The Essential Michael Nyman Band

• Chasing sheep is best left to shepherds • An eye for optical theory • The garden is becoming a robe room • Prawn watching • Time lapse • Fish Beach • Wheelbarrow Walk • Knowing the Ropes • Miserere paraphrase • Memorial • StrokingSynchronizing • Miranda Tracks 1–3 from ''The Draughtsman's Contract. Tracks 4–5 from A Zed and Two Noughts. Tracks 6–8 from Drowning by Numbers. Tracks 9–10 from The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. Track 11 from Making a Splash. Track 12 from Prospero's Books''. "Stroking" is not the same piece that was known as "Stroking" on, The Kiss and Other Movements, but rather, "Gliding." An Eye for Optical Theory Track 2, An Eye for Optical Theory, is based on a four-bar harmonic frame likely originally composed by William Croft. Nyman employs the syncopated potential of the original by adding the two saxophones to layer textures consisting of individual ‘collections’ of melodies over a constantly-changing backing track in the remaining ensemble. This gives rise to a strident melodic line in the upper strings. ==Personnel==

• Alexander Balanescu, Clare Connors, Ann Morphy, violin • Kate Musker, viola • Tony Hinnigan, Justin Pearson, cello • Martin Elliott, bass guitar • John Harle, David Roach, soprano & alto saxophone • Andrew Findon, baritone saxophone, flute, piccolo • Steve Sidwell, trumpet • Marjorie Dunn, horn • Nigel Barr, bass trombone, euphonium • John Lenehan, piano • Michael Nyman, piano (tracks 1, 2, 3, 11, 12) • Sarah Leonard, soprano (tracks 9, 10, 12) • Linda Hirst, mezzo-soprano (track 12) • Photographs courtesy of the Tokyo Globe Theatre This recording made at the JVC Victor Studios, Tokyo • Engineer: Michael J. Dutton • Mixed at Kitsch Studio, Brussels • Edited by Michael J. Dutton at Abbey Road Studios, London • Publishers: Chester Music Ltd/Kelly Music Ltd; EG Music Ltd (track 11) • Art direction: David Smart • Cover design by Russell Warren-Fisher from a photo by Steve Pyke ==References==