Compositions

(CDs Available)

…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.Rebel, 2.Peacemaker, 3.Quirky One, 4. 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. (6:05 minutes) 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 (2222 2231 T+3P str), commissioned by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for its 100th Anniversary Celebratory ‘2020-2021’ Concert Season (13 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 Rising

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

Audio Clips

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