Colin Matthews
Underpinning the rich stylistic diversity of Colin Matthews’s work is an unparalleled sense of architecture, combining a forensic attention to detail with a lucid sense of overall form. A master-orchestrator at the heart at the very heart of British New Music.
Works
| Title | Year | Description | Duration | Composer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seascapes | 2020 | soprano and chamber ensemble of nine players | 13 | Colin Matthews |
| Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut | 2019 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| La virgen lava pañales | 2018 | Traditional Spanish, arranged for SATB choir and piano | 2 | Colin Matthews, Traditional |
| Ghost Story | 2018 | violin and piano | 2 | Colin Matthews |
| Rêverie | 2018 | string octet and double bass | 4 | Colin Matthews, Alexander Scriabin |
| Postludes | 2018 | octet for oboe/cor anglais, string trio and string quartet | 16 | Colin Matthews |
| The Prince of Sleep | 2017 | orchestration of the part-song by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Edward Elgar |
| Spleen: A Land of Rain | 2017 | medium voice and ensemble of 17 players | 25 | Colin Matthews |
| Ten Pig Songs | 2017 | unison and two-part voices and piano | 11 | Colin Matthews |
| It Rains | 2017 | baritone and ensemble of 11 players | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| Hidden Agenda | 2017 | piano trio | 11 | Colin Matthews |
| Meditation | 2017 | solo tenor or soprano recorder | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| As Time Returns | 2018 | baritone and ensemble of 12 players set to poems by Ivan Blatný | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| Bell-wether | 2017 | solo alto flute (or flute) | 2 | Colin Matthews |
| Images (Book 1) | 2018 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 14 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Voices of the Air | 2016 | soprano, chorus and chamber orchestra | 18 | Colin Matthews |
| La Vallée des Cloches | 2016 | Ravel, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 6 | Colin Matthews, Maurice Ravel |
| Pavan: St Thomas Wake! | 2016 | 7 players | 2½ | Colin Matthews, John Bull |
| Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen | 2016 | transcription for tenor and chamber ensemble of 12 players | 17 | Colin Matthews, Gustav Mahler |
| Figures, suspended | 2016 | solo oboe | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| String Quartet No.5 | 2015 | string quartet | 11 | Colin Matthews |
| Il vostro dipartir | 2015 | arranged for string orchestra | 5½ | Colin Matthews, Maddalena Casulana |
| Oiseaux tristes | 2015 | Ravel, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Maurice Ravel |
| Five Songs | 2015 | Sibelius, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 12 | Colin Matthews, Jean Sibelius |
| Spiralling | 2014 | chamber orchestra | 25 | Colin Matthews |
| The Pied Piper of Hamelin | 2014 | 2 narrators, children's chorus and orchestra | 45 | Colin Matthews |
| Three of a kind | 2013 | horn, cello and piano | 7½ | Colin Matthews |
| Nowhere to hide | 2013 | piano trio | 14 | Colin Matthews |
| Traces Remain | 2013 | orchestra | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| String Quartet No.4 | 2012 | string quartet | 16 | Colin Matthews |
| Syrinx | 2012 | Debussy, arranged by Colin Matthews for flute and piano | 2½ | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Fortyssimo | 2012 | orchestra | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Berceuse for Elliott | 2012 | piano | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Drammatico | 2012 | cello and electronics | 1½ | Colin Matthews |
| Grand Barcarolle | 2011 | chamber orchestra | 14 | Colin Matthews |
| Grand Barcarolle | 2011 | orchestra | 14 | Colin Matthews |
| Night Rides | 2011 | chamber orchestra | 14 | Colin Matthews |
| No Man's Land | 2011 | tenor, baritone and chamber orchestra | 27 | Colin Matthews |
| LXX | 2010 | 12 players | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Seven Songs | 2010 | soprano and chamber orchestra | 17 | Colin Matthews, Gabriel Fauré |
| Three Songs Without Words | 2010 | string quartet | 5½ | Colin Matthews, Felix Mendelssohn |
| "Nicht zu schnell" from Piano Quartet | 2009 | Mahler, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 12 | Colin Matthews, Gustav Mahler |
| Symphony in B Minor (Finale) | 2009 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 15 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Study 3 from Three Studies | 2009 | bass clarinet, cello and piano | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Tanglewood Fanfare | 2009 | horn and piano | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Crossing the Alps | 2009 | choir and optional organ | 7 | Colin Matthews |
| Violin Concerto | 2009 | violin and orchestra | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| Scherzetto | 2009 | chamber ensemble of 6 players | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Out in the dark | 2008 | voice and piano | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Nacht und Träume | 2008 | Schubert, orch. Colin Matthews for mezzo-soprano and orchestra | 4 | Colin Matthews, Franz Schubert |
| Movements for a Clarinet Concerto | 2007 | Britten, devised and orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 17 | Benjamin Britten, Colin Matthews |
| The Island | 2007 | voice and chamber ensemble of 7 players | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| A Quick Start | 2007 | brass ensemble of 12 players and percussion | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Alphabicycle Order | 2007 | narrator, children's chorus and orchestra | 30 | Colin Matthews |
| Turning Point | 2006 | orchestra | 18 | Colin Matthews |
| Luminoso | 2006 | viola and piano | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| scorrevole | 2006 | viola and piano | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Postlude - Monsieur Croche | 2006 | piano | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Postlude - Monsieur Croche | 2006 | orchestra | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| La cathédrale engloutie | 2006 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 5 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Voiles | 2006 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune | 2006 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Les collines d'Anacapri | 2006 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Chaconne | 2006 | Bach, arranged by Brahms for left hand and subsequently arranged by Colin Matthews for chamber ensemble of 5 players | 12 | Colin Matthews, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms |
| Bruyères | 2006 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Four Moods | 1999/2006 | viola and piano | 17½ | Colin Matthews |
| Galiarda | 2006 | Thomas Morley, arranged by Colin Matthews for chamber orchestra | 3 | Colin Matthews, Thomas Morley |
| Brouillards | 2005 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir | 2005 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Le vent dans la plaine | 2005 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| La fille aux cheveux de lin | 2005 | Debussy, arranged by Colin Matthews for two harps and strings | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Fanfare and Flourish (with fireflies) | 2005 | fanfare for orchestra | 6 | Colin Matthews |
| Berceuse for Dresden | 2005 | cello and orchestra | 11 | Colin Matthews |
| Bravo LSO | 2004 | orchestra | 2 | Colin Matthews |
| Little Berceuse | 2004 | clarinet quintet | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Two Studies for Contrabassoon | 2002-2004 | for contrabassoon | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Time Stands Still | 2004 | violin, horn & piano | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| A Voice to Wake | 2004 | soprano and chamber ensemble of 9 players | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Ondine | 2004 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Danseuses de Delphes | 2004 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| ''Général Lavine'' - eccentric | 2004 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| La danse de Puck | 2003 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Des pas sur la neige | 2003 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Minstrels | 2003 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| La Puerta del Vino | 2003 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| La Sérénade interrompue | 2003 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses | 2003 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Mechaniks Bench 2 | 2003 | flexible instrumentation | variable | Colin Matthews |
| Bassoonova | 2003 | solo bassoon | 9 | Colin Matthews |
| Three Preludes | 2003 | piano | 7 | Colin Matthews |
| Hommage à S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C | 2003 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Reflected Images | 2003 | orchestrated | 13 | Colin Matthews |
| Flourish with Fireflies | 2002 | chamber ensemble of 16 players | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Vivo | 2002 | orchestra | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| Estrangement | 2002 | unaccompanied SATB chorus | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| The Angels' Carol | 2002 | unaccompanied SATB chorus | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| Les tierces alternées | 2002 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Canope | 2002 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 3 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest | 2001 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| The Journey Ends Here | 2001 | solo cello and chamber ensemble of 19 players | 8 | Colin Matthews |
| A Quick Start | 2001 | brass quintet | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Horn Concerto | 2001 | horn and orchestra | 23 | Colin Matthews |
| Fanfare for the 2001 Proms | 2001 | brass and percussion | 2 | Colin Matthews |
| Feuilles mortes | 2001 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Feux d'artifice | 2001 | Debussy, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 5 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Pluto, the renewer | 2000 | large orchestra | 6 | Colin Matthews |
| Continuum | 2000 | mezzo soprano and chamber ensemble of 23 players | 40 | Colin Matthews |
| Aftertones | 2000 | medium voice, SATB chorus and orchestra | 26 | Colin Matthews |
| Little Continuum | 1999 | chamber ensemble of 16 players | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Two Tributes | 1999 | chamber ensemble of 16 players | 11 | Colin Matthews |
| Calmo | 1999 | viola and piano | 6 | Colin Matthews |
| Introduction, Chaconne & Corrente | 1999 | solo guitar | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| Oscuro | 1999 | viola and piano | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Palinode (nine cellos) | 1999 | nine cellos | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Unfolded Order | 1999 | orchestra | 14 | Colin Matthews |
| Fanfare in Sea | 1999 | orchestra | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Ouverture: Rübezahl | 1999 | orchestra | 6 | Colin Matthews |
| Little Pavane | 1999 | flute and piano | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Vier Stücke | 1999 | Berg, arranged by Colin Matthews for clarinet and 8 players | 7 | Colin Matthews, Alban Berg |
| Lento assai from String Quartet No.16 (op.135) | 1998 | Beethoven, arr. Colin Matthews for string orchestra | 7 | Colin Matthews, Ludwig Van Beethoven |
| Elegeia | 1998 | chamber ensemble of 15 players | 7 | Colin Matthews |
| Trois Poemes de Stéphane Mallarmé | 1998 | Debussy, arranged by Colin Matthews for soprano and chamber ensemble of 9 players | 10 | Colin Matthews, Claude A Debussy |
| Capriccioletto | 1998 | Violin and piano | 2 | Colin Matthews |
| Dowlandia | 1997 | John Bull, William Byrd and John Dowland, arranged by Colin Matthews for chamber ensemble of 15 players | 11 | Colin Matthews |
| Elegiac Chaconne | 1997 | chamber ensemble of 5 players | 7 | Colin Matthews |
| Five Variations on the National Song: Rule Britannia | 1997 | Beethoven, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 5 | Colin Matthews, Ludwig Van Beethoven |
| Concerto for Cello No.2 | 1996 | cello and orchestra | 27 | Colin Matthews |
| Renewal | 1996 | chorus and large orchestra | 54 | Colin Matthews |
| Intrada | 1996 | wind, brass and percussion | 8 | Colin Matthews |
| Threnody | 1996 | piano, harp and strings | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Metamorphosis | 1996 | SATB chorus and orchestra | 13 | Colin Matthews |
| M50 | 1995 | orchestra | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Fantazia 13 | 1995 | Purcell, arranged by Colin Matthews for string quartet | 5 | Colin Matthews, Henry Purcell |
| Fantazia 13 | 1995 | Purcell, arranged by Colin Matthews for ensemble of 4 players | 5 | Colin Matthews, Henry Purcell |
| Three Interludes | 1994 | clarinet, viola and piano | 7 | Colin Matthews |
| Pli de lin | 1994 | soprano and piano quintet | 8 | Colin Matthews |
| 23 Frames | 1994 | chamber ensemble of 4 players | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| String Quartet No.3 | 1994 | string quartet | 35 | Colin Matthews |
| ...through the glass | 1994 | chamber ensemble of 16 players | 16 | Colin Matthews |
| Toccata Meccanica | 1993 | symphonic wind band | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Memorial | 1993 | large orchestra | 18 | Colin Matthews |
| L, bent | 1993 | chamber ensemble of 10 players | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Omaggio | 1993 | violin and piano | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Night-Spell | 1992 | oboe and piano | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| Contraflow | 1992 | chamber ensemble of 14 players | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Broken Symmetry | 1992 | orchestra | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| Palinode | 1992 | Solo cello | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Hidden Variables (orchestral version) | 1991 | orchestra | 13 | Colin Matthews |
| Duologue | 1991 | oboe and piano | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Three Machines | 1991 | toy instruments and small orchestra | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| To Compose Without the Least Knowledge of Music | 1991 | Mozart's Ein musikalisches Wurfelspiel (A Musical Dice Game), realized by Colin Matthews for wind sextet | 6 | Colin Matthews, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| Mondnacht | 1990 | chamber ensemble of 4 players - oboe and string trio | 5 | Colin Matthews, Robert Schumann |
| Cadenzas to Haydn's C major Cello Concerto Hob VIIb 1 | 1990 | solo cello | 2 | Colin Matthews |
| Chiaroscuro | 1990 | orchestra | 16 | Colin Matthews |
| Machines and Dreams | 1990 | toy instruments and full orchestra | 15 | Colin Matthews |
| A Rose at Christmas | 1990 | unaccompanied double chorus | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| Aubade | 1990 | high or low voice and piano | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Five Concertinos | 1990 | wind quintet | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Cadenza to Haydn's Cello Concerto Hob VIIb 2 | 1990 | solo cello | Colin Matthews | |
| Cantata on the Death of Antony | 1989 | soprano and chamber ensemble of 5 players | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Prometheus Fragment | 1989 | 12 part chorus and small orchestra | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Quatrain | 1989 | wind, brass and percussion | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Hidden Variables | 1989 | chamber orchestra of 15 players | 13 | Colin Matthews |
| Strugnell's Haiku | 1989 | voice and chamber ensemble of 5 players | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Five Untitled Pieces | 1989 | solo flute/piccolo | 7 | Colin Matthews |
| Oboe Quartet No.2 | 1989 | Oboe and string trio | 9 | Colin Matthews |
| Strugnell's Haiku | 1989 | Voice and piano | 3 | Colin Matthews |
| Three part Chaconne | 1989 | string trio and piano left hand | 9 | Colin Matthews |
| Three Studies | 1989 | clarinet/bass clarinet and piano | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Cortège | 1988 | orchestra | 19 | Colin Matthews |
| Fuga | 1988 | chamber ensemble of 8 players | 11 | Colin Matthews |
| The Great Journey | 1988 | baritone and chamber ensemble of 8 players | 50 | Colin Matthews |
| Two Part Invention | 1988 | chamber ensemble of 19 players | 18 | Colin Matthews |
| Chaconne with Chorale and Moto Perpetuo | 1988 | Violin and piano | 6 | Colin Matthews |
| Eleven Studies in Velocity | 1987 | piano | 15 | Colin Matthews |
| Pursuit | 1987 | Ballet for 16 or 17 players | 25 | Colin Matthews |
| Monody | 1987 | orchestra | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| String Quartet No.2 | 1986/89 | string quartet | 15 | Colin Matthews |
| Three Enigmas | 1985 | cello and piano | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Suns Dance | 1985 | chamber ensemble of 10 players | 17 | Colin Matthews |
| Five Duos | 1985 | cello and piano | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| La virgen lava pañales | 1985 | Traditional Spanish, orchestrated by Colin Matthews | 4 | Colin Matthews, Traditional |
| Toccata Meccanica | 1984 | orchestra | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Concerto for Cello No.1 | 1984 | cello and orchestra | 28 | Colin Matthews |
| Triptych | 1984 | Tripartite Inventions for piano quintet | 6 | Colin Matthews |
| Night's Mask | 1984 | soprano and chamber ensemble of 7 players | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Canonic Overture | 1983 | orchestra | 4 | Colin Matthews |
| Divertimento | 1982 | double string orchestra | 21 | Colin Matthews |
| Second Hand Flames | 1982 | Vocalise for SSATB voices | 8 | Colin Matthews |
| Divertimento | 1982 | double string quartet | 21 | Colin Matthews |
| Oboe Quartet No.1 | 1981 | oboe and string trio | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Marriage | 1981 | Mussorgsky, orchestrated by Colin Matthews and Oliver Knussen. Opera in 1 act 4 scenes | 35 | Colin Matthews, Oliver Knussen, Modest Mussorgsky |
| Sonata No.5: Landscape | 1980 | orchestra | 30 | Colin Matthews |
| Berceuse and Sarabande | 1979 | from Suite for Piano | 8 | Colin Matthews |
| Little Suite No.2 | 1979 | small orchestra | 8 | Colin Matthews |
| Little Suite | 1979 | harp | 5 | Colin Matthews |
| Shadows in the Water | 1979 | high voice and piano | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| String Quartet No.1 | 1979 | string quartet | 27 | Colin Matthews |
| Suite for Piano | 1979 | piano | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| Rainbow Studies | 1978 | chamber ensemble of 5 players | 17 | Colin Matthews |
| Un Colloque Sentimental | 1978 | Cycle for medium voice and piano | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| Toccata, Nocturne and Scherzo | 1977 | From Suite for piano | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Night Music | 1977 | small orchestra | 19 | Colin Matthews |
| Five Sonnets: To Orpheus | 1976 | tenor and harp | 20 | Colin Matthews |
| Five Studies | 1976 | piano | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Specula | 1976 | chamber ensemble of 4 players | 12 | Colin Matthews |
| Partita | 1975/98 | solo violin | 10 | Colin Matthews |
| Ceres | 1972 | chamber ensemble of 9 players | 15 | Colin Matthews |