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Colin Matthews

Composer

Matthews’ statement has a power and elegance that are quite his own.

— Paul Driver, The Sunday Times

Works

All works published by Faber Music unless otherwise stated.

Click on the title of a work for more information. You can filter the list using the box on the right (scroll to the bottom if using a phone or tablet).

A Visit to Friends (2024). Opera
String Quartet No.6 (2023)
Paraphrases (2023). Violin and Piano.
Mosaics (2022). Orchestra
O (2022). Soprano and Piano Trio
A Bagatelle (2022). Oboe & Piano
Beethoven: Symphony No.5 (2021). Arr for Piano Trio
Debussy: Images Book 2 (2019-23). Orchestra
Three Fragments (2020). Solo Cello
Seascapes (2019-2020). Soprano and ensemble
Six Chinese Songs (2018-2020). Voice and piano
Scriabin: Rêverie (2019). Arranged for nine strings
Postludes (2019). Oboe octet
As Time Returns (2018). Baritone & ensemble
Britten : Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo (2018). Tenor & orchestra
Ghost Story (2018). Violin & piano
Opposites & There’s a Dog (2018). Chorus & piano
Debussy: Images – Book 1 (2018). Orchestra
Elgar : The Prince of Sleep (2017). Orchestra
Bell-wether (2017). Solo alto flute
Meditation – after Telemann: 12. Fantasie (2017). Solo tenor or solo recorder
Hidden Agenda (2017). Piano trio
It Rains (2017). Baritone & ensemble
Mahler : Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen (2017). Tenor & ensemble
Figures, Suspended (2017). Oboe
A Land of Rain (2017). Voice & ensemble
Pavan: St Thomas Wake! (2016). Ensemble
Voices of the Air (2016). Choir & orchestra
Ravel : La Vallée des Cloches – from Miroirs (2016). Orchestra
Ravel : Oiseaux Tristes – from Miroirs (2015). Orchestra
April Sunshine (2015). Voice & ensemble
Lobster Quadrille (2015). Violin, piano, narrator
10 Pig Songs (2015-6). Chorus & piano
String Quartet No.5 (2015)
The Pied Piper of Hamelin (2014). Orchestra, narrator & children’s choir
Debussy: Syrinx (2013). Flute & piano
Debussy: Syrinx (2013). Orchestra
Sibelius : Five Songs (2014-5). Voice & orchestra
Spiralling (2014). Chamber orchestra
Berg : Warm die Lüfte (2013). Voice & ensemble
Traces Remain (2012-13). Orchestra
Nowhere to Hide (2012). Piano trio
Berceuse for Elliott (2012). Piano
String Quartet No. 4 (2011-12)
Britten : Roman Wall Blues (2011-12). Reconstruction
Mahler : Das Trinklied von Jammer der Erde (2011-12). Orchestra
Grand Barcarolle (2011). Orchestra
Britten : Jazz Man (2011). Large ensemble
No Man’s Land (2010-11) Tenor, Baritone, Orchestra
Fauré : Seven Songs (2010). Voice & orchestra
Crossing the Alps (2009). Voices & Organ
Mendelssohn : Three Songs without Words (2010). String quartet
Three of a Kind (2011-13)
Tanglewood Fanfare (2009). Horn & piano
Debussy: Symphony in B minor (Finale) (2008-9). Orchestra
Mahler: Nicht zu schnell (2008-9). Orchestra
On looking up by chance at the constellations (2008). Voice & piano
Out in the Dark (2008). Voice & piano
Schubert : Nacht u. Träume (2008). Voice & orchestra
Violin Concerto (2007-9). Violin & orchestra
Night Rides (2006-2011). Large ensemble
The Island (2007-8). Soprano & 7 instruments
Rosamund’s March & Rosamund’s Fanfare (2007). Piano
Thomas Morley: Galiarda (2006). Ensemble
Brahms : Intermezzo Op. 119 no 1 (2007). Orchestra
Bach/Brahms: Chaconne (2005-6). Ensemble
Britten : Sonnet (2005). Violin & piano
Alphabicycle Order (2004-7). Narrator, Children’s Chorus & Orchestra
Berceuse for Dresden (2004-5). Cello & Orchestra
Little Berceuse (2004). Clarinet Quintet
Turning Point (2003-6). Orchestra
Debussy Preludes, Books I & II (2001-6). Orchestra
Postlude: M.Croche (2006). Orchestra (and solo piano version)
Bassoonova (2003). Solo bassoon
Margaret’s Galliard (2002). Ms Cookhorn’s Fancie (2004). Contrabassoon
Mechaniks Bench 2 (2003). Ensemble of 7+ players
Mechaniks Bench (2002). Ensemble of 7+ players
Three Preludes (2002-3). Piano
Vivo (2002-3). Orchestra
The Angel’s Carol (2002). SATB
Bright Cecilia: Tema & Tema Elaborata (2002). Orchestra
Fanfare and Flourish (with Fireflies) (2005). Orchestra
Flourish, with Fireflies (2002). 16 players
Reflected Images (1997-2003). Orchestra
A Quick Start (2001/7). Brass quintet/Brass & percussion
Fanfare for the 2001 Proms (2001). Brass & percussion
Horn Concerto (1997-2001)
Time Stands Still (2005). Violin, horn, piano
The Journey Ends Here (2001). Cello & 17 players
Continuum (1998-2000). Mezzo soprano & large ensemble
Finzi: To a poet a thousand years hence (2000). Voice & orchestra
Pluto the Renewer (1999-2000). Large Orchestra
Introduction, Chaconne & Corrente (1999). Guitar
Waltz, Nocturne, March (1999). Piano trio
Motet: Estrangement (2002). SATB
Aftertones. Three Landscapes of Edmund Blunden (1998-2000). Chorus and orchestra
Unfolded Order (1998-9). Orchestra
Debussy : Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé (1998-9). Soprano & 9 players
Mahler : Ich Atmet (1999). Voice & 10 players
Fanfare in Sea (1998). Orchestra
Berg : Four Pieces ( Vier Stücke) (1999). Clarinet & 8 players
Two Tributes (1998-9). Ensemble
Little Continuum (1998-9). 16 players
Elegeia (1998). 14 players
Capriccioletto (1998). Violin & piano
Ouverture after Mahler : Rübezahl (1997-98). Orchestra
Little Pavane (1998). Flute & piano
Beethoven : Lento assai (from Op. 135) (1998). String orchestra
Elegiac Chaconne (1997). 4 players
Dowlandia (1995-7). 15 players
Beethoven : Five Variations on ‘Rule Britannia’ (1980/1997). Orchestra
Alma Mahler : Seven Songs (1996). Voice & orchestra (with David Matthews)
Renewal (1991-6). Chorus & Orchestra
Cello Concerto No.2 (1995-6). Cello & Orchestra
23 Frames for 4 players (1994). Horn, Viola, Cello, Piano
…through the glass (1994). 16 players
Purcell : Fantazia 13 (1995) 4 players / String quartet
String Quartet no. 3 (1993-4)
Pli de Lin (1994). Voice & piano quintet
Three Interludes (1994). Clarinet, viola, piano
Purcell : Fantazia 11 (1994). String orchestra
Britten : Temporal Variations (1994). Oboe & strings
Two Little Fantasies (1993). Oboe solo
Sloth, or the Sluggard’s Alphabet (1993). Operatic sketch. Voice & 5 players
M50 (1995). Orchestra
L, bent… (1993). 10 players
Memorial (1992-3). Orchestra
Contraflow (1992). 14 players
Palinode (1992 arr 1999). Arrangement for 9 cellos
Palinode (1992). Solo cello
Night-Spell (1992). Oboe & piano
Broken Symmetry (1991-2). Orchestra
Duologue (1991). Oboe & piano
To Compose without the Least Knowledge of Music … (1991). Wind sextet
Machines and Dreams (1990). A Toy Symphony, for children & orchestra
Britten : A Charm of Lullabies (1990). Voice & orchestra
A Rose at Christmas (1990). SSAATTBB
Britten: A Charm of Lullabies (1990). Voice & orchestra
Narrative (1991). Voice & piano
Aubade (1990). Voice & piano
Chiaroscuro (1990). Orchestra
Five Concertinos (1990). Wind quintet
Schumann: Mondnacht (1990). Oboe quartet
Britten: Movements for a Clarinet Concerto (1990/2007). Clarinet & orchestra
Second Oboe Quartet (1988-9)
Strugnell’s Haiku (1989). Voice & piano/Voice & 5 players
Six Tunes for Lucy (1989). Piano (also violin & piano)
Quatrain (1989). Wind, brass & percussion
Hidden Variables (1992). Orchestra
Hidden Variables (1988-9). 15 players
Cantata on the Death of Antony (1989). Voice & 5 players
Prometheus – fragment (1989). Chorus, orchestra ad lib.
Three-part Chaconne (1989). Piano quartet
Cortège (1988). Orchestra
Omaggio (1990-3). Violin & piano
Moto Perpetuo (1988). Violin & piano
Chaconne with Chorale (1988). Violin & piano
Two Part Invention (1987-8). 19 players
Eleven Studies in Velocity (1987). Piano
Variation on ‘Sumer is Icumen In’ (1987). Orchestra
Monody (1986-7). Sonata no.6 for orchestra
Five Untitled Pieces (1986/9). Flute & piccolo
Tribute Fanfare (1986). Brass & percussion
String Quartet No. 2 (1984-5, revised 1987)
Three Enigmas (1985). Cello & piano
Three Studies (1989). Clarinet & piano
La Virgen Lava Panales (1985). Voice and orchestra
Five Duos (1985). Cello & piano
Pursuit (1986). Ballet score. 16 players
Suns Dance (1984-5). 10 players
Night’s Mask (1984). Soprano & 7 instruments
Cello Concerto No.1 (1983-4). Cello & Orchestra
Triptych (1984). Piano Quintet
Toccata Meccanica (1993). Wind band
Toccata Meccanica (1984). Orchestra
Canonic Overture: Arms Racing (1983, revised 1997). Orchestra
Schubert : Ellens Drei Gesänge (1984). Voice & ensemble
Five Operetta Excerpts (1985). 2 voices and ensemble
Holst : The Dream-City (1983). Voice & orchestra
Mussorgsky / Matthews / Knussen : Marriage (1981). Opera
Fuga (1988). 8 players
The Great Journey (Parts I & II: 1981-3 & Parts III & IV: 1988). Baritone & 8 players
Divertimento (1982-3). Double string orchestra
Divertimento (1982). Double string quartet
Second Hand Flames (1982). SSATB
Oboe Quartet No.1 (1981)
Mahler : Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (1980). Solo piano
Sonata No.5: Landscape (1977-81). Orchestra
String Quartet no.1 (1979)
Shadows in the Water (1978-9). Voice & piano
Un Colloque Sentimental (1971-8). Voice & piano
Britten : Overture, Paul Bunyan (1977). Orchestra
Tosca revisited (1978, revised 1996). Chamber orchestra
Rainbow Studies (1977). Piano & wind quartet
Suite for Piano (1977-9). Solo piano
Britten : Praise We Great Men (1976-7). Chorus & orchestra
Night Music (1976-7, revised 1995-7). Small orchestra
Specula (1976). 4 instruments
Five Sonnets : To Orpheus (1975-6). Voice & harp
Partita (1975, revised 1998). Solo violin
Fourth Sonata (1974-5, revised 1995-6). Orchestra
Five Studies (1974-6). Piano
Ceres (1972). 9 instruments
Mahler : Seven Early Songs (c.1964). Voice & orchestra (with David Matthews)

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23 October, 2025 - Fuga
Lapland Chamber Orchestra, John Storgårds (Conductor)
Concert Hall, Korundi House of Culture, Rovaniemi, Finland

24 October, 2025 - Fuga
Lapland Chamber Orchestra, John Storgårds (Conductor)
Kemi Church, Kemi, Finland

30 October, 2025 - Pluto the Renewer
Odense Symfoniorkester, Alpesh Chauhan (Conductor)
Carl Nielsen Salen, Odense Concert Hall, Denmark

31 October, 2025 - Pluto the Renewer
Odense Symfoniorkester, Alpesh Chauhan (Conductor)
Carl Nielsen Salen, Odense Concert Hall, Denmark

27 November, 2025 - Two Part Invention
Timothy Lines (Director and Conductor), New Perspectives, Matthew Bottaro (Flute), Anthony McKenna (Clarinet)
Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Royal College of Music, London

View all performances

Useful Links

Faber Music
NMC Recordings
The Holst Foundation

© 2025 Colin Matthews · Website by Bookswarm

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