The music of James Bryce

James's work covers several genres: rock, folk, jazz, alternative, children's music, new music, MOR and free improvisation. He has written for theatre, radio, orchestral and chamber groups, and jazz combo. He continues to perform solo gigs both online and off, and is a regular with Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Choir Most of the compositions on this page are available by emailing James himself. Five CDs of his solo work are available to buy from the shop page of this website.

Radio / TV Music

Theatre Music

Film Music

A Right Good Do

Parpi Films

Marvo and Doreen

Parpi Films

Jack and Zack

A rather Pinteresque short based on "Jack and Jill went up the hill"

Ten Minutes

A film based on the actions of three people in the ten minutes leading up to the silence on Remembrance Sunday

Maneater

A curious short tale on the theme of "pins in the voodoo doll" in which a woman takes revenge on her wayward lover by baking a cake in his likeness.

Compositions: solo works

Gilbert's Peace (for piano)

Invisible Waltz (for piano)

Piece for Bass Saxophone (11 mins)

Premiered in Edinburgh by Andreas van Zoelen (2000) and performed by David Brutti at the 2007 Ravenna Festival in Italy.
Excerpt.

Bert Finds his Dancing Feet (Almost) (5 mins)

For solo saxophone, this work was premiered 1997 in a version for clarinet by Claire Hollyoake. Performed several times in the saxophone version by Andreas van Zoelen (tenor sax) 1999 onwards.
Excerpt from the clarinet version

Compositions: chamber works

Prayer (for accordion, trumpet and cello)

Welcome! (3mins 45secs) (for Three Wagner Tubas and narrator. Words by Rumi)

First performed by Red Note on Noisy Nights at the City Halls, Glasgow 2014.

In Memoriam, J (3mins) (for 2 Cellos and Kurzweil synthesizer)

First performed by Red Note on Noisy Nights at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 2014.

Triumphal March (Nearly) (for trombone, electric guitar and drumkit)

First performed by Red Note on Noisy Nights at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 2013.

She waits in whispers  (5 mins) (for alto flute, viola, and contrabass)

First performed by Red Note on Noisy Nights at the City Halls Glasgow, 2013.

Performed by Richard and Ruth Beauchamp and Robin Mason at The Scottish Storytelling Centre, 2015, in a version for piano and two cellos

The Twisted Ladder (for trumpet, flute and cello: 4 mins 30 secs)

First performed by Red Note on Noisy Nights at the Travers Theatre, 2013.
Hear The Twisted Ladder...

*  (5 mins) (for bass saxophone and piano)

Invocation (5 mins) (for freebass accordion, violin, cello and tapes)

First performed by Red Note on Noisy Nights, Traverse Theatre, 2012

Fragment (4 mins) (for three cellos)

First performed on Noisy Nights at the Traverse Theatre, 2011
Hear Fragment...

The Octave (5 mins)(for electric guitar, electric violin and electric cello)

First performed on Noisy Nights at the Traverse Theatre, 2011
Hear The Octave...

La Muerta (5 mins)

A tango, first performed 2003 by Tango Volcano

Little Suite for Three Players (9 mins)

For piano, cello and lead instrument. Premiered 2000 by Alex and Hesther Owen-Hill and James Hill. Note: this piece is suitable for Grade 3 players and aboves

Perpetuum Mobile (3 mins)

For eight handbell players.
Excerpt (synthesised realisation)

Three Days

For bass saxophone and cor anglais.

Not Yet (5 mins)

Aleatoric piece for speaking voice and ensemble. Premiered at the Caithness summer School 1999

Quintette (15 mins)

For wind quintet.
Excerpt from 2nd movement (synthesised realisation)
Excerpt from 3rd movement (synthesised realisation)

Prayer for the Living (4 mins)

For sprechstimme and four trombones, this piece was premiered in Aberystwyth in 1997

Cloud Dance (5 mins)

For string quartet and two wind instruments

Compositions: orchestral works

Bert goes to the Funfair (20 mins)

For orchestra. Premiered at the Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, March 17th 2013.

Fantasia on London Themes - version for orchestra

James's arrangement of London street songs was premiered by the Open Orchestra in March 2017.

Compositions: brass band

Fantasia on London Themes (10 mins)

James's brass band arrangement of London street songs was performed by the The Edinburgh Brass Band on 21st April 2018.

Compositions: choral

Four Odes After Rumi (16 mins)

For two choirs and three trombones. Ode No. 1 was premiered by the Maesbury singers 2000 in a version for solo choir and three trombones (SPNM shortlisted work - 2002/2003).
Excerpt from 1st movement (synthesised realisation)

Compositions: solo song settings

Will ye go to the Indies, My Mary

Words: Burns