'Reflection of Life' is a three movement piece for solo piano capturing the turmoil and fears around the world over the last few years. The first movement is Fears, and as its title suggests evokes our thoughts, reflections amid the fragmented chaos. The second movement is Hope which as its title suggests the heart leads the emotions, the complete opposite to the previous movement. The third and final movement is Life, the reality of the human condition which includes the fears and hopes of us all;  a combination of the feelings of the previous two movements as reflected in our lives. The piece was written for and inspired by Rosalind Wilson, a dear friend and wonderful musician. Please have a listen to Rose playing Hope on her new album 'Wordless:Speech'.

Wordless:Speech

'Hope' 2nd movement from 'Reflection of Life' by Peter Byrom-Smith

My two "Songs of Love and Death" for Soprano and Piano - 'At The Waters Edge' and 'Star Crossed'. 

Songs Of Love And Death

Puzzles has been performed at festivals as part of the Sounds Lyrical Project.

Puzzles

First Frost is a recently commissioned piece for piano, saxaphone and voice. 

First Frost

'What Goes Around.....Comes Around' for Viola and Piano. As in life, this composition a circular work, utilising the beauty, passion and all the range and tonality of the Viola. A real, and tight ensemble performance of intrumental playing is required, and in a way, the two players discuss in sound the feel of where are we, where have we been and where are we going, all the while reflecting? The music, ranging from foot tapping, syncopated, lively phrases, is interwoven with a central melodic and expressive section. The work was commissioned for the Late Music Festival conerts.

What Goes Around...Comes Around

My new work written for solo clarinet performed by Helen Goldsmith; for whom it was written. Recorded by Graeme Lynch of Two Zero Nine UK.

Whirlpool

Commissioned for Liszt's bicentenary here is, performing the premiere,  internationally renowned pianist Ian Pace.

Liszt's Lost Love

This is sketch number 2 of 'Three Riverside Sketches' for solo guitar.  

Riverside Sketch Number 2

This is the third movement of a piece commissioned by The Pyramid Gallery, York. 

Street of Stone 3rd Movement

The final movement of 'Summer Moods' for solo guitar here performed by John Mackenzie from the c.d 'Connections.'

Summer Moods No 5

'Winter Sketch No 4' for flute and guitar, here performed by the Roberts/Mackenzie Duo taken from the c.d. 'Connections.'

Winter Sketches No 4

'Lanterns' taken from my album 'Heading for the Hills' performed by the Strata String Quartet. Released by Debt Records and available on Bandcamp.

'Lanterns'

Commissioned and performed live in Felixstowe in 2011.

Beyond the Sound of the Sea

Three Songs for baritone and piano received their premiere in 2012.

Three Songs

Here's a commissioned work of mine, slightly different in style, to a lot of other tracks on here, maybe, but still as important as any of my work! Recorded at HMS Studios, by the excellent Matthew Dawson.

Love Happens

A live performance of my 'Towards Sky' for Violin and Piano. Commissioned as part of the 'Waking Poets' festival/conference in Osaka, Japan, celebrating the works of Basho and Wordsworth.

Towards Sky by Peter Byrom-Smith

A very short extract from my piece commissioned for the very first York Cultural Awards in 2016 - to launch a new annual event! Instead of the usual 'classical' work the audience expected, I thought I'd do something a little different for my hometown, so wrote a 'prog rock' instrumental piece, with electric guitar, bass, drums, and piano. The sold out/full house loved it too  :-)

Within These Walls

Commissioned for ' Fruitful Futures - Imagining Pomona' a joint European project including artists, and universities, from Italy, Holland, and UK. I wrote this piece, as the invited composer for the project, as a reflection of the upheaval, and the destruction of wildlife habitat on Pomona Island, the last major green space in the centre of Manchester. I also wrote a short chapter, from an artist prospective, in the accompanying book which sold out almost immediately it was published at the exhibition in Manchester city centre. This recording is taken the CD titled 'Winter Dreams' by Rosalind Wilson - a wonderful performance.

'Pomona - An Island Phantasy' - Rose Wilson

I wrote this piece for the York Guitar Quartet who commissioned it for a series of concerts, and then recorded their new CD with 'Landscape with Trees' as the title track. The quartet continue to perform this piece in their concerts.

Landscape With Trees

One of the songs from the concert version of my chamber opera 'The Good Lady Ducayne' from a live performance. Although written as a full score - six singers and ensemble of 12 instrumentalists, I also produced a 'concert' version, so we could take a selection of the songs/arias to small venues with the accompaniment of a piano, thus reaching more audiences.

The Good Lady Ducayne

This Journal of Mine

Taken from the album 'Anyway, Now.....Everyday!' recorded by Andrew Clegg on Flying Tiger Records. The CD is a collection of solo guitar music written by Nobuya Monta, and Peter Byrom-Smith.

Anyday, Now....Everyday!

Annabelle's New Life

Taken from the CD 'The House of Memory' released on Debt Records. The album is a complete song cycle set by Peter Byrom-Smith from a collection of poetry by Oz Hardwick.

The House of Memory

In A Glass House

Peter’s musical eloquence has brought his work to the attention of orchestras and performers across Europe and the U.S.A, where his music has been recorded, broadcast and performed. His music crosses boundaries: a melange of sounds, bringing together elgarian melody and jazz harmony and rock rhythms. Peter’s musical apprenticeship was served as choirmaster, theatre M.D., teacher and performer, as well as composer.

Past commissions include pieces for the Kreisler Duo (violin and piano), “Three Way Mirror”, “Spring in Harderwijk” Utrecht Chamber Orchestra, “Phantasy Serenade” Ensemble 315, “Divertimento” (Children’s Orchestra) “Prayer 2001” (children’s choir and piano), “Summer Reflections” (bouzouki and strings) “Brass Sextet” Yorkshire Classic Brass and “Winter Sketches” (guitar and flute) Roberts/MacKenzie Duo

In 2011 he had four premieres; “ Berwick Variations” for solo guitar, “ Three Ages of a City” for guitar and orchestra, “ Lizst’s Lost Love” for piano and “ Beyond the Sound of the Sea” for three cellos and numerous other concerts of his works.

Commissions and premieres for 2012 included; “Three Songs” for baritone and piano, “A Suffolk Serenade” for tenor, horn and strings and “Landscape With Trees” for guitar quartet. “Four Quarters” for soprano and small orchestra, “Annabelle’s New Life” for solo guitar. “Inner Circle” for Two Pianos and Percussion and “C Music Hear Music 2” a work for Brass Quintet. He was invited to speak at the first International Composers Festival, where his piano concerto “After the Snow” was performed.

Current projects include “Sounds Lyrical” - collaborating with poets, “Sound Gallery” - showcasing contemporary composers, working on musical arrangements for recordings and concerts by pop/rock bands and a commission for Italian virtuoso guitarist  Giulio Tampalini.  Peter’s work will be performed by Hastings Sinfonia and Osaka Concert Orchestra at the second International Composers Festival, where he will also be speaking. He is a regular contributor to the Late Music Festival, where his work ‘What Goes Around .... Comes Around’ (viola and piano) was performed by Rosalind Ventris and Lara Dodds-Eden. 

Peter was composer in residence at Utrecht Chamber Orchestra and is visiting lecturer at York St. John University and Leeds College of Music.
He is also composer in residence to Converge at York St John University.


Peter Byrom-Smith

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