The St Magnus festival, founded by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in 1977, celebrates its 50th edition this midsummer, continuing to connect culture and community in the Orkney islands. The festival, co-founded with poet George Mackay Brown, began with the premiere of Max's opera The Martyrdom of St Magnus in Kirkwall's cathedral. Over the decades, it has premiered operas, symphonies, and community music-theatre works, influencing composers like Judith Weir and James MacMillan.
Max's Vision for Orkney
Max's vision of a composer-led festival was not new, but achieving it in a remote part of the UK was groundbreaking. He found a new kind of harmony in his music, blending keys and modes to create mysterious yet visceral effects. His 10 symphonies, 10 Strathclyde Concertos, and 10 Naxos Quartets remain underperformed but are as dynamic as the Orkney seascapes that inspired them.
The 432Hz Myth
Despite claims of spiritual healing properties, the theory that 432Hz is a magical frequency is scientifically unfounded. Concert pitch has varied throughout history, from 465Hz in 17th-century Italy to 392Hz in France. There is nothing special about 432Hz compared to 433Hz or 440Hz.
This week, Tom recommends French composer Rita Strohl's chamber music, available on La Boite a Pepites, particularly the Romance of the Septet.
