Peter Maxwell Davies: Farewell to Stromness

Stromness is a town in the Orkney Islands, off the northernmost tip of Scotland. Davies is not only a composer, but also an environmentalist and he wrote this piece in protest at plans to mine uranium ore in Orkney. "The slow, walking bass line that pervades the Farewell portrays the residents of the village of Stromness having to leave their homes as a result of uranium contamination. The Revue was first performed at the St. Magnus Festival, in Orkney, by Bron, with the composer at the piano, in June 1980. Stromness, the second largest town in Orkney, would have been two miles from the uranium mine's core, and the centre most threatened by pollution, had the proposed development been approved." (Wikipedia)
I'm using the Cembalo (harpsichord) stop of my organ.
Sorry for the rather poor sound quality.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• peter
• maxwell
• davies
• farewell
• stromness
• matthias
• rascher
• orkney
• ahlborn
• organum
• cembalo
• harpsichord
• organ
• orgue
• orgel

[kflynn59]

I heard this on Radio 3 this morning, played on the piano, and have fallen in love with it as a piece.

[wljmrbill]

very nice with the harpschord stop.. lends to the theme of the piece alot. I enjoyed your explanation , Take Crae, Bill

[gusmanj14]

Wow, wonderful! I read the description and it really makes the music appeal much different then if I wouldn't have read it. Thank's for posting :-)

[MrsFaraway]

Such a nice piece. Never heard it with an harpsichord, but this really supports the peaceful and melancholic melody...Doesn´t seem to be easy to play in the second part I suppose? Well done. Thanks for sharing....