FULL ORCHESTRA
Each composition on this page has a link to a video on YouTube where you can
follow the score while a recording plays and the pages turn automatically.
Several of my orchestral compositions have been recorded for commercial release by prominent European
orchestras (see red links to discography pages at bottom of entries)
INTERLUDE FOR ORCHESTRA
Level: MA
Duration: 7:20
Price: $60.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
This composition represents a major revision of one of my earliest attempts to write for orchestra, way back in 1966. Revisiting it after over 5 decades languishing in the drawer, I was shocked to find some surprisingly worthwhile material (please go to the "Read more about" link below). While it little resembles something I would write today, I managed to rework it into a legitimate and enjoyable piece of music--54 years in the making. Also available in a transcription for concert band.
Read more about Interlude for Orchestra
Download from Score Exchange
PAISANO SUITE
Level: A
Duration: 20:00
Price: $80.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
The music of Paisano Suite was composed in 1982 for the Austin Ballet Theatre on a grant from the City of Austin. The resulting ballet was produced in February, 1983 under the title Ballabile, with choreography by ABT Artistic Director Stanley Hall.
This music was originally scored for a small pit orchestra, and it was only in 2012 that I shortened and re-orchestrated it to create this suite for full orchestra. Since the original title is a term used specifically for dance music, and the new version of the work is meant to be a concert suite rather than a ballet, I also re-titled it after the Paisano Ranch, in the central Texas Hill Country, where it was originally composed and which served as its inspiration.
The entire nearly twenty-minute suite is actually based on a fairly modest amount of musical material and the eight short movements are thematically all very closely related. The overall framework is highly unified in that way.
Scored for woodwinds, horns, and trumpets in pairs; 1 trombone, timpani, and strings.
The individual movements, with their locations on the audio track, are listed below.
1. Prelude 0:00
2. Scherzo 1:52
3. Berceuse 3:34
4. Fugue 6:31
5. Pastorale 8:34
6. Caprice 11:20
7. Romanza 13:20
8. Finale 17:38
Four movements of this suite are also available in a transcription for symphonic band titled Shades of Paisano.
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanislav Vavřínek, conductor
Released on the solo album Voices of the Night and Other Works for Orchestra by Navona Records.
Also released on the multi-composer album Inviting Worlds Vol. 2 by Navona Records
EXPANSIONS FOR ORCHESTRA
Level: A
Duration: 8:00
Price: $60.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Expansions for Orchestra is written in an atonal contemporary idiom. The music uses tone clusters, dissonant counterpoint, and various aleatoric devices to build and release tension. Rhythm, color, and texture are stressed above melody and harmony. The title refers to the way the music takes a few short motifs and, without using any of the common musical forms, develops or "expands" them into a complete composition.
The composition is in 3 sections, each building on the previous one:
1. Rather slowly 2. Faster, tense 3. Fast, frantic
Read more about Expansions for Orchestra
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanislav Vavřínek, conductor
Released on the solo album Voices of the Night and Other Works for Orchestra by Navona Records.
Also released on the multi-composer album Inviting Worlds Vol. 1 by Navona Records.
VOICES OF THE NIGHT
A NOCTURNAL FANTASY FOR ORCHESTRA
Level: A
Duration: 9:45
Price: $65.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
This piece represents a revision and re-titling of a long-dormant composition that I wrote in 1977 and then shelved for over 40 years. I now don't recall why I wrote it and then abandoned it to obscurity without even copying the parts, but I suspect it was because I was too busy writing marching band arrangements.
Voices of the Night is in 3 parts: 1. a slow, moody introductory section; 2. a lively but somewhat dark rhythmic dance-like section; 3. a quiet epilogue based on the opening music.
Read more about Voices of the Night
This composition is also available in a transcription for concert band.
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Watkin, conductor
Released on the solo album Voices of the Night and Other Works for Orchestra by Navona Records.
Also released on the multi-composer album Legends and Light, Vol. 2 by Navona Records.
ARTHUR: KING!
Ballet in One Act
Level: A
Duration: 30:00
Piano Reduction Price: $24.00
Orchestra Set (Full Score and Parts) Price: $145.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
ARTHUR: KING! is a ballet in one act written in 1979 and premiered in 1981 by Austin Ballet Theatre in Austin, Texas. It is based on the King Arthur legend and features a quotation of the Holy Grail Leitmotif (based on the traditional Dresden Amen) from Wagner’s final music drama, PARSIFAL. In this ballet, it is associated with Lancelot and his Grail Quest. Two prominently recurrent themes are associated with Arthur: the chorale-like theme introduced by the brass at 1:19 and the music which follows represents him as the almost-divine symbol of the nation. It is followed by a melancholy theme in the clarinets at 2:20 that represents his humanity and the loneliness of his station. The duality of these two sides of Arthur permeates the entire score.
It is scored for woodwinds in pairs (with 2nds doubling on piccolo and bass clarinet), 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, timpani, bells, 2 percussion, and strings.
The six scenes from the ballet are listed below, with their locations on the audio track.
1. Ensemble: Arthur's Court 0:00
2. Solo: Gueneviere, with Women's Ensemble 4:43
3. Solo: Court Jester, with Ensemble 8:06
4. Ensemble: Arthur's Court, Lancelot 9:43
5. Pas de Deux: Lancelot and Gueneviere 19:04
6. Finale: Arthur's Court 24:53
KOREAN DANCES FOR ORCHESTRA
Level: MA - A
Duration: 19:40
Price: $120.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Korean Dances for Orchestra is a set of 8 short compositions that are based on themes and motifs drawn from Korean folk songs. Like the traditional music of its neighbors China and Japan, Korea's folk music generally utilizes pentatonic scales and tends to favor minor tonalities and triple or compound meters. But although the source tunes are mostly pentatonic, these dances make no attempt to limit themselves entirely to pentatonic scales.
The location of each dance on the audio track is as follows:
1. 0:00 2. 2:37 3. 4:50 4. 6:43 5. 9:15 6. 12:20 7. 14:37 8. 16:57
Each dance in the collection is also available individually. Individual recordings, as well as links to ordering information and score videos can be found below.
Read more about Korean Dances for Orchestra
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
INDIVIDUAL KOREAN DANCES:
KOREAN DANCE No. 1
Level: MA
Duration: 2:30
Price: $40.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk song Nil Li Ria PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
KOREAN DANCE No. 2
Level: A
Duration: 2:10
Price: $40.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk song Ari Arirang PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
KOREAN DANCE No. 3
Level: MA
Duration: 1:50
Price: $40.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk song Toraji Taryung PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
KOREAN DANCE No. 4
Level: A
Duration: 2:30
Price: $40.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk song Nong Bu Gah PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
KOREAN DANCE No. 5
Level: A
Duration: 2:50
Price: $50.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk songs Milyang Arirang & Hoe Sim Gok PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
KOREAN DANCE No. 6
Level: MA
Duration: 2:15
Price: $40.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk song Poong Nyun Gah PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
KOREAN DANCE No. 7
Level: A
Duration: 2:10
Price: $40.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk song Sae Taryung PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025
KOREAN DANCE No. 8
Level: A
Duration: 2:40
Price: $40.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Based on Korean folk songs Dance of Heung & Yang San Do PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Download from Score Exchange
Recording by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavel Snajdr, conductor
Scheduled for release on the album Symphonic Chronicles Vol. 4 by Navona Records in April 2025