Opera/Music Theater:
Scenario (2003-4)
for theatrical soprano and virtual orchestra (soundfile); text by S.J. Perelman, "Scenario"; 17 minutes
Read program notes and text.
The Hudson River Trilogy: Cinderella's Bad Magic, Painting Shadows, The Watermelon Cargo:
Painting Shadows (chamber opera; work in progress, 2004)
Libretto by Jeffrey Sichel; two singers (Mezzosoprano, Baritone), flute, three synthesizers, fretless bass
See the tuning chart.
The Watermelon Cargo (chamber opera; 2002-3)
Libretto by Jeffrey Sichel; four singers (SATB), chorus, flute, three synthesizers, fretless bass, drums; 42 minutes
Read the libretto by Jeffrey Sichel.
Cinderella's Bad Magic (2002; opera)
Libretto by Jeffrey Sichel; five singers (SSABarB), flute, three synthesizers, fretless bass; 43 minutes
Read the program notes.
See the tuning chart.
Read the libretto by Jeffrey Sichel.
MP3 Scenes 3, 4, and 5
Custer and Sitting Bull (1997-99)
Custer: "If I Were an Indian..." Sitting Bull: "Do You Know Who I Am?" Sun Dance / Battle of the Greasy-Grass River Custer's Ghost to Sitting Bull
for speaking voice and computer tape; 35 minutes
Read program notes.
Tuning chart for Custer: "If I Were an Indian..."
Tuning chart for Sitting Bull: "Do You Know Who I Am?"
Tuning chart for the Sun Dance.
Tuning chart for Custer's Ghost.
Score available from Frog Peak Music
Sitting Bull MP3
Incidental Music for Alice in Wonderland (1991-92)
flute, clarinet, electronics (keyboard sampler and synthesizer)
Chorus:
my father moved through dooms of love (2005)
for SATB chorus, violin, piano; text by e. e. cummings; 12 minutesTranscendental Sonnets (2001-2)
The Son Enoch Love Faith The Word
Chorus, two soloists, and orchestra (2, 2, 2, 2; 2, 2, 1 [no tuba]; perc [timp, glock]; strings; soprano and tenor soloists; SATB; also version for chorus and piano) - commissioned by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir; poems by Jones Very (1813-1880); 34 minutes
Read program notes.
Faith MP3 The Word MP3
Orchestra:
Scenario (2003-4/2012)
for soprano and orchestra (3-2-oboe d'amore-2-3; 2-3-2; harmonica; acoustic guitar; timp, xyl, mar, tam-tams, drum set; celesta; strings); text by S.J. Perelman, "Scenario"; 17 minutesSerenity Meditation (2011)
for chamber orchestra (2 2 2 BsCl 2 - 1 0 0 0 - cel - chimes - timp - strings); 13 minutesDesert Song (2011)
for orchestra (3 2 2 2 - 2 2 3 - harp, pno, 1 perc, strings); 11 minutesSunken City (Concerto for Piano and Winds in memoriam New Orleans; 2007)
for piano solo with flute, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, 3 trumpets, horn, 3 trombones, bass; 25 minutesThe Disappearance of All Holy Things from this Once So Promising World (1998)
for orchestra (winds 2221, 2 hns, 1 trp, 1 perc, strings); 11 minutes
Score (PDF)
String Quartet:
Concord Spiral (2010)
for string quartet; 8 1/2 minutesHudson Spiral (2010)
for string quartet; 13 minutesThe Light Summer Land (2010)
for string quartet; 25 minutes
commissioned by Carson CoomanLove Scene (2003)
for string quartet in just intonation (based on Act III of The Watermelon Cargo); 6 minutes
Other Chamber Music:
Scene from a Marriage (2010)
for viola and piano; 9 minutes
commissioned by Marka Gustavsson
Program notesSnake Dance No. 3 (2009-10)
for microtonal keyboards, four percussionists, and fretless bass; 11 minutes
commissioned by the Sam Houston State University Percussion Ensemble, John Lane, directorStreet Music (2009)
for clarinet, tenor sax, drum(s), voice, violin, cello; 4 minutesThe Planets (Astrological Studies) (1994-2008)
Book I: Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars (1994) Book II: Jupiter (2001), Mercury, Saturn (2008) Book III: Uranus (2007), Neptune (2001), Pluto (2008)
for flute, oboe, alto saxophone, bassoon, synthesizer, percussion (tom-toms, cymbals, vibraphone), viola, and double bass (movements performable separately); 75 minutes
commissioned by the Relache Ensemble
Read program notes.
Book I available from Frog Peak MusicPerformed by the Relache ensemble
Venus: MP3
Composure (2007-8)
for four electric guitars; 14 minutes
commissioned by Tim BradyKierkegaard, Walking (2007)
for flute, clarinet, violin, cello; 16 minutes
commissioned by the Seattle Chamber PlayersImplausible Sketches (2006/2011)
1. The Desert's Too-Zen Song 2. Mediating Daydream 3. The Goodbye Fugue 4. Frigid Azure 5. Don't Touch My Pint
for piano, four hands; 32 minutesThe Day Revisited (2005)
for flute, clarinet, keyboard sampler, synthesizer, electric bass (microtonal, 27-tone just-intonation scale); 13 minutesMinute Symphony (2004)
1. Passionate, with energy 2. Sustained, thoughtful 3. Jaunty 4. Exuberant
for flute, clarinet, violin, cello; 1 minute
New World Coming (2001)
for solo bassoon with flute (or oboe), violin (or viola), and piano; 6 1/2 minutes
Read program notes.
Score (PDF)
Hovenweep (2000)
for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano; 11 minutes; commissioned by the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble
Score (PDF)
"Last Chance" Sonata (1999)
1. Flowers 2. Snake Dance 3. Apparition 4. Dance of Indeterminate Ethnicity
for clarinet and piano; 19 minutes
Score available from Frog Peak Music
Scores (PDF): 1st mvmt. 2nd mvmt. 3rd mvmt. 4th mvmt. MP3s: 1st mvmt. 2nd mvmt. 3rd mvmt. 4th mvmt.
Performed by Meighan Stoops (1,4) and Sara Philips (2,3), clarinet, and Bari Mort, piano
Arcana XVI: Homage to Joan Tower (Tuning Study No. 5) (1998)
for three synthesizers (24-tone scale); 7 minutes
See the program notes and tuning chart for Arcana XVI
Snake Dance No. 2 (1995)
for percussion quartet with optional sampling keyboard; 12 minutes
Available from Frog Peak Music
Snake Dance No. 1 (1991)
percussion quartet with optional keyboard sampler; 12 minutes
Chicago Spiral (1990-91)
for flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone (or three flutes), drums, violin, viola, cello, and synthesizer; 9 minutes
Read program notes.Performed by Dinosaur Annex
MP3 Score (PDF)
Available from Frog Peak Music
Cyclic Aphorisms (1988)
for violin and piano; three movements; 8 minutes
Available from Frog Peak MusicI'itoi Variations (1985)
for two pianos; 26 minutes
Available from Frog Peak Music
MP3
Performed by Double Edge (Nurit Tilles, Edmund Niemann)
Hesapa ki Lakhota ki Thawapi ("The Black Hills Belong to the Sioux") (1984/9)
for flute, trumpet (or saxophone), synthesizer (or accordion), and drum; 9 minutesCherokee Songs (1983)
for soprano and percussion; 12 minutesBaptism (1983)
for two flutes, two drums, glockenspiel, and synthesizer; 12 minutes
Available from Frog Peak Music
MP3
Mountain Spirit (1982-83)
for two flutes, two drums, and synthesizer; 12 minutesAs the Day Is Long (1982)
for flute, synthesizer, drums, and computer tape; 13 minutes
MP3
Long Night (1980-81)
for three pianos; ca. 22 minutes
Available from Frog Peak Music
MP3
Katy Elsey, Mary Slaughter, Kyle Gann, pianos
Oil Man (1981)
for 2 flutes, clarinet, piano, drums; text by Kyle Gann from letters by Marvin Gann
Read the text.
Song of Acceptance (1980)
for three female voices, flute, French horn, trombone, tuba, celeste, two violins, and cello; length indeterminate; texts from Lao-Tzu, Walt Whitman, and EcclesiastesTempo Canon (1979)
for harp, piano, and harpsichord
Lord Thomas and Fair Annie (1978)
for alto flute, clarinet, viola, harpsichord, celestaSiren (1978)
for five flutes
Available from Frog Peak MusicUntitled, 1977 (1977)
for two flutes, marimba, violin, contrabassSatie (1975)
for female voice, violin, flute, harp, celesta; texts by Erik Satie
See program notes.
Score (PDF) MP3 Solo Piano:
Surrealities (2012-13)
1. Axioms of the Wind
2. Deep Denial
3. Disaggregated Harmonies
4. Circling the Horizon
5. Unaccommodating Polka
6. Incommensurate Quantities
7. Mistimed Adieu
for three-octave toy piano or celesta; 17 minutesGoing to Bed (Homage to Philip Glass) (2012)
for piano; 6 minutes
Commissioned by Nicolas HorvathEarth-Preserving Chant (2010)
for piano; 11 minutes
commissioned by Emanuel ArciuliWar Is Just a Racket (2008)
text by General Smedley Butler; for speaking pianist; 9 minutes
Read program notes.
Commissioned by Sarah CahillOn Reading Emerson (2006)
for piano; 8 minutes
Read program notes.
Commissioned by Sarah CahillTriskaidekaphonia (Tuning Study No. 6) (2005)
for (electronically simulated) microtonal piano; 5 minutes
See the tuning chart.
Private Dances (2000/4)
1. Sexy 2. Sad 3. Sentimental 4. Sultry 5. Saintly 6. Swingin'
for piano; 25 minutes
Commissioned by Sarah Cahill
No. 1 Score (PDF) No. 2 Score (PDF)
Time Does Not Exist (2000)
for piano; 16 minutes
Score (PDF)
Desert Sonata (1994-95)
for piano; two movements; 19 minutes
Read program notes.
See a page from the first movement, "Wind"
See a page from the second movement, "Night"
Available from Frog Peak Music
Paris Intermezzo (1989)
for toy piano; 6 1/2 minutes
The Convent at Tepoztlan (Homage to Nancarrow: Canon 23:24) (1989)
for piano and computer tape, or two pianos; 7 minutes
Sweeney Out West (Five Vacation Mishaps for Piano) (1987-89)
for pianoStraddled in the Sun Truckstop Angel The Ocotillo's Message Questionable Company (The Transformation Tango) Satori Canyon Windows to Infinity (1987)
for piano; 11 minutes
The Question Answer'd (1983)
for piano; 4 minutes
Score (PDF)
The Mercy of the Storm (1981)
for piano; 11 minutes
Score (PDF)
Other Solo Instrument:
Echoes of Nothing (Tuning Study No. 11) (2011)
I. Nothing
II. Something
for retuned virtual piano; 15 minutes
commissioned by Aron KallayNew Aunts (Tuning Study No. 9) (2008)
for retuned keyboard sampler; 5 minutes
See program notes and tuning chart.Olana (2007)
for vibraphone; 8 minutes
commissioned by Andrew BlissFugitive Objects (Tuning Study No. 7) (2007)
for keyboard sampler in just intonation; five minutesLaredo (1988)
for snare drum; five minutesDakota Moon (1982)
for clarinetDesert Flowers (1979)
for fluteWorks for Disklavier and other mechanical instruments:
Unquiet Night (Mechanical Piano Study No. 10) (2004)
for Disklavier; 16 minutes
Petty Larceny (Mechanical Piano Study No. 9) (2003)
for Disklavier; 6 minutes
Imaginary Island (2003)
for nine computerized toy pianos; 2 minutes
Tango da Chiesa (Mechanical Piano Study No. 8) (2002)
for Disklavier; 6 minutes
Das Knaben Wunderklavier (2000-2001)
for live pianist and Disklavier, or Disklavier alone; 7 minutes
Read program notes.
Cosmic Boogie-Woogie (Mechanical Piano Study No. 7) (2000-2001)
for Disklavier; 8 minutes
Bud Ran Back Out (Mechanical Piano Study No. 6) (2001)
for Disklavier; 3 minutes
MP3 Score (PDF)
Texarkana (Mechanical Piano Study No. 5) (2000)
for Disklavier; 4 minutes
Read program notes.
Folk Dance for Henry Cowell (Mechanical Piano Study No. 4) (1999)
for Disklavier; 2 minutes
MP3
Nude Rolling Down an Escalator (Mechanical Piano Study No. 3) (1997/99)
for Disklavier; 5 minutes
See a page from Nude Rolling Down an Escalator
MP3
The Waiting (Mechanical Piano Study No. 2) (1997)
for mechanical piano (Disklavier); 7 minutes
Despotic Waltz (Mechanical Piano Study No. 1) (1997)
for mechanical piano (Disklavier); 2 minutes
Electronic Works:
Romance postmoderne (2012)
Virtual piano, 33 pitches/octave; 8 1/2 minutesMystic Chords (Rhythm Study) (2012)
for soundfile; 6 1/2 minutesThe Unnameable (2012)
for keyboard sampler and soundfile; 12 minutesNonexistent Landscape (2012)
for keyboard sampler and soundfile; 11 minutesSolitaire (2009)
for retuned keyboard sampler and soundfile; 14 minutes
See program notes and tuning chart.The Aardvarks' Parade (Triskaidekaphonia 2: Tuning Study No. 10) (2009)
for retuned keyboard sampler and soundfile; 10 minutes
See program notes and tuning chart.Charing Cross (Tuning Study No. 8) (2007)
for keyboard sampler in just intonation, and soundfile; 8 minutesHow Miraculous Things Happen (Tuning Study No. 4) (1997)
for synthesizer (24-tone scale) and tape; 11 minutes
***Hear a 1:51 audio sample of How Miraculous Things Happen.
See program notes and tuning.
Fractured Paradise (Tuning Study No. 3) (1995)
for synthesizer (16-tone scale) and tape; 4 minutes
See program notes and tuning.
Homage to Cowell (Tuning Study No. 2) (1994)
for keyboard sampler (just-intonation scale); 5 minutes
So Many Little Dyings (1994)
for keyboard sampler; text (and sampled voice) by Kenneth Patchen; 6 minutes
Read program notes.
MP3
Ghost Town (1994)
for synthesizer (seven-limit just-intonation scale) and computer tape; 10 minutes
Read program notes.
See the tuning chart.
Superparticular Woman (Tuning Study No. 1) (1992)
synthesizer (22-tone scale) and computer tape; 4 minutes
See program notes and tuning.
Canso (1981)
computer tape; 3 minutes
