One is struck by the widely varied styles and idioms of these five works. The earliest, the Piano Sonata of 1986, is the most challenging from the point of view of both the performer and the listener. The latest, Bagatelles Diverses (2005), is also pianistically demanding, but uses a more straightforward, tonal language. The element of freshness and surprise here is generated by the close juxtaposition of the strongly contrasted colours, textures and tempi of the nine fairly short movements.

Requies (1991) is perhaps the most striking, in its almost single-mindedly slow pace, simplicity of material and depth of feeling.

The wittiest pieces and the lightest of touch are Burlesque (2000) for two pianos, four hands, and Four Pieces from “A Bit of a Blow” (2005) for piano duet.