In C is one of the major classical works of the late 20th century: the piece that redefined what traditional western music sounds like.

With no set structure (it can be performed by any number of musicians, for any length of time), no pieces are exactly the same. The musicians have a score and have to play their sections in order but choose when to play them (or omit them altogether).

Local contemporary music group Lost Property’s performance lasted an hour and had a stripped-down ensemble of 13 musicians plus two singers: Mary Hampton and Jo Burke.

The driving heart of the piece is the repeated C note, Riley called it the pulse; it’s the one constant in the ever-shifting patterns and Adam Bushell’s concentration didn’t waver as he struck a vibraphone for the full 60 minutes.

What really made the piece stand out where Hampton and Burke’s vocal contribution which provided an almost religious intensity of the piece, enhanced by the evening sun shining through the church window, The first half of the concert was made up of a selection of other works by Riley or inspired by him.

These were a bit hit and miss, although the extract of Andrew Greaves’ Octobeast whetted the appetite for more.

Four stars