Christopher Best
composer ~
educator ~ performer
~ writer
Music
News:
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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.
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Alexei Galea
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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'.
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Christopher
Best with pianist Ian Pace
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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.
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Writing News:
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Leas Foot (Thurlestone,
Devon)
- a key location for the book 'Mobius'
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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.
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Website
News:
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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.
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Education
News:
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Dartington
College of Arts Studio 3
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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.
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Updated August 2010
© Christopher Best
2010
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