Commissioned by the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble. First performance: conducted by the composer Adrian Boult Hall Birmingham 1992

Zhou Long's realisation of this folk-dance indigenous to north-east China has all its kaleidoscopic colour and rhythmic drive with some brilliant licks for each of the instruments. Scored for brass quintet (trumpet in C doubling piccolo trumpet trumpet in B flat horn in F trombone tuba) this work is within the technical range of good student groups and amply repays the attention of professional ensembles.

This cheerful six movement suite for brass quintet employs dance rhythms and themes throughout. With plenty of interplay between the instruments this is approachable and rewarding music for both performer and audience alike.

For brass quintet (1.2.1.1)Published 1999Commissioned by the Quinteto de Metais do Seixal.First performance: The Wallace Collection Ocean Room London 26th November 2001.Parts.

For Brass Band.Published in 1975.For Eb cornet 8 Bb cornets flg 3 Eb hn 2 ten tn btn 2 Bb bar 2 Bb ta 2 Eb ta 2 BBb taCommissioned by Arnolfini Gallery.First performance: Grimethorpe CollieryBand conductor Elgar Howarth Bristol 1975Score.

A work in five movements each characterizing a poem by Chaucer. 'Triton's Trumpets' acts as an overture to the suite of pieces is mainly rather rustic and as its title implies much of its music is in the nature of fanfares. Next is a haunting slow waltz then a very short and very vigorous fanfare. In the fourth movement 'The Sorrowful Knight' each instrument expresses its individual sorrow. Finally Chaucer himself chatters in a jaunty innocent style.

The pairing of a slowish and a lively movement has long been attractive to composers certainly since the days of pavanes and galliards. Skempton uses the contrast to great effect here where if 'Rest' is a lullaby 'Recreation' could be described as rousing.