A perennial student, I enjoy learning about the world through music, and this inspires my creative work. Although I often write music for the concert hall, I’ve always nurtured a body of work that defies genres, bridging theater, media and dance. I make large-scale dream pieces that may best be described as music-theater, but always have their primary impetus in movement. Before I was a composer, I worked as a musical clown, using musical gesture to create physical comedy.

VIEW BY TYPE:

dance | original theater

recordings | orchestral

FILMperformance


2023

FRETLESS BLUES – for fretless banjo and harmonica

Commissioned by Choreographer Louisa Miller

2022

MAMIE TILL READS THE FBI REPORT – for Voice and Piano, with clapping dancers                                                                    

Commissioned by Spectrum Dance Theater Choreographed by choreographer Donald Byrd

BREATHING TUNES – for four accordions

Commissioned by Bachtopus Ensemble

2021

AZAZME SONGS – for String Quartet and Oud

Commissioned by the Mivos String Quartet

LETTER FROM WOODY for Orchestra and Harmonica                                        

Text from the letters of Woody Guthrie Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra

2020

HOW THEY BROKE AWAY

Opera film, Composed and Directed by Andy Teirstein Text by Carl Sandberg Produced by Animal Stone Productions

2019

Broke

Choreographic Workshop with Director/Choreographer Donald Byrd Iris Arts Center, Accord, NY

2018

VASILISA THE BEAUTIFUL

Music for Chorus. Words by Lila Palmer. National Opera Center

2017

I HEARD YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ME                                                            

Music for Symphony Orchestra, Fretless Banjo, Gyil, Gonje, and Kologo Commissioned by the Ghana National Symphony Orchestra

2016

Piano Assymetries

Ten pieces for solo piano

2015

Secrets of the North

For actor, two dancers, string quartet, nyckelharpa, concertina and Mouth harp.

Incidental music to a story by Isak Dinesen, The Sailor-Boy's Tale. Commissioned by the Hudson Valley Festival of the Arts, with assistance from New York University. Premiere: The Mohonk Mountain House.

 

The Vagabonds

Chamber music composed for strings, winds, brass, marimba and   cimbalom, with Mixed Chors and Actors, and full-screen projections. Inpired by the writings and illumiations of poet William Blake. Commissioned by LABA, Excerpt premiered at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, NYC

2014

The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek

Music for the play by Naomi Wallace. Directed by Sabrina Peck.  Brooklyn College

 

Rhinoceros

Music for the play by Eugene Ionesco. Directed by Greta Baker. Eastern Correctional Facility.

 

Wharf music

Music for an art installation by Rick Ehrsten. Rockport, Maine

 

2013

A BLESSING ON THE MOON

A first draft of Acts I and II was presented at the "Chutzpah! Festival of the Performing Arts" in Vancouver, Canada in 2012. Opera based on the novel by Joseph Skibell. A concert presentation of Act III was sponsored by Emory University and New York University in May, 2013,  and hosted by the Emory Center for Ethics and Atlanta Opera, Directed by Bob McGrath.

SNOW FALLING ON WATER

Commissioned by Buglisi Dance Theater. The Joyce Theater, NYC


2012

A BLESSING ON THE MOON

 "Chutzpah! Festival of the Performing Arts" in Vancouver, Canada in 2012.
 

 

 

RESTLESS NATION

The Cassatt String Quartet. Hayden Planetarium, NYC


2011

LETTER FROM WOODY

A 17-minute piece for orchestra, folk singer, and dancer. Based on a letter from legendary folk balladeer Woody Guthrie to Marha Graham dancer Marjorie Mazia


2010

RESTLESS NATION

Composed for the Cassatt String Quartet. Premiere Feb 25th, 2010 Symphony Space, New York


2009

SHAPES IN BRASS

Composed for choreography by Diane Coburn Bruning. Premiere: New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Dance Department Theater, November


2008

THREE MOVEMENTS FOR STRING QUARTET AND FOLK MUSICIAN

Composed for the Cassatt Quartet


2007

THE SHOOTING OF DAN MCGREW

A Melodrama for Piano, Chamber ensemble, and narrator, based on the Robert Service poem. (Publisher: Animal Stone Productions, 2007)

TURN ME LOOSE

Piano Trio. Premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Feb, 2007, by The Alaria Ensemble (Yuri Vodovoz, Vn, Diliana Momthilovna, Vc, Nancy Garniez, Pno.) (Publisher: Animal Stone Productions, 2007)


2006

THROW PEOPLE

Choreographed by Chris Elam. Premiere May, 2006, PS 122, NYC. Incidental music for soprano sax (Peck Allmond), marimba (Diana Herold), Mandolin, harmonicas, and bowed psaltry (the composer).


2005

ORIGINAL THEATER WORKS

BEYOND THE MIRROR

Theatrical Score. Bond Street Theater Coalition, Premiere, Theater for the New City, NYC, Feb, 2005.

SOON OF A MORNIN

Music Director, Arranger. The Lions Theater, NYC 2005

KOPANITZA  

Duo for Violin and Viola. Premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, performed by Yuri Vodovoz, violin, and Andy Teirstein, viola. (Publisher: Animal Stone Productions, 2005)

INVENTION FOR SIX INSTRUMENTS

Instrumentation: Violin, Cello, Flute, Oboe, Mandolin, Guitar. Premiered by the Cygnus Ensemble, Elebash Recital Hall, New York City, March 2005 (Animal Stone Productions, 2005)

THE WELCOME TABLE

Composition for Viola. Recorded by the composer. Directed/Choreographed by Marta Renzi for Digital Video Disc


2004

MUSIC FOR DANCE

ACCUSTOMED TO TRAVELLING

Composed for performance by singer Naaz Hosseini (formerly of Meredith Monks Company, The House,) and violist Andy Teirstein. Choreographed by Jim Martin. Text: Mahmoud Darwish. Premiered at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dance Faculty Workshop. November, 2004

TRACES OF BRUSH

Commissioned by Temple University for Choreographer Kun yang Lin
Premiere The Yard, Chilmark, Ma, 2004

MEN IN SUITS

Commissioned by Chris Elam. Premiere 2004, PS 122, New York City

WHO WILL ROLL AWAY THE STONE?

Commissioned by Mary Seidman. Premiered 2004, Merce Cunningham Studio


2003

MUSIC FOR DANCE

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON

Choreographed by Cherylyn Lavagnino. Premiered 2003 New York University


2002

MUSIC FOR DANCE

UNEASY DANCES

Commissioned by The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. Premiere - Danspace, New York City.

ORIGINAL THEATER WORKS

THE ALAMO PIECE

Music - INTAR Theater, NYC 2002


2001

MUSIC FOR FILM

THE MINDS JOURNEY

Documentary, MUSE Film and Television, 2001

A LITTLE TOUR OF MANHATTAN

Producer/Director Alister Sanderson, 2001

WELCOME TO WILLIEWORLD

WillieWorld Productions, Dir. Scott Saunders, 2001

RECORDINGS

WELCOME TO WILLIEWORLD

Animal Stone Productions, 2001


2000

MUSIC FOR DANCE

HALLELUJAH

Commissioned by The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and the University of Arizona. Premiere - Centennial Hall, Tucson, AZ. March, 2000

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

LANDSCAPE CHANGING

American Composers Forum Continental Harmony Commission. Wa, 2000

RECORDINGS

WINTER MAN

Animal Stone Productions, 2000


1999

RECORDINGS

MARAMURES

MMC Orchestral Miniatures, Vol. IV. Released January 1999


1998

MUSIC FOR DANCE

PAR TERRE

Commissioned by Terry Creach and Dancers. Premiere - Wave Hill, 1998


1997

MUSIC FOR FILM

MEN

BBC, 1997-Choreography by Victoria Marks.

MARGARET SANGER

Documentary for PBS, 1997-8.

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

MARAMURES

Viola Concerto. Recorded by the Czech Radio Symphony for Master Musicians, 1997


1996

MUSIC FOR DANCE

THE BEAST

Commissioned by Donald Byrd/The Group. Premiere- BAM Majestic Theater, NYC April, 1996

RHAPSODY FOR BOY SOPRANO AND STRINGS

Commissioned by Stephen Petronio Danco Co., Inc. Premiere - The Joyce Theater, NYC April, 1996

MUSIC FOR FILM

MASTERS OF SPACE

Documentary pilot on Chinese Scroll Painting. RM Prods, 1996

ORIGINAL THEATER WORKS

THE WILD

Book, Music - La MaMa E.T.C., NYC, 1996. Loosely based on the journals of Thoreau and Defoes Robinson Crusoe. 

RECORDINGS

RHAPSODY FOR BOY SOPRANO AND STRINGS THE BEAST


1995

MUSIC FOR DANCE

DEADLY SINS

Commissioned by Phyllis Lamhut. Premiere-Dance Theater Workshop, NYC March, 1995

ORIGINAL THEATER WORKS

FLOATING RHODA AND THE GLUE MAN

Music - Home for Cont. Theater, 1995. Book by Eve Ensler.

WINTER MAN

Book, Music - La MaMa E.T.C., 1995. Winner of 1993 and 1991 NEA Opera-Musical Theater Fellowships.

ACTING/PERFORMANCE

WOODY GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG

Actor/Musician - English Theater, Vienna, Austria 95


1994

MUSIC FOR FILM

THORN WEB FOR IRENE

Olga Hiiva, Director. 1994


1993

MUSIC FOR FILM

THE WEST

PBS Mini-series. Music consultant and contributing composer, 1993-6

RECORDINGS

MANNAHATTA

Animal Stone Productions 1993


1992

ORIGINAL THEATER WORKS

COYOTE ROAD

Music - Premiere-Mad River Theater Works, Ohio, 1992


1989

MUSIC FOR FILM

THE SYSTEM WORKS

Dan Walworth, Director, 1989


1985

MUSIC FOR FILM

DINOSAUR

Uriel Grunfeld, Director, 1985


1984

ORIGINAL THEATER WORKS

PAPUSHKO

Book, Music, and Lyrics - Premiere at the Collonades Theater, NYC, 1984. A full-length original musical with a cast of 11. Winner of the 1984 Richard Rodgers Award.


1982

ACTING/PERFORMANCE

SOPHIE'S CHOICE

Feature Film. "Bert" (small principle) 1982

SEARCH FOR TOMORROW

Daytime serial-Appeared in five episodes, 1982

BARNUM

Member of original Broadway cast, 1980-82


1979

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

SCARECROW

Premiered by the Sage City Symphony, Vermont, 1979