ALAN SHOCKLEY, COMPOSER
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Selected Compositions


Orchestra and Wind Ensemble

​
Sechseläuten (2009) For wind ensemble.
Commissioned and premiered by the Rhode Island College Wind Ensemble.
| notes | score |

Mein' Augen sind schon zu (2004) For string orchestra.
Premiered by the University of Pittsburgh Orchestra; Roger Zahab conducting.

the night copies me in all its stars (2000) For orchestra.
For the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Recorded Aug. 2005 by the Kiev Philharmonic.


Solo and Chamber

lifesnight with suffusion of fineglass transom (2019) For shakuhachi and ensemble (flute, amplified piano (two players, 1 +shruti box), two cellos, contrabass, prayer bowls (two players)).
Written for Kojiro Umezaki and the CSULB New Music Ensemble


manual acts
 
 (2019) Solo for (extended) toy piano (+optional melodica).

the mouth
 
 (2018) Miniature for piano.
Composed for Nicholas Philips' #45 Miniatures Project


book of the dark  (2018) For flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, contrabass.
Commissioned by Sound of Late


​No. 267 [affinities] ​(2018) For two pianos. 
For HOCKET


If you know what I'm singing about up here  (2017) Modular piece for variable instrumentation.
For NOW Ensemble


Hoc florentes arbor (2017) For flute with Robert Dick's glissando headjoint and extended/prepared piano.  
Commissioned by John Barcellona


knots and crosses (2015) For solo harp, scordatura.
Composed for Jillian Risigari-Gai
| audio |

town of the ford of the hurdles (2015) For marimba, three percussion, and contrabass.

Taoyuan airport (after Arvo Pärt) (2014)  Miniature for solo double bell trumpet.  
Composed for Joe Drew

...in oceangreen of shadow (2014) For shakuhachi, microtonally retuned harp, ensemble (flute, clarinet, piano/toy melodica, percussion, violin, arpeggione, cello), and electronics. For Kojiro Umezaki and Jillian Risigari-Gai with the CSULB New Music Ensemble.

the reverse balducci (2014) Miniature for solo toy piano.
For Mark Robson

bristlecone and pitch (2014) For two pianos. 
For the Orpheus Duo (Althea Waites and Mark Uranker)
| audio |

silt and shine (rev. 2013) Solo for viola and optional shruti box or other drone device.

s a n d m a n (2013) For cello quartet and stompbox. 
| notes | video |

silt and shine (2012) Miniature for solo cello.  
Written for Craig Hultgren.

errours, faults, sinnes, folies (2012) For violin and piano.  
Duo version for Eric KM Clark and Vicki Ray.  
| notes | score | audio |

I feel open to... (2011) For violin, piano (toy piano), and percussion.  
Commissioned and premiered by the California E.A.R. Unit.
| notes | score | audio | video |

glint in river's bed (2010) For flute, clarinet violin, viola, contrabass, percussion, piano/toy piano, narrator and electronics.   
Written for the exhibit Perpetual Motion: Michael Goldberg at the CSULB University Art Museum.
| notes | score | audio |

stn [adversary] (2009) For solo violin.
Commissioned by the Montecito Summer Music Festival in honor of violinst Avry Gitlis. 
| notes |

unboxed lunch (2009) For four electric guitars.  
Commissioned by Ted Coffey for the University of Virginia's New Music Ensemble Guitarists.

Dusted [gamma] (2008) For solo marimba.  
For Laura Jordan.

...to an unnamed beneficiary (2008) For clarinet, trumpet, and celesta.
For The Questions Project, sponsored by Bohn Media.

6&7  (2007) Miniature for string quartet.   Early draft read by the Brentano String Quartet.

Nothing hidden that will not be revealed (2007) For piano.  [After a text in the Gospel of Thomas]  
Commissioned by pianist Vicki Ray. Premiered by Dzovig Markarian.  
| notes | score | audio |

wndhm (2006) For clarinet, (accordion,) percussion, violin, and viola or violoncello. Premiered by the New York Miniaturist Ensemble.  Cello version premiered by New York System.

candlepin· bowling· deadwood (2005) For flute, clarinet (bass cl.), violoncello, piano, and drum set.  
For the California EAR Unit. 
| notes | score | audio

chapman's homer (2005) For solo violin.  
For Roger Zahab.

wndhm (1785) (2005) For solo piano.  
Commissioned by Benjamin Binder.

stone guest (2003) 19 miniatures in open form for 2 trumpets and 2 trombones.

morgenstreich (2001) For flute, clarinet, harp, amplified piano, and string quartet. Premiered by the Nash Ensemble of London.

Abschrift von unbekannter Hand (2002, rev. 2004) For solo violoncello. 
Premiered by Zoë Martlew. Revised version premiered by David Russell. 

break the levee (2002) For prepared piano and percussion quartet.  
For the Talujon Percussion Quartet.

after Idumea (2001) For solo melodica.  
For the Beyond the 88 Festival, Princeton University.

celluloid night (2000) For guitar quartet.  
For the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet.

outskirts [tupelo, mississippi. march 1936.] (1999) For string quartet and marimba. Premiered by Nancy Zeltsman and the Ives (Stanford) Quartet.

anthem  [rowhouses. Indianapolis.]  (1998)  For solo electric guitar.  
Premiered by Steven Mackey.

Vocal and Choral


Eurydike  (2018) For soprano and harp.  Text from Stephen Mitchell's translation of Rilke's "Orpheus. Eurydike. Hermes."

Personalities [micro-opera: vi] (2016) For solo voice.  Text extracted from spam.

lear [micro-opera: iv] (2016) For solo voice.  Text extracted from spam.

union fragments (2013) For SSAA chorus and amplified cello.
For Shannon Gravelle and the Cole Conservatory Women's Chorus. 

mystery [passion play] [micro-opera 1] (2011) For solo soprano.  
Premiered by Mindi Ehrlich.  
| notes | score | audio |

40s noir film (probably starring Robert Mitchum) [micro opera 2] (2011) For soprano and percussion.  Premiered by Mindi Ehrlich.  
| notes |

The Spanish Prisoner [micro-opera 3] (2011) For solo voice and crotales.  
Premiered by Mindi Ehrlich. 
| notes |

Northport (2002) Cantata for flute, clarinet, two trumpets, trombone, two tubas, autoharp, guitar, electric bass, percussion (2 players), piano, SATB chorus with soloists, and narrator.   
Commissioned by Shalom Presbyterian Church, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

Quod oculus non vidit (2002) For soprano and cimbalom. 
Written for and premiered by Susan Narucki and Enikö Ginzery.

[peje iesus je] (2001) For soprano, countertenor, tenor, and bass-baritone soloists
For Paul Hillier and Theatre of Voices.

Komm süsser Tod (2001) For SSAATBB chorus a cappella.  
Commissioned and premiered by Dr. Harry Johansen and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chamber Singers. 

O maria stella maris (2000) For two countertenors and mixed chorus. 
Premiered by the Princeton University Chamber Chorus; Richard Tang Yuk, conducting.

Electronics 

parting song (2018) For solo piano or harpsichord, and two-channel electronics (with optional electric guitar and laptop)

Aspects of The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (2016) 3 simultaneous two-channel sound works for Brice Brown’s video triptych I Looked Down I Realized I Had A Body.  Installed as part of Brown’s exhibit Silhouette / Champion at Air Circulation in Paris.
​
Glass and bridle, pomegranate and pears:  On the viability and transience of a free and perfect union (2015).  Site-specific installation done in collaboration with artist Brice Brown.  
Commissioned by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts for The Commission 2015.

11 studies for Glass and bridle, pomegranate and pears:  On the viability and transience of a free and perfect union (2015) For solo percussion and electronics.  
Commissioned by Kevin Sakamoto.

the incantation machine (2013) For melodicas, amplified typewriter, and two-channel electronics.
Collaboration with choreographer Stephanie Zaletel
| video |

[upon] glint in river's bed (2013) For solo horn and laptop ensemble. 
Written for Martin Herman and the CSULB Laptop Ensemble.  
| video |
​
Étude pour les pédales (contraption #4) (2012) Miniature for two-channel tape (source sounds from the pedals of a Faziola grand piano).  
(Selected for the 60x60 2012 PIanoForte Mix.)

contraption #3 (7 rue Lagrange, Paris) (2012) For two-channel tape (source sounds from industrial machinery, faulty computer equipment, and Cavalli).

die Tiefen des Rheins (2010) Miniature for two-channel tape and companion piece to glint in river's bed.

contraption #2 (2010) Miniature for two-channel tape.  
​(Selected for 360 Degrees of 60x60 and installed at the Electronic Music Foundation for ICMC 2010.)

Selling the sound of my voice (2007) Interactive installation incorporating 88+1 audio layers and opt. live percussion/melodica.  A collaboration with visual artist Brice Brown.  Installed in VertexList Gallery, Brooklyn, Fall 2007.

Musical Contraption #1 (2007) For two-channel tape.
Miniature tape piece (source sounds include my own overtone singing and Schubert's Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished.") 
(Selected for the 60x60 International Mix 2008.)

Type I error [111306-011107] (2007) For two-channel tape.
For the CD project Clairaudience: New Music from Electronic Voice Phenomena, Bohn Media.

a foreign sound to your ear (what else can you show me?) (2006) For two-channel tape.
Installation as part of the Weisman Art Museum's exhibit, "Bob Dylan's American Journey 1956-1966" and in conjunction with the 2007 Spark Festival, University of Minnesota.

...calling (2006) Miniature for stereo tape (sources sounds from auctioneer recordings).

program note by Henry Cowell  [Beta] (2006) Miniature for stereo tape.
Signature piece composed for the Vox Novus 60x60 Project. 
(Chosen for 60x60 International Mix 2006.)

pipers' noise (2006) For one or more snare drum(s) and stereo tape.  
Commissioned by the University of Georgia School of Music in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Performing Arts Center.

program note by Henry Cowell (2006) For two-channel tape.

When Tyrants Kiss (2004) Acoustic/electric soundtrack to the independent, feature-length film.

morgenstreich (2001, rev. 2003) For flute, clarinet, harp, amplified piano, string quartet, and stereo electronics.
Revised and extended (+ electronics) version commissioned and premiered by the Azure Ensemble.  | notes |

little white house (underpass to the foundation), 1 p.m. (2002) For nine electrofitted toy pianos.
For Trimpin's Klavier nonette installation. 

black narcissus (1996) "Song cycle" for computer-assisted Bösendorfer 290SE piano and pianist.
Commissioned by Donald Gren.

Lobster (1995) For reader, trombone, amplified piano, percussion and live electronics.
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