Linda Dusman

for orchestra

ca. 11'15"

What Remains constitutes the second piece in a series of works embodying the concept of pis aller—“paths of last resort,” for me a fitting metaphor for our time of great immigrations, political extremes, and sudden local disruptive violence. What Remains explores specifically the human trait of obsession that often drives individuals to this final recourse, and that path’s potential for leading toward both great good and great evil.

What remains at its end? The air we breathe, the lives that air enables, our shared potential for good, and the possibility of an arrival at that end, rather than its opposite. What Remains stands as a reminder of humanity’s collective responsibility to walk a path away from obsessive violence and ugliness toward intentional peace and beauty.

A recording was made by the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jed Gaylin. 

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.

Linda Dusman

for wind ensemble

ca. 7'15"

Solstice was commissioned by the Hanover, Pennsylvania Southwestern High School Symphonic Band, Carey Crumling, director, in 1997. The title refers to my inspiration for the piece, which I found in the often turbulent weather changes that characterize the change from season to season. As a larger metaphor this reflects the emotional turbulence that characterizes the change from childhood to adulthood, which I expressed in the often bi-tonal language of the piece.

A recording of the piece was performed by New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble, with William Drury, Director.

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.

Linda Dusman

for piccolo and alto flute

ca. 8'00"

An Unsubstantial Territory is dedicated to the inHale duo. Its color and texture reflect sunsets on Folly's Cove in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and the following passage from Virginia Woolf's The Waves: "But when we sit close together, ...we melt into each other with phrases. We are edged with mist. We make an unsubstantial territory." Composed for piccolo and alto flute, it is also conceived as a tuning etude for these two very difficult-to-tune members of the flute family.

The recording of this piece is by the inHale Duo (Lisa Cella, alto flute; Jane Rigler, piccolo), and can be heard when viewing the score.

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.

Sofia Kamayianni

for youth symphony orchestra

ca. 2'50"

This piece was premiered in 2015 by the UMBC Symphony under the direction of E. Michael Richards, and the video recording is linked below.

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.

Click here to view the performance.

Jane Rigler

for solo piccolo

Red: in English this word refers to a vibrant color. Throughout different cultures in the world this color represents: blood, wine, danger, war, violence, the devil, love, embarrassment, happiness, good luck, purity, joy, etc… In the Spanish language red means “network” or “net”. If played fast enough, one can perceive the network (i.e., Morse-code-like effect) of the patterns. Perhaps there is a hidden or not so hidden meaning in them? There is no “net” for the piccoloist to fall into for safety and the performer should push to his/her extremes: feeling the sensation of being on the edge…and perhaps even the audience might feel that at any moment everything will fall apart…

Click here to view the score.

Click here to listen to the piece. (SoundCloud).

Click here for Jane Rigler's website.

Anna Rubin

5 instrument version for flute (piccolo), clarinet in Bb (bass clarinet), violin, cello, and piano

6 instrument version for flute (piccolo), clarinet in Bb (bass clarinet), violin, cello, piano, and percussion (vibraphone)

ca. 10'30"

Dreaming Fire, tasting Rain was originally written while I was working on my Ph.D at Princeton University. The Nash Ensemble of London premiered the work at Princeton. The 6 instrument version includes percussion and is intended for performance by the Ruckus Ensemble at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The images of fire and rain translated into a variety of musical textures – sometimes serene and sometimes jagged and thorny. In the opening, heterophonic or layered melodies surge and then subside. A middle section begins with the lonely sound of the piccolo against spiky cello pizzicati and then builds to a driving pulsed rhythm, intensified with percussion. The music then eases into a lyrical cello melody against a background of rolling piano chords and flute and violin countermelodies.

The 5 instrument version has been performed at Oberlin College Conservatory, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and the Heidelberg College Festival of Women.

The 6 instrument version of the piece premieres in 2024 at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Click here to view the score and listen to a recording for 5 instruments.

Click here to view the score for 6 instruments.

Click here to download all performance materials.

Anna Rubin

for concert wind ensemble

ca. 9'28"

Chiaroscuro was commissioned by Dr. Brian Kaufman, director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Wind Ensemble in 2016. The term 'chiaroscuro' is a term used in painting to refer to the dramatic treatment of light and shade. I exploit the many colors of wind, brass, percussion and piano to contrast and blend with each other. The piano in particular adds a brilliant coloristic component. The piece is highly rhythmic and builds to a rollicking climax where the full power of the brass section holds sway. The surprise ending is gentle, highlighting the upper winds.

The piece is recorded on Albany Records entitled Filtering, published in 2020.

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.

Click here to download all performance materials.

Patricia Ann Repar

flute/piccolo, B-flat clarinet, voice, violin, violoncello, contrabass, and tape

ca. 11'00"

Note to performers and listeners: written in celebration of my cousin Jerry Leon who made the last of his many adventures on earth while skiing in February of 2004.

Note to self: Find the Hawaiian chant secretly embedded on the ‘Ulalena’ CD; And on ‘The Master Chanters of Hawaii’ use “e ulu, e ulu, kini o ke akua” (Inspire us, inspire us, O gods).

Note to Jerry:            whispers of other times and places

                                    both mythic and real

                                    souls and gypsies

                                    long passed and yet to come

                                    but I see you

                                    bright, strong, and clear

                                    like water

                                    atop, within, above, and beyond

                                    Red Mountain.

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.

Rahilia Hasanova

for orchestra

ca. 12'00"

Everything in Life is Vibration (Albert Einstein). Everything has its own unique vibration, frequency, and sound. It means everything has a unique voice that is an expression of its vibrations and frequencies. Everything...snowflakes, crystals, flowers, take on their shapes according to their particular vibrations and responding to multiple vibrations, sounds, and voices of the universe. The universe is a choir of the myriad of voices. Each voice has to find the shape and expression to resonate with the universe. Each voice, if it is out of the connection with the choir of voices of the universe, is the solitary voice.

The Solitary Voice was premiered by the symphony orchestra of University of Maryland Baltimore County on November 22, 2015. Conductor: E.Michael Richards

Click here to view the score.

Click here to listen to the recording.

Rahilia Hasanova

for orchestra

ca. 19'00"

Click here to view the score.

Rahilia Hasanova

for flute/piccolo, strings, and piano

ca. 15'00"

Click here to view the score.

Rahilia Hasanova

for flute, bass clarinet, percussion, chorus

ca. 60'00"

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Rahilia Hasanova

for orchestra

ca. 7'00"

The golden-eyed stars, gently ightning the skies,

Sounding orchestra-like, attacking, breathing, and vibrating,

They're lullabying for the sleeping earth...

But as the morning star's awakening a down,

Conducting them to fade through nights and constellations,

The golden-eyed stars are vanishing and melting in the heavens...

The earth continues to sing for them her lullaby:

It's time to sleep for golden-eyed stars.

- Rahilia Hasanova

The first version of Lullaby of the Stars (Ulduzlarin Laylasi) was written for chamber orchestra in 2003 and premiered at the Organ and Chamber Music Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2003.The second version of the Lullaby of the Stars (renewed for Symphony orchestra in 2015) was performed at the Nasimi festival of Art and Music on October 1, 2019 at the Center of Geydar Aliyev in Baku, Azerbaijan. Imadeddin Nasimi is the greatest Sufi poet, philosopher of 14 century well known by his revolutionary writings and progressive creation of mystic pantheistic doctrine.

Video is recorded by Azerbaijani TV Performers: Baku State Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Mustafa Mehmandarov Stage director: Aleksey Smirnov. 

Click here to view the score.

Click hear to listen to the recording.

Rahilia Hasanova

for orchestra

ca. 21'00"

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Eleanor Hovda

for orchestra

ca. 16'00"

This piece was performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with Principal Guest Conductor Ilan Volkov on Thursday 21 October 2021 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.