Please contact Jonathan to enquire about performing past pieces, or to commission new compositions.
Concert Music + Commissions
Hold: On (2024)
A piece that deals with letting go.
Composed mostly through improvisation at the keyboard.
Inspired by the 'hold' and 'arpeggiator' functions of synthesizers. A purposeful slow-build.
Orchestra: 2(1.2/pic/afl).2(1.2/ca).2(1.2/bcl).2 | 4.2.3(1.2.btbn).1 | T | 2P | Hp | Str
c. 8' 40''
Ochr Y Nant (2023)
Composed for the 'signing of the register' at a since-cancelled wedding.
Written for Joy Cornock (harpist).
Includes various techniques such as P.D.L.T, thumb strumming, and the Salzedo 'whistle'.
c. 2' 50''
Everything is Faein (2023) - Commission
Commissioned as a gift for players of a tabletop role-playing game with the same title.
Orchestra: 3(pic/afl.2.3).3(1.2.ca).4(ecl.1.2.bcl/cbcl).3(1.2.cbsn) | 4.3.3(1.2.btbn).1 | T | 4P | Hp | pf.hpd.cel | egui.gui | Str
c. 8' 23''
SSRI (2022, rev. 2024)
A piece that deals with the topic of antidepressants, and the fluctuations in mood that they can cause.
Ending revised in 2024.
Orchestra: 2(1.2/pic).2(1.2/ca).2.2(1.cbsn) | 4.2.3(1.2.btbn).1 | T | 2P | Hp | Str
c. 7' 10''
Nocturne Diurne, Solo Piano Arrangement (2022)
An arrangement of Jonathan's popular 2018 jazz-inspired wind quintet for piano.
"A composition for wind quintet in two movements. An exploration of jazz harmony and melody in contemporary music. Which movement represents day, and which represents night?"
Solo piano
c. 9'
(Mvt. 1 c. 6' / Mvt. 2 c. 3')
Upper Structures (2021)
An abstract piece constructed around 'upper structures', a jazz-piano chord-voicing technique. This is where an altered chord is voiced as a (seemingly unrelated) triad in the right hand, while the left hand plays a shell voicing (3rd and 7th of the chord). This piece explores all nine available upper structure voicings.
Written for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales through Composition: Wales 2022.
Premiered May 10th 2022, by the BBC NOW, at Hoddinott Hall, Wales Millennium Centre.
Orchestra: 2(1.afl/pic).2(1.ca).2(1.cl/bcl).2(1.cbsn) | 2.2.2.1 | T | 2P | Hp | Str
c. 5' 30''
Birdbath (2021) - Commission
A jazz-influenced composition inspired by the common household birds found in mid-Wales, .
Includes solo cadenzas and free-time sections.
Written for Amy Rose Irvine (flute), for her master's degree final recital.
Premiered at Powis Hall, Bangor University in 2021.
Solo flute with piano accompaniment
c. 6'
Red Kite (2019)
A setting of Alan Llwyd's poem Yn Hebog Uwch Felindre (The Hawk over Felindre) for soprano voice and piano accompaniment.
Premiered live at 'Draig-Lóng: A Musical Celebration of Welsh and Chinese Culture' at Powis Hall, Bangor University.
Soprano Voice with Piano accompaniment
c. 5' 45''
Nocturne Diurne (2018)
A composition for wind quintet in two movements. An exploration of jazz harmony and melody in contemporary music. Which movement represents day, and which represents night?
Premiered by the Bangor New Music Ensemble at Bangor Music Festival 2019.
Subsequently performed by members of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Wind Quintet:
Flute/Alto Flute . Oboe/Cor Anglais . Clarinet in Bb . Horn in F . Bassoon
c. 9'
(Mvt. 1 c. 6' / Mvt. 2 c. 3')
Petrichor (2018)
An exciting tonal perpetuum-mobile and fanfare for large orchestra!
Orchestra: 3(1.2.pic).3(1.2.ca).3(1.2.3/bcl).3(1.2.cbsn) | 4.3.3(1.2.btbn).1 | T | 3P | Hp | Pno/Cel | Str
c. 5' 20''
Music for an Individual (2015)
Jonathan's first live-recorded piece.
A string quartet inspired by three pitches from Steve Reich's Different Trains.
Premiered by members of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2015.
String Quartet
c. 6'
Film and Media
Notable influences: John Williams (Close Encounters, E.T., Harry Potter etc.), Howard Blake (The Snowman), Howard Shore (The Lord of the Rings), Bernard Hermann (Psycho, Vertigo etc.), Thomas Newman (Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty), Randy Newman (Toy Story), Gordy Haab (Star Wars and Indiana Jones video games), and Chuck E. Myers (Hogwarts Legacy).
Four Reference Scores, for
Scenes + Sessions (2025) at the University of Aberdeen
'The Shed', for Scenes + Sessions (2024) at the University of Aberdeen
Scenes + Sessions is a film-music composition project organised by Xavier Lo (project lead), Chiron Farrimond, Sam Griffiths, and Jonathan Worsley. Through it, aspiring composers attend a series of educational workshops, culminating in them having their own short film scores recorded live by professional musicians.
Jonathan's roles include Orchestration Tutor and Score Supervisor.
The Shed is a short film created by students from the University of Aberdeeen.
In Scenes + Sessions 2024, the aforementioned four organisers had their own unique scores for The Shed recorded by an ensemble of student musicians.
c. 2' 20''
'Estelle' Main Theme, Orchestral Version (2023)
Composed by Jonathan Worsley and Xavier Lo in 2017. Orchestrated by Jonathan Worsley in 2023.
The main theme from the independent short film 'Estelle' has undergone numerous editions.
A solo piano improvisation (by Jonathan) was used for the 2017 teaser trailer, whereas the version actually used in the film itself was masterfully arranged by Xavier for string quartet and piano.
The 2023 version presented here was orchestrated for 'Scenes + Sessions 2024' at the University of Aberdeen, where it was recorded live by the university orchestra, conducted by Prof. Chris Collins.
c. 3'
'Between Two Worlds' (2019) - Original Short Film
Score for short horror film. Includes original diegetic music for in-car radio and night-club. Collaboration with German filmmaker Nicolas Schimmelpfennig.
Music inspired by Howard Shore and Bernard Hermann.
Orchestra: 1(fl/pic).1.2(1.bcl).0 | 2.0.0.1 | T | 4P | Hp | Pno/Cel | Str
Notated score c. 5' 26''
'Goose' (2019) - Original Short Film
Score for short documentary by Welsh filmmaker Connor Flinn.
The documentary covers a Bangor University security guard (nicknamed 'Goose'), and his love for the sport squash.
Music inspired by Bruce Springsteen.
Albums + Popular Music
Jonathan's true musical home is 70s rock music, particularly that of the band Queen. He is drawn to artists and bands who are intentionally creative, leading to genres such as art pop and progressive rock, and a reverence for concept albums. He also enjoys modern jazz fusion, Scandanavian folk metal, ambient music, and most recently the output of indie-folk artist (but truly ineffable) Sufjan Stevens.
Jonathan has been in many bands, across a variety of instrumental roles. His main instruments are piano/keyboards, guitar (electric, acoustic, 12-string, seven-string), and bass guitar (including six-string fretted and five-string fretless). He also has some facility on drums/percussion, and plays a number of folk instruments (to a modest passable level) including accordion, mandolin, bouzouki, tin-whistle, banjo, and bodhrán. In recent years, Jonathan has slowly begun performing vocals and live backing vocals.
Notable influences:
Rock: Queen (esp. early albums: Queen II, A Night at the Opera etc.); The Who (esp. concept albums: Tommy, Quadrophenia), Pearl Jam (Ten)
Progressive Rock: Genesis (Selling England by the Pound, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway etc.), Rush (Moving Pictures etc.), Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells)
Folk: Sufjan Stevens (Michigan, Seven Swans, Illinois, Javelin), Joni Mitchell (esp. early albums: Clouds, Blue)
Metal: Tool (Lateralus), Turisas, Ensiferum, Fintroll
Jazz Fusion: Tigran Hamasyan, Knower/Louis Cole
Ambient: Brian Eno (Ambient 1: Music for Airports)
Konom (2021), Album, as bandmember of 'Konom'
The debut album from Manchester-based progressive-rock/metal band Konom.
Featuring Jonathan on keyboards, orchestration, and arrangement.
The Course of Empire (2020) -
Solo Album
A symphonic progressive-rock album in five movements, fully scored/notated for live orchestra and rock band. Based on Thomas Cole's painting cycle The Course of Empire.
Score available as archived study-score.
Parts under revision (indefinitely).
Orchestra: 3(1.2/afl/asax.3/pic).3(1.2.3/ca).3(1.2.3/bcl).3.(1.2.cbsn) | 4.3.3(1.2.btbn).1 | T | 4P | 2Hp | Str
Rock Band: Piano/Electric Piano | 7-String Electric Guitar 1/Acoustic Guitar 1 | 7-String Electric Guitar 2/Acoustic Guitar 2 | 5-String Bass Guitar | Drum Set
Additional Sound Effects Playback (optionally controlled by Percussion 4) and optional out-board effects.
c. 27' 20''
Automata (2016) - Solo Album
A progressive-rock concept album, based on a new original story inspired by George Orwell's 1984 and the life of Oskar Speck.
