The moods of the five movements alternate between being reflective and then robust: slow-fast-slow-fast-slow. The musical form is cyclic and centres on a small number of recurring motivic elements, some harmonic, some melodic. The inner core of the piece (Movement III) is preoccupied by an inverted canon between violin and cello, later passed to trumpet and viola, which encapsulates and distils these powerful and distinctive musical components.

Circles for chamber ensemble was completed in 1982 and won the Humphrey Searle Composition Prize at the Royal Academy of Music.

The work is scored for Trumpet in Bb, Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello.
A straight mute is required for the trumpet.

Total duration: about 12½ minutes.

I Larghetto 3:20
II Marcato con forza 2:00
III Allegretto 2:30
IV Allegro con brio 3:00
V Larghetto, mesto e rubato espress 1:40