Peter Maxwell Davies

Into The Labyrinth

A cantata for tenor and chamber orchestra, with words from The Well by George Mackay Brown and a German translation by Gunther Bauer Schenk. The centre-piece of a chamber orchestra trilogy (see also Sinfonia Concertante and Sinfonietta Accademica) and is a symphonic song-cycle in five continuous movements. The text ponders the influence of modern times on ancient ways of life.
Into The Labyrinth is the second of a set of three works for chamber orchestra written in 1982-3, and is the only one using voice. The first performance took place in June 1993 in St. Magnus' Cathedral, Orkney, as part of the St. Magnus Festival. It was given by Neil Mackie and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by James Conlon.
Score (miniature). Duration c. 31mins.