Opera and Music Theater

Nacht Night Nuit (2006) a music theater work for 21 performers
premiere March 24, 2006 at the Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern, Switzerland

Die Schwester (2004) opera for three voices and chamber orchestra, text by Gerhard Rühm

Orchestral Works

Mountain Passage for trumpet and strings
premiere July 3, 2002, Freiburg, Germany
Listen to an excerpt from this piece (mp3, 1:56)

Variations for orchestra

Pavane (2003) for strings
premiere January 21, 2003, Bern, Switzerland: Bern-Neufeld Chamber Orchestra, Kaspar Zehnder cond.

Music to the Horizons of Love for orchestra

Divertimento for violin and chamber orchestra

Games for chamber orchestra

A Dream of Days / One Foot out the Door / One Foot in the Street for chamber orchestra
premiere October 13, 1992 at the Miller Theater, Columbia University, New York

Black Elk in the Hills with Crazy Horse for orchestra

A Bao A Qu for orchestra

Wiriyamu...Nyzonia... (1980) for solo bass and orchestra
commissioned by the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Don Palma, Lukas Foss
premiere April 8, 1980, BAM

Chamber Works

Variations for solo bass (2013). Premiere November 24, 2013, Vienna, Austria

hier liegt die wahrheit danebel (2013) for trumpet - percussion and organ. Premiere October 3, 2013, Stadt Kirche Biel, Switzerland.

The Light Shineth (2013) for mixed choir

Voices and Instruments (2012) for youth voices and instruments, Homage to Morton Feldman. Premiere March 9, 2012, Dampfzentrale, Bern, Switzerland.

Une Pensée Parfumée (2012) for soprano and piano, text: Carolyn Carlson

Tre Voci (2011) for tenor, baritone, bass, flute/bass flute, clarinet/bass, electric bass guitar, violin, cello, piano

Lao Tzu Says (2011) for baritone, bass clarinet, cello, piano, text: Lao Tzu

If I Could Tell you (2010) for mixed choir, text: W.H. Auden

Trois Alléluias (2010) for mixed choir

For Langston (2009) for narrator and youth ensemble
commissioned by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
premiere May 26, 2009 at the Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte, North Carolina

Pinter Songs (2009) for baritone, violin, bass clarinet and piano
to poems by Harold Pinter

Solo for Two (2008) for bass clarinet and piano
premiere December 18, 2009, Fono Theatre, Budapest, Hungary

Questions, Answers and Echoes (Sometimes) (2008) for eleven performers
commissioned by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
premiere April 16, 2008 at the Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte, North Carolina

Night Dances (2005) for solo piano
premiere December 10, 2005, Dancestreet, Amsterdam: Ward De Vleeschhouwer piano
Listen to this piece (mp3, 6:56)

Night Songs (2004) for solo piano
premiere January 26, 2005, De Rode Pomp, Ghent, Belgium: Ward De Vleeschhouwer piano

Sight Seeing (2004) for bass clarinet, baritone sax and piano
premiere May 23, 2004, De Bijloke, Ghent, Belgium: the Thelema Trio

Just Beyond Memory (2003) for flute and piano
premiere October 15, 2003, Tropen Museum, Amsterdam: Six Continents Ensemble, Eleonore Pamijier flute, Marcel Worms piano.

Die Reise (2003) for twelve youth musicians
premiere May 11, 2003, Riethalle, Bern, Switzerland: J.K. Nelson cond.

From Times Flow the Still Waters (2002) for two violins and piano

Echo of Wood (2001) for solo multiple recorders

Killing the Word (2000) for solo trumpet, four percussion, electronics and video
commissioned by the SWR
premiere May 27, 2000, ZKM, Karlsruhe, Germany: Percussion Quartet of the SWR Orchestra, Baden-Baden Freiburg

Drama (1999) for solo percussion and live electronics
premiere October 15, 1999, Wettingen, Switzerland: Martin Lorenz percussion

Night Songs (1998) for solo accordion
premiere February 12, 1999, Biel Music School, Switzerland: Matjas Veslac accordion

Warte/Warte (1996) for percussion quartet
premiere January 29, 1999, DRS Radio Studio, Bern, Switzerland: Percussive Arts Bern

Love Songs of Yosano Akiko (1995) for three sopranos and nine instruments

Woo of Wii (1994) for clarinet quartet
commissioned by the Swiss Clarinet Players
premiere June 23, 1994, Basel, Switzerland
Listen to an excerpt from this piece (mp3, 3:51)

Fantoms (1994) for flute, clarinet, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet and tape
commissioned by Meet the Composer
premiere March 24, 1994, Joyce Theater, New York City with the Jose Limon Dance Company

Namings (1992) for voices
premiere November 6, 1992, Walker Arts Center, Minn., Mn.: Dale Warland Singers, Dale Warland cond.
Listen to this piece (mp3, 10:52)

Exchanges (1990) for bass and harp
premiere January 16, 1991, Spellman College, Atlanta Ga.: Monica Hargrove, h., Jacqueline Williams, b.

Handwriting on the Wall (1989) for solo violin, solo clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, tuba, piano and pulse tape
premiere Dec. 9 1989, Symphony Space, New York City: Leroy Jenkins violin, J.D. Parran clarinet, J.K. Nelson cond.

Timeloss (1988) for piano trio
premiere Dec. 5, 1989, 92nd Street Y, New York City: Leonardo Trio

Timespaces (1988) for solo guitar
premiere April 2, 1989, Wiell Recital Hall, New York City: Alicia O'Malley guitar

Ugng...drru...ung...drruungum (1986) for percussion quartet

Litost (1985) for string quartet
premiere May 25 1985, Herbst Theater, San Fransisco: Kronos Quartet

Children of the Mist (1985) for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, trombone, violin, cello, bass, 2 percussion, 3 wine glasses
premiere May 17, 1985 at De IJsbreker Amsterdam: ASKO Ensemble

Songs of Life, Love and Children (1985) for tenor, flute, guitar, cello, percussion
premiere Dec 9 1989 Symphony Space, New York City
texts by Nicolas Guillen (Cuba)

Echo Variations and Dances (1984) for four double basses

Fafafagonae (1983) for solo marimba
premiere April 16 1984, Kobe, Japan: Naciko Makanae marimba

Si vita que (1982) for flute, violin, cello and harp
premiere April 29, 1982 at De IJsbreker, Amsterdam: Amstel Ensemble

Dulongogodulondulongodogodugo (1981) for solo bass flute
premiere October 11, 1981, Antwerp, Belgium

Albatross (1981) for flute, violin, harp and cello
premiere Oct 11 1981, Antwerp, Belgium: Amstel Ensemble

A Deep Field of Violet (1981) for alto flute and violin
premiere Oct 11 1981, Antwerp, Belgium: Amstel Ensemble

The Madness of Dark (1981) for flute, clarinet, violin, bass, piano and percussion
premiere January 20, 1981: Orchestra of our Time, Joel Thorne cond.

Variations on an Ethopian Flute Song (1978)
premiere November 17, 1978, Abyssinian Baptist Church, Harlem, N.Y.

Music for Five Tubas (1974)
premiere March 27, 1974, Indiana University

Bards (1974) for brass and choir
premiere March 27, 1974, Indiana University

Partial List of Works for Dance

Les Rêves de Karabine Klaxon (2006) choreography: Carolyn Carlson
premiere February 28, 2006, Centre Chorégraphique National Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais, France

Salam (2005) a work for ten dancers and live music, choreography: Farid (Joker) M. Baroug
premiere September 29, 2005, Tanzhaus, Düsseldorf, Germany

Piscine Event (2005) choreography: Carolyn Carlson
premiere June 1, 2005, Roubaix, France

The Clock of Ebony (2005) choreography: Linda Magnifico
premiere May 24, 2005, Luzern Theater, Switzerland

Selected Jazz Works and Works for Children

My Rainforest Your Rainforest a music theatre work for young people. Premiered July 3, 2012, Biel, Switzerland.

L/Sweet for large ensemble and voices
premiere July 17, 2001, Langnau Jazz Festival

Peace Songs (1989) for young instrumentalists and voices
premiere December 15, 1989, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, New York

Springrain-Sweetrain (1989) for young instrumentalists and voices
premiere May 24, 1989, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, New York

Films

Killing the Word (2000) premiere May 27, 2000, ZKM, Karlsruhe, Germany

Dreamsteps (2000) premiere August 2, 2000, Budapest, Hungary

Image Problem, a Swiss movie, acting role, 2012

Jalalu In New York 2012, a film by Aline d'Auria

Past Commissions and Fellowships

  • 2010: City of Biel Music Grant
  • 2009: Ernst Goehner Stiftung, Switzerland
  • 2009: Kanton of Bern Music Grant
  • 2009: Peach Blood Foundation, Meiloen, Switzerland
  • 2008: Thomas Buckner, baritone
  • 2007: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina
  • 2006: Carolyn Carlson Company, Roubaix, France
  • 2006: Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern, Switzerland
  • 2005: Linda Magnifico, Luzern, Switzerland
  • 2004: The Thelema Trio, Ghent, Belgium
  • 2003: Six Continents Ensemble, Amsterdam
  • 2000: Bern-Neufeld Chamber Orchestra, Switzerland
  • 2000: Südwestrundfunk (radio/television broadcaster), Germany
  • 2000: Dohnayi Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary
  • 1999: Martin Lorenz, percussionist, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 1994: The Swiss Clarinet Players
  • 1993: José Limon Dance Company
  • 1992: Dale Warland Singers, Minn. Mn.
  • 1991: Diversions Dance Company, Cardiff, Wales
  • 1989: Gus Solomons Dance Company, New York City
  • 1989: Reader's Digest / Meet the Composer Commissioning Program for The Leonardo Trio
  • 1987: American Dance Festival
  • 1985: Kronos Quartet
  • 1984: Fonds voor Scheppende Toonkunst, Amsterdam
  • 1983: ASKO Orchestra, Amsterdam
  • 1982: Rotterdam Dance Group, the Netherlands
  • 1982: Amstel Ensemble, Amsterdam
  • 1981: Orchestra Of Our Time, New York City
  • 1980: Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 1978: Abyssinian Baptist Church, New York City
  • 1977: Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra