This is a string orchestra piece based loosely after a poem by W. B. Yeats. It was premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and subsequently performed by the Kent State University Orchestra.
Vanishing Carnival 9:00
Commissioned by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic for April, 1995, this piece was written with a youth audience in mind. In its five short movements, the work depicts animals from North American that are on the verge of extinction (the Manatee, the Piping Plover, the Hawaiian Hoaring Bat, the Florida Panther, and the American Crocodile).
Chamber
Trailblaze 1995 4:00
solo contrabass
Composed with Susan Cahill, member of the contrabass section of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in mind, Trailblaze is a frolicking, highspeed event for solo bass. Trailblaze was recently performed at Hiram College, The East Cleveland Theater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Kent State University.
Scandinista! (1994) 10:00
trp, hn, trb
Five miniatures for brass trio based on scenes from Norway and Denmark. Commissioned by the Mount Union College Brass Trio. It was premiered at a faculty concert at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, August 14, 1994.
Kokopelli's Dream (1993) 6:30-7:00
fl, 2 perc
The initial pitch content is extracted from a Sioux Indian melody. Kokopelli is the Hopi Indian god of fertility, and he plays the flute, plants corn and is considered somewhat of a troublemaker. 14 different percussion instruments are used. It was first performed at Kent State University on Dec. 8, 1993, and subsequently in Miami, Buffalo, and Cleveland. Kokopelli's Dream won first prize in the International League of Women Composers' 1994 composition contest.
Incidental music for the play The Kitten Man, by Jim Kuth (1993) 10:00
fl, vla, vc
trb, cb
Jim Kuth won an award for this radio play before I collaborated with him. The music is comprised of two groups: one is a trio of flute, viola and cello, and the other is a jazz duet of trombone and bass. The play deals with the homeless in New York City.
Summer Music (1992, rev. 1993) 7:30
fl, vla, vc.
So titled because I was teaching and studying at the Aspen Music Festival at the time it was composed. it was first performed at the East Cleveland Theater on June 8, 1993, and later that summer it was performed at the Aspen Music Festival student composers' concert.
Stadtpfeiffer Suite (1992) 5:00
trp, trb
This duet was written with the tradition of tower music in mind. It was requested for an event at the Unitarian Society in Cleveland Heights OH, and also performed at Kent State University.
Piece for Allyn and Carol (1984) 5:00
fl/a fl, vc
Performed at St. Olaf College in 1984
Vocal
Songs from Sappho
soprano, piano
The poem used for the middle song is one of only two of Sappho's poems left intact over 2500 years, The piece explores ancient Greek modality, texture, melodic devices, rhythmic modes, and of course Sapphic poetic meter.
all the world's beauty (1991) 6:00-7:00
tenor, fl, vc
The text for this piece is about apartheid in South Africa, and is from a collection of poetry by Adrian Mitchell.
Morning Song (Sara Teasdale) (1990) 3:00-4:00
SATB chorus
This will eventually be part of a trilogy of Teasdale poems set for choir.
Ceremony After a Fire Raid (1985) 11:00
SATB solo voices, 8 winds & strings
The text is from the Dylan Thomas poem of the same name that vividly describes the bombing of London during war. Performed at Cleveland State University in 1986.
East Coker (1983) 5:00
3 sopranos a capella, in balcony or back of hall.
Text from T. S. Elliot's Four Quartets. Performed at St. Olaf College in 1983.