Selected repertoire
A selection from more than four decades of orchestral, brass, wind, chamber and solo music.
Christopher Painter’s music is shaped by structure, colour and atmosphere, with recurring inspiration from landscape, memory, literature, myth and Welsh cultural identity. This is a selected introduction rather than a complete catalogue.
Orchestra
Orchestral music has been central to Painter’s output for more than four decades, encompassing symphonic works, concert pieces and music shaped by poetry, landscape and memory.
Soprano & orchestra · c. 35'
A continuous symphonic song cycle setting three poems by Vernon Watkins, commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Luminous, lyrical and richly coloured, it was written in memory of Alun Hoddinott.
Orchestra · c. 10'
An atmospheric orchestral nocturne inspired by forests of myth, legend and fairy tale. Dream fragments emerge from and disappear into an ever-present harmonic mist.
Orchestra · c. 18'
A single-movement work commissioned by the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, drawing on the poetry, imagery and human experience of the First World War.
Orchestra
Written for Christopher Painter’s 1999 residency with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and performed across four concerts; later issued on CD.
“A highly developed ear for orchestral sonority, a sure command of large-scale structure, and an ability to create music of real emotional and dramatic weight.” — Jac van Steen
Brass & Wind
A brass player from his schooldays, Painter approaches brass band and wind ensemble as serious concert media capable of sustaining atmosphere, narrative and large-scale musical argument.
Brass band
A large-scale work for brass band, founded on Norse legend and woodland myths. Atmospheric and strongly narrative, it is among Painter’s most substantial works for the medium.
Brass band
Commissioned for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales: ritualistic, elemental and dramatic, with percussion playing a central role in its ceremonial character.
Symphonic wind ensemble · c. 24'
Commissioned by Timothy and Hilary Reynish in memory of their son William. Five connected sections move from a cold nocturnal landscape through storm and grief towards renewed elemental power.
Symphonic wind ensemble
A symphonic wind-band transcription of the orchestral work Invisible Cities, made at the request of Timothy Reynish.
Symphonic wind ensemble
An original work for symphonic wind band, written as a birthday present for conductor and wind-music advocate Timothy Reynish.
Chamber & Solo
Painter’s chamber and solo music ranges from sonatas and quartets to works shaped by Welsh poetry, landscape and myth, offering flexible repertoire for festivals, recital series and individual performers.
Trumpet & piano
A chamber work based on stories from The Mabinogion, commissioned and recorded for CD by Philippe Schartz and premiered at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Alto saxophone & piano
Commissioned by Lara James and subsequently released internationally on Signum Classics.
Clarinet & piano
Commissioned by Peryn Clement-Evans in 1999, bringing Painter’s concern for structure and expressive trajectory into an intimate recital setting.
Violin & piano
Commissioned by the Fishguard International Festival of Music in 2019 and premiered by Matthew Jones and Annabel Thwaite.
Further chamber and solo works include Sonata for Harp, Lunar Seas, Yr Hanes Swynol, Syniadau’r Serch, Images in the Mist and Five Memorial Fragments.
Scores & materials
Full score information, publications and performance materials can be linked from the Oriana catalogue, while the Painter at 65 site remains a concise introduction to selected repertoire.
Oriana Publications