A trio for violin, viola and piano I composed for the Golden Wedding of close friends to be played by their two daughters and myself.  It's based on initials of the family members, AE-AB-CB-AB (in German musical notation).  It lasts about 4 minutes and I made it rhythmically simple so we could play it with minimum of rehearsal together.

FANTASIA

I wrote this piece for a clarinettist friend who wanted a solo to play on his bass clarinet.  With some apologies to "The Lark Ascending", this is a lighthearted description of what life might be like underground for a worm.  Towards the end, the worm comes back up to the surface, but then thinks better of it.  

The Worm Descending

This piece lasts about 15 minutes - I wrote it for a friend who played in a chamber group - 2 violins, 2 violas and 1 cello.  I don't know if they ever played it - perhaps it was too difficult!  It plays continuously but really four movements joined together.  It's quite a tough listen in places - If you want to sample a section, I suggest you start 12 mins in and play to the end.

String Quintet

This is the same as the Fantasia I uploaded a while back.  I discovered there were a few notes missing from the start so have re-edited the track.
The piece is based on the initials of a musical family I know in Germany, AE, AB, CB, AB (in German notation "B" is B flat).  It is scored for violin, viola and piano.

FANTASIAv2

This is a movement for string quartet, lasting just over 5 minutes.  I call it "Pendant" because it may be attached to a one-movement string quartet I wrote many years ago.  It uses the same basic material as the earlier quartet but treats it in a very different way, so both pieces stand equally well on their own, or may be played one after the other.  I haven't, so far, uploaded the earlier Quartet onto Soundcloud, but may do so in future.

Pendant

This was originally the third and final movement of a Wind Quartet (oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon) which I wrote many years ago.  I've revised it as a standalone piece and it will get its first performance in this version by the London Myriad Ensemble at 7pm on 17 February 2017 at St. Mary's Riverside, Putney.
The piece makes use of the medieval technique of Isorhythm - same rhythmic shape repeated with different melodic notes - and combines this with modern composition methods.  But this needn't bother the casual listener (I hope).  I'm really looking forward to a performance with live musicians!

Isorhythmic Variations

I'm not a typical Soundcloud uploader - classically trained and now in my 60's. So I don't expect a big following.  But I've composed quite a lot of music over the years and welcome the chance to share it with others who are willing to listen.   So far, all the music I've uploaded is in the form of electronic soundtracks, but the pieces are meant to be played by live musicians.  I'm never sure how much of the sound quality gets lost in transmission, but hope you'll get a reasonable idea of what I'm trying to do.

Peter Openshaw