993)fur Jugendorchester,doch hinter beiden Stucken steht eine verborgeneQuelle:zwei gregorianische Chorale aus dem Liber Usualis -die Ostermusik"Haec dies"und "Domine audivi"nach Habakuk 3,3.Die Musik von Sibelius,insbesondere deren Moglichkeiten der sich selbst generierenden Form,war ebenfalls bestimmend fur mein Denken,da ich in neuerer ZeitSibelius'Sinfonien Nr.6 und 7 mit mehreren Orchestern erarbeitet unddirigiert habe. P.M.D.(Ubersetzung:Anne Steeb-Mueller) # Note du compositeur La Symphonie No.5 fut composee pour le Philharmonia Orchestra aveclequel j'ai tisse des liens solides au cours des annees.De ce fait,fai ecrit engardant chaque instrumentiste très fortement present a Pesprit,notammentles parties de lere trompette et de ler cor,exigeantes a dessein etrespectivement destinees a John Wallace et a Richard Watkins. La symphonie s'appuie sur des elements provenant de ma piece pourorchestre de jeunes Chat Moss(1993).Toutefois,derriere les deuxoeuvres se cache une meme source,a savoir deux mélodies de plain chantextraites du Liber Usualis -le "Haec dies"de Paques et le "Domine audivi"de Habaquq Ⅲ,3.La musique de Sibelius,dont j'ai récemment etudiéet dirigé les Symphonies No.6 et 7 a la těte de plusieurs orchestres,intervint egalement de facon essentielle dans ma réflexion,en particulier lespossiblites qu'elle offre de forme dérivée delle-meme. P.M.D.(Traduction:Agnes Ausseur) Instrumentation Piccolo 2 Flutes(2nd doubling Alto Flute)2 OboesCor Anglais2 Clarinets in ABass Clarinet in Bb2 BassoonsDouble Bassoon4 Horns in F3 Trumpets in C3 TrombonesTubaTimpani*Percussion(5)CelestaHarpStrings *glockenspiel,crotales(2 octaves),fexatone,marimba,tubular bells(af.b),anvil,tambourine,2 bass drums(small,very large),suspended cymbal (smal),clashed cymbals Duration:26 minutes Conductor's score and parts available on hire

FAQs

Who is the composer and what is the work’s title?

The composer is Peter Maxwell Davies, and the work is Symphony No.5.

For which orchestra was the symphony written, and what relationship is mentioned?

It was written for the Philharmonia Orchestra, with the note describing a strong relationship built up over the years.

What musical materials are referenced as underlying sources?

The symphony is based on material from Chat Moss (1993) and also draws on two plainchants from the Liber Usualis, linked to “Haec dies” and “Domine audivi” with a reference to Habakkuk 3:3.

Oct 13, 2026

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