Music for Orchestra

Cello Concerto

Last Year: Concerto for Cello and String Orchestra (2019)

Commissioned by American Composers Orchestra, New Century Chamber Orchestra, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, and Manitoba Chamber Orchestra; world premiere by ACO, conductor George Manahan, and soloist Jeffrey Ziegler at Carnegie Hall in April of 2019, as well as subsequent performances, postponed due to the pandemic.

Sisters of the Night! (2015)

from Becoming Santa Claus
for mezzo and orchestra

I was delighted that Becoming Santa Claus was as happy an experience for The Dallas Opera, which commissioned and introduced it, as it had been for me, and more delighted still when they requested this arrangement of Queen Sophine’s climactic aria to include on the competition list for TDO’s groundbreaking Linda and Mitch Hart Women Conductor’s Institute. The wonderful Eve Gigliotti first sang this arrangement in 2016: Jennifer Rivera, the first and indelible queen (pictured,) reprised it the following year.

August Music (2013)

An arrangement of my brief concertino, in three movements, for two flutes and string orchestra; available here.

Prepositions and the Names of Fish (2011)

When New York City Opera toured Japan a few years back with Madama Butterfly and Little Women, Matthew Price, the tour’s organizer, informed me that, in any language, the two parts of speech most difficult to translate are —one guess; and I immediately promised, someday, to write a piece with that title.    Hence, my wee scherzo for Cabrillo, to celebrate the great Marin Alsop‘s twentieth year as leader of that indispensable festival: I was delighted to be included in some very distinguished company.  The Times takes note, and takes names, here. 

Four Angels: Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (2007)

Commissioned by The National Symphony Orchestra: introduced by Dotian Levalier, harpist, and The National Symphony at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in June 2007. Leonard Slatkin, conductor.

Regina Coeli (for harp and string orchestra)

An arrangement of the central slow movement of Four Angels, for harp and string orchestra. 

Overture to Lysistrata (2006)

Commissioned by New York City Opera: introduced by New York City Opera as part of their performances of Lysistrata, or The Nude Goddess at Lincoln Center in March-April 2006. George Manahan, conductor.

Alcott Music (1999: revised 2007)

Music from the opera Little Women for percussion, piano, celesta, and strings. Commissioned by Eclipse Chamber Orchestra: revised version introduced by Eclipse Chamber Orchestra at The George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA. in October 2007. Sylvia Alimena, conductor.

Late Victorians (1995: revised 2007)

Poems by Emily Dickinson: text by Richard Rodriguez. Commissioned by Eclipse Chamber Orchestra: revised version introduced by Emily Pulley, soprano, Richard Kleinfeldt, narrator, and Eclipse Chamber Orchestra at The George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA. in May 2007. Sylvia Alimena, conductor.