History Phases, Op. 153

Op. 153 HISTORY PHASES (December 14, 2007) for sound files
I. Turkey (Epitaph of Seikilos)
II. Russia (The Moon Shines)
III. America (Amazing Grace)
IV. Mass Ordinary (Kyrie IV)
V. Mass Proper (Alleluia)
VI. Cantus Firmus (Hec Dies)
VII. Latin Lyric (Orientis Partibus)
VIII. Orkney Islands (Hymn to St. Magnus)
IX. Guirault de Bornelh (Reis Glorios)
X. Richard Coeur-de-Lion (Ja Nuns Hons Pris)
XI. French Monophony (Trotto)
XII. French Polyphony (Ductia)
XIII. Thomas of Celano (Dies Irae)
XIV. Italian Monophony (Saltarello)
XV. Giles Binchois (Files a Marier)
XVI. Antoine Busnois (L'Homme Arme)
XVII. Josquin des Pres (El Grillo / Scaramella)
XVIII. Claudio Monteverdi (Orfeo: Toccata /
     Vespers: Deus in Adjutorium)
XIX. Henry Purcell (Dido and Aeneas: When I Am Laid)
XX. J.S. Bach (Brandenburg Concerto No. 1: I / No. 3: 2 /
     WTC: Fugue in C Minor / Cantata 140: IV)
XXI. G.F. Handel (Messiah: Hallelujah)
XXII. Scott Joplin (Maple Leaf Rag)
XXIII. Blues (12-Bar)
XXIV. Charles Ives (Columbia the Gem of the Ocean)
XXV. Anton Webern (Works)
XXVI. John Cage (Sonata V)
XXVII. Pierre Boulez (Le Marteau sans Maitre)
XXVIII. David Bowie (Rock'n'Roll Suicide)


Score:

Recording:

HISTORY PHASES
(Complete Works, Volume 69)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3FSIh3rH2M&list=PLC8BC6F18D04FCD43&index=8

I. Turkey (Epitaph of Seikilos)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3FSIh3rH2M&t=6s

II. Russia (The Moon Shines)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0OBRfBRWas

III. America (Amazing Grace)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuk39yxIV-E

IV. Mass Ordinary (Kyrie IV)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceUtECa4JCo

V. Mass Proper (Alleluia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNz0DR5LO8o

VI. Cantus Firmus (Hec Dies)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6orM1MRB7w

VII. Latin Lyric (Orientis Partibus)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksFdeV5HVlg

VIII. Orkney Islands (Hymn to St. Magnus)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LvL84oXJlo

IX. Guirault de Bornelh (Reis Glorios)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ_C6UV98YI

X. Richard Coeur-de-Lion (Ja Nuns Hons Pris)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3xCIlk_cj8

XI. French Monophony (Trotto)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWjri3pXFmg

XII. French Polyphony (Ductia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s9wlhvpQtY

XIII. Thomas of Celano (Dies Irae)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfMUIHxW5yU

XIV. Italian Monophony (Saltarello)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8t5kBWF54g

XV. Giles Binchois (Files a Marier)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyqBcFJq4Q

XVI. Antoine Busnois (L'Homme Arme)
XVII. Josquin des Pres (El Grillo / Scaramella)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFUi-O_NGP8

XVIII. Claudio Monteverdi (Orfeo: Toccata / Vespers: Deus in Adjutorium)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNA_DOaNBsk

XIX. Henry Purcell (Dido and Aeneas: When I Am Laid)

XX. J.S. Bach (Brandenburg Concerto No. 1: I / No. 3: 2 /
     WTC: Fugue in C Minor / Cantata 140: IV)

XXI. G.F. Handel (Messiah: Hallelujah)

XXII. Scott Joplin (Maple Leaf Rag)

XXIII. Blues (12-Bar)

XXIV. Charles Ives (Columbia the Gem of the Ocean)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hANVKpWttnc

XXV. Anton Webern (Works)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-LPmE5JpI

XXVI. John Cage (Sonata V)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2thofvwdx4Q

XXVII. Pierre Boulez (Le Marteau sans Maitre)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BnwGk_ZpF0

XXVIII. David Bowie (Rock'n'Roll Suicide)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_x8pGC0mdo

The Countess Cathleen, Op. 152

Op. 152 THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN
(September 1, 2007)
for voices and orchestra
I. Scene I
II. Scene II
III. Scene III
IV. Scene IV
V. Scene V


Score:

Recording:

THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN
(Complete Works, Volume 68)

A Walk Through California, Op. 151

Op. 151 A WALK THROUGH CALIFORNIA
(August 18, 2007)
for found sounds
Alameda (Left Coast Improv Group)
Contra Costa (Cows and Crickets)
Kern (Critter Creek Bells)
Marin (Battery Mendell)
Placer (Cows and Cars)
Riverside (Oak Glen Road)
San Bernardino (El Torrito)
San Francisco (SFCCO Room and Board)
San Luis Obispo (Elephant Seals)
Solano (Voice-Mail iPhone Messages)
Yolo (Bill and Kathy's Last Night [12/31/10])


Score:

Recording / Video:

A WALK THROUGH CALIFORNIA
(Complete Works, Volume 67)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRNsAqRvTHw&list=PLC8BC6F18D04FCD43

Alameda (Left Coast Improv Group)

Contra Costa (Cows and Crickets)

Kern (Critter Creek Bells)

Marin (Battery Mendell)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRNsAqRvTHw&t=30s

Placer (Cows and Cars)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm-jSbO2nFI

Riverside (Oak Glen Road)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao2lPuqaxM0

San Bernardino (El Torrito)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXZowBPcduE

San Francisco (SFCCO Room and Board)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrQygVMPXec

San Luis Obispo (Elephant Seals)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Ul4b8LXkc

Solano (Voice-Mail iPhone Messages)

Yolo (Bill and Kathy's Last Night [12/31/10])

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIWF31w8cd4

Halfway Mark, Op. 150

Op. 150 HALFWAY MARK
(August 15, 2007)
for voices and instruments
A. Early Instruments of Comotion (1974-1980)
1. Psalm 6, Op. 1 (1974): I-V  (Phil Freihofner)
2. Ecclesiastes, Op. 3 (1975): V. -VI. There Is Evil
     (Bianca Showalter, Robert Benda)
3. Variations and Theme, Op. 6 (1975): XV-XVI. (Alexis Alrich)
4. The Twelve Fingers, Op.8 (1977): VIII. Sonata
5. Three Places in America, Op. 13 (1978) (Lisa Scola Prosek)
6. Some Stuff, Op. 16 (1979): II. Urban Scherzo (Harry Bernstein)
7. Missa "The a Deux", Op. 21 (1980): I. Kyrie
     (David Chavez, Christopher Lujan, Douglas Mandell)
B. Desert Range Wind Color (1981-1990)
1. Duo Sonata No. 1 ("Hyphenated"), Op. 22 (1981): III. Serenade...
     (Hande Erdem, Kevin Grant)
2. Orpheus Cycle, Op. 24 (1982): Y: Lyre's Melody (Herbert Bielawa)
3. Stolen Students, Op. 25 (1983): I. Rondo
4. Sinfonietta, Op. 26 (1984): I. Allegretto
5. Aerial Requiem, Op. 27 (1985): X. Agnus Dei
6. Merton Songs, Op. 30 (1986): VIIIb. Five Angels
7. Crystal Series, Op. 32 (1987): I. Crystal Bells
8. Songs for Rebecca, Op. 34 (1988): I. Spiral
9. At a Phroto Shop, Op. 37 (1989): I. English (Marcia Burchard)
10. Trumpet Concerto ("Macho Concertino"), Op. 40 (1990): I.
     (Danny Bernstein)
C. Lost Beyond (1991-2000)
1. Mice Suite No. 1, Op. 41 (1991): I. Worksong
2. Helena Suite, Op. 44 (1992): I. Beautiful Women (Diana Landau)
3. San Fernando Hub, Op. 48 (1993): I. Fresno
4. L.A. Stories, Op. 50 (1994): Information Wanted
5. San Rafael News, Op. 51 (1995): V. Lifespan (Sarah Hutchison)
6. Mice Suite No. 2, Op. 53 (1996): V.-VI. Deathsongs (Deborah Kavasch)
7. For My Brother For My Brother, Op. 56 (1997): I. A Poem...
8. Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 61 (1998): III. Menuetto
9. Henry Miller in Brooklyn, Op. 77 (1999): XIa. June's Song
     (Jennifer Ashworth)
10 Antigone, Op. 88 (2000): X. QUARTET - "Come On Now"
D. Opera in the Dark (2000-2007)
1. The Bald Soprano, Op. 94 (2001): Overture
2. Out on the Porch, Op. 107 (2002): X. Creole Banjo Player II
     (Rory Snyder)
3. Camino Real, Op. 110 (2003): Block 11
4. The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Op. 116 (2004): Overture - Rats!"
5. Waiting for Godot, Op. 138 (2005): IV. Aria - "Two Thieves"
6. Cats, Dogs, and Divas, Op. 142 (2006): XXIII. Brunnhilde
     (The Divas)


Score:

Performance:

April 20, 2007
San Francisco Composer Chamber Orchestra
Goat Hall Productions, San Francisco Cabaret Opera
Mark Alburger and John Kendall Bailey, Conducting
Old First Church, San Francisco, CA


Recording:

HALFWAY MARK
(Complete Works, Volume 66)

The Desert, Op. 149

Op. 149 THE DESERT
(August 12, 2007)
for a hopeless array
I. Antarctic
II. Arctic
III. Sahara
IV. Great Australian
V. Arabian
VI. Gobi
VII. Kalahari
VIII. Patagonian
IX. Syrian
X. Great Basin


Score:

Recording:

ORBITAL AMERICAN DESERATA
(Complete Works, Volume 65)

Variations on Americana, Op. 148

Op. 148 VARIATIONS ON AMERICANA
(August 4, 2007)
For orchestra


Score:

Variations on Americana maps denatured pitches (often with accidentals removed, or mode change) of John Philip Sousa's four-strain Stars and Stripes Forever over an abbrieviated rhythmic grid and some of the contour of Charles Ives's Variations on America. That the third strain of the dialectic has been transformed into a vague resemblance of Lowell Mason's Mary Had a Little Lamb is purely coincidental, and very welcome. The coda features distorted SASF quotes previously utilized in my setting of Tennesee Williams's Camino Real (Op. 110), for Block Four (Kilroy and the Loan Shark). The moral of the story in this case seems to be that rhythm is a far stronger identity and identifier than pitch.

The work was conceived as a movement in the collaborative eight-composer Sousa Variations for the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra.


Performance:

June 7, 2008
San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra
Old First Church




Recording:

ORBITAL AMERICAN DESERATA
Variations on Americana

The Musical Orbital, Op. 147

Op. 147 THE MUSICAL ORBITAL
(May 4, 2007)
for mixed media
I. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Ricercar a 3)
II. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Ricercar a 6)
III. Sonata on "Mostly It's Lousy Out There"
     A. Largo
     B. Allegro
     C. Andante
     D. Allegro
IV. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Crab Canon)
V. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Stretto Canon)
VI. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Contrary-Motion Canon)
VII. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Augmentation Canon)
VIII. Mostly It's Louy Out There
     (Augmentation / Contrary-Motion Canon)
IX. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Fifth Canon)
X. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Perpetual Canon)
XI. Mostly It's Lousy Out There (Canon on Tones)
XII. Mostly It's Lousy Out There ("Seek and Ye Shall Find", Maybe, a 2)
XIII. Mostly It's Lousy Out There ("Seek and Ye Shall Find," Maybe, a 4)


Score:

Recording:

ORBITAL AMERICAN DESERATA
(Complete Works, Volume 65)

Trout Fishing in America, Op. 146

Op. 146 TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA
(April 30, 2007)
Music Drama for Voices and Instruments,
after Richard Brautigan
I. The Cover for Trout Fishing in America
II. Knock on Wood (Part I)
III. Knock on Wood (Part II)
IV. Red Lip
V. The Kool-Aid Wino
VI. Another Method of Making Walnut Catsup
VII. Prologue to Grider Creek
VIII. Grider Creek
IX. The Ballet for Trout Fishing in America
X. A Walden Pond for Winos
XI. Tom Martin Creek
XII. Trout Fishing on the Bevel
XIII. Sea, Sea Rider
XIV. The Last Year the Trout Came Up Hayman Creek
XV. Trout Death by Port Wine
XVI. The Autopsy of Trout Fishing in America
XVII. The Message
XVIII. Trout Fishing in America Terrorists
XIX. Trout Fishing in America with the FBI
XX. Worsewick
XXI. The Shipping of Trout Fishing in America to Nelson Algren
XXII. The Mayor of the 20th Century
XXIII. Oh Paradise
XXIV. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
XXV. The Salt Creek Coyotes
XXVI. The Hunchback Trout
XXVII. The Teddy Roosevelt Chingader'
XXVIII. Footnote Chapter to "The Shipping of Trout Fishing in America to Nelson Algren"
XXIX. The Pudding Master of Stanley Basin
XXX. Room 208, Hotel Trout Fishing in America
XXXI. The Surgeon
XXXII. A Note on the Camping Craze that is Currently Sweeping America
XXXIII. A Return to the Cover of this Book
XXXIV. The Lake Josephus Days
XXXV. Trout Fishing on the Street of Eternity
XXXVI. The Towel
XXXVII. Sandbox Minus John Dillinger Equals What?
XXXVIII. The Last Time I Saw Trout Fishing in America
XXXIX. In the California Bush
XL. The Last Mention of Trout Fishing in America Shorty
XLI. Witness for Trout Fishing in America Peace
XLII. Footnote Chapter to "Red Lip"
XLIII. The Cleveland Wrecking Yard
XLIV. A Half-Sunday Homage to a Whole Leonardo da Vinci
XLV. Trout Fishing in America Nib
XLVI. Prelude to the Mayonnaise Chapter
XLVII. The Mayonnaise Chapter


Score:

Recording:

TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA
(Complete Works, Volume 64)

St. Paul Suite, Op. 145

Op. 145 ST. PAUL SUITE
(January 4, 2007)
For voices and instruments
I. Stephen Narrative
II. That Very Day
III. Saul! Saul!
IV. Blind
V. In Prison
VI. In Ephesis
VII. In Jerusalem
VIII. In the Storm
IX. In Rome


Score:

Recording:

ST. PAUL SATURDAY NIGHT 
(Complete Works, Volume 63)

Grating Prelude, Op. 144

Op. 144 GRATING PRELUDE
(January 3, 2007)
For Orchestra


Score:

Performance:

August 15, 2007
Halfway Mark
Old First Presbyterian Church
San Francisco, CA


Recording:

ST. PAUL SATURDAY NIGHT 
(Complete Works, Volume 63)

Textbook for Orchestra, Op. 143

Op. 143 TEXTBOOK FOR ORCHESTRA (January 1, 2007)
I. Rhythm (Big Beat)
II. Pitch (Melody)
III. Dynamics
IV. Timbres
V. Textures (Monophony / Heterophony / Polyphony / Homophony)
VI. Simultaneities (Harmony)
VII. Form


Score:

Performances

December 9, 2006

Mark Alburger, MIDI

Diablo Valley College Music Technology Center, Pleasant HIll, CA

March 26, 2016

The Opus Project presents Opus 39: Strange But True!

The Opus Project Orchestra

Diablo Valley College Music Building, Pleasant Hill, CA

Recording:

ST. PAUL SATURDAY NIGHT 
(Complete Works, Volume 63)