DEMO
STUDY SCORE
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
A Cage of Doves
Orchestration (score in C):
Clarinet 1 in Bb
Clarinet 2 in Bb
Bass clarinet
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Contra bassoon
Horn 1 in F
Horn 3 in F
Horn 2 in F
Horn 4 in F
Trumpet 1 in
Trumpet 2 in C
Trumpet 3 in C
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass trombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (2 players):
tam tam 5 tom toms
bass drum
suspended cymbal
triangle
tubular bells ( C,B,A)
glockenspiel
Harp
Celeste
Strings
DURATION: 10 mins
REVISED VERSION 2008
This work is published in the following editions:
N.M.O. 12511A/ISMN 979-0-065-11629-7 Study Score (B4) - on sale
N.M.O. 12511B/ISMN 979-0-065-11831-4 Conductor’s Score (A3) - on hire
N.M.O. 12511C/ISMN 979-0-065-11630-3 Orchestral parts (B4) - on hire
Contact the publisher for further information:
Published by:
Norsk Musikforlag A/S
Postboks 1499 Vika N-0116 Oslo Norway
TEL 00-47-23 00 20 10
FAX 00-47-22 42 44 35 E-mail: order@musikforlaget.no
Copyright © 2007/2008 by Norsk Musikforlag A/S, Oslo.
Dedicated to Sir Peter
A Cage of Doves
Maxwell Davies
This work is inspired by the Orcadian George Mackay Brown’s poetic and innovative novel, Magnus, which tells the story of the martyred saint Magnus Erlendson. St Magnus gave his life to achieve peace in the Orkney Islands when his cousin Haakon would no longer accept joint rule.
The title comes from a phrase describing the childhood of the two earls: Haakon remembers ‘rock pools in the sun, a cage of doves, small flung fists and tears and reconciliation.’
The music refers to the Northern light and seascapes which pervade Mackay Brown’s writing. Throughout the piece, fragments of the ancient ‘Hymn to St Magnus’ - unusual and distinctive in its use of thirds - are heard.
The ideas of conflict and resolution are expressed in a set of small sea scenes. It is said that a ‘bright, heavenly light’ was seen above Magnus’ grave shortly after his death: this is reflected in the return of the Hymn at the end, overlaid with the calling of doves.
The dedication to Max, who has encouraged and inspired me for twenty years, was made after hearing his extraordinary opera The Martyrdom of St Magnus, at St Magnus Cathedral.
A Cage of Dov es was commissioned by the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, with funding from Norsk Kulturråd (The Norwegian Cultural Fund), and first performed by the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eivind Aadland in Stavanger Concert Hall, January 17th, 2008 as part of StavangerEuropean Capital of Culture 2008.
Sally Beamish 2007