ChristopherBest.net

composer and writer

Home

News

Composing

Education work

Writing

Biography

Contact/links

 

"....Courageous in its simplicity and deserves to be heard."
(SPNM Reading panel)

All my instrumental music is now notated using Sibelius software, whilst electronic work derives mostly from acoustic source material, which is then subjected to Akai samplers, Melodyne pitch-changing software and other effects.

I am always keen to discuss creative projects, commissions or performances of my work. It is the life-blood of any composer to be writing and to be heard! If you are a performer, conductor, choreographer, visual artist, director or writer etc looking for fresh musical dimensions, then please get in touch! You can also find me on iLike and Facebook

Many of the pieces listed have sound-file samples (mp3 format or similar) and/or sample scores (pdf format). Additional samples are being added all the time. Please note that the audio or visual definition of these samples does not match the quality of the originals.

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 contact me if you wish to buy any of these scores or recordings.

Categories:

Solo instrumental

Chamber & vocal

Orchestral & choral

Electronic & mixed media

Dance & theatre

CDs

 

Solo instrumental (with/without backing)

Back to categories

NEW WORK
(work in progress)

Electric Guitar (with effects box)
Commissioned by Matthew Marshall

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
Listen Catherine Laws: piano (2nd movement)

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

THEN AGAIN...
(1994)

Piano
Selected by SPNM Reading Panel 1994. First performance Julian Hellaby, St James, Piccadilly, March 1994. c15 mins
Listen Julian Hellaby: piano (2nd movement)

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 Lancaster University, March 1982. c4 mins

AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR
(1979)

Piano
Winner of 1980 Aylesbury Music Festival composition award. c6 mins
Listen Christopher Best: piano

 

Chamber & vocal

Back to categories

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 performed St. Bride’s London, March 2004. Conductor 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. c11 mins
More info
Fullscore: 49pp £26 incl P&P. Purchase
Set of 14 parts. Hire
View sample
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 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

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

THE SISTERS SUITE
(1990)

Des Rcdr - Vln - Pno
c15 mins

TIME-SHARING
(1986)

Fl - Vln, Vla - Pno
Commissioned by Copenhagen Conservatoire for the Lerchenbourg 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

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 & choral

Back to categories

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. c18 mins
More info

Fullscore: 34pp £19.00 incl P&P. Purchase
Set of 28 parts. Hire
View sample
Listen Performers as above

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. Conductor 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. Conductor Christopher Best. c20 mins

VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS
(1981)

SSAATTBB
c2 mins

 

Electronic & mixed media

Back to categories

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
Listen See More info for list of performers

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 Christopher Best: voices and sampling

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

 

Dance & theatre

Back to categories

POCKETSIZE
(2005)

CD
Commissioned by Claid & Co. Choreographer: Emilyn Claid. Texts: David Williams. First performance Exeter Phoenix, October 2005. c60 mins
Listen Christopher Best: all sounds

TWILIGHT TEMPEST
(2001)

Djembe/Kumina drum (1 player), CD
Commissioned by Bimba Dance Theatre. Choreographer: Indra Thiagarajah. First performance Roadmender Theatre, Northampton, May 2001. c60 mins
More info
Listen See More info for list of performers

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
Listen Catherine Laws: piano (2nd movement)

FRACTOR
(1997)

CD
Commissioned by Kaleidoscope Integrated Dance Project with funds from The National Lottery. Choreographer: Louise Katerega. First performance 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 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 1993 Pendley International Shakespeare Festival. First performance August 1993, director: Mark Evans. c20 mins
Listen John Ryan: saxophones, Christopher Best: guitar

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 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, director: John Highkin. c20 mins

 

CDs

Back to categories

WAKING DANCE
(2003)

Spirits of Yamalya - Gyile Song - The Veiling (listen) - Last Chorus - 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

 

Updated Oct 08

Back to Main Menu