Christopher Best

composer ~ educator ~ performer ~ writer


 

Music News:


Matthew Marshall

'Echoes of a Lost Music' for electric guitar and effects box, a work commissioned by Matthew Marshall, completed a major New Zealand tour in August. The premiere took place in Tauranga, North Island, and the final performance in Motueka, South Island. Matthew writes that '...[the audience were] all fascinated by the sounds and the range of tones which they'd not heard before...'
For a full list of performances, visit Matthew’s website.

You can now hear an extract of the piece, sample the score and buy a copy by clicking here. A video extract should be posted here soon.


Alexei Galea

Chris's first ever piano piece, 'At The Eleventh Hour', received two recent Maltese performances: on December 9th in a concert in Gozo, and on December 17th at Sala Isouard, Manoel Theatre in Valletta. The work was enthusiastically played by award winning pianist Alexei Galea, who has since mooted plans to record the work onto CD and perform it again in a major competition.

The score of 'At The Eleventh Hour' is now available for purchase. A score sample can be seen and an extract of the work heard by clicking here.

Alexei is currently working on a second piano piece, the Piano Sonata 'Reconciliations'.


Christopher Best with pianist Ian Pace

The Piano Sonata 'Reconciliations', received a sterling performance in December. Pianist, musicologist and colleague Ian Pace played the work at Dartington College of Arts on 8th December as part of his 'farewell to Dartington' recital. Ian took up a new post at City University in London early in the new year.

The score is currently being type-set. Meanwhile a copy of the autograph is available to purchase. You can hear an extract of the piece by clicking here.

 

Writing News:


Leas Foot (Thurlestone, Devon)
- a key location for the book 'Mobius'

Chris's second novel ‘Mobius’ has just been completed and is about to enter its read-through/feedback/editing stage. If anyone is keen to be a trial reader, please make contact.

Ever since his twin brother Alex was tragically swept out to sea aged nine, Daniel George has been on a downward spiral and in a state of denial. Then, on Christmas Day 2006 - the twenty-fourth anniversary of the tragedy, his long lost twin is found unconscious beside their mother's grave. Taking Alex in, nursing him back to health and trying to unpick the mystery of his disappearance proves to be a near fatal journey for Daniel, exposing deeply hidden secrets about their pasts and bringing him closer to both the lighter and darker elements within himself - until the day he finally wakes up to the shocking truth.

 

Website News:

There have been some more updates to the website recently, including new sound clips (go to the composing page) and ALL are now in 128kbps (CD quality) wma format. The clips have also been extended in length to around 5-6 minutes, meaning that some are now complete pieces or whole movements.

 

Education News:


Dartington College of Arts Studio 3

After fifty years of providing a unique learning experience, Dartington College of Arts has closed its doors for the last time. Chris has chosen to re-locate his education work to University College Falmouth, where work is now well advanced building the new performance centre on the Tremough campus. Staff have been busy preparing for new courses and taking the best of Dartington's tradition into this dynamic new environment. New opportunities are now opened up for collaboration between performing arts and film, TV, animation, photography and art & design courses.



Updated August 2010

© Christopher Best 2010