GMB and Max

An Orkney Friendship

In 2005, BBC Scotland made a film documenting the 25-year bond between George Mackay Brown and Peter Maxwell Davies. It is the story of a profound creative friendship.

"George was a staunchly supporting friend, and the most modest and unassuming of men, and an exemplary creator; he must be the most positive and benign influence ever on my own efforts at creation".

The film was introduced by Max himself.

A full review of this film can be found included in 'A Hamnavoe Man' by Sue Tordoff at
http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/reviews.html


Poems featured:

Lullaby for Lucy

Let all plants and creatures of the valley now
Unite,
Calling a new
Young one to join the celebration.

Rowan and lamb and waters salt and sweet
Entreat the
New child to the brimming
Dance of the valley,
A pledge and a promise.
Lonely they were long, the creatures of Rackwick, till
Lucy came among them, all brightness and light.


George wrote the words, Max the music for Lucy, the first child to be born in the Rackwick valley for 32 years.
Published in 'For the Islands I Sing' (1977) 
and 'The Collected Poems' (2005).

George Mackay Brown and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies met on the boat to Hoy in 1970. Max was looking for a place to live, found it in a ruined croft on Hoy, where he wrote for the next 25 years. It was the beginning of a long and fruitful friendship between the two.

Max on Hoy

Peter Maxwell Davies: 60
8 September 1994