A-level Composition Briefs
Example A-level Composition Briefs
Chansons D'Amour Et Mort
Intended purpose / style: Two songs for soprano voice and piano setting to music the poetry of Francois Tristan L'Hermite, inspired by Debussy, Ravel and Faure.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by advanced musicians in a song recital celebrating French words and music.Â
Rhapsody for Violin and Piano
Intended purpose / style: A duet for violin and piano inspired by the works of Dvorak, Schumann and Debussy.
Audience / occasion: To be performed in a chamber music recital by virtuoso performers.
Crescent Moon
Intended purpose / style: A piece combining jazz elements including swing, ballad, cool jazz and bebop, with the notated western art tradition, inspired by Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Gershwin and Bernstein.
Audience / occasion: To be performed at the opening concert of a jazz festival by jazz quartet: saxophone, piano, upright bass and kit.
Cantate Domino
Intended purpose / style: A sacred choral work to be performed by a church, college or cathedral choir, inspired by the work of composers including Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, Stanford, Bruckner and Howells.
Audience / occasion: To be be sung as a motet or anthem within a choral mass or evensong service, or other act of worship.
Sonatina for Trumpet and Piano
Intended purpose / style: A piece for solo trumpet and piano inspired by the work of composers including Hindemith, Flor Peeters and Malcolm Arnold.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by an advanced trumpet soloist and piano accompanist in a lunchtime recital.
Lumiere de Soleil
Intended purpose / style: A piece for solo piano to be played by an advanced pianist, inspired by composers including Debussy, Ravel and Philip Glass.
Audience / occasion: To be performed in a recital for solo piano celebrating impressionist piano music.
Kind Of Beautiful
Intended purpose / style: A piece combining jazz elements including swing, ballad, cool jazz and bebop inspired by Chick Corea, Bill Evans and John Coltrane.
Audience / occasion: To be performed at the opening concert of a jazz festival by jazz quartet: saxophone, piano, upright bass and kit.
Todaiji
Intended purpose / style: A rhapsody for solo piano inspired by the works of Debussy, Ravel and Faure.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by a virtuoso player in a recital for solo piano.
La Fille Aux Cheveux Ebouriffes for Clarinet and Piano
Intended purpose / style: A duet for clarinet and piano inspired by the works of Debussy, Poulenc and Ravel.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by advanced musicians in a chamber music recital.
Overture
Intended purpose / style: A concert overture for symphony orchestra influenced by composers including Franck, Ravel and John Williams.
Audience / occasion: To be performed as the opening work in a symphonic programme.
Movements from Missa Brevis for choir and organ: I. Kyrie, II. Gloria, IV. Agnus Dei
Intended purpose / style: A sacred work for choir and organ, to be sung as part of the Christian eucharist service, influenced by composers including Dove, Berkley and Leighton.
Audience / occasion: To be sung as part of the Christian eucharist service.
Trois Chansons
Intended purpose / style: A duet for soprano and piano influenced by composers including Faure, Debussy and Poulenc.
Audience / occasion: To be performed in a song recital.
Piano Trio in F minor
Intended purpose / style: A trio for piano, violin and cello influenced by composers Smetena, Schumann and Beethoven, inspired by works in sonata form.
Audience / occasion: To be performed in a chamber music concert.
The Chevalier's Dance
Intended purpose / style: A duet for bassoon and piano inspired by the works of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Schumann.
Audience / occasion: To be performed in a chamber music concert.
Fantasia for String Quartet
Intended purpose / style: A string quartet to be performed by advanced musicians, taking inspiration from works by Debussy, Ravel and Bartok.
Audience / occasion: To be performed in a chamber music concert.
Two Motets of the Sea: I. De Profundis, II. The Drop And The Sea
Intended purpose / style: A work belonging to the English 20th Century choral tradition, inspired by composers including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells and Will Todd.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by a large SATB choir in a sacred building such as a church, chapel or cathedral.
Rhapsody for Clarinet and Piano
Intended purpose / style: A duet for clarinet and piano inspired by the works of Debussy, Poulenc and Copland.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by advanced musicians in a chamber music recital.
Prelude for Saxophone and Piano
Intended purpose / style: A fusion of western art (classical) music and jazz, inspired by the works of Gershwin, Bernstein and Courtney Pine.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by advanced musicians in a chamber music recital.
'Silk'
Intended purpose / style: Film music composed as a principle theme in an adventure film.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by String Orchestra to a click track in a studio.
Diamond Tranquility
Intended purpose / style: A piece combining elements of smooth jazz, cool jazz and bebop inspired by Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane.
Audience / occasion: To be performed at the opening concert of a jazz festival by jazz quartet: saxophone, electric piano, bass guitar and kit.
Fantasy on a Folk Song
Intended purpose / style: A duet for cello and piano inspired by Bartok, Vaughan Williams and Dvorak.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by advanced musicians in a chamber music recital.
Sonatina in E flat major
Intended purpose / style: A sonatina for violin and piano inspired by Rachmaninov, Clara Schumann and Tchaikovsky.
Audience / occasion: To be performed by advanced musicians in a chamber music concert.