I. The Battle of Menai Strait; II. The Temptations of Magnus; III. The Curse of Blind Mary; IV. The Peace Parley (Prelude to the Invocation of the Dove); V. Magnus' Journey to the Isle of Egilsay; VI. Earl Håkon Resolves to Murder Magnus; VI. The Reporters; VII. The Sacrifice; VIII. The Miracle
The standard, accepted order of instrumentation for large ensembles: fl.ob.cl.bsn - hn.tpt.trbn.tba - perc - other - vlnI.vlnII.vla.vlc.db - tape, or electronics. Saxophones appear between clarinet and bassoon.
All other scorings (less than 8 instruments) are listed in full.
When an instrument is listed in parentheses, then this instrument is doubled. "guitar (=electric guitar)" means that the guitarist plays an acoustic, as well as an electric guitar. In an orchestral setting, "1(I=picc).2(II=corA).2(II=bcl).1" would resolve to: 1 flute (also playing piccolo), 2 oboes (second oboe also playing cor anglais), 2 clarinets (second clarinet also playing bass clarinet), 1 bassoon. If there is an extra instrument, which is not doubled, then this is expressly written out, e.g. "1(I=picc).2.corA.2.bcl.1.dbn", which unravels to: 1 flute (also playing piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 double bassoon.
Solo instruments in a concerto or chamber setting are written out in front of the ensemble instruments: guitar - 1.1.1.1 - 1.0.0.0 - perc - strgs.
Genre
Stage Work
Text/Libretto
Peter Maxwell Davies after the novel 'Magnus' by George Mackay Brown
Commission
BBC for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
Premiere
Kirkwall, Orkney, St. Magnus Cathedral, 18 June 1977: Neil Mackie, tenor / Michael Rippon, baritone / Brian Rayner Cook, baritone / Ian Comboy, bass / Mary Thomas, mezzo-soprano / The Fires of London, Peter Maxwell Davies (cond.) / Murray Melvin, staging