Frank Retzel

S E L E C T E D   C O M P O S I T I O N S

 

Orchestral    Chamber    Piano Solo    Violin Solo

Organ Solo    Musical Theatre    Vocal Solo

Vocal Choral    Choral Arrangements

Instrumental Arrangements

Study Score

Recordings

                      

 

*              Published by the Association for the Promotion of New Music, New York (APNM) -- BMI Affiliation.

 

**           Seesaw Music, A Division of Subito Music Corporation

 

 

ORCHESTRAL

 

             Night Neon: Images for Orchestra - 2004  (30 min) (in preparation)

 

            Chansonnier for orchestra -1988 * (7 min)

            Recorded by the Slovak Radio Orchestra, Joel Suben, Conductor, for OPUS ONE Recording #CD156

 

            Love Divine for chorus and orchestra - 1995 ** (see Choral)

            Commissioned by the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens for the Papal Mass with Pope John Paul II, New York

            October 6, 1995, Brian Zuar, Conductor

 

            Crucifer for chorus and orchestra - 1995 ** (see Choral)

            Commissioned by the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens for the Papal Mass with Pope John Paul II, New York

            October 6, 1995, Brian Zuar, Conductor

 

            Tamarind for orchestra --1993, 1997* (25 min)

            Recorded by the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, David Oberg, Conductor, for

            OPUS ONE CD Recording (forthcoming)

 

            Tapestries for orchestra --1974* (18 min)

 

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CHAMBER (Two or More Instruments)

            

            Lyric Set for flute and harp--2006 (13min)

           

            Mosaic for octet -- fl, ob, Bb/bass cl, bsn, 2 vln, va, cello (wind quartet and string quartet) -- 2005 (12 min)

 

            Portrait in Fantasy for soprano, flute/alto flute, and electric piano --1997* (8 min)

                    I.        Blue Touch

    II.       Red Dancer

Premiered April 1998, Greenwich House “North River Music Series,” New York City.

 

            Blue-Line Strophes for seven instruments --1996* (14 min)

              2 fl, cl, 2 perc, keyboard, bass

 

            Sekem for brass quintet --1989* (6 min)

            Premiered April 1989, Church of St. Elizabeth and Fall 1990, concert of Long Island Composers Association

            Version 1: 3 trp, t tbn, b tbn; Version 2: 2 trp, hn, t tbn, b tbn

 

            Acclaim with Joy --1990* (10 min) (See Choral)

            Premiered April 1990, Church of St. Elizabeth.

 

            O Sons, O Daughters for flute and piano --1992* (6 min)

            Premiered December 1992 at the Greenwich House, New York City.

 

            Trinity for eight instruments --1993* (27 min) Chamber Ensemble version (see also Music Theatre)

            2 fl, ob, cl, 2 perc, pno, 3 actress-singers,

            Composed on a Fulbright Fellowship, Florence, Italy.

 

            Movements for four instruments --1984* (5 min)

            ob, va, bsn/contra, pno

            Commissioned by the Chamber Music Conference of the Northeast.

            Premiered August 14, 1984, Bennington, Vermont. Composer conducting.

 

            Lumen for six instruments --1983* (10 min)

            Premiered August 14, 1984, Bennington, Vermont. Composer conducting.

            fl, ob/eh, cl/b cl, pno, vn, vc

 

            Canticles (see choral)*

 

            Klage ('Lament') for amplified or unamplified flute and piano --1980* (9 min)

            Premiered October 1981, Manhattan School of Music, New York City,

            Sue Ann Kahn, flute.

 

            Amber Glass for mezzo soprano and four instruments --1979-80* (21 min) -- texts of Thomas Merton

            mezzo sop, alto fl, cl/b cl, vn, pno

            Premiered September 1980, Chicago, Illinois; First Complete Performance, New York  City, May 1987.

 

            One for amplified soprano, viola and harpsichord --1978* (12 min) (see vocal)

            may also be done unamplified, and with piano

 

            Swamp Music for ten instruments --1978* (20 min)

            fl/ a fl, s sax, b cl, 3 perc, pno, 2 vn,vc

            Winner, League-ISCM Composer's Award, 1979

            Premiered January 1988, North/South Consonance, New York City.

 

            Schism I for string quartet --1975* (16 min)

            Premiered May 1976, Chicago, Illinois, by Ralph Shapey's Contemporary Chamber Players.

               

            Symbiosis for electric cello and amplified piano --1974* (14 min)

            vc, pno 4 hands

            Commissioned by the Laudenslager Chamber Series, Michigan.

            Premiered March 1975 by the LCS, Museum of Art, Detroit.

            Revised and first performed at concert of SCI, Chicago, 1979.

 

            Laminar Flow for amplified ensemble (fl, alto sax, bass cl, guitar) organ and percussion -1973 (14 min)

 

            24 Modules for eleven instruments -1972 (10 min)

            Premiered June 1972, Detroit.

 

            Two Segments for String Quartet -1970 (14 min)

 

            Cables 87 for soprano and eight instruments -1970 (15 min) - texts of Thomas Merton

            Premiered June Festival, 1970, at Wayne State University, Detroit, by Faculty Ensemble.

 

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PIANO:  SOLO

 

            Landscapes --1998, 2002* (25 min)

            Part I premiered April, 1998, Greenwich House “North River Music Series”, New York City, Barry David Salwen.

 

            Line Drawings and Earthen Clay Figures* (21 min)

                    I.              Sketches -1980 (11 min)

                                    Premiered August 1981, New York City, David Holzman.

     

                    II.            Designs in Terra Cotta -1985 (10 min)

                                    Premiered January 31, 1986, New Orleans, LA, Barbara Jazwinski.     

 

            Two Pieces for Piano -1969 (12 min)

            Premiered October 1969, Wayne State University, Detroit.

 

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VIOLIN:  SOLO

 

            Poem --1981* (11 min)

            Commissioned by Oscar Ravina.

            Premiered by OR, October 1982, at Montclair State College, New Jersey.

 

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ORGAN:  SOLO

 

            Horae --1986* (27 min)

            Commissioned by David Shuler for Performance on February 22, 1986,

            St. Bartholomew’s Church, New York City.

 

            Anamnesis:  The City of God --older title Dispersion, 1977, revised 1980* (12 min)

            Premiered November 1977, Detroit, Michigan, David Wagner, Organist.

            Revised (1980), premiered by David Shuler, 1980, New York City.

 

            Laminar Flow (see ensemble)

 

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MUSICAL THEATRE

 

            Trinity: A Secular Liturgy for three actress-singers and instrumental ensemble --1993*

            Version includes staging and choreography.

 

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VOCAL:  SOLO

 

            Duets for voice (soprano) and piano --2003* (10 min) - texts of Seamus Heaney

            Premiered June 9, 2004, Symphony Space, NYC, Elizabeth Farnum, soprano, Christopher Oldfather, piano

 

            Reflections for voice (soprano) and piano -- 2002* (9 min) - texts of John Hollander

            Radio Premiere: WJFF (Upstate, NY) August, 2002

            Concert Premiere: January 30, 2003, Bruno Walter Auditorium, Lincoln Center

            “Composer Perspective Series” of the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts

            Pamela Myers, soprano, Diego Tornelli, piano

 

            Portrait in Fantasy (see ensemble)*

 

            Summer Songs for voice (soprano) and piano --1996* (20 min) -- texts of Millay, Heaney, Frost 

            Premiered April, 1998, Greenwich House “North River Music Series,” New York City

            Elizabeth Granados, soprano, Barry David Salwen, piano

 

            Daughter of Dawn for voice (soprano) and piano -1993* (17 min) -- texts of Solomon, Louys, St. Juan de la Cruz, and Claire.

            First part premiered as Love Songs, Greenwich House, New York City, December 1992; final version premiered March 1993,

            Composers Concordance, New York    City.

 

            A Bestiary for voice (high) and piano --1985* (9 min) -- texts of Roethke, Vogt, Rieu, Silverstein

            Premiered at Greenwich House, New York City, March 1990.

    

            Canticles (see choral)*

 

            Amber Glass (see ensemble)*

 

            One for amplified soprano, viola and harpsichord --1978* (12 min) -- text by Thomas Merton

            Premiered December 1, 1981, NYC, Third Street Music Settlement,

            Sheila Schoenbrun, Soprano.

 

            Cables 87 (see ensemble)

 

            Acclaim with Joy --1990* (see choral)

            Premiered April 14, 1990, New York City.**

 

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VOCAL:  CHORAL

 

            Love Divine -- Hymn Setting of 'Hyfrydol' (with additional music) for chorus and orchestra -- 1995.**

            Commissioned by the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens. Premiered October 6, 1995, at the Papal Mass with

            Pope John Paul II at Aqueduct Raceway, New York (orchestral version); June 2000, version for chorus,

            brass and organ performed at Mass of Installation for Archbishop Edward Egan, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City.

 

            Crucifer for chorus and orchestra -- 1995.** Commissioned by the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens.

            Premiered October 6, 1995, at the Papal Mass with Pope John Paul II at Aqueduct Raceway,

            New York (orchestral version). Available version for chorus, brass and organ.

 

            Jam sol recedit igneus -1992* (6 min) for chorus, Japanese Cup Bells and Hand Bells.

            Premiered 1993 at Church of Mary's Nativity:  Revised version premiered at the Solemn

            Vespers of the Diocesan Music Commission, April 1996.

 

            Acclaim with Joy -1990* (10 min) for Baritone Solo, SATB Chorus, Percussion, Brass Quintet and Organ.*

            Premiered April 14, 1990, Church of St. Elizabeth, New York City.

 

            Spare Us, O Lord for three soloists, SATB and org. --1985* (7 min)

            Premiered April 1985, St. John's Church, Stamford, Connecticut.

 

            Break Forth: A Motet for Christmas for SATB and org. --1984* (6 min)

            Premiered December 1985, St. John's Church, Stamford, Connecticut.

 

            Canticles for soprano and bass/baritone soloists, mixed chorus and fourteen instruments --1981-1983* (25 min)

            A complete version of Canticles would include Lumen (40 min)

            Composed on a Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

            Hymnus for SATB and org. --1981* (8 min)

            Commissioned by the Church of the Holy Trinity, New York City.

            Premiered by Church of the Holy Trinity, New York City, 1982.

 

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CHORAL ARRANGEMENTS

 

            Alleluia! Come People of America -1991-- arranged from Leonard Bernstein's Candide, for SATB chorus and organ. 

            Premiered April 1991, Church of St. Elizabeth, New York City.

 

            Silent Night -1991-- arranged from Franz Gruber, for SSAAB chorus and guitar.

            Premiered December 1991, Church of St. Elizabeth, New York City.

 

            Veni sancte Spiritus -1992-- performing edition of John Dunstable's Motet. Three-part vocal.

            Premiered April 1992, Church of Mary's Nativity Church, New York City.

 

            What Wondrous Love Is This for SAB (SSAATB) --1986

            Premiered March 27, 1986, at Church of St. Elizabeth, New York City, Composer Conducting.

 

            Parce Domine for SATB --1985

            Premiered April 5, 1985, at Church of St. Elizabeth, New York City, Compose Conducting.

 

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INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS

 

            Variations on 'Simple Gifts' -1992-- arranged from Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, for organ.

 

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STUDY SCORE

 

            Schism I also published in the Journal of Music Scores, Volume XIV of the American Society of University Composers.

 

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RECORDINGS

 

            Tamarind -- recorded by the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Katowice, Poland), David Oberg, Conductor

            for OPUS ONE Recording (forthcoming).

 

            Chansonnier--recorded by the Slovak Radio Orchestra, Joel Suben, Conductor for OPUS ONE Recording #CD156.

 

            Horae cycle of seven pieces for organ

            David Shuler, organ, on OPUS ONE Recording #CD155. 

 

            Line Drawings and Earthen Clay Figures

            Barry David Salwen, piano, on OPUS ONE Recording #CD165.

 

            Schism I for string quartet

            Tremont String Quartet, SCI Recording Series Number 8.

 

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*              Published by the Association for the Promotion of New Music, New York (APNM) -- BMI Affiliation.

 

**           Seesaw Music, A Division of Subito Music Corporation

 

 

OPUS ONE RECORDINGS may be ordered directly at

 

             Opus One

             Box 604

             Greenville, Maine 04441

 

or via ALBANY DISTRIBUTORS

 

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