MSI Premiere Composer, Wayne L. Davies  (South Wales, United Kingdom)
    

Dr. Wayne L. Davies was born in Aberdare, South Wales in 1975. His musical education began at secondary school (Aberdare Boys School, South Wales, UK) where he played the violoncello and piano. His interest in composition began at the age of 10 with a series of suites written for a small chamber orchestra and various scores for violoncello and/or piano. Whilst studying GCSE and A Level music at ABS, the composer wrote a 'Symphony in the Classical Style' and Requiem'  (1993-1996). In 1994, Wayne L. Davies entered the University of Cambridge (King's College) to read Medicine. Many important works were composed during this time and some were performed in various King's College Composers' Concerts. These works include 'Elegy for solo flute, strings and timpani'; 'Elegy for string orchestra'; 'Miserere for mixed choir'; 'Novelette: A Homage to Debussy for flute, violoncello and harp' and 'Pastoral for solo piano'; the latter of which was featured on the BBC Radio Wales music programme 'The Score'.The previous few years have been an exciting period of musical experimentation and development for the composer/arranger. Some important works include 'The Rag for 2 pianos'; 'HaKeras for solo french horn'; 'Invocation for solo violoncello and string orchestra', a song cycle based on three poems by Dylan Thomas ('Lie Still Sleep Becalmed', 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' and 'In My Craft Or Sullen Art') for mezzo-soprano with harp or piano accompaniment', and a song for tenor and piano based on W. H. Auden's 'Stop All The Clocks'. The composer is presently writing a song cycle based on poems by the WWI Cambridge poet Rupert Brooke – the first 'Peace' has recently been completed (2007). 

      Inspired by the masses of Mozart, Brahms, Faure and John Rutter, Wayne L. Davies began composing 'Requiem' in 1993: a work scored for solo soprano I, solo soprano II, mixed choir and small orchestra.  The movements 'Requiem Aeternam' (1993) and 'Agnus Dei' (1994) were submitted as part of his A Level music portfolio, with the other movements (Kyrie eleison, 1995; Recordare, 1995; Lacrymosa, 1996; Sanctus and Benedictus, 2007; Pie Jesu, 1996; and In Paradisum, 1995), being composed in the following years. The philosophy that underpins 'Requiem' is akin to that of Faure's own Requiem Mass: Death is not a transformation into a celestial entity but the final liberation from Life's turmoil and hardship. This is reflected in the music by the omission of the traditional 'Dies Irae' and the addition of 'In Paradisum' and the harmonic change of the dissonant/minor chords of the opening movement, which when repeated in the closing bars is resolved to a hopeful C major cadence. The repeat of the thematic material of the first movement at the Requiem's closure forms a cyclic structure illustrating the cyclic nature of Life and Death and how this is a continuous pattern experienced in Nature from one generation to the next. This is also reflected in the music, which is continuous throughout the entire piece, with each movement being linked by two main motifs (crochet, crochet, rest, quaver triplet and an falling arpeggio motif). This version of 'Requiem' was composed especially for a world premiere performance by the Master Singers, Inc. Chorale of Northeast Ohio at a memorial concert for the late Pope John Paul II to be given at the Shrine Church of Saint Stanislaus in Cleveland , Ohio-USA. This work is dedicated to the memory of his maternal grandmother, Ms Maisie Cartwright.