Afterthoughts of Lakeside Park (1999-2009) Commissioned by Nathan Wesselowski
Duration: 10:00
Instrumentation: tenor and piano
Special Requirements: egg shaker needed in first movement
Description: Settings of original poetry by Nathan Wesselowksi.
Program Note and text: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

i am like a feather (2005) Premiered by the Nietszche Ensemble
Duration: 8:00
Instrumentation: baritone, violin, guitar and piano
Special Requirements: none
Description: Settings journal entry by Henry David Thoreau, both contemplative and rhythmic. Guitar part has a fair amount of virtuosic writing.
Program Note and text: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Vespertine (2008) Premiered by Water City Chamber Orchestra
Duration: 5:00
Instrumentation: 1.1.cl+bcl.1/0.2.1.0/1perc/pf/hrp/str
Special Requirements: none
Description: Gentle, jazz-inflected piece with prominent piano solo
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Four Short Scenes (2002) Premiered by the CIM Contemporary Music Ensemble
Duration: 8:00
Instrumentation: 1(pic)1.1.1/1.1.1.0/1perc/pf(cel)/str(1.1.1.1.1)
Special Requirements: None
Description: Four contrasting, continuous movements
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Bat out of Hell! (1999) Premiered by the Laval High School String Orchestra
Duration: 4:00
Instrumentation: amateur string orchestra
Special Requirements: None
Description: Written for high school string ensemble, fast and exciting
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

La Quinta del Sordo (1998) Premiered by the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
Duration: 17:00
Instrumentation: 1(picc).1.2(Ebcl:bcl).1/1.1.1.0/1perc/pf(=cel)/str(1.1.1.1.1)
Special Requirements: None
Description: 4 contrasting movements based on Goya paintings
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: I, II,III,IV
Order Music - Order CD

Cumulo Nimbus (1996) Premiered by the Cleveland School of the Arts
Duration: 3:00
Instrumentation: amateur string orchestra
Special Requirements: None
Description: freely composed piece for beginning string players
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

The Devil's Kettle (20`0) Premiered by the Luther College Concert Band
Duration: 14:00
Instrumentation: picc.2fl.2ob(2=ca).ebcl.3cl.bcl / 2asax.tsax.bsax.2bsn / 2hn.3tpt(1=flhn).2trbn.brbn.tuba / 5perc
Special Requirements: none
Description: Virtuosic work in one movement, several contrasting sections
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Neutral Ground (2008) Premiered by Water City Chamber Orchestra
Duration: 10:00
Instrumentation: 2(pic).2.2.2/2.2.1.0/3perc/pf/handbells/strings
Special Requirements: Percussion and handbells are situated in hall
Description: Energetic and rhythmically driven, concert opener
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

rocks, rivers, earth, and sky (2006) Commissioned by the Luther College Symphony Orchestra
Duration: 15:00
Instrumentation: 3(pic).3.3(bcl).3(cbn)/4.3.3.1/timp.4perc/hp.pf/str
Special Requirements: none
Description: Written for college musicians, this orchestra piece is rhythmically complex and contains a number of contrasting sections. Solo passages for violin, 2 celllos and percussion are included.
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

october skies (2004) Premiered by the Saint Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic
Duration: 12:00
Instrumentation: solo piano/2.2(ca).2(bcl).2/2.2.1/1perc/str – off-stage flute trio (C, alto, bass)
Special Requirements: Off-stage flute trio (C flute, alto, bass) or string trio
Description: Expansion of flute quartet october skies
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

watersmooth-silver (2001, rev. 2004) Premiered by the High Mountain Symphony
Duration: 10:00
Instrumentation: 2+pic.2(ca).2(Ebcl).2/2.2.2.1/timp.3perc/pf(=cel)/str
Special Requirements: 3 police whistles, 3 siren whistles in percussion
Description: Fast, fleeting, colorful romp, loosely inspired by a poem of e.e. cummings Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Yniswyrddn (The Isle of Glass) (1995, rev. 1997) Premiered by the Cincinnati Symphony
Duration: 8:00
Instrumentation: 3(pic:afl).3.3(bcl).3/4.3.3.1/timp.3perc/hp.cel/str
Special Requirements: None
Description: Tone poem, atmospheric and spacious, suggested by mystical Isle of Avalon
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

The Last Three Minutes (1997) Premiered by the Indianapolis Symphony
Duration: 3:00
Instrumentation: 2(pic).2.2(bcl).2/2.2.1/timp.2perc/hp.pf(=cel)/str
Special Requirements: None
Description: Short and fast scherzo, surprise ending
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Sinfonietta (1993-4) Premiered by the Luther College Philharmonia
Duration: 20:00
Instrumentation: 2(pic).2(ca).2(bcl).2(cbn)/4.2.2.1/timp.3perc/cel/str
Special Requirements: None
Description: Four movement work for small orchestra, style of Shostakovich
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

“They Shall Beat Their Swords into Ploughshares” (1996) Commissioned by the Greater Lansing United Nations Council (unperformed)
Duration: 12:00
Instrumentation: 3(pic).3(ca).3(bcl).3(cbn)/4.3.3.1/2timp.3perc/hp/str
Special Requirements: None
Description: Programmatic work celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Final section includes a quote from the hymn tune “Melita.”
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

Four Latin Canons (2011) Premiered by the Jubilus Vocal Ensemble
Duration: 6:00
Instrumentation: SATB choir (or chamber choir)
Special Requirements: none
Description: Four canons for various configurations of mixed voices, using short Latin phrases.
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Si, se puede (2010) Commissioned by the Iowa Choral Directors Association
Duration: 5:00
Instrumentation: SATB choir, baritone soloist, crotale
Special Requirements: none
Description: Musical response to the immigration raid in Postville, IA in 2008. Text uses Spanish slogans from protest rallies.
Program Note and text: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

Vesper Umbra (2010) Premiered by the Lutheran Summer Music Chapel Choir
Duration: 7:30
Instrumentation: Choir (SATB), soloists (SATB), organ, and hand bells (3.5 octaves)
Special Requirements: none
Description: Single movement work incorporating chant and Lutheran hymn tunes ("Aus tiefer Not" and "Malan"), with texts from American, German, French and Latin sources.
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Veni, Veni Emmanuel (2009) Premiered by the Lutheran Summer Music Festival Orchestra and Chorus
Duration: 5:00
Instrumentation: Choir (SATB) and orchestra: 2.2.2.2/4.2.2.1/3perc/org.pf/str
Special Requirements: none
Description: Single movement work based on the 15th century processional. Text is in Latin and English. In the final verse, the congregation (audience) may sing along.
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

The Revelation of St. Julian (2006) Commissioned and premiered by the Luther College Nordic Choir
Duration: 6:00
Instrumentation: SATB choir, CD
Special Requirements: Stereo CD playback, with speakers surrounding the choir
Description: Based on the mystical writing of St. Julian of Norwich. Piece is atmospheric, lyrical, and rhythmically complex. Choir is occasionally divided into 8 parts with solos.
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music - Order CD

Freedom's Land (2004) Commissioned by the Princeton University Chapel Choir
Duration: 3:00
Instrumentation: SATB choir with drum
Special Requirements: none
Description: Contemporary spiritual style, with a quasi-improvised drum obbligato. Text by James Watkins, a freed slave.
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

the old eternal rocks (2003) Premiered at Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Princeton, NJ
Duration: 5:00
Instrumentation: SATB choir and organ
Special Requirements: None
Description: Setting of St. Patrick's text, suitable for church anthem
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

the moon is in the dark and we are in the sun (2002) Premiered by the New York Treble Singers
Duration: 5:00
Instrumentation: Treble voices in 2 or 6 parts, CD
Special Requirements: CD playback, surround sound desirable
Description: Adaptable piece for any number of treble voices, text by Anando Sexton, can be sung by children
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

a stone, a leaf, an unfound door (2002) Premiered by the Princeton University Chapel Choir
Duration: 12:00
Instrumentation: SATB choir, a capella
Special Requirements: none
Description: Setting of Thomas Wolfe prose poem, uses divisi and three treble soloists, a capella
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

O Virtus Sapientiæ (2002) Premiered by Coro Juventudes de Segorbe
Duration: 6:00
Instrumentation: SATB choir, a capella
Special Requirements: none
Description: Challenging, lyrical work for advanced choir on Hildegard of Bingen text, uses three treble soloists. Also exists in a version with organ and harp.
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
Order Music

Three American Songs (1993) Premiered at Lawrence University
Duration: 8:00
Instrumentation: SATB chamber choir
Special Requirements: none
Description: Three settings of Ralph Waldo Emerson (Pan), Emily Dickinson (There came a wind like a bugle), and Stephen Crane (Each small gleam was a voice)
Program Note: doc
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Elogio de la Sombra (1992-3) Premiered at Lawrence University
Duration: 10:00
Instrumentation: Solo tenor, SATB choir, clarinet, percussion & piano
Special Requirements: none
Description: Dark, atmospheric setting of Jorge Borges poem
Program Note: doc
Order Music

Unbekannt (2004) Premiered by the Princeton Composers Ensemble
Duration: 2 hours (2 Acts)
Cast: 4 principals (3 women, 1 man), 1 male speaking role, at least 8 member chorus (double quartet)
Instrumental ensemble: violin, clarinet, trumpet, accordion, electric bass, percussion, piano/celeste
Collaborator: Frederick Gaines
Description: A musical based on the life of Anna Anderson, the famous Anastasia pretender.
More information, along with audio clips, here.
Order Music

An Imaginary Line (1997) Premiered at CIM
Duration: 1 hour (1 Act)
Cast: 1 principal (tenor), 8 chorus (double quartet)
Instrumental ensemble: 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, bass, percussion Collaborator: Frederick Gaines
Description: A one act chamber opera based on the story of Chris McCandless, as retold by Jon Krakauer in Into the Wild. Composed for tenor Nathan Wesselowski. Please contact the composer for further information.
Score Excerpt: pdf
mp3 clip: mp3
Order Music

Michelangelo (1994) Premiered by Lawrence Opera Theater
Duration: 45:00 (1 Act)
Cast: 3 principals (male or female), 8 chorus (all female)

Instumental ensemble: piano
Collaborator: Frederick Gaines
Description: A one act chamber opera based loosely on Poe's “The Masque of the Red Death.” Principal parts may be sung by men or women. Please contact the composer for further information.
Order Music

Hood, A Musical Myth (1989-91) Premiered at East Lansing High School
Duration: 2 hours (2 Acts)
Cast: 6 principals, chorus, chamber ensemble
Collaborators: Kate Veihl (book and lyrics) Patricia Hoppe (book)
Description: A musical based on the legend of Robin Hood. Written as the spring production at East Lansing High School in 1991. Act I takes place in 14th century England, Act II in 20th century New York. Musical style ranges from operatic to Sondheim to popular. Please contact the composer for more information.
Order Music