Sally Beamish has developed a fresh and individual voice by progressively extending her musical language whilst staying true to her own values. The range of her compositions over the last decade has encompassed two symphonies, a series of concertos for an impressive array of solo instruments, chamber music, an oratorio and an opera. The starting-point for many of these scores for widely differing forces is strongly personal, based on a relationship or friendship, a feeling or an event. Such intensely private inspiration can lend even the most extravagantly orchestrated piece a chamber-like intimacy.