Michael Nyman - Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds

Michael Nyman - Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds (Arr. For Piano Solo)
Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds is a piece of minimalist music from the soundtrack for The Draughtsman's Contract*, written by Michael Nyman. In the thirty years since its release it has been much quoted and sampled and performed by various ensembles. It is based on a ground bass from the Prelude to Act III, Scene 2 of Henry Purcell’s opera, King Arthur.
*The Draughtsman's Contract is a 1982 British film written and directed by Peter Greenaway - his first conventional feature film (following the feature-length mockumentary The Falls). Originally produced for Channel 4 the film is a form of murder mystery, set in rural Wiltshire, England in 1694 (during the reign of William III and Mary II). The period setting is reflected in Michael Nyman's score, which borrows widely from Henry Purcell and in the extensive and elaborate costume designs (which, for effect, slightly exaggerate those of the period). The action was shot on location in the house and formal gardens of Groombridge Place. The film received the prestigious Grand Prix of the Belgian Film Critics Association.
The theme was used as early as 1984 for the opening sequence and the Rolls Royce plots in the Jean-Daniel Cadinot movie Sex Drive (Stop Surprise in the original). It is also used in the opening titles of the 2006 film, A Cock and Bull Story.
The Divine Comedy rearranged the piece as the B-side to their 1998 single Generation Sex, performed alongside The Michael Nyman Band.
"Chasing Sheep" was used in an episode of the motoring show Top Gear, during a race from the studio in Dunsfold Park near Guildford to Casino Square, Monte Carlo between an Aston Martin DB9 and the Eurostar/TGV. (Series 4, Episode 1)
An excerpt from the piece was used in a 2002 British TV advertisement for Walkers Crisps, featuring Victoria Beckham and Gary Lineker.
The melody line of the piece is quoted by the Pet Shop Boys on the track Love Is a Bourgeois Construct from their 2013 album Electric.
It was the wake-up call music on Flight Day 8 of NASA mission STS-111.
The song is prominently played for the ending credits of the 2015 French film Marguerite.
In the UK, it is often used to open historical features on the BBC current affairs television programme Daily Politics.
// Performed on Blüthner upright piano made in 1960
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[@Luca-yy4zh]

I really enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing.

[@coversart]

Thank you, Luca!

[@PetersPianoShoppe]

An error in the video notes: this is not based on Act III, Scene II of King Arthur. It is based on Act III, Scene I: “What ho! Thou genius of this isle” Heard in Top Gear and of course interpolated by Nyman and then sampled by Pet Shop Boys for “Love Is A Bourgeois Construct.” Fun fact: Act III, Scene 2…. “What power art thou?” is Nyman’s chord progression for his main theme in his score for “The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover.” The man loves his Purcell. It’s also heard in the movie “Wolf Of Wall Street” when a quaalude-addled Donnie Azoff spills his drink standing up to tell everyone about Steve Madden.

[@Sharpodiplomat]

Well, to be exact: it's based on the first Prelude to Act III: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqHYoJ-hm7aYaKs

[@zetoxa5615]

Cudowności

[@orvockomp]

Thanks for all this science!

[@barbarellaville]

Most excellent.

[@gwenolag7683]

J adore

[@willh2274]

Ah that is nice. Love the ending.

[@MakeMusic88]

Respect , this is amazing !

[@MakeMusic88]

how long do you play the piano ?

[@coversart]

Thanks a lot! I've been playing piano for awhile, long enough)

[@douglasmccannpiano]

All imperfect things. Please record. Bravo

[@venca955]

Really nice! Plus all the info in the description was interesting, thank you!

[@tamiyacar]

Very nicely done, however to be more in-tune with the original it should be played slower. 0.75 speed on youtube probably isn't too far off.

[@johnlewis5330]

Fantastic playing, really enjoyed listening to your other pieces too. May i ask where did you get the music sheets from, I'd like to play this arrangement if possible.

[@johnlewis5330]

To answer my own question just in case others are foolish enough to attempt this piece: sheetmusic.com has the score. It's pretty much identical to your rendition. It is a lot harder than what I thought! That 4th beat lick is very tricky indeed. I have even more admiration for your playing!

[@coversart]

Hi Johny Ollie, thanks a lot! I accidentally caught these notes in the library ("Michael Nyman - Film Music for Piano Solo" book or something similar it was), took them and immediately made this video. Yep, Nyman is quite tricky sometimes (even when it sounds awfully simple)

[@lutzderlurch7877]

Hello. Nice playing. This soundtrack by Nyman is fascinating; it simultaneously sounds super 1980, but also very barque. I currently wonder, how this solo version would sound on a harpsichord

[@oscararroyo8452]

Impresionante. Gracias.

[@arbycahyadi2665]

Kesini karena pet shop boy

[@fsdfsdgvdfsgsdfg7075]

God is okay , coversart is better.