Compositions
…kudos to the Chicago Youth Concert Orchestra …and conductor Terrance Gray for opening the program with Elizabeth Start’s engaging Buoyancy. The work is a bustle of rhythmic energy, tightly assembled,…
Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, May 18, 2004
The other premiere was of Elizabeth Start’s delightful “Somewhere Above Their Heads”, a standout among the C3 offerings on this evening’s program. Witty and compact, the piece deployed its gestural motifs — which included a descending theme that transformed from air huffed through the players instruments into a sighing trombone solo—to great effect… Landon Hegedus, Chicago Classical Review, May 24, 2024
Radial (2024) for clarinet, bassoon and piano (reworking of the 2009 piece for horn, bassoon and piano) (15 minutes)
The Usual Suspects: 1. The Rebel, 2. The Peacemaker, 3. The Quirky One, 4. The Diva (2024) for String Quartet, written for Kay Alexander (12-14 minutes)
Somewhere Above Their Heads (2024) for brass quintet, written for Axiom Brass (5 minutes)
Cycles Too (2024), for SSA chorus and theremin, a reworking of the SATB 1991 original (5 minutes)
Consensus (2023) for trombone choir (6 tenor, two bass), written for Western Michigan University’s trombone choir and their director Steve Wolfinbarger, commissioned by Chris and Kathy Shook (9 minutes)
Nostalgia (1. Rag Tag Too, 2. True Blue Too, 3. Tangled Tango Too) (2023) for violin, viola and cello written for Black Oak Ensemble arranged from the quartet version (9 minutes)
Camping in the Rafters Again (2023) for cello and piano, in three movements, an expansion of the work originally for banjo and parlor organ (9 minutes)
Nostalgia (1. Rag Tag Too, 2. True Blue Too, 3. Tangled Tango Too) (2023) for flute, violin, viola and cello written for Mary Stolper, Black Oak Ensemble, and the Chicago Composers’ Consortium (9 minutes)
Together 360 for flute, 2 clarinets, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, piano, 1 percussion, violin, viola cello (2022), written for Durward Ensemble and Chicago Composers’ Consortium May 15, 2022 concert. Also available (2024) for fl, ob, cl, bsn, hrn, trpt, tbn, pf, 1 perc, vln, vla, vc
O, Aedificatio for 10 (aka O, Aedificatio, aka O Aedificatio, O Vita) (2021) for flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello, bass; written for Unsupervised (expansion of the 2020 quartet version) (8 minutes)
Stetson Chapel Bells for soprano and 3 cellos (2021), text by Conrad Hilberry, commissioned for the Connecting Chords Music Festival “Music in Place” project (5 minutes)
Uncertain Futures for three women’s voices (2021), settings of poems by Conrad Hilberry, written for Artemisia, to be premiered on a Chicago Composers’ Consortium streamed concert on April 30, 2021. (8 minutes)
Salt Bowl for electric cello with wah, flanger and digital delay (2020), based on a sculpture by Maria Scott, commissioned by the Connecting Chords Music Festival (2 minutes)
Hoku for cello (2020), based on a sculpture by Deborah Butterfield, commissioned by the Connecting Chords Music Festival (2 minutes)
O, Aedificatio, based on a Hildegard fragment (2020) for clarinet, violin, viola, and cello (6 minutes)
Conclusions for string quartet (2020), written for Spektral Quartet and the Chicago Composers’ Consortium (5 minutes)
Celestial Swim, a soundtrack for an imaginary drift in outer space (2020) for orchestra (2+222 4231 T+1 str) written for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra Concerts for Youth (5 minutes)
April in New Orleans in April (2019) for solo cello, written for Frank and April Smith, winners of the 2019 Elgin Symphony Orchestra Fundraiser silent auction for a personalized composition (5 minutes)
Traces (2019) Inspired by Strong Women for orchestra (222 2231 T+2 str), commissioned by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for its 100th Anniversary Celebratory ‘2020-2021’ Concert Season (10 minutes)
Quatresaxfoil (2018) for sax quartet, an adaptation of the 1993 Quatrefoil for sax quartet, created for Chicago’s ~Nois quartet (8 minutes)
The Man Who Was Ill soundtrack (2018) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (12:30 minutes)
Night Contemplation and Dance (2017) for clarinet, violin, cello and piano (8 min.)
With the Gibbons (2017) for cello and fixed media (5 minutes)
Duet a la Bach Double (2017) for violin and cello, for the Szalaj Family, ESO auction winners (6 minutes)
Duet a la Bach Double (2017) for violin and cello with piano accompaniment, for the Szalaj Family, ESO auction winners (6 minutes)
A Cellist in Alaska (2017) for cello and fixed media (7.5 minutes)
Multiple Choice Piece (2017) for cello duo: audience selects from 2 options for three segments, creating a final ABCA piece (8 minutes total presentation)
Flight (2017) for flute and cello, written in memory of Michael W. Chen (5 minutes)
With the Flow, Musings on the Chicago River (2016) for orchestra (2222 2221 T 2p strings), written for the Chicago Composers Orchestra and the Chicago Composers’ Consortium (8 minutes)
Burnham Block Bolero Boogie (2016) for clarinet and cello, written for Access Contemporary Music and Doors Open Milwaukee (5 minutes)
Lacrimosa e Gioia (Tears and Joy) (2016) written for Chamber Music for Fun at Blue Lake camp, in celebration of founder Phyllis Jansma (4 minutes)
…and water connects…(2016) for violin, French horn, and percussion (6 minutes), with optional recording of natural sounds.
Silence (2016) for soprano and 8 cellos (8 minutes). Expansion of Silence originally written for soprano and SATB choir
Gibbons (2016) for woodwind quintet (8 minutes) written for Quintet Attacca
Getting By (2016) for Moog theremini and live processing (8 minutes)
Spoiler: 5 Disruptive Vignettes (2016) for percussion quartet, written for Clocks in Motion (10 minutes)
Golden (2015) for solo cello, written for Dave & Suzanne Johnson (5 minutes)
Autumn Reflections (2015) for Moog theremini and flute (C, Alto, or bass) (4 minutes)
More Talking Object Songs (2015) for soprano, flute, cello, piano, percussion (9 minutes) on texts by Conrad Hilberry
Silent Moon Variations (2015) for violin, clarinet, and piano (8 minutes)
Into the Cave of Wonders (2015) film soundtrack for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion (8 minutes, 55 seconds)
Father Alfaro (2015) for voice, clarinet, trumpet/flugelhorn, piano, cello, bass (15 minutes) on text of Conrad Hilberry
Echoes in Life (2015) for solo cello, written for Ramona “Monie” Burns (8 minutes)
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (2014) arrangement for solo cello (4 minutes)
Talking Object Songs (2014) for Baritone Voice and Piano (10 minutes), on Texts by Conrad Hilberry
1. Moustache, 2. Negative Space, 3. Mousetrap
Enormous Leaf (2014) guided improvisation (4-8 minutes), based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
Algae (2014) for 2 cellos (5 minutes) based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
Viola (2014) for 2 cellos (5 minutes), based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
Sloth (2014) for electric cello with wah, flanger, distortion and digital delay (5 minutes), based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
Angles (2014) for electric cello with wah, flanger, distortion and digital delay (5 minutes), based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
Limbs (2014) for electric cello with wah, flanger, distortion and digital delay (5 minutes), based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
Click (2014) for solo cello (5 minutes), based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
Virginia Night (2014) for solo cello (5 minutes), based on a poem by Conrad Hilberry
A Stone Sings (2014) for solo cello (3.5 minutes), written for the re-dedication celebration of the Ladies’ Library Association, Kalamazoo, MI
To Hildegard (2014) for flute, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass and harp (6 minutes) written for Andrea Ceccomori and the Assisi Sacred Music Festival
to remember…to believe (2013) for flute and cello (6 minutes), written for ACM and the Chicago Architectural Society Open House
Assisi Impressions (2013) for flute and cello (15 minutes), written as part of KADI grant and Assisi exchange
Assisi Musings (2013) for flute and cello (12 minutes), written as part of KADI grant and Assisi exchange
Scents Sent (2013) for viola, cello, piano and percussion (3 minutes), written for ACM ten x ten project
Distant Shores (2012) for mandolin and guitar (8 minutes)
Moving Toward Evening (2012) for flute and percussion (10 minutes) written for Due East and the Chicago Composers’ Consortium
Midwinter Carol (2012) for cello and piano (5 minutes)
Rising (2012) for violin and cello (5 minutes) written for Dr. Wen Chao Chen 
From Loose Ends (2012) for bass viola da gamba and keyboard (15 minutes)
Influences (2012) for 2 oboes, piano, and cello obbligato (14 minutes), written for Shawna Lake
Shaping the Fog (2012) for mandolin and guitar orchestra (5 minutes)
Revivals (2011) for viol consort (10 minutes)
Pastorale (2010) for solo cello (4 minutes)
Options (2010) for oboe, violin, viola, and cello, written for dal niente (5 minutes)
Prayer (2010) for solo cello (4 minutes)
Called Hers (2010) for Flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano (8 minutes)
Passacaglia (2010) for guitar trio (9 minutes)
Meditation (2010) for solo cello (4 minutes)
A Day late and a Quarter-tone Short (2010) (tribute to John Eaton on his 75th birthday) for solo cello (4 minutes)
Concerto for Mandolin and Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra (2010) (15 minutes)
Whirlwind (2010) for percussion ensemble (8 players) (9 minutes)
Passacaglia for Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra (2010) (9 minutes)
Ruminations (2009) for clarinet, oboe, cello and piano, written for the CUBE Ensemble and Michigan Festival of Sacred Music (14 minutes)
Radial (2009) for horn, bassoon and piano (written for RAD) (15 minutes)
March Into the Sky (2009) for young string orchestra (3 minutes)
Camping in the Rafters (2009) for banjo and parlor organ (keyboard) (7 minutes)
Inspired by Mozart (2009) for 2 violins, cello, and doublebass (4 minutes)
Three Pieces for Theremin and Electric Cello (2008) 1. Clara, 2. Lev, 3. Afterthoughts (12 minutes)
Ain’t That Trillin’? (2008) A Mazurka for solo piano (8 minutes)
Rag Tag (2008) for flute, violin, and cello (4 minutes)
also available for flute, oboe and clarinet
True Blue (2008) for flute, violin, and cello (4 minutes)
also available for flute, oboe and clarinet
Tangled Tango (2008) for flute, violin, and cello (3 minutes)
also available for flute, oboe and clarinet
A Love Song (2008) for solo cello (4 minutes), for Marion and Con
Dance Images (2008) for violin and mridangam (South Indian drum) (8 minutes)
Migration Too (2008) for violin and mridangam (South Indian drum) (8 minutes), arranged by Start from her piece for violin, piano and mridangam
Suite (2008) for violin and mridangam (South Indian drum) 1.Overture/Procession, 2.Tango, 3.Dalliance, 4.Olden Times (15 minutes)
Chen’s March (2008), for solo cello, arrangement of “Volunteer’s March” with original interlude section (4 minutes)
Scottish Fantasy (2007) for solo mandolin (10 minutes)
Magic Carpet Ride (2007), for electric cello and orchestra (6 minutes), arrangement of Moreve/Kay tune, done with permission of publisher
Roundabout (2007) for solo clarinet (9 minutes)
Elizabethan Fantasy (2007) for solo cello (7 minutes), for Walter
Buoyancy (2007) for concert band (10 minutes), arranged by Start from her piece for orchestra by the same name
Masks (2007) for electric cello (with wah, flanger, and distortion) and piano (9 minutes)
Early Reflections (2007) for mridangam (S. Indian drum) and string orchestra (9 minutes), written for Rohan Krishnamurthy and the String Orchestra of Kalamazoo, Barry Ross, conductor
Dreams of Summer (2007) for string quartet, string quintet (2 vln, vla, vc, cb), string orchestra, OR string orchestra combining intermediate and advanced players (9 minutes) Commissioned by Chamber Music for Fun in honor of founder Phyllis Jansma
Toward Dance, Too (2007) for piano quintet (8 minutes)
Look to the Lord and be Radiant (2006) for SATB a cappella choir (4 minutes)
Unity (2006) for flute/piccolo and harp/electric harp (9 minutes), written for Capriccio (Donna Milanovich and Stephen Hartman)
Knot (2006) for violoncello and double bass (9 minutes), written for David Murray
Union (2006) for solo violoncello (3 minutes), written for Jon and Mary Beth
Migration (2006) for violin, mridangam (South Indian drum) and piano (8 minutes)
Circuits (2006) for violin, viola and cello (8 minutes), written for Trio Dagoba
Toward Dance (2006) for violin, cello, and piano (8 minutes), written for the Lincoln Trio
Truth, Justice, And… (2006)for flute, English Horn, percussion, piano, and electric cello with wah, flanger, digital delay and distortion (15 minutes)
Water Music (2005) for mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone, and mandolin orchestra (15 minutes) settings of poems by Conrad Hilberry
Aelwyd (2005) for organ (5 minutes)
Echoes (2005) for mridangam and string orchestra (6 minutes)
Pale Cliffs (2005) for mandolin and guitar, 8 minutes
One last Sign Song: The Double Flail or theDouble Hook (2005) for mezzo-soprano, flute, viola, and harp, (5 minutes) setting of poem by Conrad Hilberry
Thursday Afternoon (2004) for young string orchestra, 3 minutes
Duo (2004) for English Horn and Cello, dedicated to Pozzi Escot (7 minutes)
Duo is also available arranged alto sax and cello
Repercussions (2004) for cello and digitally processed cello (7 minutes)
Air Swiftly Flies (2004) for cello and piano (I. Arioso, II. Meditation, III. Poco frenetica) (15 minutes)
Air Swiftly Flies is also available arranged for violin and piano, or flute and piano
More Sign Songs (2003-04) for mezzo-soprano, harp, flute, and viola (The Windlass, The Crow’s Foot or Witch’s Foot, The House, The Pothanger) (15 minutes) settings of poems by Conrad Hilberry
Adam (10/2003) for SATB chorus (3 minutes) setting of poem by Conrad Hilberry
Carol (10/2003) for SATB chorus and optional bells (4 minutes) setting of poem by Conrad Hilberry
The Animals (10/2003) for SATB chorus and optional bells (4 minutes) setting of poem by Conrad Hilberry
Shepherd (11/2003) for SATB chorus and cello (5 minutes) setting of poem by Conrad Hilberry
Bits-O-Bugs (10/2003) for flute and harp (10 minutes)
Three Etudes (2003) for Electric Cello and Processing (10 minutes)
Buoyancy (2003) for orchestra (8 minutes)
Nature Concert: Bugs and Things (2003) for soprano, oboe, clarinet, percussion, string quartet, children’s choir, adult choir, Suzuki violins and cellos, and middle school flute choir (1 hour) settings of poems by Conrad Hilberry
Smatterings (2003) for narrator, flute, clarinet, English horn, cello, piano, and personal percussion (15 minutes)
How it comes for reader and cello (2001) Collaboration with writer Gail Griffin 15 minutes
Coruscations for solo piano (2001) 6 minutes
Bass Break for four contrabasses (2001) 4 minutes
Flurries for cello and percussion (2001) 8 minutes
Lament for the Atlanta Ballet Musicians for flute, clarinet, cello, percussion, and piano (2000) 8 minutes
Seagull Blues for cello ensemble (8-12 players) (2000) 10 minutes
Reliefs for mezzo-soprano, clarinet, percussion, cello and piano (2000) 12 minutes, settings of poems by Conrad Hilberry
Hiraeth for shakuhachi, pipa, and cello (2000) 15 minutes
MADOG-Musings for Youth Orchestra (2000) 10 minutes
Verdisimilitude for solo cello (1998) 15 minutes
Duologue for flute and cello (1996) 12 minutes
Duologue is also available arranged alto sax and cello
Deuce for violin and cello (1996) 8 minutes
Fanfare for three Trumpets (1996)
Blessed Wisdom for SATB choir (1995) 8 minutes
Jack for cellist-narrator (1995) – 10 minutes
Quartettsatz for string quartet (1994) – 9 minutes
Fedge Stück for guitar (1994) – 9 minutes
Entanglements for three celli (1994) – 5 minutes
Passage: Four songs without words for cl., bsn, hrn, vln and bass (1993) – 13 min.
Quatrefoil for Cello Quartet (1993) – 8 min.
Trestle Tang for Brass Quintet (1993) – 8 min.
Sometime Saturday for three violins (or 2 violins and viola) and two cellos (1993) – 3 min.
ODE for oboe (1993) – 8 min.
Fanfare for brass quintet (1992) – 5 min.
Apparitions for piano (1992) – 8 min.
Transmigration for alto flute and guitar (1992) – 7 min.
Fanfare for Orchestra (1991) “for the Centennial” – 4 min.
Cycles for mixed chorus (1991) – 7 min.
Sonata for cello and piano (1991) – 20 min.
Distortions for the Yamaha MIDI Grand Piano, and for acoustic piano (1990) – 9 min.
Contortions for oboe, harp, and cello (1990) – 9 min.
String Suite for high school orchestra (1990) – 8 min.
Three Sign Songs for soprano, flute, and cello (1990) – 12 min., settings of poems by Conrad Hilberry
Excursion for string orchestra (1989) – 10 min.
Goat Songs for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano (1989) – 13 min., settings of poems by Conrad Hilberry
Corrugations for 13 flutes (1989) – 12 min.
Residuals for solo piano (1988) – 10 min.
Ramifications for solo flute (1988) – 8 min.
Hornstück for solo horn (1987) – 8 min.
Four Movements for Mixed Ensemble for flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, 2 violas, and 2 cellos (1986) – 18 min.
Three Songs for soprano and cello (1986) – 7 min.
. . .for flute, clarinet, violin and cello. . .(1985) – 8 min.(aka. Quartet)
Unicorn for electronic tape (1984) – 7 min.
little girl for electronic tape (1984) – 6 min.
Divergence for cello and tape (1984) – 7 min.
Four Briefs for solo cello (1984) – 8 minutes
Arrangements for solo cello
Angels We Have Heard Fantasy (2016) ethereal appearance and evaporation of melodic elements of the carol
Aways in Mangers (2016) two well-known versions presented separately then combined on top of each other
Bleak Midwinter (2016) multiple verses with different treatments
Can’t Help Falling in Love (2022) 2 verses with different treatments, intro and coda
Good King Wenceslas (2016) multiple verses with different treatments
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2016) multiple verses with melodic embellishments and interludes
Joy to the World (2016) multiple verses with different treatments
Lo, How a Rose (2014) multiple verses with different treatments
Royal David’s City/Coventry (2016) The two tunes presented with different treatments and juxtaposed
Three Ships and Three Kings (2016) each tune presented with multiple verses with different treatments, then combined into one final verse
Arrangements for cello and piano
Midwinter Carol (2012) combines Bleak Midwinter slowly emerging from gentle flurries of embellishments with brief Coventry Carol quotes
Transcriptions
“Magic Carpet Ride” (Moreve/Kay)
available for electric cello and pipe organ
available for electric cello and orchestra
“Tuileries” from Mussorgsky “Pictures at an Exhibition”
available for flute, oboe and clarinet
available for oboe, violin and cello
available for flute, horn and cello
“On the Trail” from Grofe “Grand Canyon Suite”
available for flute, oboe and clarinet
available for oboe, violin and cello
available for flute, horn and cello