alvin singleton : works

Orchestra

56 Blows (quis Custodiet Custodes?) (1994)

3(3. pic)3(3. eh)3(3. bcl)3(3. cbn) 4331 3perc hp pno str
12’

Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Music Director. Premiere conducted by David Loebel.

A Yellow Rose Petal (1982)

2(1. 2. pic, 2. afl)2(2. eh)2(2. bcl)2(2. cbn) 2210 2perc cel str
17’

Commissioned by the Houston Symphony Orchestra

After Fallen Crumbs (1987)

33(3. eh)33(3. cbn) 4321 timp perc str
7’

Commissioned for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra by Meet the Composer Residencies Program, with grants from Exxon Corporation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Premiere conducted by Michael Palmer.

Blueskonzert (1995)

Piano solo; 2222 2220 str
17’

Commissioned by a consortium of the Houston Symphony, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Kansas City Symphony for pianist Ursula Oppens

Cara mia Gwen (1993)

222(2. ecl)2 4220 str
15’

Commissioned by the Florida Orchestra and its Music Director Jahja Ling to celebrate the orchestra's 25th anniversary.

Durch Alles (1992)

3(2. afl, 3. pic)3(3. eh)3(3. bcl)3(3. cbn) 4331 str
15’

Commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra. Christoph von Dohnányi, Music Director. Premiere conducted by Jahja Ling

Eine Idee ist ein Stueck Stoff (1988)

string orchestra
10’

Commissioned by Hobart Earle and the American Music Ensemble Vienna. Premiered in the Wiener Konzerthaus, Mozart-Saal. 7 November 1988.

Even Tomorrow (1991)

3(2.3. pic)33(2. ecl)3(3. cbn) 4331 timp 4perc hp pno(cel) str
15’

Commissioned by the Northwest Indiana Symphony and the Alabama Symphony with a grant from the USX Foundation.

PraiseMaker (1998)

Text by Susan Kouguell
SATB Chorus and Orchestra
22’

Commissioned by the Cincinnati May Festival in celebration of its 125th Anniversary. James Conlon, Music Director, Robert Porco, Director of Choruses

Say You Have This Ball of Meaning (2005)

Text by Patricia Hampl
Bar, hp, accordion, 2perc str
15’

Music and text commissioned by Mutable Music for baritone Thomas Buckner. Premiered 14 April 2005 with the Orchestra of the S.E.M.Ensemble, William Schimmel, accordion, Petr Kotik, Conductor at Merkin Hall, New York City.

Shadows (1987)

3(pic, afl)3(3. eh)3(2. ecl, 3. bcl)3(3. cbn) 4331 2timp 2perc hp str
21’

Commissioned for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw, Music Director, by Meet the Composer Residencies Program, with grants from Exxon Corporation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sinfonia Diaspora (1991)

3(3. pic)3(3. eh)3(3. bcl)3(3. cbn) 4301 hp str
12’

Commissioned by the Oregon Symphony, James DePreist, Music Director.

Umoja - Each One of Us Counts (1996)

Text by Rita Dove. German translation by Fred Viebahn.
Narrator; 3(2. afl, 3. pic)3(e. eh)3(3. bcl)3(3. cbn) 4331 timp 3perc hp str
23’

Commissioned by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad. Premiered by the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, Sergiu Commissiona, conductor and Andrew Young, narrator.

When Given a Choice (2004)

3(3. pic)2 eh3( 2nd also Eb cl., 3rd also b. cl)3 4331 timp 3perc str
16’

Commissioned by the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Inc. and the American Composers Orchestra, with additional support from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. Premiered 28 April 2004 at Carnegie Hall by the American Composers Orchestra, Steven Sloane, Conductor.

Chamber Orchestra

Again (1979)

1(pic)11(bcl)1 1110 perc pno str(2111)
12’

Premiered at the 1979 Styrian Autumn Festival by the London Sinfonietta.

Awarded the Musikprotokoll Kompositionpreis by the Austrian Radio, Graz.

Kwitana (1974)

pno, cb, perc soli 1011 0220 str(10110)
17’

Commissioned by the Austrian Radio, Graz. Premiered at the 1974 Styrian Autumn Festival by "Ensemble des 20. Jahrhunderts," Vienna.

Chamber Ensemble

Akwaaba (1985)

flute, clarinet, bassoon, piano, percussion, violin and cello
29’

Premiered by the ensemble, "Episteme" at Carnegie Hall.

shorter 19’ version also available

Apple (1984)

Eb clarinet, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet
18’

Premiered by the Netherlands Clarinet Quartet.

Be Natural (1974)

any combination of three bowed string instruments
10’

Premiered at Damstadt Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik.

Awarded the Kranischsteiner Musikpreis by the city of Damstadt, Germany.

Ein Kleines Volkslied (1998)

bass clarinet, electric guitar, piano, percussion, cello, double bass
8’

Commissioned by Bang On A Can. Premiered by Bang on a Can All-Stars.

Et Nunc (1980)

alto flute, bass clarinet, double bass
13’

Premiered at the 1980 Styrian Autumn Festival by Sara Vargas-Barritt, Harry Sarnaay, and Wayne Darling.

Awarded the Musikprotokoll Kompositionpreis by the Austrian Radio, Graz.

Extension of a Dream (1977, revised 1987)

2 percussionists
20’

Commissioned by the Bremer Tanztheater. Premiered at Pro Musica Nova (festival) in Bremen, Germany.

Fifty Times Around the Sun (1999)

clarinet and piano
11’

Commissioned by Chamber Music Northwest. Premiered by David Shifrin and Anne-Marie McDermott.

Greed Machine (2003)

vibraphone and piano
7’

Commissioned by pianist Teresa McCollough. Premiered with vibraphonist Luanne Warner at the Santa Clara University 2003 New Music Festival.

Helga (2003)

violin, viola, cello
4’

Commissioned by Charles Siegel for his wife Helga on the occasion of her 70th birthday. Premiered by Helen Kim (vln), Amy Leventhal (vla) and Karen Freer (vcl) at Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia.

In Our Own House (1998)

soprano saxophone, trumpet, snare drum and piano
8’

Commissioned by pianist Karen Walwyn for her Dark Fires (Vol. 2) Albany Records recording with Rodney Mack, Branford Marsalis, & Jason Marsalis

Intezar (1994)

viola, cello and double bass
19’

Commissioned by Goethe-Institut Atlanta. Premiered by Trio Basso of Cologne, Germany.

Ishirini (2003)

2 violins
4’

Commissioned by and dedicated to Music from Angel Fire's 20th Anniversary Season, with the support of The Bruce E. Howden, Jr. American Composers Project. Premiered by Ida Kavafian & Daniel Phillips.

Jasper Drag (2000)

clarinet, piano and violin
10’

Commissioned by Michigan State University and the Phillips Collection for the Verdehr Trio. Premiered at Festival Miami and the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.

La Flora (1983)

flute (alto flute), clarinet, 2 percussion, violin and cello
14’

Premiered by "Orchestra of Our Time" in October 1983 at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Secret Desire to be Black (1988)

string quartet
12’

Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet

Somehow We Can (1994)

string quartet
16’

Commissioned by the Eastman School of Music in Memory of Marian Anderson. Premiered by the Marian Anderson String Quartet.

String Quartet No. 1 (1967)

13’

Through It All (2007)

for woodwind quintet
14’

Commissioned by ASCAP Foundation and Spivey Hall. Premiered by Imani Winds February 8, 2008 at Spivey Hall in Morrow, GA.

Vous Compra (2002)

trumpet and piano (improvisation)
8’

Commissioned by John Zorn for Tzadik "Somehow We Can" CD recording with Wadada Leo Smith and Anthony Davis.

Woodwind Quintet (1968–69)

12’

Premiered at the Tanglewood New Music Festival.

Voices and Instruments

Bernsteinlied (1988)

soprano, flute and piano
4’

Commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra for the "Bernstein at 70!" celebration at Tanglewood

Between Sisters (1990)

Text by Rita Dove
soprano, alto flute, vibraphone and piano
10’

Premiered by ensemble Thamyris at Spelman College, Atlanta.

Brown Gone (2006)

Text by the Composer
solo soprano
2’

Premiered by Louise Toppin at Carnegie Hall.

Messa (1975)

Text from Catholic Liturgy
soprano solo, chamber chorus (SATB), flute, electric organ, two guitars, cello and double bass
26’

Gloria movement also available, 10’

Necessity is a Mother (1981)

Text by the Composer
three female actors and amplified double bass
30’

Premiere by New Music/Media Festival at Citizen's Hall, Stockbridge, MA by Linda Austin, Janice Wolf, Allison Janney and Salvatore Macchia.

Say You Have This Ball of Meaning (2005)

15’

See under category "Orchestra".

Search (1990)

Text by Mari Evans
soprano, flute and vibraphone
2’

Sing to the Sun (1995)

Text by Ashley Bryan
children's chorus, narrator, oboe, clarinet, percussion, piano, and viola
16’

Commissioned by a consortium of Chamber Music Northwest, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bravo! Colorado, and Music from Angel Fire.

TRUTH (2005)

Libretto by Carman Moore.
small SATB Chorus and chamber orchestra
25’

Commissioned as a choral ballet (based on the life of Sojourner Truth) by the Odyssey Commissioning Program of VocalEssence with special support from Janice Marturano & Peter Thompson. Partial support also provided by the Hanson Institute for American Music of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. Premiered by VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, TU Dance, Uri Sands, Choreographer, and chamber orchestra, Philip Brunelle, Conductor.

Based on the life of Sojourner Truth

Chorus

Alleluia

Text: "Alleluia"
female chorus a cappella
7’

Premiered by the Spelman College Glee Club

Epitaph (1966)

Text by Sir Walter Raleigh
double SATB chorus a cappella
2’

Premiered by Chor der Alten Burse, Vienna, James Moore, conductor.

Fallen Crumbs (1987)

Text by the Composer
male chorus a cappella
7’

Premiered by the Morehouse College Glee Club.

Gospel (1998)

Text by Rita Dove
SATB chorus a cappella
7’

Commissioned by the Plymouth Music Series (now VocalEssence).

PraiseMaker (1998)

22’

See under category "Orchestra"

Solo Instruments

Argoru I (1970)

piano
4’

Argoru II (1970)

cello
13’

Premiered by Ronald Crutcher

Argoru III (1971)

flute
5’

Premiered by Sara Vargas-Barritt.

Argoru V/a (1984/ rev. 2004)

bass clarinet
13’

Premiered by Harry Sparnaay.

Argoru VI (1988)

marimba
6’

Commissioned by the Saint Louis Symphony for John Kasica. Premiered as part of the Chamber Music St. Louis-On Stage Series.

Argoru VII (1994)

vibraphone
5’

Commissioned by the Music Teacher‘s National Association and the Georgia Music Teacher‘s Association. Premiered by Peggy Benkeser.

Argoru VIII (2002)

snare drum
6’

A Meet The Composer Commissioning Music/USA commission. Premiered by Peggy Benkeser.

Changing Faces (1970)

piano
3’

Cinque (1969)

piano
7’

Inside-Out (1983–84)

piano four hands
18’

Premiered by Anthony Davis and Ursula Oppens at Carnegie Hall.

Mookestueck (1999)

5-string electric viola
9’

Premiered by Martha Mooke