Compositions

I have been composing for many years, mostly for piano. I received a prize for my organ work, Prelugue in D (see videos below) and my piano pieces have been voted as winners (and runners up) of the international Fidelio Piano Composition Contest. (see number 54 and 83 in this list). On this page you will find these pieces together with works for choir and string quartet. I can help with all aspects of composition, including GCSE and A-level, and have detailed knowledge of many different styles.

Presently I am working on several books of piano pieces for the Tobias Matthay school in China (Enpei Qu) incorporating different styles to contrast with the very traditional Classical material which is mostly used. Unfortunately I cannot circulate the sheet music; however if you are interested in you can listen to the pieces on Soundcloud. The two books are themed on the idea of inventions for grade 5 and the weather grade 6-7.

Please click on the videos below to watch on this page or explore the audio tracks. Don’t forget to stop one audio track before starting another! Variations on a Noble Theme is for string quartet.

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Orbital Manoeuvres (piano)

There's not enough piano music depicting space and zero gravity so here's one I penned recently for a competition, now that my son is at school and I have time for this sort of thing again. Don't expect easy listening all the way, space isn't like that!
'Nocturne' by Charles Tebbs

Charles Tebbs performs his own composition, 'Nocturne' live at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall, 2011 (Steinway)
Nottingham Jazz Band - My Favourite Things

An old musical number in new clothes, because some of my favourite things include 5/4 and that wonderfully intense version of the song by Coltrane. For more info on the Tebbs trio go to http://www.charlestebbs.co.uk/nottingham-jazz-band/ With Martyn Spencer (bass) and Jon Richmond (drums).
Moonlight from Sunlight

Moonlight from Sunlight (from 'Trilogy'), original piano music composed and performed by Charles Tebbs, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 2011 (Steinway).
This piece takes as its starting point the ever-popular (with composers and listeners alike) combination of broken chords and sustain pedal. Think of the famous first movement of Beethoven's 'Moonlight' Sonata, for example, and lots of contemporary minimalist pieces besides (Glass, Einaudi etc.). I have added my own rhythmic slant to this tried and tested formula: the hands drift in and out of phase with each other, the left hand generally following four-in-a-bar, the right hand based on multiples of three, creating an ever-shifting perspective. The middle section allows the threes to take over, with a fleeting melody added on top. Technicalities aside, this is my offering to the stars, planets and their interplay of different orbits.
Prelugue in D by Charles Tebbs, Llandaff organ prize winner

Performed by Paul Hale on the Nicholson Organ at Southwell Minster. The piece won a competition held by the South-East Wales Organist's Association and was premiered by Paul Hale on the new organ of Landaff cathedral in October 2010. It is perhaps best thought of as a series of musical adventures on the opening theme, the title implying a hybrid between prelude and fugue.
Paul Hale is Rector Chori and Cathedral Organist at Southwell Minster and is a consultant and adviser on Organs. Dr Charles Tebbs is a composer and keyboard teacher and performer and lives and works in Nottingham UK.
Ut Hoy

A carol by Charles Tebbs written for Sinfonia Chorale, performed here in Beeston parish church in December 2015 with the composer at the piano, directed by Richard Roddis. The text is a traditional pre-Reformation poem connected with the medieval mystery plays. It concerns an English pipe-playing shepherd, jolly Wat, who is visited by angels and follows the call to Bethlehem, bringing his gifts to the manger. Several verses are omitted in this setting. 'Ut hoy' is a sort of exuberant exclamation. Musical references to bagpipes and pastoral music abound.

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Ballade for Emma (piano solo)

Variations on a Noble Theme features Kate Conway (violin), Michelle Taylor-Cohen (violin), Nina Kopinska (viola), Anterro Manocchi (cello). Recording sponsored by Gordon and Alicia Menzies, the theme being their wedding music.

The Spinning Wheel (solo piano)

Stalactites and Stalagmites (solo piano)

Two Autumnal Sketches (no.1) for clarinet, viola and piano

Two Autumnal Sketches (no.2) for clarinet, viola and piano

Way of the Fourth (solo marimba)

Stalactites and Stalagmites won first prize in an online competition hosted by fideliomusica.org in which participants voted for each other’s works in a series of different rounds. A further short piano piece, Nocturne was also a finalist. In recent years, Orbital Manouevres has also been a finalist (see videos at the top of the page).

Scores for all pieces are available on request.

Autumnal Sketches features the composer on piano, with Tom Philpott (viola) and Simon Macrae (clarinet)

Orbital Manoeuvres (piano)

'Nocturne' by Charles Tebbs

Nottingham Jazz Band - My Favourite Things

Moonlight from Sunlight

Prelugue in D by Charles Tebbs, Llandaff organ prize winner

Ut Hoy