Composing

"....mature and powerful work, able to portray the dark shadows of loss that can unexpectedly creep into even the most joyful moments in life...."
(Dance Europe)

Most of the pieces listed below have high-quality sound-file extracts (wma format at 128kbps) and/or sample scores (pdf format). Additional material is being added all the time.

All score samples are available to purchase as complete A4 scores (with parts where appropriate). They are printed on high quality paper and attractively bound with centre staples. Until this website is set up to handle on-line purchases, please e-mail if you wish to buy any of these scores or recordings.

Categories:

Solo instrumental music:

ECHOES OF A LOST MUSIC (2009)	Electric Guitar (with Boss DD-20 effects box) Commissioned by Matthew Marshall. First performance: Tauranga, New Zealand, 5th August 2009. c30 mins More info Fullscore: 20pp £12 incl P&P. Purchase View sample Listen Christopher Best: electric guitar, Boss DD-20
STILL BEATING (2007)	Lever Harp Commissioned by the Society for the Promotion of New Music for performance by Ruth Wall, Wapping Power Station, March 2007. c14 mins More info Fullscore: 12pp £8 incl P&P. Purchase View sample Listen Ruth Wall: harp
MOONLIGHTING (concert version of Playfall) (1998)	Piano First performance: Julian Hellaby, BMIC, London, March 2001. c25 mins More info Fullscore: 25pp £14 incl P&P. Purchase View sample 2nd movement Listen Catherine Laws: piano 5th movement Listen Julian Hellaby: piano
SHADOWALL (1997, rev 1998)	Organ Commissioned by Daniel Moult, organist Coventry Cathedral. First performance: Coventry Cathedral, July 1997. c15 mins Listen Daniel Moult: organ
LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (1996)	Violoncello - 2 CDs Commissioned by Suits U2 Dance Co. as music to contemporary dance piece ‘Caught Up’ with funds from W. Midlands Arts. Choreographer: Sarah Whatley. First performance: Coventry University, March 1996. c25 mins Fullscore: 11pp + 2 backing CDs £14.50 incl P&P. Purchase View sample Listen extract 1 Bob Davey: cello solo and samples Listen extract 2 Bob Davey: cello solo and samples
THEN AGAIN... (1994)	Piano Selected by SPNM Reading Panel 1994. First performance: Julian Hellaby, St James, Piccadilly, March 1994. c15 mins 2nd movement Listen Julian Hellaby: piano 3rd movement Listen Julian Hellaby: piano 6th movement Listen Julian Hellaby: piano
PIANO SONATA ‘RECONCILIATIONS’ (1985)	Piano First performance: Raymond Clarke, BMIC, February 1986. Selected by SPNM for performance by Michael Finnissy, BMIC, May 1986. c14 mins Listen Raymond Clarke: piano
PROSPECTUS (1980)	Piano First performance: Christopher Best, Lancaster University, March 1982. c4 mins
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR (1979)	Piano Winner of 1980 Aylesbury Music Festival composition award, performed by Christopher Best. c6 mins Fullscore: 13pp £8 incl P&P. Purchase View sample Listen Sequenced recording

Chamber and vocal music:

HOW GREAT, HOW FALL’N (2004)	Sop, Alt, Ten, Bass - SATB - 2 Tpt, Hn, Tbn, Tba - Tub Bls (words J.Reeve) Selected by John Armitage Memorial for their 2004 season. First performance: St. Bride’s London, March 2004, conducted by Sarah McDonald. c12 mins More info Fullscore: 30pp £17 incl P&P. Purchase Set of 9 parts. Hire or purchase View sample Listen See More info for list of performers
DOLYA NASH KRAI (2003)	Sop, Alt - El Gui - Gamelan Gong Kebyar (words trad. Ukrainian folk) Selected by SPNM Reading Panel. First performance: Totnes Castle, July 2004, conducted by Christopher Best. c11 mins More info Fullscore: 49pp £26 incl P&P. Purchase Set of 14 parts. Hire View sample 1st movement Listen 2nd movement Listen see More info for list of performers
RING OF BELLS (1999)	4 Perc: Mar, Vbs, 5 Gongs, 5 Crot c6 mins
BRIEF SYMPHONIES (chamber version of Then Again...) (1997)	Fl (anchi Picc), Ob, Cl (anchi Bcl), Ten Sax (anchi Bar) - Tpt, Tbn c8 mins
INVOCATION (vocal version of Another Kind of Air) (1997)	C-ten, 2 Ten, Bs - Crotales - Org (words from Latin Mass). c13 mins
NIGHT WALKING (1997)	Cl, Bcl - Vln, Vcl Commissioned by SPNM for the 1997 Spitalfields Festival. First performance by ‘Jane’s Minstrels’, Christ Church, Spitalfields, June 1997. c4 mins Fullscore: 7pp £5.00 incl P&P. Purchase Set of 4 parts. Hire or purchase View sample Listen Performers as above
THE SONG OF EACH HEART (1996, rev 1997)	Sop - Org (words Bill Wallace) First performance: Moragh Brooksbank/Daniel Moult, Coventry Cathedral, October 1996. c9 mins Listen Performers as above
ANOTHER KIND OF AIR (1996)	Sop Sax, Alt Sax, Ten Sax, Bar Sax - Crot c12 mins
ROSSETTI DANCES (chamber version of Sisters Fayre) (1995)	3 Fl, 3 Cl - Mar, Vbs (1 player) - 3 Vcl Selected by SPNM Reading Panel 1996. c20 mins
THE ALPHABET TREE (chamber version) (1995 revised 2006)	2 Tpt, Tba - Tmp - Mar (2 players) - Pno - Hrp - Db c10 mins Fullscore: 33pp £18.00 incl P&P. Purchase Set of 7 parts. Hire or purchase View sample Listen Dartington College of Arts students and staff
HERALD THE NEW STAGE (1991)	2 Hn, 2 Tpt, 2 Trb, Tba - Vbs Commissioned by Coventry Centre for the Performing Arts for the opening of its new theatre, November 1991. c8 mins
IN THIS OTHER HOUSE (1991)	Sop, Ten - 2 Gui (words Brian Jones) First performance: Church of St. Peter, St. Albans, March 1991. c8 mins Listen Sharon Ellis: soprano, (Christopher Best: tenor), Catherine Cashmore, Adrian Rose: guitars
THE SISTERS SUITE (1990)	Des Rcdr - Vln - Pno c15 mins
TIME-SHARING (1986)	Fl - Vln, Vla - Pno Commissioned by Copenhagen Conservatoire for the Lerchenborg International Festival of New Music, Denmark, June 1986. c10 mins
TRIAPHONY (1984, rev 1985)	Fl, Ob, Cl - Vln, Vla, Vcl - Pno Commissioned by Friends of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Soc. Winner of 1985 ‘Sonorities’ award. First performance: ‘Aquarius’, Queens University Belfast, recorded by the BBC, April 1985. c12 mins
I SAID TO MY SOUL, BE STILL (1983)	Fl - Pno Commissioned by Friends of St Mary’s. First performance: Margaret Campbell and Christopher Cox, St. Mary’s Church, Aylesbury May 1983. c5 mins
BAGATELLE (1981)	St Qt. c2 mins
ISORHYTHMS (1981)	St Qt. c5 mins First performance: Lancaster University, March 1982
A PROSPECT OF DEATH (1979)	Bar - Pno (words Andrew Young) First performance: Lancaster University, March 1981. c4 mins Fullscore (C#minor or B minor): 5pp £4.50 incl P&P. Purchase View sample

Orchestral and choral music:

PANAURA (1999, rev 2006)	5+(1anchi Picc),3+,5+,0,Sop Sax3+,Ten Sax - 0,2,1,1 - 4 Prc - Pno, Kybd, Hrp - 4 El Gui, El Bass - Stgs First performed by ‘Kokoro’/Dartington College students, Dartington Hall April 1999, conductors: Mark Forkgen and Christopher Best. c18 mins More info Fullscore: 34pp £19.00 incl P&P. Purchase Set of 28 parts. Hire View sample Listen MIDI simulation
LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (string version) (1997)	Stgs (3,3,2,2,1) c25 mins
CUE - PLAY - REVIEW (1988)	2(1anchi Picc, 2anchi Alto),0,1(anchi Bcl),0 - 0,0,0,0 - 2 Prc - Pno - Hrp - Stgs (3,0,3,2,1) c40 mins
FINDHORN CHORUSES (1 and 2) (1988)*	SATB - Fl, Cl (anchi Bcl) - Trb - Vln - Pno - 3 Prc (words trad) c5 mins
SONATA FOR ORCHESTRA (1984)	Picc,2,2,Cor,2,Bcl,2,Cbs - 4,3,3,1 - Tmp - 3 Prc - Hrp - Stgs Selected by SPNM Reading Panel 1985. First performance: University Orchestra, Great Hall Nottingham University, June 1985, conducted by Christopher Best. c16 mins
THE FOUR PERIODS OF CREATION (1983)	SATB - 2(2anchi Picc),2,2,2 - 4,2,3,0 - Tmp - 2 Prc - Stgs (words traditional Maori folk) Commissioned by Ormskirk Musical Society. c18 mins
SYMPHONY IN 2 MOVEMENTS (1983)	2(anchi Picc),2,2,2 - 4,3,3,0 - 4 Prc - Pno - Stgs First performance: University Orchestra, Great Hall Lancaster University, February 1983, conducted by Christopher Best. c20 mins
VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS (1981)	SSAATTBB c2 mins

Electronic and mixed media work:

LETTERS AFTER A NAME (work in progress) (concert version of ‘Still’ and ‘Pocketsize)	Cl (anchi Bcl), Perc, Vln (anchi Vla), CD
WAKING DANCE (2003)	CD Re-worked version of music to ‘Twilight Tempest'. c60 mins More info To Listen to extracts from Waking Dance, go to CDs
PRETENDED FLIGHT (1992)	CD Commissioned as music to contemporary dance piece, choreographed and danced by Sarah Whatley, Chisenhale Dance Space, London, November 1992. c17 mins Listen extract 1 Maryam Best, Indigo Craig, Christopher Best: voice samples Listen extract 2 Indigo Craig, Christopher Best: voice samples Listen extract 3 Christopher Best: voice samples
THE GARDENS OF FINDHORN (includes works marked*) (1988)	Sop, Ten - SATB - Fl(anchi Alto), Cl(anchi Bcl) - Trb - Vln - Pno - 3 Prc - 2 CDs (words from ‘The Findhorn Garden’ and trad). c50 mins
THE DEVA GARDEN (1988)*	Soprano, 2 CDs (words from ‘The Findhorn Garden’) First performance: Patricia Garnham, Coventry Centre for the Performing Arts, March 1991. c16 mins Listen Patricia Garnham: voice
FROM STEEL TO STONE (1987)*	CD Presented at Elektrisk Helg ’00, Swedish Radio, Malmo, May 2000. c14 mins Listen David Huron: voice samples

Music for dance and theatre:

POCKETSIZE (2005)	CD Commissioned by Claid & Co. Choreographer Emilyn Claid. Texts: David Williams. First performance: Exeter Phoenix, October 2005. c60 mins Smokey Dance Listen Damien Harron: live drums, Christopher Best: all other sounds Baroque Dance Listen Fenella Barton: violin, Ian Mitchell: bass clarinet, Damien Harron: vibraphone, Christopher Best: all other sounds Closing Processional Listen Christopher Best: all sounds
TWILIGHT TEMPEST (2001)	Djembe/Kumina drum (1 player), CD Commissioned by Bimba Dance Theatre. Choreographer: Indra Thiagarajah. First performed at the Roadmender Theatre, Northampton, May 2001. c60 mins More info To Listen to extracts from Twilight Tempest, go to CDs (Waking Dance)
STILL (1999)	Cl (anchi Bcl), Perc, Vln (anchi Vla), CD Commissioned by Scottish Dance Theatre. Choreographer: Janet Smith. First performance: Dundee Repertory Theatre, Dundee, September 1999. c34 mins
PLAYFALL (1997)	CD Commissioned by Scottish Dance Theatre. Choreographer Janet Smith. First performance: Dundee Repertory Theatre, Dundee, February 1998. c23 mins More info 2nd movement Listen Catherine Laws: piano 5th movement Listen Julian Hellaby: piano
FRACTOR (1997)	CD Commissioned by Kaleidoscope Integrated Dance Project with funds from The National Lottery. Choreographer: Louise Katerega. First performed at the Richard Attenborough Centre, Leicester, September 1997. c15 mins Listen Bonnie Chamberlain & Louise Katerega: voice samples
LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (1996)	Violoncello - 2 CDs Commissioned by Suits U2 Dance Co. as music to contemporary dance piece ‘Caught Up’ with funds from W. Midlands Arts. Choreographer: Sarah Whatley. First performance: Coventry University, March 1996. c25 mins Listen extract 1 Bob Davey: cello solo and samples Listen extract 2 Bob Davey: cello solo and samples
SONGS FROM EDWARD BOND’S ‘DEREK’ (1994)	Alt, Ten - Cl - Trb - Pno (words Edward Bond) Commissioned by Storm Theatre. Director: Mark Evans. First performance: Belgrade Studio Theatre, Coventry, August 1994. c13 mins
THE ALPHABET TREE (1993)	Tape Composed for choreographer Amanda Britton (Rambert Dance Co.). First performance: Birmingham NEC, December 1993. c10 mins
SONGS/INCIDENTAL MUSIC TO ‘TWELFTH NIGHT’ (1993)	Tape - Bar (words Shakespeare) Composed for the Pendley International Shakespeare Festival, August 1993. Director: Mark Evans. c20 mins Listen extract 1 John Ryan: saxophones, Christopher Best: acoustic guitar Listen extract 2 Christopher Best: all instruments
SISTERS FAYRE (1992)	Tape Commissioned by choreographers Helen Greaves and Sarah Whatley with funds from W. Midlands Arts. First performance: DanceXchange, Birmingham, February 1993. c26 mins
PRETENDED FLIGHT (1992)	CD Commissioned as music to contemporary dance piece, choreographed and danced by Sarah Whatley, Chisenhale Dance Space, London, November 1992. c17 mins Listen extract 1 Maryam Best, Indigo Craig, Christopher Best: voice samples Listen extract 2 Indigo Craig, Christopher Best: voice samples Listen extract 3 Christopher Best: voice samples
SONGS/INCIDENTAL MUSIC TO ‘THE WINTER’S TALE’ (1984)	Sop, Alt, Bar - Fl, Ob - Tpt - Stg Qt - Gui - Pno - 2 Prc (words Shakespeare) Commissioned by Cambridge Amateur Dramatic Club. First performance: Cambridge A.D.C., November 1984, directed by John Highkin. c20 mins

CDs:

WAKING DANCE (2003)	Spirits of Yamalya - Gyile Song Listen - The Veiling - Last Chorus Listen - Yama's Kingdom - Processional - Mortal Love - Wake Dances (Kumina, Pacha, Yanvalu) Listen - The Unveiling - The Deceit - A Fire Ritual (Agna Ayahi Vitaye) Listen Duration 58' 24" More info See here for list of performers on recordings £12 incl P&P. Purchase
CHOICE CUTS (2000)	A sampler CD featuring 27 extracts from compositions 1987-1999 Duration 74' 56 " £1.50 P&P only. Distribution temporarily suspended. Digitally re-mastering for re-issue
LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (2000)	Life Before Birth Listen - Night Walking Listen - The Alphabet Tree Listen - Panaura Listen Duration 56' 55" £12 incl P&P. Sale temporarily suspended. Digitally re-mastering for re-issue
SHADOWALL (2000)	Moonlighting Listen - Shadowall Listen - The Song of Each Heart Listen - Piano Sonata 'Reconciliations' Listen Duration 59' 33" £12 incl P&P. Sale temporarily suspended. Digitally re-mastering for re-issue
FROM STEEL TO STONE (2000)	The Deva Garden Listen - Pretended Flight Listen - Fractor Listen - From Steel to Stone Listen Duration 61' 08" £12 incl P&P. Sale temporarily suspended. Digitally re-mastering for re-issue

Updated June 2010

ECHOES OF A LOST MUSIC (2009)

STILL BEATING (2007)

MOONLIGHTING (concert version of Playfall) (1998)

SHADOWALL (1997, rev 1998)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (1996)

THEN AGAIN... (1994)

PIANO SONATA ‘RECONCILIATIONS’ (1985)

PROSPECTUS (1980)

AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR (1979)

HOW GREAT, HOW FALL’N (2004)

DOLYA NASH KRAI (2003)

RING OF BELLS (1999)

BRIEF SYMPHONIES (chamber version of Then Again...) (1997)

INVOCATION (vocal version of Another Kind of Air) (1997)

NIGHT WALKING (1997)

THE SONG OF EACH HEART (1996, rev 1997)

ANOTHER KIND OF AIR (1996)

ROSSETTI DANCES (chamber version of Sisters Fayre) (1995)

THE ALPHABET TREE (chamber version) (1995 revised 2006)

HERALD THE NEW STAGE (1991)

IN THIS OTHER HOUSE (1991)

THE SISTERS SUITE (1990)

TIME-SHARING (1986)

TRIAPHONY (1984, rev 1985)

I SAID TO MY SOUL, BE STILL (1983)

BAGATELLE (1981)

ISORHYTHMS (1981)

A PROSPECT OF DEATH (1979)

PANAURA (1999, rev 2006)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (string version) (1997)

CUE - PLAY - REVIEW (1988)

FINDHORN CHORUSES (1 and 2) (1988)*

SONATA FOR ORCHESTRA (1984)

THE FOUR PERIODS OF CREATION (1983)

SYMPHONY IN 2 MOVEMENTS (1983)

VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS (1981)

LETTERS AFTER A NAME (work in progress) (concert version of ‘Still’ and ‘Pocketsize)

WAKING DANCE (2003)

PRETENDED FLIGHT (1992)

THE GARDENS OF FINDHORN (includes works marked*) (1988)

THE DEVA GARDEN (1988)*

FROM STEEL TO STONE (1987)*

POCKETSIZE (2005)

TWILIGHT TEMPEST (2001)

STILL (1999)

PLAYFALL (1997)

FRACTOR (1997)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (1996)

SONGS FROM EDWARD BOND’S ‘DEREK’ (1994)

THE ALPHABET TREE (1993)

SONGS/INCIDENTAL MUSIC TO ‘TWELFTH NIGHT’ (1993)

SISTERS FAYRE (1992)

PRETENDED FLIGHT (1992)

SONGS/INCIDENTAL MUSIC TO ‘THE WINTER’S TALE’ (1984)

WAKING DANCE (2003)

CHOICE CUTS (2000)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH (2000)

SHADOWALL (2000)

FROM STEEL TO STONE (2000)

ECHOES OF A LOST MUSIC
(2009)

STILL BEATING
(2007)

MOONLIGHTING
(concert version of Playfall)
(1998)

SHADOWALL
(1997, rev 1998)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH
(1996)

THEN AGAIN...
(1994)

PIANO SONATA ‘RECONCILIATIONS’
(1985)

PROSPECTUS
(1980)

AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR
(1979)

HOW GREAT, HOW FALL’N
(2004)

DOLYA NASH KRAI
(2003)

RING OF BELLS
(1999)

BRIEF SYMPHONIES
(chamber version of
Then Again...)
(1997)

INVOCATION
(vocal version of
Another Kind of Air)
(1997)

NIGHT WALKING
(1997)

THE SONG OF EACH HEART
(1996, rev 1997)

ANOTHER KIND OF AIR
(1996)

ROSSETTI DANCES
(chamber version
of Sisters Fayre)
(1995)

THE ALPHABET TREE
(chamber version)
(1995 revised 2006)

HERALD THE NEW STAGE
(1991)

IN THIS OTHER HOUSE
(1991)

THE SISTERS SUITE
(1990)

TIME-SHARING
(1986)

TRIAPHONY
(1984, rev 1985)

I SAID TO MY SOUL, BE STILL
(1983)

BAGATELLE
(1981)

ISORHYTHMS
(1981)

A PROSPECT OF DEATH
(1979)

PANAURA
(1999, rev 2006)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH
(string version)
(1997)

CUE - PLAY - REVIEW
(1988)

FINDHORN CHORUSES
(1 and 2)
(1988)*

SONATA FOR ORCHESTRA
(1984)

THE FOUR PERIODS OF CREATION
(1983)

SYMPHONY IN 2 MOVEMENTS
(1983)

VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS
(1981)

LETTERS AFTER A NAME
(work in progress)
(concert version of ‘Still’ and ‘Pocketsize)

WAKING DANCE
(2003)

PRETENDED FLIGHT
(1992)

THE GARDENS OF FINDHORN
(includes works marked*)
(1988)

THE DEVA GARDEN
(1988)*

FROM STEEL TO STONE
(1987)*

POCKETSIZE
(2005)

TWILIGHT TEMPEST
(2001)

STILL
(1999)

PLAYFALL
(1997)

FRACTOR
(1997)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH
(1996)

SONGS FROM EDWARD BOND’S ‘DEREK’
(1994)

THE ALPHABET TREE
(1993)

SONGS/INCIDENTAL MUSIC TO ‘TWELFTH NIGHT’
(1993)

SISTERS FAYRE
(1992)

PRETENDED FLIGHT
(1992)

SONGS/INCIDENTAL MUSIC TO ‘THE WINTER’S TALE’
(1984)

WAKING DANCE
(2003)

CHOICE CUTS
(2000)

LIFE BEFORE BIRTH
(2000)

SHADOWALL
(2000)

FROM STEEL TO STONE
(2000)