Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is universally acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of our time and as he reaches his 75th birthday in 2009 he remains prolific.
The sonata for violin and piano was written for the virtuoso violinist, Ilya Gringolts and first performed at the St Magnus Festival in Orkney in 2008. . The work is principally concerned with Italian architecture and the music takes both performers and audience across an imaginary walkway over Rome as proposed by the architect Giuseppe Rebecchini. . Starting at the 17th Century Chiesa Nuova the exceptional journey passes Renaissance churches, exhibition spaces, the river Tiber, glass faç.ades, sculptures and even a prison where a Lazio folk tune can be heard echoing from behind the walls. . The journey ends 15 minutes later at Gianicolo, an area where one can take in breathtaking views over the whole city.

Latin.

During his time as Master of the Queen's Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies wrote a new carol for Her Majesty the Queen each Christmas. Ave, Plena Gracia , written for Christmas 2009, was the fifth in this series after An Heavenly Song, Wonder Tidings, The Yule-tide Bell and Kings and Shepherds all of which are published in the Schott Royal Collection.

First performed in St. James's Palace by the choir of the Chapel Royal on the Epiphany at the end of the 2009/2010 Christmas period, Ave, Plena Gracia is a short and traditional Latin setting that would be perfect for amateur choirs looking for new repertoire.