Contest Music was written in 1973 and was to be used as the test piece for the National Championships of Great Britain.

The work is in three movements - fast, slow, fast. In the outer movements the constant metamorphosis of material reflects classical procedures. The middle movement in contrast contains no development and is lyrical from beginning to end.

I. Adheres roughly to Sonata form, but the re-capitulation material is presented in inverted and reversed order.

II. Opens and closes with a tonally ambiguous dialogue between trombones moving harmonically and cornets in a single line. Between lies a continuously unfolding melodic line, restrained both dynamically and emotionally.

III. Is akin to the classical Rondo with a four fold statement of the main theme, its outline being changed and its pitch raised at each repetition.