The piece commences by singing its own title. The initial little chime-phrase, and the opening of the contrasted, rapid Round-dance which follows, each set in motion a sequence of variants, and variants-upon-variants:  24 for the chime-phrase, and a comparable number for the Round-dance, producing a succession of circular paths, through darkness and light.  Each of the two ideas leads to a return of the other, and ultimately to a return of the opening sounds.  To generate the bar-by-bar rhythmic energy, the flowing lines of the Round-dance are paired in rhythmic unision, creating a measured tension-flow, its subtle variations being generated by a simple process of change derived from traditional bell-ringing patterns.

Chimes in Time is dedicated to the memory of pianist Patricia Cunliffe, and was commissioned by composer David Ellis for the concert marking the inauguration of the Patricia Cunliffe Award, in association with the Royal Northern College of Music's School of Keyboard Studies.  The premiere was given by Panayiotis Demopoulos on 5th May 2011.