The British composer Nigel Clarke has built a reputation for music of extraordinary richness and virtuosity. His music is constantly inspired by many different musical languages, and belief in very close collaboration with musicians and ensembles. This leads to extremely brilliant writing, which, however physically challenging, is consistently gratifying for players and exciting for audiences. His work Samurai has a become a modern day classic and typifies his style of composition, with exuberant and explosive moments contrasting with periods of transcendental beauty.