Michael Nyman - The Draughtsman's Contract

British minimalist composer Michael Nyman's score for Peter Greenaway film from 1982, The Draughtsman's Contract is based on the repetitive bass motifs from 17th century composer Henry Purcell. The soundtrack album features one of Nyman's most well known pieces called "Chasing Sheep Is Best Left To Shepherds", which is the opening number. This short piece has a memorable melody in C major scale rendered on strings and soprano sax carried by a bouncy bass rhythm. Aside the repetition of the bass lines and inventive use of counterpoint, Michael Nyman Band's instrumentation is also worth mentioning: they use saxophones combined with string quartet, brass instruments, electric bass and Nyman himself on piano, who also doubles on harpsichord. "Watery Death" starts with low brass tones and a soprano sax melody that seems to hint at the "Chasing Sheep" theme, and then turns into a sinister amalgam of clanging harpsichord, staccato strings and bubbly brass that indeed lives up to the track's title. "Queen of the Night", another classic Nyman tune is the most bass heavy track: the electric bass really has a rather rock-oriented drive to it. "An Eye For Optical Theory" focuses on the unique saxophone arrangements, whereas the closing "Bravura In The Face of Grief" has a funeral atmosphere, with sad progression ongoing for several minutes, before the harpsichord eventually enters for the final minutes, giving the ending section a very vivid edge. Recommended for minimalist/contemporary classical fans.