Something small built on Fibonacci proportions transformed into a long substantial quasi symphonic movement, using a simple instrument made from a sample of flowing water...

Take Time

A short, intimate and playful duet for flute and cello, written as part of a new set of Enigma Variations

On My Enigmatic Friend

A quick doodle capturing my mood for...well...not sure. But why not?! :)

Ability Knives Stark

Pretty rushed today... But feeling very tired so this is what came out...

Light Halo

A bit rushed today... Not sure what's going on here. Channeling my inner Snarky, maybe...

Snarky Funk

If Myelin

A gentle offering today, with lots of sliding harmony...

Hydro Plasterer

A little doodle on the note equivalents of the word LOVE for Valentine's day, with some rotation thrown in... Ghost bells, harp and cello in a dreamy acoustic...

Valentines Day

Thought I'd give a super simple looping piece a go... Complete with slight stutters at the end of the loop :-)

Super Simple Looping Cello

Slowly evolving piano improvisation that uses a couple of contrasting themes - recorded in one take on Wednesday 29th June 2022

Dinging Rainfalls

It's a bit sci-fi ambience, with an appearance by some space insects...

Improvised in one take on a single instrument quickly made in a granular synthesiser taking a tiny segment of 'Dinging Rainfalls' as the source audio - can you tell which bit it is? :-)

Spinning Metal

A quick sketch, taking the opening melody of Silent Night and reimagining it, for symphony orchestra and using MuseScore 4's new playback system and Muse Sounds... I'm astonished by the quality of the playback!

Silent Dawn

Two interweaving themes that would suit a montage, possibly of a romcom...

Music For A Nostalgic Montage

Performed by the Cardiff University Contemporary Music Group, conducted by Rob Fokkens. 7th December 2015, Cardiff University Concert Hall. Part of a series exploring contemporary music in Wales.

Programme note:
This is a short vocal work for groups of mixed voices, written for use within the Roman Catholic Liturgy for Pentecost Sunday and for amateur singers. The text is an English translation of the Latin sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus.
The setting of the text alternates between the two main singing groups having a canonic or homophonic relationship, and the respective harmonic implications and possibilities of these two approaches, and their relationship with the text.

Come, Holy Spirit

Recording of a rehearsal with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by B Tommy Andersson, Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay, Friday 03 March 2017.

Programme Note:
First and foremost, this is a little musical portrait of my (then) two-year-old son, Sebastian. But, it does also contain all the elements of a late-classical-period symphony in miniature: a sonata form first movement, a scherzo and trio, a slow movement, and a sonata-rondo finale. So, it is quite literally a Tiny Symphony, about a tiny person, and because of its bite-sized proportions, gives a little flavour of what (at least this composer’s) contemporary classical music is all about, without being too long or intimidating.

Tiny Symphony

BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andre de Ridder, 17th November 2007, Maida Vale Studios, London

Cells and Sanctuaries

For flute (db. piccolo & alto flute), clarinet (dbl. bass clarinet), violin, cello & piano.  PM Ensemble, conducted by Michael Rafferty, Weston Gallery, RWCMD, 6th March 2007

Panorama

For violin and piano.  PM Ensemble: Rhys Watkins (violin) & Andrew Wilson-Dickson (piano), Weston Gallery, RWCMD, 13th March 2007

A Rundown On Couples

Winner of the Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra's 2009/2010 Young Composers Award.

Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Taylor, Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, 23rd January 2010.

Wild, celebratory jazz, ritualistic drumming and chanting, fanfares, a chorale and a love song all woven together into a concerto for orchestra

The Mysterious Kiss

For solo flute, performed by Nicola Loten

Seclusion (Secret Garden)

Highfields Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Huw Gareth Williams, Highfields Church, Cardiff, 2nd July 2011

Moving Hues

Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Andrew Taylor and Max Charles Davies,Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, 21st January 2012

A (very British) Summer Prayer

Max is a composer, arranger, teacher, and freelance musician based in Cardiff, and a senior lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol.

Max Charles Davies

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