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Meridian Chamber music

op 117 | Daniel's Razor 2010 (Published by Typeset)
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

'Daniel's Beard' is the name of a chamber ensemble based in Glasgow's West End. 'Daniel's Razor' is a short, 5-minute piece for the core ensemble of clarinet, horn, string trio and piano, and was composed in late 2010. It was recorded in November 2011 by 'Daniel's Beard' for a Meridian CD of Christopher Rathbone's chamber music. The first public performance was given by the composer with 5 members of 'Daniel's Beard' on October 6th 2012 at St Margaret's Ilkley. The score and parts are available in typeset form (pdf) from the composer. The piece featured in the Cottiers Dance Project (again played by Daniel's Beard) on 26th June 2015 as part of the West End Festival in Glasgow.

op 67 | Three bagatelles for cello and piano 1998 (Published by Typeset)
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

These three short pieces each explore a single idea: the Andante has a simple cello melody accompanied by chiming piano figures; the Presto vivo pursues sherzando figures, scurrying semiquavers in the 'cello with percussive quaver chords in the piano; the final Moderato exploits pizzicato glissandos with sighing piano figures. The set was written for a charity concert given by the composer and his son Tom in 1998, and have been recorded by Tom and Linda Cochrane on a Meridian CD. The piece has now been type-set and is available from the composer.

Andante
Presto vivo
Andante moderato
op 120 | Quintet for horn and strings 2011 (Published by Typeset)
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

This work was written in Sept. 2011 for Andy Saunders and the members of Daniel's Beard, and was recorded in November for the new Meridian CD of Christopher Rathbone's Chamber Music. It is scored for the same line-up as Mozart's famous horn quintet, (violin, two violas and 'cello) and is in three short, linked movements lasting about 11 minutes. The first 5 public performances were given by Andy Saunders and Daniel's Beard in Glasgow, Ambleside and Yorkshire on the 4th - 8th October 2012.It was typeset by the composer in October 2014. Pdfs of the score and parts are available from the composer.

op 56 | Elegy for cello and piano 1993 (Published by Typeset)
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

Recorded by Tom Rathbone and Linda Cochrane for a Meridian CD, now available. Typeset by CBR in August 2015, avaible by e-mail on a pdf.

op 61 | Clarinet quintet 1995 (Published by Typeset)
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

Recorded by 'Daniel's Beard' in Nov. '11 for a Meridian CD, now available. A single movement work with a variety of moods and tempi within a 10-minute work. First performed in Shrivenham, Wilts, in 1995, and later several times by Daniel's Beard on tour in Glasgow, Kendal and Yorkshire in October 2012.

op 101 | Tarn Hows, rhapsody for violin, cello and organ 2004
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

This is an atmospheric, rhapsodic piece setting the passionate sounds of violin and cello against the still, quiet organ sound. It attempts to capture the uncanny silence of a walk round the Tarn (near Coniston in the Lake District), where the silence can be deafening! The piece was recorded by Tom and Christopher Rathbone with Alastair Savage in November 2011 for the recent CD release by Meridian. It has twice been performed by Tom,Sophie and Christopher Rathbone, at Meanwood in 2007, and more recently in St Margaret's Ilkley.

op 55 | Overture and Suite (Terzetto) for flute, clarinet and piano
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

This colourful suite, sometimes referred to as a 'Terzetto', has four movements, a motoric Overture, a tragic Adagio, an entertaining Intermezzo in a 7/8 dancing rhythm, and an exciting Finale. In November 2011 it was recorded by 'Daniel's Beard' now available on a new Meridian CD. The duration is about 16 minutes.

Overture
Adagio
Intermezzo
Finale
op 100 | Quartet for organ and string trio 2004 (Published by Typeset)
Chamber music, and works for organ and other instruments

This unusual work may well be the first quartet for organ and strings ever written. It is in one continuous movement, enclosing a central passacaglia that interrupts the opening section, whose material is reworked in the final section. It is about 12 - 13 minutes in duration. A Meridian CD is now available  containing this piece along with other chamber works by CBR. The work has received public performances at Meanwood Church in 2007 and at St Margaret's Ilkley in 2011.

Score and parts available from the composer in a type-set version on pdf.