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Inside the Naxos Quartets of Peter Maxwell Davies | Maggini Quartet

2,973 views · Published 7 April 2016 · 19:31 · Indexed 12 November 2026

Channel: Naxos Music · 2016 · Music

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Explore the extraordinary creative journey behind the _Naxos Quartets_ , a monumental cycle of ten string quartets commissioned from the legendary composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

In this behind-the-scenes look, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and the Maggini Quartet share the evolution of this unique five-year project. From the initial nervous rehearsals to the deep rapport that developed between composer and performers, discover how these works were shaped by the natural environment of Orkney, the political landscape of the time, and the intimate technical possibilities of the string quartet.

*MAXWELL DAVIES: The Naxos Quartets*
DISCOVER: https://Naxos.lnk.to/Naxos-QuartetsID

Peter Maxwell Davies is universally acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of our time. His musical idiom has been described by The New York Times as a combination of ‘medieval mysticism, modernist rigour and happy accessibility’. 

‘The Maggini perform with the no-holds-barred commitment and jaw-dropping technical acumen we have come to expect from them throughout this massive project.’ (Gramophone)

00:00 – The Origin of the Naxos Quartets
01:47 – A Monumental Challenge: 10 Quartets in 5 Years
03:18 – A Musical Novel: The Creative Vision
03:55 – Inspiration from Orkney: Nature and Rhythms
05:00 – Inside the Recording Session
06:48 – First Readings: "Angry" vs. "Reflective" Music
07:56 – The Composer’s Role in the Recording Studio
08:51 – Building a Unique Rapport: Composer and Performers
09:50 – Writing for the String Quartet
11:50 – Refining the Performance: Collaboration in Detail
13:43 – The Impact of Current Events: Quartet No. 3 
15:01 – Looking Ahead: The Final Quartet and Scottish Heritage
16:03 – The Unconventional Finale: Why Quartet No. 10 Never "Finishes"

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