Click on the jukebox icon to listen to a few of Adrian's compostions. Notes about these compositions are below. 

Note about Berceuse: This piece was originally written for a young (prep-school) string quartet. Although it is technically undemanding, the richness of the music is not compromised. The piece itself consists of a series of simple variations on a theme giving each instrument melodic interest, and can all be played in first position. There are two versions - the one you can listen to here is the more advanced.

Note about Scherzo from String Quartet No.2: This comprises the second movement of Adrian's second string quartet (of 4 movements), and is based on a theme he composed when only four years old.

Note about Final Movement from String Quartet No.2: The theme of the fourth and final movement of the second string quartet is based on two themes orignally written for guitar.

Note about Ursa Major: Since childhood, Adrian has been fascinated by the heavens and this was fused with his musical interest when his father (Brian Brockless) wrote for him a piano piece - "Orion." The constellation of Ursa Major (The Great Bear) is one of the most familiar in the northern sky and was listed by Ptolemy in his book The Almagast published around AD150. The main theme of this work (for piano quintet) is based on the pattern of the seven main stars of the Great Bear and those of her retinue, Cassiopeia and Ursa Minor (The Little Bear); these constellations - incidentally - were also listed by Ptolemy. The 'cello part states the main theme lending an air of the heavy plodding of the Great Bear as well as providing a sense of space; early on, the piano part accentuates this. Each instrument takes up the theme - or part of the theme - and a much livelier motif is introduced on the piano representing the bear running over a powdery snowy wilderness. The second note of the theme of Ursa Major denotes the star Mizar. This star is what is known as an optical double star - that is, Mizar appears very close to another, fainter, star but is in no way related to it. The acciaccatura which accompanies this note represents the fainter star Alcor.

The "W" of the queen Cassiopeia also has its own theme stated in the piano and is much more poised and tranquil.

Ursa Minor is represented by a minor key and a different pattern of notes; there is a liveliness here that is intended to portray a young playful bear. The held top G (the first note of the minor theme) in the piano part denotes the constancy of Polaris (the pole star) which is situated above the celestial pole and never moves.  

MYTHOLOGY In Roman Mythology Ursa Major was originally Callisto, the lady in waiting to the goddess Juno. However, it became known that Callisto was even more beautiful than Juno and the goddess was so consumed by jealously that the king of the gods, Jupiter, had to protect Callisto; he did this by turning Callisto into a bear and placing her in the sky where Juno could not harm her. However, her son, Arcas, whilst out hunting happened upon this bear and was about to slay it when Jupiter, once again, intervened, turning him into a bear also - Ursa Minor. Cassiopeia was a queen (wife of king Cepheus) and the mother of Andromeda (also a constellation). In the sky she is represented by a 'W' pattern.

*All recordings of Adrian's pieces on this page were performed by The Harris Quartet.