Alvin Curran
List of Works

Listing in reverse chronological order:

Flipped Out Jive Ass Ear Candy (2023) for voice, piano, and children's choir - First performance by Daan Vandewalle, Nicholas Isherwood, and the Piccolo Coro Angelico for AngelicA - December 13, 2023

"Una Voce Poco Fa" (2023) sound installation for the Fantasmagoria Callas exhibit on the centenary of Maria Callas, Museum of La Scala, November 17, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

Hear Alvin Here - (2023) a musical autobiography - MACRO museum, Via Nizza 128, Rome, September 20, 2023 to March 17, 2024

Na Rosetta (2023) for orchestra and basketball players - first performance September 2, 2023 for Ostrava Days

Footnotes - (2022) sound installation inaugurated November 14, 2022 as part of the exhibition "Pier Paolo Pasolini: Tutto è Santo,” honoring Pasolini’s centenary, which will run until May 28, 2023 - MAXXI museum, Via Guido Reni, 4A, Rome - audio excerpt: AC Footnotes_Short_2; video excerpt


photo Antonio Trimani

Achim Freyer Trifft Don Giovanni am Checkpoint Charlie (Achim Freyer Meets Don Giovanni at Checkpoint Charlie) (2022), a radio work for Deutschlandradio, August 2022, listen or download

Era Ora 1982–2018 (2022), installation for suspended Yamaha Disklavier piano and digital file, first presented in Bristol, May 2022

Shofar XXL (2022) for Electric Shofar, Harp, and Percussion, premiere William Winant, AC, Zeena Parkins, Oakland, April 22, 2022

When There Is No More Music To Write, and other Roman Stories, film music for Eric Baudelaire, premiere Bergen, February 2022

Daven Mir Dos (2021), Sound installation for the Eufonie Festival, November 2021

The Covid Containment Etudes, video with Mike Cooper, 2021

The Gong Tree Of Life (2021), sound installation for  IL SUONO IN MOSTRA, August 2021

Era Ora (On Wheels) (2021), for band and pianists in movement, August 2021

Sonora Desert (2021), music for theater piece by Muta Imago, July 2021

Gardening With John 1.3 (2020), site-specific permanent installation, inauguration October 2020. Interview with Karolina Liusikova.

Covidly Yours (2020), Making Music with Anything (video in collaboration with Susan Levenstein), June 2020.

Shofar Rags XXL (2020), for shofar and electronics. First performance Rome, June 2020, for Bang On A Can.

The Containment Etudes (2020), for sampling keyboard. First performance Berkeley, California, May 2020.

The Glove (2020), film music for Eric Baudelaire. Premiere May 2020.

Missteps: About Five of Them (2020), for small ensemble, a Bang On a Can Allstars commission. First performance New York, January 2020. “Entertaining and satisfying” -Justin D. Wright “A 10-minute roller coaster ride” -Vanessa Ague (National Sawdust Log)

Diario Indiano (2019), for tape, for a theatrical performance by Vita Accardi on texts by Allen Ginsberg. First performance Rome, December 2019

Notes from Underground 2 (2019), for ambulant shofar player and 60 musicians. St. Pauli Elbtunnel, Hamburg, May, 2019

Der Goldene Topf (2019), for accordion, percussion, and tape, for Achim Freyer's theatre piece of the same name. First performance Schauspielhaus Stuttgart, May, 2019. Video trailer.

Dead Beats (2018), for piano. First performance Reinier van Houdt, The Hague, December 2018. An "amazing work."

Omnia Flumina Romam Ducunt: All Rivers Lead to Rome (2018), sound installation at the Baths of Caracalla, Rome, October 2018 video of opening; video of a walkthrough. Finissage concert: complete video.

Ancient Talking Heads (2018), sound installation for the Palazzo Altemps, Rome, September 2018

Maritime Rites Bern (2018), for musicians on rowboats on a fast river. First performance Bern, September 2018 video excerpts

Monte dei Cocci Here We Come (2018), for band and electronic keyboard. First performance Banda della Scuola Popolare di Testaccio and Curran, Rome, June 2018

A Banda Larga, a street symphony (2018), for band, electronic orchestra, ambulant musicians, and grand soloist. First performance Antonello Salis, Filarmonica Imolese, INCROCIorchestra, and Curran, Bologna, May 2018. photos and videos... 11-minute video trailer

Just About of Nowhere (2018), duo with Clark Coolidge, first performance San Francisco for the Other Minds Festival, April 2018

Neapolis Sounding (2017), a conduction for improvising orchestra. First performance Orchestra Elettroacustica Officina Arti Soniche, Naples, November 2017

Steps, After John Cage (2017) for dog, goat, rooster, mouse, cavy, alpaca, and hopper


photo Roberto Paci Dalò

Octogram 17.1 (2017), for piano. First performance Kathleen Supové at Trisha Brown memorial, New York, July 2017

Pian de Pian Piano (2017), permanent sound installation: a piano gradually returns to nature. 2017, 2018, 2024



photos Alvin Curran, Susan Levenstein, Dora Stiefelmeier

Concerto per vasca da bagno e orchestra [Concerto for Bathtub and Orchestra] (2017), for 17 instruments, 2 voices, amplified pool table, basketballs, and shofar. First performance with musicians from the Gaetano Donizetti Conservatory, Bergamo, May 2017. Video.

Irrawaddy Blues (2017), musique concrete, for Documenta14, 47:30. Listen on web.

The Alvin Curran Fakebook, excerpts
- 2014: for keyboard and percussion, Alvin Curran and William Winant, San Francisco
- 2016: for chamber ensemble and keyboard. Contemporary Performance Ensemble cond. Steed Cowart, Mills College, Oakland, Video
- 2017: The Biella Sessions, CD with Alvin Curran, Giancarlo Schiaffini, Alipio C. Neto, Sergio Armaroli, Dodicelune
- 2019: Valensemble cond. Valentin Garvie - Buenos Aires. Video
- 2019: Ensemble Modern - Frankfurt

Riti Marittimi Roma (2016), for brass band musicians on rowboats. First performance Banda di Testaccio, Laghetto di Villa Borghese, September 2016. Video excerpts.


photo Benedetto Pignatti Morano

Quasi Niente (2016), a structured improvisation for mixed acoustic instruments and voices. First performance New Music Project San Marino, July 2016. Complete video.

Musique Sans Frontières (2016), for brass bands, bagpipes, saxophones, choirs and orchestra. First performance Glasgow, May 2016. Listen

Schtyx (2016), version for violin and piano. First performance Mayah Kadish and Susan Levenstein, Rome, March 2016.

Tuba Sospeso (2016), sound installation. Premiere inner room, Siena:

 

MEV's Glass Piano (2015), sound installation. Premiere Sala Santa Rita, Rome, November 2015.

Prehistory 1.1 (2015), for mixed choir SATB 35-50 voices and percussion. Duration 13'. First performance Dolmen la Chianca, Bisceglie (Puglia), November 2015. Complete video.

Prehistory 1.0 (2015), sound installation for any prehistoric site. Premiere Dolmen la Chianca, Bisceglie (Puglia), November 2015.

Lo spazio diventa spartito (2015), for multiple marching bands and sampling keyboard. Duration 40'. First performance Siena, October 2015.

The Book of Beginnings (2015), for symphony orchestra, youth orchestra, diskklaviers, and app. Duration 33'. notes listen

Open City 6.1 (2015) a structured improvisation for 1-1000 musicians. Duration 20-60'.

Cynthia's Octave (2015), for the film E42 by Cynthia Madansky. Trailer.

Maritime Rites Palermo - Sirene Per Mare (2015), for shiphorns on ships. First performance Palermo, July 2015. Excerpts on video.

Saltando In Padella bis (2015), for percussion trio and sampling keyboard. First performance Vorno, Italy, July 2015.

Hello, How Are You? (2015), sound installation. Vienna, May 2015.

Vita's Octave (2015), for actress Vita Accardi in Endimione. First performance Rome, April 2015.

Maritime Rites Tempe (2015), for musicians in pedal boats. First performance Tempe, Arizona, March 2015.

Beams Reykjavik (2015), for brass ensemble, violas, percussion, chorus, piano, sampling keyboard, conch shell, and shofar. Duration 35'. First performance Reykjavik, Iceland April 2015. Video of excerpts.

The Glass Octave (2014), for piano. First performance Nicolas Horvath, Carnegie Hall, New York, January 2015.

Maritime Rites Hobart (2014), for brass bands, bagpipes, solo sampler, rock bands, and improvising musicians. First performance Hobart, Tasmania, January 2015.

Music For the Minotaur (2014), for sampler. First performance with Paolo Buggiani, Rome, December 2014.

Viola Voilà (2014), for ten violas, two bass/contrabass clarinets, soprano sax, flute, vibraphone, and percussion. Duration 23'. First performance The Flexible Orchestra, New York, October 2014. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Procession-Maritime Rites Bonn (2014), for winds, percussion and live electronics. First performance Bonn Hoeren Festival, June 2014.

Palchi Irreali (2013), sound installation, presented December 16, 2013 in the boxes of the Teatro Argentina, Rome, as part of Enzo Cosimi's MY_DAY MAY_ DAY.

Maritime Rites Zurich (2013), for shiphorns on ships, solo sampler, and brass bands. Duration 30'. First performance Zurich, November 2013.

Piccolo Steady State (2003-13), for 2 to 202 piccolos in canon

Oh Man Oh Mankind Oh Yeah, short version (2013), for large chorus SATB, 7 instruments, bass drum, optional shofar. Duration 45'. First performance Adelaide, August 2013.

Way Out Back (2013), for piano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, and electronics. Duration 20'. First performance Decibel Ensemble, Perth, 2013.

Shofar Puro Alap, for shofar and electronics (2013). Duration 6'. On Shofar Rags CD. Listen to an excerpt.

Shofar X 17, for shofar and electronics (2013). Duration 13'. On Shofar Rags CD. Listen to an excerpt.

Shofar T Tam, for shofar, tam-tam, and electronics (2013). Duration 11'. On Shofar Rags CD. Listen to an excerpt.

Alef Bet Gimel Shofar (2013), for shofar and electronics. Duration 5'. On Shofar Rags CD. Listen to an excerpt.

Shofar Der Zeit (2013), for shofar, clarinet, broken accordian, and electronics. Duration 4'. On Shofar Rags CD. Listen to an excerpt.

La Musica è Niente Ma è Nostra (2013), for four-part female chorus. Duration 14'.

La Storia della Musica (2013), sound installation produced by radioartemobile as part of the show camere #18: Intese. Galleria RAM, Rome, March 2013.

Signage (2012, a/k/a Never Say Never), for improvising orchestra. First performance Rome, October 2012. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

DJ Albert Spins Cage and Cardew (2012), produced for the BBC Proms Music Walk, August 2012. Duration 4'.

Maritime Rites 4:33 (2012), sound installation produced by Anna Cestelli and Achille Bonito Oliva at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, July 2012.

Symphony 1.1 (2012), for orchestra, commissioned by the Angelica Festival, Bologna. Duration 20'. First performance Bologna, September, 2012. Score page 6 page 21 page 22 Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Smistamenti Generali (2012), for brass bands and chorus, commissioned by the Angelica Festival, Bologna. Duration 46'. First performance Bologna, September, 2012. Listen to excerpt

Riti Marittimi: Floating With John (2012), for musicians in rowboats, produced by the Teatro Valle Occupato. Duration 32'. First performance the Laghetto of Villa Borghese, Rome, July 1, 2012. Watch excerpts on Video

Maritime Rites New York (2012), for brass bands in rowboats, commissioned by Make Music New York. Duration 45'. First performance Central Park, New York, June 21, 2012. "During some particularly beautiful moments, a wave of undulating ambient sounds was interspersed with mournful brass interludes." - Vivien Schweitzer (NY Times) "a very un-concert hall aural geography" - Henry Stewart Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3 excerpt 4 excerpt 5 Watch excerpts on Video

Gardening with John 2 (2012), sound installation for garden shed on wheels, two iPods, flat panel loudspeakers.  Commissioned by Zerynthia for the Flanders Festival, Kortrijk, Belgium, April 2012

Circus Maximus (2011), revised version - a work for 16 musicians, electronics, and a video by Theo Eshetu, commissioned by Integra. Duration 29'. First performance Grup Instrumental de València, October 2011.

Rogues (2011), for tape. Duration 8'. First performance with the Trisha Brown Dance Company, New York, November 2011. Listen to excerpt

Toss and Find (2011), for piano and tape. First performance with the Trisha Brown Dance Company's I'm Going to Toss My Arms - If You Catch them, They're Yours, Paris, October 2011. Video (piece starts at 16:30, music at 24:15). "A captivating score...has the quality of announcing new worlds" - Mark Swed (LA Times) "A subtle, memory-charged score" - Donald Hutera (londondance.com)

Choral Reefs, version for violin and piano (2011). First performance Marc Sabat and Stephen Clarke, Rome, July 2011.

Hoe Sow Till Mulch (2011), for 100 young instrumentalists and vocalists. First performance Koblenz, September 2011.

Mo Era Ora Bis (2011), for piano and three percussionists. First performance Ensemble Ars Ludi with Amedeo Salvato, Bologna, February 2011.

Rhinestones / Bigiotteria (2011), a sound installation produced by Peter Kiefer at the Bundesgartenschau, Koblenz. Video (from 1:46).


photo Jane Dunker

Circus Maximus (2011), a work for 17 musicians, electronics, and a video by Theo Eshetu, commissioned by Integra. Duration 29'. First performance Ars Nova Ensemble, Copenhagen, October 2011. Program notes. Score page 1 page 16 Listen to excerpt. Complete video.

The Alvin Curran Fakebook (2011), , solo performance for sampler and midi keyboard. First performance Vancouver.

Pittura Fresca II (2011), for violin solo, viola, cello, bass, bassoon, trumpet, saxophone, electric guitar, piano, 2 percussion, tape. Duration 25'. Score sample page.

Eighteenth and Sixth (2010), a work for radio based on recordings at John Cage's apartment. Duration 10'. First broadcast SilenceRadio, September 2011.

A Naar Mit a Car in America (2010), a work for radio based on studio materials from On Hearing the Brooklyn Bridge Sing in Yiddish. Duration 55'. First broadcast SWR, January 2011.

Big Squeeze Long Stretch (2010), for 15 or more accordions. First performance Byram Arcade, Huddersfield, November 2010.

Ear Training (2010), for any instruments. First performance Huddersfield Train Station, November 2010.

Inner Cities 14 (2010), for piano. Duration 45'. First performance Daan Vandewalle, Den Bosch, November 2010.

On Hearing the Brooklyn Bridge Sing in Yiddish (2010; a/k/a On Hearing the Brooklyn Bridge Singing in Yiddish), solo performance with two diskklaviers and light tubing, with computer realization by Luca Spagnoletti. Duration 56'. First performance ZKM Kubus, Karlsruhe, November 2010. Read program notes. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2. Listen on youtube or download at amazon.

Gardening With John Artissima (2010), sound installation for garden shed on wheels, two iPods, flat panel loudspeakers, and dried mushrooms.  Commissioned by Zerynthia for Artissima, Torino, October 2010.

TORZAM geht von ARMZOT bis ZAMTOR jeder RATZMO MARTOZ und TAMOZR (2010), for diskklavier and garden shed, with computer realization by Luca Spagnoletti. First performance in the Baroque park of the Schwetzingen palace, July 2010. Watch an excerpt on video.

Maritime Rites Frankfurt (2010), for sampling keyboard, rock band, and 100 acoustic musicians. First performance Frankfurt, June 2010.

Innominabile (2010; a/k/a L'Innominabile Sound), tape, for Vita Accardi's theater piece on texts from Samuel Beckett's The Unnameable, with sets by Nunzio. First performance Teatro Sala Uno, Rome, February 2010. Listen to an excerpt. Watch a video trailer.

Oh Man Oh Mankind Oh Yeah (2009), for large chorus SATB, improvising children's chorus, 7 instruments, 4 bass drums, optional shofar with live electronics. Duration 65'. First performance with the Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, November 2009. Listen to an excerpt.

Living Room Music (2009), a work for radio, recorded with Jacob Burckhardt, Mike Cooper, Fred Frith, Nicholas Isherwood, Seth Josel, Susan Levenstein, Sabina Meyer, Richard Nunns, Jan Rzewski, Antje Vowinckel, Walter Zimmermann, anonymous travelling knife grinder, and anonymous Romanian brass players in an apartment overlooking the Coliseum. Duration 50'. First performance Deutschlandradio Kultur September 2009. Listen to an excerpt.

image by Pablo Cano Lahoz

Minotaurmusic (2009) for sculptural installation with video Minotaur by Paolo Buggiani and Cinzia Sarto (IN/EXIT). Duration 7'. First performance Douz and Mille Gallery (Washington, DC), June 2009.

Play As Written (2009) for piano, on the occasion of Walter Zimmermann's 60th birthday. Duration 3-5'. First performance Berlin. Score sample page

VSTO version 2.5 (2009) for string quartet. Duration 24'. First performance Arditti Quartet, Mills College, Oakland, March 2009. "A wonderful study in contrasts...I loved it." - Richard Friedman Score sample page

Erat Verbum Johnny (2008) for string sextet and objects. Duration 7'. First performance Apartment House ensemble, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, November 2008. “Only one [piece], Alvin Curran's Erat Verbum Johnny, with its final swoop into a first world war music-hall song, came close to the humour and exuberance so important in Cage's musical personality” - Andrew Clements (The Guardian)

Beams 3 (2008) for chamber ensemble, ambulant chorus, percussion, brass ensembles, and shofar. Duration 72'. Commissioned by the Americans Festival. First performance Aa Church, Groningen, Holland, November 2008. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3

Shin Far Shofar (2008) sound installation, natural sounds with electronics. Duration 21:33. Commissioned and presented by Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco October 2008. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

The Brooklyn Bridge Speaks Yiddish (2008), solo performance on sampler and midi keyboard. First performance at Judson Church, produced by EMF New York City, October 2008.

Boletus Edulis: Musica Pendolare (2008), for portable instruments, brass bands, choruses, boom boxes, and commuter train. Duration 8 hours. First performance May-June 2008, in and around Bologna, produced by Massimo Simonini for Take the Cage Train. Read program notes. Listen to excerpt

Mumbai's Way (2008), solo performance on sampler and midi keyboard, for documentary video by Lino Greco and Gerardo Lamattina, first performance Aterforum Ferrara, June 2008

Weil Erde in Meinem Körper War (2008), for the dance theater work by Wanda Golonka, with the Ensemble Modern. First performance Schauspielhaus Frankfurt, April 2008. "Sound, bodies, space, and props in marvelous symbiosis... This wonderful evening of music theater is a widescreen elegy that packs a wallop"- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Octograms (2008), for any instruments, in unison. Duration 1'. First performance Guy Livingston, on piano, with video by Newt Hinton. video excerpt

E Poi... (2007), for piano. Commissioned by the Network for New Music Ensemble on the occasion of Elliot Carter's 100th birthday. Duration 9'. First performance Marilyn Nonken, Philadelphia, January 2008. Score sample page Listen to an excerpt.

Malapromptus (2007), for cello and piano. First performance Arne Deforce and Daan Vandewalle, Ghent, December 2007. Score sample page.

wallsCAGEwalls (2007; a/k/a Open Cage), solo performance on sampler and midi keyboard, for videos by Roberto Masotti, Duration 28'. First performance Milano Musica November 2007.

Maritime Rites Tate (2007), for Diskklavier, cello, saxophone, tuba, brass ensemble, and 150-200 volunteer musicians on, around, and over water. Duration 46'. First performance with Evan Parker, Anton Lukoszievze, Melvyn Poore, and the brass ensemble of the London Symphony Orchestra, London, September 2007, produced by the Tate Modern. "Aims to change our perception of sound...This beauty is elemental and bracing.” – Philip Clark (Gramophone) Watch video extract 1 extract 2

On The Roads (2007), musique concrete for radio, on and about the ancient Roman roads. Duration 48'. Produced and first broadcast by Deutschlandradio Kultur October 2007. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3

Conversazioni Geologiche (2007), for chorus, winds, percussion, and volcano. First performance eastern slope of Mt. Etna, July 2007, produced by the Centro Culturale Zo (Catania). “An enthralling and inspired sonic ‘dialogue”…the thrill of recognizing Apollo’s unexpected spark amidst the rocks and bushes. . . The encounter of primitive humanity with the great Mother Nature must have been just like this” - Sergio Sciacca (La Sicilia)

Shofar 3 (2007), solo performance for shofar and live electronics, with 1-5 acoustic instruments optional. Duration 29'. First performance with brass trio, Experimental Studio SWR Freiburg June 2007.

Triadic Limbo (2007), for piano and/or any three or more instruments. Duration 13'. First performance Alter Ego, Rome, May 2007. Score sample page. Listen to an excerpt performed by Royal Conservatory of Music composers orchestra; excerpt performed by ne(x)tworks.

Beams 2 (2007), a performance for 30 or more musicians. First performance Tel Aviv, January 2007 (below). Complete video from Mills College performance in 2014.

Maritime Rites Kinsale (2007), for multiple marching bands, rock group, and sampler and midi keyboard. First performance with Rulers of the Planet and local bands, the port of Kinsale, Ireland.

Ninety-Nine (2006), for violin and soprano. Duration 1'. First performance New York Miniaturist Ensemble, New York, December 2006.

Shofar 2 (2006), for shofar and electronics. First performance Tel Aviv, January 2007. Listen to an excerpt.

Inner Cities 13 (2006), adapted and expanded from Saltando in Padella, for piano. Duration 25'. First performance Daan Vandewalle, Rimini, July 2007. Score sample page.

Earzatz (2006), photocopies for the Hermes Ear exhibition at The Rosenberg Museum

Oh Brass On The Grass Alas (2006), for 200-500 brass band musicians. Duration 40'.  First performance Donaueschingen Festival, October 2006. "A piece of controlled chaos" - Neue Zeitschrift für Musik sample page (3) sample page (8) sample page (14) Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3 excerpt 4 excerpt 5 Watch video trailer.

TransDadaExpress 2 - Extraordinary Renderings (2006), musique concrete for radio.  Duration 32'.  Produced and first broadcast by SWR2, Baden-Baden. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2.

Gardening with John 1.1 (2006), sound installation for small garden shed, two iPods, flat panel loudspeakers, and dried mushrooms.  Commissioned by Zerynthia for sonambiente 2006 in Berlin. Listen to an excerpt.  Video with interview.

Odes of Roba (2006), for chorus SATB (featuring bass), on texts by Giacinto Scelsi and Clark Coolidge. Duration 25'. Score sample page.

Gardening with John (2005), sound installation for small garden shed, walk-on switches, iPod, flat panel loudspeakers, and dried mushrooms.  Commissioned by the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, for the show Playing John Cage, curated by David Toop.

Passing Notes (2005), for percussion and cello.  Duration 25'. First performance William Winant and Joan Jeanrenaud, Santa Cruz, January 20, 2007.

Soonz (2005), for four contrabassons in quasi-random canon, ad libitum. Duration 8'.

TransDadaExpress (2005), solo performance for sampler and midi keyboard.

Saltando in Padella (2005), suite for chamber ensemble honoring the 100th birthday of Giacinto Scelsi.  First performance Alter Ego ensemble, Rome.

Vindobona Blues (2005), a sound portrait of the contemporary art/music scene in Vienna, featuring the voices of Mia Zabelka, Olga Neuwirth, Franz Hautzinger, Erdem Tunakan, Attwenger, Andrea Sodomka, Georg Nussbaumer, Bernhard Leitner, Diether de la Motte, Christian Fennesz, Uli Fussenegger, and Robert Adrian.  Musique concrete, produced by Kunstradio, ORF. Duration 40'.  First performance Tonspur, MuseumsQuartier, Vienna, September 25, 2005. Listen to an excerpt.

Nora Sonora (2005), a symphonic pageant for 100-300 musicians performing in and around a beautiful archaeological site on portable acoustic instruments and voice.  First performance Nora, Sardinia, July 30th, 2005, in collaboration with the Conservatory of Cagliari.

Acts of Providence (2005), sampler and midi keyboard performance with live reading by poet Clark Coolidge. First performance Providence, R.I., May 4, 2005. Listen to an excerpt.

Inner Cities 12 (2005), for piano, in memory of Helen Carter. Duration 30'. First performance Daan Vandewalle, Flanders Festival, Brussels, September 2005. Score sample page Listen to an excerpt.

Pozzulana (2005), structured improvisation for 10 laptop computers, 2 drumsets, electric bass, 4 voices, and 12 acoustic instruments.  First performance June 7th, 2005, conducted by A.C. in celebration of 40 years of music making in Rome, for the program Battiti, RAI Radio, produced by Pino Saulo. Listen to an excerpt.

Beams (2005), performance for 35 mobile musicians including chamber ensemble, 2 brass ensembles, mixed chamber chorus, and A.C. soloist (on shofar, chair, tin can, live electronics, and sampling keyboard).  Duration 2 hours. First performance April 30th, 2005, by Zeitkratzer Ensemble (Berlin) and others for Donaufestival, Krems, Austria.

I Dreamt John Cage Yodeling in the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (2005), musique concrete for radio.  Duration 55'. Produced and first broadcast by Südwestrundfunk, Baden-Baden.  Special Prize of the Jury, Phonurgia Nova 2005. Listen to an excerpt.


Alowys Bucher - photo Margareta Peters

ABO un ritratto sonoro (2004), musique concrete; sound portrait of Achille Bonito Oliva. CD to accompany the book, Lezione di boxe: Dieci round sull'arte contemporanea, by Achille Bonito Oliva. Luca Sossella publishers, Rome, 2004. See discography.

Ritratto ABO: l’arte della boxe (2004), permanent sound installation for CO.RE., the upcoming museum for contemporary art of the Campania region. Inauguration at the Certosa di Padula. June 18, 2004. Listen to an excerpt.

Quinto Piano (2004; a/k/a Six Tall Stories, a/k/a Playing House), for voice, piano, double bass, recorder or flutes, electric guitar, trombone, bass clarinet, violin, percussion. Duration 35'. First performance Maarten Altena Ensemble, Bimhuis, Amsterdam, November 18, 2004.  Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3

Arnold Meets Steve at the Five Spot (2004), for piano. First performance Hague Conservatory, 2007. Score page 1 page 2 Listen to an excerpt

Someone to Watch Over What (2003), for live electronics. Duration 12'. First performance Alvin Curran and Domenico Sciajno, 2003. See Our Ur CD, discography Listen to an excerpt

Rue de la Gare 76 (2003), for live electronics. Duration 4'. First performance Alvin Curran and Domenico Sciajno, 2003. See Our Ur CD, discography.

Inner Cities 11 (Aglio Olio Peperoncino Blues) (2003), for piano; for Frederic Rzewski. First performance Daan Vandewalle, April 5, 2003, Le Lieu Unique, Nantes. Duration 15'. Score sample page. See discography Listen to an excerpt

Inner Cities 10 (2003), for piano. First performance Daan Vandewalle, April 5, 2003, Le Lieu Unique, Nantes. Duration 51'. See discography. Score sample page (4) sample page (17) Listen to excerpt 1; excerpt 2

Wolfings (2003), sound and video installation, with artist Kristin Jones. Cloister of University of Rome, S. Pietro in Vincoli, June 14, 2003.

Romulus And Remus Make A Ruckus (2003), musique concrete, with recorded sampled musics (primarily wolf calls).Duration 9'. Commissioned for Taktlos CD, November 2003. See Lost Marbles CD, discography Listen to an excerpt

Sinking Piano (2003), sound installation by Alvin Curran with video by Domenico Sciajno. At and commissioned by the Taktlos Festival, Bern, Switzerland.

Inner Cities 4 (2003), for piano, in memoriam Lou Harrison. First performance Daan Vandewalle, Le Lieu Unique, Nantes, April 2003. Duration 20'. Score sample page See discography Listen to an excerpt.

Inner Cities 7.5 (2003), for piano. First performance Daan Vandewalle, Le Lieu Unique, Nantes, April 2003. Duration 3'.  See discography. Listen to an excerpt.

Pharmacopaiea (2003), sound installation for sampler and midi keyboard, two speaking voices, ambulance. First performance façade of the Palazzo degli Esposizioni, for Le Notti Bianche, Sept. 27, 2003, Rome.

O Carlo Quanto Gesualdo Sei (2003), moving sound installation for instruments, chorus, brass band, electronics. First performance with 150 local musicians, Teatro Carlo Gesualdo, Avellino October 19, 2003. “Space becomes the score” - Renato Nicolini (tuttoteatro.com)

La Traversa (2003), for violin, trombone and accordian. Duration of concert version 24'. First performance for Nancy Karp Dance Co., San Francisco. Listen to an excerpt. Brief video of excerpts.

Fried Dice (2003), musique concrete for video. First performance Galleria El ALEPH, Rome, September 2003.

Enigmas (2003), for improvising voices. First performance The Living Theatre, Museo Castello di San Martino, Naples, September 26, 2003.

Un Altro Ferragosto (2002), musique concrete for radio. Duration 55'. Produced and first broadcast by Deutschlandradio Kultur. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3

Genetically Altered Radio (2002), for two interactive computers and live radio. See P-art Project-12 Portraits CD, discography Listen to an excerpt

The Milhaud Chair (2002), for brass, 2 harps, 2 timpani, accordian, samplers, amplified chair, in collaboration with artist Seth Koen. First performance, with dancer Alyssa Wilmot, Mills College, April 2002.

The Alvin Curran Filharmonia (2002), for voice, cello, guitar, percussion, powerbook, piano and keyboards. First performance with Joan Jeanrenaud, Shelley Hirsch, Domenico Sciajno, Fred Frith, William Winant, Taktlos-Bern, September 2002. See Lost Marbles CD ("Return to Sender"), discography. Listen to an excerpt.

The Alvin Curran Filharmonia

Brute Beat Brut Bruit (2002), for flute, clarinet, piano, violin, cello, percussion, speaking voice, live electronics. Duration 40'-45'. First performance Alter Ego and rapper Frankie Hi NRG, Festival delle Nazioni, Citta’ di Castello, Italy. Score sample page Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3.

Maritime Rites Artship (2002), for conch shell, shofar, ship's trimmings; spontaneous performance with Cenk Ergün on the Artship in Oakland. 20'. Listen to an excerpt

Goodbye to All That (2002), for 3 voices or instruments. For Ben Piekut.

Toto Angelica (2001), solo performance for sampler and midi keyboard. First performance Angelica festival Bologna May 2001.  See discography Listen to an excerpt

The Last Dance (2001), for tape, big band, solo drum set. First performance with George Yoshida's big band for the June Watanabe Dance Co., San Francisco, April 28, 2001.


The Last Dance

Spare Ribs And Short Circuits (2001), solo performance for sampler and midi keyboard. On Oasis: Music from Mills 2001. CD004. Oakland, 2001. See discography Listen to an excerpt

May I Now (2001), for cello, electric guitar, percussion: Walkin Base, Unisono Grosso, Era Ora, Isteria, Hoe Down Town sample page, Folk U, Choral Reefs. Duration 63' (suite version 38'). First performance Jean Jeanrenaud, Fred Frith, William Winant for Margaret Jenkins Dance Co., Theater Artaud, San Francisco.  "A major new score...Dvorak on ecstasy" –- Ottavio Roca (SF Chronicle) Finalist, Izzy Award 2001-2002.  See discography. Listen to excerpt 1  excerpt 2 excerpt 3  excerpt 4 excerpt 5

Inner Cities 9 (2001), for piano solo. First performance Reinier van Houdt, Rotterdam 11/2001. Duration 28'. Score sample page See discography.

Four Flukes (2001), recorder quartet (2 tenor, bass, contrabass), percussion. First performance Apsara recorder quartet, Louvain Music Festival.

Sinfonia dei Ricci (2000), graphic score for any instruments, dedicated to Norman (Mommens) and Patience (Gray), first performance August 2000

Al Forno Al Sugo Al Pesto Al Vino (2001), for saxophone, clarinet, trombone, viola, piano, electric guitar, and electric bass, or any other instruments; optional live electronics. First performance Stefano Zorzanello and the Playground Ensemble, Angelica Festival, Bologna May 2001. Listen to an excerpt (performed by ne(x)tworks).

Weft Warp And Purl (2000), solo performance for sampler and midi keyboard. Duration 13'. First performance Knitting Factory NYC, Jan 2000. "One of the festival's highlights… a focused, powerful perspective on the Knit's history" - Douglas Wolk (Village Voice) Listen to an excerpt

Under The Fig Tree II (2000), for alto flute, bass flute, piccolo, mezzo soprano, harp, piano, sampling keyboard, electronics, percussion, whistling teakettle, Balinese whirley-gig, jump rope toy, child's drum machine. Duration 30'. First performance Wireworks, Muenster, October 2000.


Balinese whirley-gig - photo S. Levenstein

Rose of Beans II (2000), for violin, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion. Duration 22'. First performance eNsemble, St. Petersburg 2009. Score sample page (1) sample page (5) Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2.

Ritorno Alla Città (2000), for improvising ensemble and electronics. First performance with Stefano Zorzanello, Paolo Angeli, Daniela Cattivelli, Pierangelo Galantino, Olivia Bignardi, and musicians from the Banda Roncati, for an multimedia installation by Umberto Bignardi, Bologna, November 2000.

Ritorno alla Città

Inner Cities 8 (2000), for piano solo. First performance Eve Egoyan, Other Minds Festival, San Francisco, March 2001. Duration 43'. See discography Score sample page Listen to an excerpt

Erat Verbum John (2000), a sound portrait of John Cage. Created and first broadcast as a radio work at Westdeutscher Rundfunk January 2000. Duration 20'. First performed as a live solo for sampler and midi keyboard Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco, September 2000. See discography Listen to an excerpt

Totodonaueschingen (1999), installation and live performance for multiple sound sources located in park and on castle façade. First performance Donaueschingen festival, October 1999. (program notes) Listen to an excerpt.

Three Flukes (1999), for flute trio. First performance Karen Levine Flute Trio, Musica Nova, Munich November 1999.

Strum City (1999), for five electric guitars. Duration 6'. Arranged by Dan Joseph. First performance Mills College, spring 1999.  Score sample page Listen to an excerpt See discography.

Inner Cities 6-7 (1999), for piano solo. First performance Jed Distler, Mills College, February 1999. Duration 36'. Score sample page (1) sample page (14) sample page (15) See discography.

Inner Cities 5 (1999), for piano solo. First performance Daan Vandewalle, Le Lieu Unique, Nantes, April 2003. Duration 3'. See discography.

Inner Cities 3 (Light Flowers Dark Flowers II) (1999), for toy piano or piano. First performance Daan Vandewalle, Le Lieu Unique, Nantes, April 2003. Duration 7'. Score sample page See discography.

Hear Wiesbaden Here (1999), sound portrait-installation of the city of Wiesbaden, in three locations. Produced by Matis Hönig and Dorothee Lottmann-Kaeseler, Wiesbaden.

Charlie's Park (1998), for sampled natural sounds and midi keyboard. Duration 14'38". See discography.

Theme Park x 4 (1998), for percussion quartet. Duration 33'. First performance, featuring William Winant, Herbst Hall, UC Berkeley, April 1999. Score sample page; See discography Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3 excerpt 4

Kaboom (1998), sound installation for multiple taped sources in an open field, in collaboration with artist Melissa Gould. Earmarks exhibit, Mass MoCa, July 1998.

Jon's Nancy (1998), for any 4 instruments or solo piano.

Erat Verbum Finale (1997), for sampler, midi keyboard and four percussion. Duration 40'. First performance Koeln Triennale, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) May 1997.

Everybody Dreams Their Own Music (1997), installation for beds and multiple sound sources with recorded loops. First realization Opera Paese, Rome, July 1997.

Erat Verbum Echo (1997), radio work for sampler, midi keyboard, and percussion. Performed live with Manos Tsangaris. Duration 20'. Created and first broadcast at Westdeutscher Rundfunk.

Footprints of War (1997), for sax, percussion, piano, guitar, cello, and bass. First performance Bang on a Can All-Stars for Yoshiko Chuma's Footprints of War, Bang on a Can Marathon, Alice Tully Hall, NYC, May 1997.  Rescored for guitar, violin, cello, bass, tape for performance at the Kitchen, 1999. Listen to an excerpt

Pittura Fresca (1997), for violin solo and violin, piano, electric guitar, bassoon, two percussion, tape. Duration 34'. First performance David Abel with the Paul Dresher Ensemble, Theater Artaud, San Francisco, May 1998. Score sample page Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Rose of Beans (1997), for accordion, tuba, violin, piano, viola, percussion. Duration 36'. First performance The San Francisco Chamber Players; April 1999. (program notes) Score sample page - Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Endangered Species (1997), solo performance for midi grand piano, sampler, computer (max). First performance Akademie der Kunste, Berlin. “As a pianist, Curran is comparable to no other.” - Mark Swed (Los Angeles Times) (program notes) See discography Listen to an excerpt

Fault (1996; a/k/a A Phault is a Fault is a Falt, a/k/a Phault), for tape and percussion. Duration 12'. First performance with William Winant for the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Zellerbach Playhouse, Berkeley, CA.  "Suggestive soundscape" - Allan Ulrich (SF Examiner) See discography Listen to an excerpt


Fault, Margaret Jenkins Dance Company

Land Im Klang (1996), for four percussion, Midi grand piano, electric violin, multiple projections (by Ulli Sigg). First performance at Der Klangturm, St. Poelten, Austria, November 1996. Video

Music Is Not Music (1996), for chorus SATB; optional: chimes, bowed vibraphone, bowed piano strings, trumpet, tuba. Duration 26' (version with instruments: 31'). First performance Choral Academy of the Pacific, Mills College, February 1997. (program notes) "like a sonic vine that grows over a listener…...powerfully new and unforgettable" - ” Mark Swed (LA Times). Listen to an excerpt. Score sample page

My Body In The Course Of A Dream (1996), for chorus SATB. Duration 18'. First performance Choral Academy of the Pacific, Mills College, February 1997. (program notes)

In Hora Mortis (1996), for chamber orchestra (25 instruments). Duration 71'. First performance Radio Symphony of Stuttgart for Achim Freyer's Freyer-Ensemble, Schwetzingen Festival, May 1996. Listen to an excerpt

Theme Park x 1 (a/k/a Bang Zoom, 1995), for solo percussion. Duration 33'. First performance William Winant, Mills College, Oakland, 1996. (program notes) See discography.

Mo Era Ora (1995), for two or more pianos and/or pitched mallet instruments. First performance Ars Ludi and Alter Ego ensembles, Ferrara, Italy.

Black Flag (1994) – Sound installation in collaboration with artist Stephen Faulk for the CAPP Street Project, Old Glory New Story: Flagging the 21st Century, San Francisco.

Endangered Species (initially titled Inner Cities 5; 1994-96), for piano. First performance Alvin Curran, c. 1995. “Moody, audaciously lovely reflections” - Kosman (SF Chronicle) "An overwhelmingly gentle litany, balanced at the edge of silence" - Denis Philippe. Score sample page

A Beginner's Guide To Attracting Birds (1995), musique concrete for radio. Duration 44'. Commissioned and first broadcast by New Radio and Performing Arts Inc. (program notes) Listen in full on the web.

The Twentieth Century (1994), for Diskklavier (midi grand piano). First performance Donaueschingen Festival, October 1996. (program notes) Listen to an excerpt

Via Delle Terme Di C. (1994), tape piece for radio, produced by Audiobox. First broadcast RAI, Rome.

Inner Cities 2 (1994), for piano solo. First performance Alvin Curran, Hessischer Rundfunk. Duration 26'. “Like a unification of all musics. In other words, honest joy.” - Harry Rolnick “Luminous and desolated beauty, in obstinate search of the Absolute” - Denis Philippe (program notes) Score sample page (1) sample page (9) See discography. Listen to an excerpt

Electric Rags III (1994), solo performance for live keyboard electronics. First performance Mills College, Oakland. See discography and program notes Listen to an excerpt

 

VSTO long version (1993), for string quartet. First performance Soldier string quartet, City Center, NY, with Trisha Brown Dance Co. (Another Story as in Falling) - "The exuberance of a cat's yowl and the jumbled sound of our scrambled world" - Anna  Kisselgoff (NY Times)

When My Feet Felt The Path That My Eyes Could Not See (1993), for chorus SATB on texts by John Cage; optional: chimes, bowed vibraphone, bowed piano strings, trumpet, tuba. First performance Mills College, Choral Academy of the Pacific, February 1997. Duration 15'. "Simple but not simplistic" - Alex Ross (NY Times) (program notes) Score sample page (1) sample page (5)

Walls of Jericho (1993; now titled Shofar), solo performance for shofar and computer. First performance Roulette, New York. "'Walls of Jericho' did not evoke the military operation so much as the mystical world from which the shofar draws its power. Mr. Curran's blasts...grew into a torrent of chaotic, powerful timbres." - Allan Kozinn (NY Times)

Inner Cities 1 (1993), for piano solo. First performance Alvin Curran, Hessischer Rundfunk. Duration 29'. Score sample page See discography. Listen to an excerpt

One Story as in Falling (1992), for sampling keyboard. First performance Montpellier, for the Compagnie Bagouet with choreography by Trisha Brown. "Geometric gestures that are as spare as Alvin Curran's electronic sound-score is evocative" - Jennifer Dunning (NY Times)

One Story as in Falling

Erat Verbum Delta (1992), radio work, morphing of human speech with electronic sound, in collaboration with The Hub, Mills College. Duration 18'. Created and first broadcast at Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Listen to an excerpt

For M.G.: The Movie (1991; earlier version: One Step Too - “Amiable, nostalgic and loose-limbed…plenty to engage the ear” - Joshua Kosman, SF Chronicle), for piano and tape. First performance with the Trisha Brown Dance Co., L'Hippodrome de Douai, Douai, France, November 8, 1991. "A beautiful rewrite of Satie overlaid with graffiti" - Joshua Kosman (SF Chronicle) "A very beautiful score" - Chrystel Chabert.  "Rich and very evocative" - Delphine Goater (ResMusica) Listen to an excerpt


For MG: The Movie - photo Neil Hanna

Erat Verbum Charlie (1992), radio work for alphabetic codes and live electronics. Created and first broadcast at Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Duration 21'. Listen to an excerpt

Just This As If It Had No What (1992), for chorus SATB on texts by John Cage. Recorded by the Vokalensemble of the SWR radio, 2002. Duration 6'. Listen to an excerpt

Schtyx (1992), for piano, violin, and percussion. Duration 38'. First performance Abel Steinberg Winant trio, Mills College, Oakland, 1993. "Equally nonsensical and exuberant...surprisingly moving" - Mark Swed (LA Times) (liner notes) Score sample page (4) sample page (17) sample page (18) sample page (20) sample page (23) Available from New World Records; see discography Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3

Schtyx, excerpts: Maya Dunietz, Rebecca Huber, Elyssa Shalla. Video by Susan Levenstein (9:46)

Why is This Night Different From All Other Nights (1992), for violin, tuba, accordion, tape, prepared piano, optional percussion. Duration 33'. First performance San Francisco Contemporary Chamber Players Series. (liner notes) See discography. Score sample page Listen to an excerpt.

Animal Behavior (a/k/a/ Animal Behaviour, 1992), for sampler and midi keyboard and optional percussion. Duration 18'. First performance Alvin Curran and William Winant, Mills College, Oakland. (liner notes) See discography Listen to an excerpt

Notes From Underground (1991), sound installation for tape (collage of voices) in Floor Plan by artist Melissa Gould. Ars Electronica Festival, Linz.  Listen to an excerpt.

Erat Verbum Bravo (1991), radio work for human and animal language with live electronics. Duration 20'. Created and first broadcast at Westdeutscher Rundfunk.

First Octave (1991), for clarinet and electronics. First performance David Keberle and Alvin Curran. Duration 13'. See discography Listen to an excerpt.

His Hymn (a chorale for Dieter Schnebel) (1990).

Beatles Arrangements (1990), for piano solo. First performance Aki Takahashi. See discography. When I'm Sixty-Four score sample page, listen to an excerpt; From Eleanor Rigby (duration 7'): score sample page, listen to an excerpt

Call To Prayer (1990), for chorus, church bells, synthesizers, shofar, tape. Duration 23'. First performance Montreal, New Music America 1990.

Shofar (1990), first version, for rams' horns, computer live electronics, accordion, soprano clarinet. Duration 37'. First performance Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Music of Our Time, Cologne. Listen to an excerpt.

Maritime Rites Sydney (1990), for drummers, aborigine musicians, 10 conch shell players on barges; ship whistles and horns on moving boats; keyboard. First performance in front of the Opera House, Sydney.


photo Nigel Helyer

Tufo Muto (1990), for tape, four percussion, rock group, two wind ensembles. First performance in the stone quarry of Matera, Italy. Listen to an excerpt

Erat Verbum (1990-97), multi-part radio work for natural sounds and live electronics (see Erat Verbum Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Finale, John). Produced and first broadcast by Westdeutscher Rundfunk. See discography Listen to excerpts from alpha charlie delta John

Erat Verbum Alpha (1990), radio work for human language and live electronics. Duration 20'. Created and first broadcast at Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Listen to an excerpt

Electric Rags II (1989), for saxophone quartet and optional electronic interludes. Tracks: continental shelf-dance, wonder bread, loot and lime, major space, field it, dust bowl, general cluster, before "at Egypt", from four or more, one and, BLOW-HOLE, List 1º and IIº, walking bases, scusame, I walk alone, Z train, Little Him - Lo Main, harmony circus, grandma's quilt, when in but out but, Diana's Quilt and Mirror, other brothers, cords of would, protein wrappers, solar beans, amino acids, prehistory, corny island, for Giacinto, Jurassic Times. Duration 66'. First performance Rova Sax Quartet, Life on the Water, San Francisco. Score sample page (3) sample page (7) sample page (18) See discography Listen to excerpt 1 (Scusami I Walk Alone) excerpt 2 (Other Brothers)

Seven Articles (1989), for voice, violin, piano, percussion, cello, bassoon, saxophone, clarinet. Duration 32'. First performance Relache Ensemble. Listen to an excerpt

Bottled Aires (1989), for keyboard or two instruments. Incorporated into Pittura Fresca (excerpt) and into Under the Fig Tree II (excerpt)

Variations on a Scene (1989), for tape, flugelhorn, piano. Music for Joan Jonas's theater work. First performance Alvin Curran, Wave Hill, New York. "Characteristically haunting" - John Rockwell (NY Times)

Variations on a Scene, Vassiviére-en-Limousin, 1993

VSTO (1989), for string quartet. Duration 18'. First performance Silesian String Quartet, Berlin. Available from New World Records; for CD see discography; Score sample page Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Crystal Psalms (1988), radio concert for six choruses; six sextets each including a quartet (violas, cellos, bass clarinets, bass flutes, trombones, tenor sax/tuba) plus accordion and percussion; tape. Duration 53'. Produced and first broadcast by a consortum of six European radios with coordination from RAI, Rome. Used as music for Nancy Karp's dance piece, Kristallnacht, 1993: "Extraordinary...a great American score" - Octavio Roca (SF Chronicle). See discography and liner notes Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Edible Weeds (1988), for piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, trombone, percussion. Duration 43'. First performance Group 180, Budapest. Listen to an excerpt

Schtetl Settings (1988), a/k/a Eleven Schtetl Settings, for piano solo. First performance Yvar Mikhashoff. Score sample page

For Julian (1988), for voices or chorus, shofar, saxophone. Duration 31'. First performance Curran, Steve Lacy, Judith Malina, and the Cäcilien-Chor directed by Manfred Niehaus, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne. WDR Ars Acustica International Prize 1988. See discography and program notes Listen to an excerpt.

Schtetl Variations (1988), for piano solo. Duration 39'. First performance Yvar Mikhashoff. (liner notes) See discography. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Maritime Rites Philadelphia (1987), for imported ship horns, brass and percussion ensembles on boats, produced by Relâche Ensemble for New Music America. First performance Philadelphia. Listen to an excerpt on the web

Waterworks Linz (1987), for shiphorns, brass ensemble, tape, fireworks, in collaboration with fireworks artist Pierre-Alain Hubert. Ars Electronica Festival, Sound Cloud, Linz. Listen to an excerpt.

Sing (1987), environment for mixed voices. First performance Warsaw.

Oif dem Weg Schtaeit a Boim (1987), for chorus, violin, and Curran solo. First performance with Jon Rose and Ensemble Zeitklänge (Mirjam Sohar), Akademie der Kunste, West Berlin.

Maritime Rites Wasserkorso (1987), for live shiphorns on shore. First performance Berlin. Listen to an excerpt

Cartoline Romane (1987; also known as Metropolis Rom), musique concrete for radio. Duration 55'. Produced and first broadcast by Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne. Listen to an excerpt.

Little Pearls (1987), for piano solo. First performance Yvar Mikhashoff, Buffalo. Score sample page

Amazing Cage (1986), for piano, violin, bass drum. First performance Alvin Curran, Robin Schulkowski, and Jon Rose for the Westdeutscher Rundfunk program Cologne: CageNachtTag. See discography.

Era Ora (1986), for two pianos. Duration 29'. First performance Ursula Oppens and Anthony Davis, New York. See discography.

For Four Or More/Four or Five (1986), for electrically enhanced string quartet and computer-controlled synthesizer (early version of VSTO). First performance Kronos Quartet, Darmstadt.

The Walk/Walkman Berlin (1986), for tape, created for Willem de Ridder and Cora's Walkman tour of West Berlin, March 1986.

Electric Rags I (1985), solo performance for midi grand piano. Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) Cologne. “Fiendish keyboard technique… like the cantus firmus running slowly along beneath a large piece of Renaissance polyphony” – Joshua Kosman (SF Chronicle) (program notes)

Last Acts of Julian Beck (1985), for piano solo. Sections: Julian Steps Out for a Cappuccino, He Meets His Maker on Upper Broadway, Walks Into Paradise Now. Duration 21'. First performance Frederic Rzewski, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne. Score sample page See discography Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

For Julian (1985), for tape. Duration 16'.

Lenz (1985), original music for the film Small Circles Great Plains, by Molly Davies/Sage Cowles. First performance with Curran and Barbara Heller for a live multimedia performance at the Centre Pompidou, Paris. See discography.

Nineteen Eighty-Five: A Piece For Peace (1985), for speakers, 3 choruses, 3 brass bands, 3 percussionists, and cello, violin and sax soloists. Simultaneous 3-country radio concert, Venice, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, January 1, 1985. Produced and first broadcast by VPRO Hilversum, HR Frankfurt, and RAI. Prix Italia (Gian Franco Zaffrani Prize for music) 1985.  (program notes) Listen to an excerpt.

Sonic Geography (1985), open score environment for any number of instruments. First performance New Music America, Cal Arts, Los Angeles. “Peacefully beguiling” – Laura Kuhn (Perspectives of New Music)

Maritime Rites NPR Radio Series (1984), for sounds of the East Coast of the USA and soloists. Duration 11' per episode. Produced and first broadcast by National Public Radio. World Music (with Leo Smith), Rattlesnake Mountain (with Pauline Oliveros), Coastline (with Steve Lacy), Mine (with Clark Coolidge), Improvisation (with Joe Celli), Soft Shoulder (with Jon Gibson), From Center of Rainbow, Sounding (with Malcolm Goldstein), Improvisation (with George Lewis), Ice, Dew, Food, Crew, Ape (with John Cage), Maritime Rites (Curran solo). See discography. Listen to excerpt 1 (Curran solo) excerpt 2 (with Steve Lacy)

Hope Street Tunnel Blues (1983), for piano solo. Duration of part II 16', part III 16'. First performance Yvar Mikhashoff. “An energy-accumulating machine that resolves into an irresistable river, a true lancinating blues” - Denis Philippe "The kind of sleight-of-hand of which John Cage himself would approve" - Stefanie Lubkowski, The Boston Musical Intelligencer. "Engrossing" - Matthew Guerrieri, Boston Globe "By one of the great minds of our era" - Francesco Tristano "A dozen minutes of awful beauty" - Keith Powers, Boston Classical Review "Remarkable...forced most of the recital's earlier music out of my mind – along with where I was, my address, and the login details to most of my online accounts" - Paul Kilbey. Score sample pages: part I part II part III See discography. Listen to excerpt 1 (part II), excerpt 2 (part III)

Unsafe For More Than 25 Men (also known as Unsafe For More Than 25 Men At One Time; 1983), for instruments brought by public, playing music written on the wall. First performance, with Jacob Burkhardt, the Anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge, New York.  "A gentle, Cageian sonic tapestry" - John Rockwell (NY Times)

Riverrun (1983), for chorus SATB, on text by James Joyce. Duration 10'. First performance Tomhuis Choir, Budapest, 1984.

a way, a lone (1983), for chorus SATB, on text by James Joyce. Duration 8'. First performance Tomhuis Choir, Budapest, 1984. Listen to an excerpt.

Field It (1983), for tape. For Yoshiko Chuma Dance Company. See discography.

For Cornelius (1982 [duration 14-18']; revised version 1993 [duration 20']), for piano solo. First performance Ursula Oppens. “Deeply philosophical, unnerving, and serene.” – Kyle Gann "The very beautiful, song-like introduction and...a peaceful chorale...bracket a roiling maelstrom of gradually shifting harmonics" “Somber, graceful, moving music” - Brian Olewnick Score sample pages: part I part II See discography and liner notes Listen to 1982 version excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3 and 1993 version excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Maritime Rites Amsterdam (1982), for singers in rowboats, shiphorns, foghorns. First performance Port of Amsterdam.

Trasloco (1982), for mixed instruments and voices. First performance by students from various autonomous music schools, Rome.

Monumenti (1982), for chorus, bass drums, trombone ensemble, Musica Elettronica Viva, tape. The Alter Oper. Frankfurter Festwochen.

Natural History (1982), musique concrete. Editions Giannozzo cassette, Berlin, 1982. See discography.

Bridges (1981), on themes from the Crossing, for chorus, four women soloists, piano. First performance Alvin Curran, Michiko Hirayama, Joan Logue, Maggie Nichols, Ille Strazza, and students from the Accademia Nazionale dell'Arte Drammatica, at the Oratorio della Chiesa Nuova, Rome.

Songs On One, Two, Three, Four or More Notes (1981), solo performance on piano, voice, and synthesizer. See discography Listen to an excerpt

Concerto Grosso (1981), for big band. First performance RAI Big Band, RAI Sala M, Via Asiago, Rome.

Community Sing (1980), second version, on themes from The Crossing, for unaccompanied voices. First performance Rome.

Music For Every Occasion (1979), version for chamber orchestra with solo piano. First performance the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra with Alvin Curran. Denis Russel Davies, conductor, Minneapolis, 1980.

Maritime Rites (1980-2016+), for musicians, ship horns, and other maritime sounds, performed on and near bodies of water. See entries for Riti Marittimi, Waterworks Linz, and Maritime Rites Amsterdam, Kiel, Wasserkorso, Philadelphia, Sydney, Artship, Kinsale, Tate, Bonn, Palermo, Tempe, Hobart, Fremantle, Zurich, Central Park, Frankfurt. Other performances with musicians in rowboats in Kassel (1981), Minneapolis (c. 1981), Chicago (1982); with shiphorns on boats La Spezia (Fog Banks, 1982). See also Maritime Rites radio series and Maritime Rites installation page. Listen to excerpts from Maritime Rites Kiel Wasserkorso Artship CD (Curran soloist), CD (Steve Lacy soloist)

Riti Marittimi (1979, a/k/a Maritime Rites), for choruses in rowboats. First performance by students of the Accademia dell’Arte Drammatica, on the "laghetto" in Villa Borghese, Rome.

The Works (1979), version for big band. First performance RAI Big Band.

The Crossing (1978), for trombone, soprano saxophone, piano, 2 synthesizers, chorus SATB, 3 female soloists, speaker/cantor.

Prairies (1977), for voice and tape.  First performance Joan Logue, American Academy, Rome. "Marvelously rich textures" - Channing Gray (The Providence Journal)

Mosaici (1977), for voice, piano, soprano saxophone, guitar. First performance with Maria Monti, Steve Lacy, Tony Ackerman, Pistoia.

Bandoneon Dream (1977), for bandoneon. Original music for Mario Ricci's production of J. J. Abrahams's play, L'uomo col magnetofono, Rome.

Canti Illuminati (1977), part I for voice, vocal ensemble, synthesizer, piano, and tape, duration 24'; part II solo performance for voice, synthesizer, tape, duration 27'. First performance Rome. See discography and liner notes Listen to an excerpt

Le Cinque Stagioni (1976), orchestral music for television series by Gianni Amico, RAI. See discography.

The Works (1976), solo performance for voice, piano and tape. Duration 30'. First performance Rome. "Original and intensely musical" - John Rockwell (NY Times) "Enthralling" - Nicholas Kenyon (The New Yorker) See discography and liner notes Listen to an excerpt.

Locus Solus (1976), original music for a theater work by Meme Perlini

Tango N. 1 (1975), piano solo. Duration 4'. On the theme from Meme Perlini's theater work, Tarzan. First performance Berlin. See discography Listen to an excerpt

Grand Hotel Des Palmes (1978), original music for feature film by Meme Perlini (Underwater Princess Waltz...). See discography

Aria Terra Acqua e Fuoco, Dove, Lo zoo (1974), songs for Maria Monti, on texts by Aldo Braibanti (Il Bestiario). See discography. With Maria Monti, AC, Steve Lacy, Roberto Laneri, Luca Balbo, Tony Ackerman

Light Flowers Dark Flowers (Fiori Chiari Fiori Oscuri, 1974), solo performance for toy piano, ocarina, piano, voice, and tape. First performance Rome.  "Lovely music" - Tom Johnson (Village Voice) "Very few composers have been able to blend such disparate materials with as much success" - Robert Palmer (NY Times) . See discography. Listen to an excerpt.

Songs and Views From the Magnetic Garden (Canti e Vedute del Giardino Magnetico, 1973), solo performance for voice. kalimba, flugelhorn, synthesizer, and taped sounds. From a Room on the Piazza duration 4', Crystal Aires 11', Walked the Way Home 11', Gli Scariolanti 2', On My Satin Harp 20', At Harmony Ranch 5'. First performance Rome. "A whole wonderful 90-minute non-narrative film is all there in pure sound."- Tom Johnson, Village Voice 1975. "True musical masterpiece" - George Grella (the Brooklyn Rail) See discography Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2 excerpt 3

Under the Fig Tree (1972), solo performance for synthesizer or for instruments with tape. First performance Giancarlo Schiaffini and Michele Iannacone, American Academy in Rome, 1975. See discography. Listen to an excerpt.

Will Term (1972), text by Clark Coolidge. First performance Teatro Commumale, Pistoia May 1972. Listen.

Of About (1972), for voice and tape, on text by Clark Coolidge. A version performed in The Crossing.

Music For Every Occasion (1972), for any instruments. 51 monophonic pieces, including Under the Fig Tree, A Room in Rome, and Walked the Way Home. See discography.

Pilgrimage (1971), for synthesizer, bockflutes, cello, trombone, piano; score for the film of the same name by Beni Montresor. Duration 95', Vistavision Color.

Collected Airs (1971), for countertenor, contralto, flute, cello, trombone. First performance Carole Plantamura and the Five Centuries Ensemble.

Community Sing (1971), for unaccompanied voices (included in the collection, Music for Every Occasion). First performance The Kitchen, New York, c. 1971.

Heart Of The Macaw (1970), for chamber orchestra. First performance Puppet Theater, Rome, with Ginnie Becker; also used in the film of the same name.

Summer (1970), original music for film by Rudy Burckhardt. Duration 16', 16 mm.

Magic Carpet (1970), brass, aluminum, and glass chimes, steel strings. Sound installation, by and with Paul Klerr. First performance Mara Coccia Gallery, Rome. See discography. Listen to an excerpt.

Max Ernst (1970), musique concrete, original music for documentary film by Lorenzo Pellizzi on the De Menil Foundation's Ernst collection.

Zabriskie Point (1970), original music by Musica Elettronica Viva for feature film by Michelangelo Antonioni

The Rubber Bee (1969), tape piece on texts by Clark Coolidge

Processional (1969), for voices and portable instruments in movement. First performance Musica Elettronica Viva.

Quilt (1969), for double bass and tape.  First performance Bertram Turetsky, Hart School of Music, Hartford, Conn.

Three Illustrated Lectures (1968), Sitting Room Song (1969), Rounds (1969, for 3 or more voices; listen to excerpt) “A slow-moving, full-textured vocal canonic exploration of the harmonic series. The resultant dominant 7ths, added 6ths...restored the crude untempered intonation of 'nature'." – Michael Nyman (The Musical Times), Still Life (c. 1969), open-form instruction pieces for various voices and instruments.

A Day in the Country (1968), for tape. Duration 70'. First presented at Palazzo Taverna, Rome. Listen to excerpt 1 excerpt 2

Madonna & Child (1968), for female voice and tape (of same singer). Duration 10'. First performance Joan Logue, St. Paul's Within the Walls Church, Rome. Score sample page Listen to an excerpt

His Crystal Flag (1967), for Chorus SATB and organ obbligato. First performance St. Paul's Within the Walls Church, Rome.

La Lista del Giorno (1967), for saxophone, piano, electronics, tape, speaking voice, hotplate. Duration 17'. First performance Musica Elettronica Viva, Sala Belloch, Rome. Listen to an excerpt

Watercolormusic (1966), sound environment for tape. First presented at St. Paul's Within the Walls Church, Rome, with art exhibit by Edith Schloss.

Home Made (1965), for flute, double bass, percussion, soprano voice, and multiple small instruments. First performance The Electric Candle, London, 1970. "A quite striking through composed piece...which also exploits cleverly controlled sections of improvisation." Dominic Gill (The Musical Times)

First Piano Piece (1965), for piano solo. Duration 13'. First performance Richard Trythall, American Academy, Rome. Score sample page Listen to an excerpt

Second Trio (1962), for clarinet, violin, piano. First performance 1963, Berlin. First Rome performance Bill Smith, Joan Kalish, Cornelius Cardew, 1965, American Academy.

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