Origins & Early Life

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) was an English composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music. As a student at both the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music, Davies formed a group dedicated to contemporary music called the New Music Manchester with fellow students Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon. Davies's compositions include eight works for the stage—from the monodrama Eight Songs for a Mad King, which shocked the audience in 1969, to Kommilitonen!, first performed in 2011—and ten symphonies, written between 1973 and 2013. As a conductor, Davies was artistic director of the Dartington International Summer School from 1979 to 1984 and associate conductor/composer with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from 1992 to 2002, holding the latter position with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra as well.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Davies was born in Holly Street, Langworthy, Salford, Lancashire, and lived in Trafford Road before moving to Wyville Drive in Swinton. He was the son of Thomas Davies, a manufacturer of optical instruments, and his wife Hilda, an amateur painter....

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alan Rickman — Contemporary (Died in 2016) (2016): Iconic English actor celebrated for his distinctive voice and powerful stage presence.
• Aage Bohr — Shared historical date (09-08 · Died) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
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• Aamir Khan — Shared historical date (03-14 · Born) (1965): Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker, known for his dedication to cinematic perfection.
• Albert Einstein — Shared historical date (03-14 · Born) (1879): Pioneering theoretical physicist known for the theory of relativity and E=mc2.
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