Dances at the End of Time - 1985

This was my first solo piece for guitar. In my youth I read a great deal of science-fantasy, in particular the works of author, Michael Moorcock.
This work was inspired by 4 characters taken from the novel; 'Dancers at the end of Time'. In 3 movements; medium fast, fast, slow.Duration 10'

Cafe Ursula 1995 - 1995

This piece is dedicated to my children Miranda and Tomas, who happened to come along at exactly the same time, one fine April day!
A single movement with a distinct ABA form, with contrasting sections of florid motion in the central section, with two 'harp-like' outer sections.Duration 5'

Hommage a l'ete - 1983

This was my first piece for guitar duo and was written in response to hearing the bells of a church Riberac, Bergerac, in the Province region of Southern France. The material develops the harmonic, melodic and rhythmic elements of the bells' 'peel'.Duration 7'30

Aphrodite's Dance - 1984

Written for and premiered by The Alpha Duo.
A single movement in a sonatina-like form. Unusual aspect of this work is the scodatura second guitar part. In fact, the 2nd player must use 2 instruments; one standard and the other in CGDGBE.
This piece was selected by BBC Radio 3 for the Alpha Duo's radio broadcast debut, on 27/01/86.Duration 6'

Sonata in 3 movements - 1985

Written for and premiered by The Alpha Duo.
Features improvisation in central slow movements, where an aspirant Jazz guitarist is warming-up on a series of 'never-quite-right' arpeggios! Otherwise, the form largely follows sonatina structure. Possibly the most 'Robert Fripp-like' of the guitar duets.
Duration 10'

Blue Tomato - 1991

for flute and guitar

This is one of my favourite pieces by me - happens to be one of my most performed works too! It's always great fun to play, for both players.

A singular tarantella type vibe, keeps this one moving along. The music (and players) get their breath back, in a slower rhapsodic central passage. The music of the first section returns, in a final race for home. Constant shifting metres and changes of tessitura for both instruments, give this work a nice skittish quality.

First performance Nancy Ruffer flute, Steve Smith guitar, BMIC London, 25/04/91 Duration 6'

3,4,6,12,14,16,22,144n.o. - 2000

for violin and guitar

Commissioned by Mikkeli City Orchestra, Mikkeli, Finland.
A single continuous substantial movement of 12 minutes, explores some numerical anomalies. Plenty of extended techniques, combine with some rhythmically challenging elements. Hopefully, all the effort is worthwhile.

Premiere Anu Javela violin and Steve Smith guitar. 25/08/2000. The piece is dedicated to my good friend Mike Spencer.Duration 12'

Funfair on a Single Malt - 1999

for violin (or mandolin) and guitar

This piece has several incarnations. This score being the original. In this version it remains unperformed as of May 2008! The mandolin version which is verbatim the same, has received several performances. It was my good friend, the mandolinist Neil Gladd who suggested that it might work well on mandolin, and indeed it did. The slightly extended outing for the Steve Smith 4TET is the audio you hear on the score viewing page.
Improvisation is possible in several sections of this piece, however, if that is not possible or desirable, performers can follow the notated score.
Score and parts available for download from the joanB.music Store. Duration 6'

Gotango! - 1988 rev. 2003

flt / gtr / mba / perc / (optional str bs.)

First performed at the British Music Information Centre's celebration of British Music 1989. Single movement featuring improved flute otherwise notated throughout. Duration 6-7'

Pink Pineapple - 2003

mandolin / banjo / guitar

This is a single movement of a 3 movement work when complete. The classic BMG, though there are precious few original works written for the combination; this piece goes some way to redress the balance.
Requires standard instruments, but excellent chops!Duration 3'30''

Another Chance to Slip, Goes down...... - 1998

solo banjo / strings (44221)

"I don't like cricket, oh no, I love it...."
Not strictly a concerto as such, even if there were such a thing, as a banjo concerto...!
For banjo soloist with strings. The combination is exquisite and balance is achieved throughout by dint of the banjo's superb qualities of projection. Requires G-banjo('bluegrass').

Level of difficulty - concert.Duration 7'30'

A Particular Peak - 2000

mandolin solo / strings (44221)

In 3 movements basically medium, slow, fast. Virtuosic but accessible. I am a self-taught mandolinist and not belonging to any of the so called mandolin 'schools' or traditions, I am drawn to making music with the instrument first and foremost. This piece has been performed, twinned with my piece for banjo and strings; Another Chance to Slip, Goes down..., though only by myself yet!

Level of difficulty - concert.Duration 15'

Orange Grass

piccolo db ten sax / ac. & e. gtrs / e. bass / marimba db dms.

Caribbean meets Cuban, mixed instrumentation gives plenty of colour in this jaunt around the islands.Duration ca. 7'

Savannah Soul

lead sheet

This is the instrumental version of the song I wrote for the 'elefriends' charity for a GALA concert in 1991. The Steve Smith 4TET did a revamp of the tune, which is the one you hear on the audio sampler.
Duration 4'+

Yet More B*******

lead sheet

This is a nice sambossa tune. Used as the final tune in the my quartet's set.
Duration 5'+

The Chase from 'Underground'

Arranged for t. sax db flute, e. guitar, bass guitar & marimba

This is the music from the 'Chase' scene taken from my score for the Anthony Asquith 1928 film Underground (see clips on the videos page).
This scene in the film is notable from the point of view, that it is set in Battersea Power Station when the famous London landmark was still producing electricity for Londoners and for the 'Tube' system.
Original scoring is for clarinets, cello and piano, but this arrangement was made for my band the Steve Smith 4TET. The recording is from our first gig.

Score and parts are available from the joanB.music Store.Duration 7'+

I Can't Quite See Your House from Here

for t. sax, e. guitar, bass and marimba

Funky tune from the Steve Smith 4TET set-list. Features our sax/ guitar/ marimba noise thing. We have on occasion substituted the marimba for drums where we need a more straight-ahead sound.

Score and Parts available from joanB.music Store.Duration 5'+

Dinosaurs, the Musical

scored for children's with backing CD

This is a children's musical for a central character, plus several secondary character and chorus.
The libretto is based on a story by Michael Foreman, Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish. The parts and CD for performances can be hired from joanBmusic publications.Duration ca. 60'

Underground 2006

clarinets, Eb, Bb and bass / cello / piano db kboard (optional) and pre-recorded CD

Commissioned to accompany Anthony Asquith's 1928 silent film of the same name, by the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., as part of their 'From Vault to Screen' series featuring European film restorations.
Film is a love triangle set against the London Underground and features a chase scene in a fully operational Battersea Power Station.
Score available for hire by special permission. Contact joanBmusic publications for details.
Video excepts are available on the videos page.Duration 90'

Hello Mother, I'm Calling You from the Last Red Telephone Box in England!

Viola and Harp (or honky-tonk piano) - for Penny

First performance The Press Club, London January 1993, Penny Brown, viola Jeffrey Dyball, harp. Duration ca. 4'

Isn't She Lovely

Stevie wonder

The source material isn't always apparent, at least not until the tune really gets going towards the end of the arrangement.
Duration 3'

Blowin' in the Wind

Robert Zimmerman

Bob Dylan's timeless song has been treated to many differing interpretations, over it's lifetime, here's a version which uses the classical guitarist's way of imitating sustain - the tremolo technique - to achieve the neccesary singing quality.
Duration 4'

We Can Work it Out

Lennon / McCartney

I had been playing a lot of bluegrass banjo whilst living in the Washington D.C., I began playing around with this tune, that I had been playing for years, introducing a little more of a banjo figuration. I liked it and this is the result.
Duration 3'

Belá Bártok - Roumanian Folk Dances

arr. for 2 guitars by Steve Smith

The six short dances in this collection, are amongst Belá Bártok's best known works. They exist in many different forms but are presented here for classical guitar duo. These pieces are available for download form the joanBsongs page. Recorded by the Alpha Guitar Duo. Duration ca. 5'15''

The Music of George Gershwin and Scott Joplin

arr. for 2 guitars by Steve Smith

This collection of arrangements for classical guitar duo, includes;

My Man's Gone Now, Bess You is My Woman, Oh! Lady be Good, The Easy Winners, Bethena and Elite Syncopations.

The arrangements are sophisticated and idiomatic. Recordings of these pieces by the Alpha Duo are available for download from joanBsongs.
The fully pro-bound edition with parts is €19.99 plus shipping. Alternatively, individual items from the collection are available as downloadable sheetmusic.

Level of difficulty intermediate to advanced.Duration ca. 40'

Birdland - J. Zawinul

arr. for 4 guitars and bass guitar by Steve Smith

Weather Report tune from Heavy Weather. this arrangement, which I made for my student guitar ensemble at the Duke Ellington school of the Arts in Washington D.C. has received several public performances.
Level of difficulty - intermediate (involves some non-obligatory improvisation).

Score & parts available from joanB.music.Duration ca. 7'

Roundabout - Anderson/Howe

arr. for 3 guitars, bass guitar and kbd by Steve Smith

Classic YES from 'Fragile'. This arrangement is a fairly faithfull transcription of the whole recorded version of the song. Parts are playable by good student/amateur players. Drums could be added in performance.Duration ca. 9'

Hello Goodbye! - Lennnon and McCartney

arr. for 4 guitars and bass guitar by Steve Smith

Straightforward arrangement for guitar ensemble of the Beatles tune. Level is easy to moderate and score and parts are available from the store.Duration ca. 3'