Yearly Archives: 2005

Kyrie

for a cappella choir

$10.00 – Purchase score (no restrictions)

 

This setting of the Kyrie for SAATTBB choir adheres to the tridentine tradition, in that each text phrase (Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison) is heard three times.

I composed this piece in 2005, while interim music director at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, IL, my first job out of college. It was premiered as the offertory anthem at a church service that October by the church’s choir. In some ways, I consider it my first “professional” piece, given that it was the first thing I composed as a working professional musician.

Fantasy on “Les Folies d’Espagne”

for Chamber Orchestra

Scored for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, prepared piano, harpsichord, portative organ, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, bass and percussion.

This was my senior thesis in composition at the University of Chicago.  It is a polystylistic romp through the ages, built on three pieces of material: a descending glissando figure, the “La Folia” chord progression, and a waltz.  It’s a humdinger of a piece.  It’s hard to hear on this recording, but at the end, I have the organist switch off the power supply to her instrument.  As the air decompresses, various higher partials in the pipes are activated, creating about the coolest instrumental effect I know.

The recording above is from my senior recital in 2005 and features a bunch of my friends as well as some hired ringers (conducted by me).  Here’s a second recording by the Chicago Composer’s Orchestra conducted by Matthew Kasper in 2012 (slightly updated version which I discussed here.)