English composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-) has worked in a number of styles but seems most influenced by Renaissance and Medieval music. Maxwell Davies has the ability to both pioneer and seemingly reject tradition while also synthesizing recent compositional trends. He has written a wide variety of works, including symphonic, operatic, and choral. A number of his pieces promote political and environmental activist, including Yellow Cake Review, about uranium mining, and Black Pentecost, concerning industrial pollution.