Corpus Cum Figuris is a uniform composition in three major parts. The first part is a slow marche funébre a kind of prologue with dark and sombre sounds and a massive wall of chords which leads us to the other part of the works where the static and solemn atmosphere is suddenly stopped and replaced by a rhythmic/melodic ritual which accelerates the music. In the third part the block structure is softened gradually different figurations and stylistic elements arise to live their own lives: distant waltzes and pictures from the Middle Ages appear in this gigantic sonorous body. After a wild percussion orgy a short flash-back and a scream from the edge end Corpus cumFiguris. The piece has no literal content at all even though the title leads the thought to Adrian Leverkühn?s Apocalipsis cum Figuris from Thomas Mann?s Doctor Faustus. More likely my piece will arouse associations as with all my music. It has to be heard in it?s own conditions in this case as a big body of music or perhaps as a great screen where the details of course are part of the whole body but at the same time are foreign and odd. It is as if one climbs a mountain and from the top of that mountain discovers a world which is completely different from expected. Corpus cum Figuris for 20 musicians was composed in 1984 commissioned by Ensemble InterContemporain and the Danish Radio. Ensemble InterContemporain world premiered the work in April 1985 conducted by Peter Eötvös. The piece was also played at the ISCM-festival in Amsterdam by Netherland Radio Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ernest Bour.

The Last Sleep of the Virgin was written for string quartet and handbells in 1991. It enacts the story of the falling asleep and burial by the Apostles of the Mother of Jesus. This work was commissioned for theChilingirian Quartet by the Cheltenham Festival The first performance was given by the Chilingirian Quartet with Kim Sargeant as part of the 1992 Cheltenham Festival.

With a title that refers to the energetic and rumbling Bass beneath the music Weir's work for Chamber Ensemble boasts an intriguing structure. Trios and Quartets appear for fleeting moments as the musicians jostle into groupsthat are soon abandoned...as the piece progresses so unison is gradually although tentatively achieved. Written for a large chamber ensemble of fourteen players the piece was completed in 2002.

The first in a trilogy of works for chamber orchestra the Sinfonia Concertante uses its forces very much in concerto fashion - and not least its timpanist who signals the work to start and has a real melodic role at the start ofthe finale.The first performance took place in August 1983 as part of a BBC promenade concert at the Royal Albert Hall London. It was given by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields conducted by Neville Marriner.Score(miniature). Duration c. 31mins.

This authentic arrangement of ten movements from the Water Music suites dates from Handel’s lifetime but is published here for the first time edited by the distinguished Handel scholar Donald Burrows. Its simple light scoring makes it excellently suited to use by schools and small instrumental groups. It can be performed in many different combinations from the original two violins bassoon and continuo to string quartet or wind-based group.

Composed in homage to William Glock this single movement has something of the character of a slow fugue on a theme deeply imbued with minor thirds. The woodwinds and strings are considered as pairs in balance with each other and with the piano.Unbroken Circle was first performed in June 1984 during the Bath Festival by the London Sinfonietta conducted by Diego Masson.Set of parts. Duration c. 5mins. This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail our Mail Order Department for further information.

Raymond Premru was for many years the principal Bass Trombone of London?s Philharmonia Orchestra as well as having been a member of the Philip Johnson Brass Ensemble an active jazz musician teacher and composer. He listed hisinfluences as Berg Prokofiev Bartok Ives jazz and Bach though what emerged from his sensibility is diatonic modernist and skillfully suited to whatever instrumentation he chose.The five movements which appear typeset in thisscore A Tale From Long Ago Blues March Of Knights And Castles Le Bateau Sur Léman and Petite March are sometimes performed as a shortened version of the Divertimento to great effect.

Completed in 1992 Corrente was commissioned by the Swedish Literature Society Of Finland. As the title suggests the piece bids a nod to the Baroque dance form the Courante based upon an ever-shifting series ofrepeating ostinati - the piece even contains a fleeting glimpse of Purcell's Funeral Music For Queen Mary.However a simple exercise in Baroque dance it is not. The title also translates as Flowing and theostinati create a texture of ripples that contrast strongly with the stronger rhythms of the dance.

There are three mysteries about this piece by Purcell originally scored for Viols. When it was written for what purpose it was written and why the eccentric title ‘Chacony’ rather than the French ‘chaconne’ are questions whoseanswers are all shrouded in the mists of time. The suggested dates of early 1680’s and as a piece of light music for some sort of theatrical performance almost answer two of the three questions. The Chacony is scored here forString quartet but could be played by a larger ensemble.

Lament was composed in 1988.The scoring was chosen for its dark colour: oboe doubling cor anglais clarinet doubling bass clarinet viola and cello. The melodic lines and harmony are often inflected with quarter-tones.

This work for chamber ensemble was written for Gregory Knowles and The Fires Of London who gave the first performance at the 1982 Lucerne Festival at the Municipal Theatre of Lucerne.Miniature score. Duration c. 40mins.

A cantata for soprano flute violin cello and harpsichord/celeste first performed in August 1970 at Dartington Hall Summer School by Mary Thomas and the Pierrot Players conducted by the composer.Duration c.12mins. Score andparts.