Paul is an experienced composer and arranger. He has a BMus (Hons), MA and PhD in Composition and has written music for a wide variety of occasions and ensembles in classical, jazz and commercial contexts.

Some of Paul’s compositions are available to buy as PDF downloads from the store section of this site.

Below are some examples of his work as a composer and arranger.

Please get in touch with Paul to discuss commissions - pauledis@gmail.com

Orchestral

In 2016 Paul was commissioned by Ushaw College, Durham, to write a suite of new music based on the life and story St. Cuthbert for a septet. This is the music featured on the Ushaw Ensemble album (available to buy on CD and to download from the Store).

In 2021 the ‘St. Cuthbert Suite’ Paul expanded the suite to include new movements and arranging it to be performed by the youth ensembles of Sage Gateshead.

This clip is from the opening theme, featuring Young Sinfonia, Jambone and members of the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Big Band

Paul has extensive experience writing for Big Band. This clip is taken from a performance of his composition ‘Hefti Boots’ by the London College of Music Big Band. There are full details of his compositions and arrangements for Big Band further down the page.

Medium Sized Ensemble

Paul is often asked to arrange for for smaller forces modelled on the Big Band or Orchestral sound.

Below are two examples of such, one from a studio take by vocal group Scarlet Street of ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce, and the other from his Christmas album of 2019, the Christmas Waltz featuring Jo Harrop.

String Quartet

Paul is experienced writing for string quartet, quintet and larger forces. Here’s an example of his string writing from the composition ‘If I Knew’ which he wrote with Jo Harrop in 2020.

Choir

Paul has written music for choir, including a Jazz Mass. Here’s a recording of the Ebor Singers performing his composition ‘Redemption’ written as part of his PhD portfolio.

Further details of Paul’s compositions are below and scores are available on request.

Big Band - Originals

(5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 bass trombone, piano, gtr, bass and drums)

Instrumental compositions

A Mighty Noise

A Narrow Escape

The Coast

Diminishing Returns 

Hefti Boots

Loop the loop

Mr Hipster

Mikey’s Samba

Old School

Please Peace Piece

Prelude and Funk

Straight to the Point

The Long Way Round

Too Sad For Words 

The Timothys 

Vignette 

Wistful

When All Is Said and Done 

Vocal compositions arranged for Big Band

An Endless Ocean 

If It Ain’t Broke

It Takes Time (Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day)

The Long Way Round

Big Band - Arrangements

(5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 bass trombone, piano, gtr, bass and drums)

Instrumental

Bright Mississippi - Thelonious Monk

In the Bleak Midwinter - Gustav Holst

Local Hero - Mark Knopfler

We Three Kings - John Henry Hopkins Jr.

Vocal

At Last - Mack Gordon, Harry Warren (F)

Happy - Pharell Williams (Fm/F)

Lullaby Of Birdland - George Shearing, B. Y. Forster (Am)

My Funny Valentine - Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart (Am)

Single Ladies - Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles-Carter - (E)

Contemporary Classical (fully notated)

VARIOUS

Other Lineups