The composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies has died at his Orkney home at the age of 81.
He died after suffering from leukaemia.
The lauded and much honoured composer had lived in the Orkney Islands since 1971 - initially to Hoy and later to Sanday - and helped found the annual St Magnus Festival in 1977.
As well as a composer he was an experienced conductor, holding the position of Associate Conductor/Composer at both the BBC Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic orchestras for 10 years, and guest-conducting orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus and Philharmonia.
Obituary: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
He enjoyed a close relationship with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra as Composer Laureate.
Born in Salford, Lancashire on 8 September 1934, Sir Peter attended Royal Manchester College of Music (now Royal Northern College of Music).
He later secured a Fellowship at Princeton where he studied with Roger Sessions and Milton Babbitt. The 1960s were an especially formative decade, establishing him as a leading contemporary musical figure.
Sir Peter held the post of Master of the Queen’s Music from 2004–2014.
He was knighted in 1987 and made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the New Year 2014 Honours List. In February 2016, Sir Peter was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal.
Sally Groves, creative director of Schott Music, and a friend, said: "Max was a truly unique musician. A remarkable composer who created music theatre works of searing power, great symphonies, intense chamber music, works of truly universal popularity.
"A fierce fighter for music in the community and in education, and on environmental issues. And a man of invincible integrity, a true friend and a teller of truth to power.
"He lived in the world, even though he seemed far away in Hoy or in Sanday, and he put his beliefs into action.
"He loved life – and particularly the food and culture of Italy.
"The last years, even when battling against the leukaemia which came on him so suddenly, were an Indian Summer of wonderful, richly imagined works."
Stephen Lumsden, managing director of Intermusic, the agency that represented the composer, said: "Everyone here at Intermusica is deeply saddened at Max’s death.
"Few musicians of the past 50 years or more have made such a substantial impact on Britain’s cultural life across so many areas.
"He never stopped sharing his vision that music was not only vital but life-enhancing.
"He was right to the end a pioneer whose non-conformity marked him out as an unimpeachable free spirit and creative thinker. "As Master of the Queen’s Music he took the role to new heights using his position to voice important opinions about music education and the value of culture to our society, never afraid to point up where he felt the Establishment and politicians in particular had fallen short in recognising those values."
He added: "He was a man of great humour who never lost his passion for the Orkneys and for Scotland in general. We have been deeply privileged to represent Max these past years and we lose not only a great colleague but friend as well."
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