The British composer who was one of the 20th century’s most influential musicians has passed away aged 81.

British composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies has died aged 81 following a prolonged battle with leukaemia. One of the UK’s most distinguished musicians, Maxwell Davies passed away at his home on the remote Scottish island of Orkney on Monday, March 14.

Affectionately known as “Max”, Maxwell Davies paired his devotion to the avant-garde experimentalism of postwar England, with a warm, unpretentious manner. His enthusiasm for music that could connect with a broad spectrum of people is reflected in his vast oeuvre. This included music for children and amateurs as well as cutting-edge music theatre works, major operas, concertos, ground-breaking ensemble pieces, a cycle of ten string quartets (known as the Naxos Quartets after the record label which commissioned them) and orchestral works including ten symphonies.

Born in the Salford area of Greater Manchester, his life as a composer began in his teenage years, followed by undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music alongside Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon. Together the five composers would form New Music Manchester, a group committed...