Music for Orchestra
TRANSFORMATIONS: An Orchestral Triptych
Large Orchestra - Duration: c 18:30
1998 ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Competition
SPECIAL DISTINCTION
Premiered by Richard Hoenich and the New England Conservatory Orchestra this three-movement work is similar in form to a triptych painting. There is a center "panel" which is the expressive focus of the work and on each side there are related panels of smaller scope. Still on the Edge is fast and furious, but at the same time it is transparent and virtuosic for many parts of the orchestra. Even in the more lyric middle section the tempo does not waver and the underlying energy is clear. Funeral Music with Dance was somewhat inspired by the slow movement of the Eroica of Beethoven although it bears little resemblance. It begins with a somber march-like character, which is later juxtaposed against a waltz-like dance as it moves toward a cathartic and somewhat dark climax. Past Refrains is a lyrical, relaxed and fairly brief melodic statement interspersed with several more restless wanderings.
Recorded on compact disc, The Skylark Sings: Music by David Kechley, Liscio 97892 (lisciorecordings.com)
Available on rental
The Skylark Sings Soprano and Orchestra - Duration: 31:00
"In an uninterrupted flow of seven songs, Kechley set to music a skillful collage of Japanese haikus, interwoven with Persian, Chinese and American Indian texts. A large orchestra, reinforced by varied and highly effective percussion instruments wrapped the soprano’s beautifully inflected discourse into a brightly shimmering cloak of sound.....Beauty, ineffable and ephemeral, was at the core of the words and of the music, and instantly achieved the ever-recurring miracle of transforming thoughts of death and loss and mourning into a rich, highly rewarding aesthetic experience. At the end of the piece, the chorus, perched high on the back balcony of the Ozawa Hall, intoned a moving Native American text: Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there I do not sleep." --Simon Wainrib, Berkshire Record. Following its premiere at Tanglewood, Andrew Pincus of the Berkshire Eagle wrote "The tone poem offers striking images: Japanese scales and instrumental effects, insects buzzing in the strings, a strong rhythmic punch for magic mushrooms’ effect, a leaf fluttering downward in a harp passage, a chorale in the brasses to suggest ‘the giant tortoise of paradise.’ And over all hovers the poignant voice, dwelling not on death but on life." Commissioned by the Berkshire Symphony.
Recorded on compact disc, The Skylark Sings: Music by David Kechley, Liscio 97892 (lisciorecordings.com)
Available on rental
FLOW: Transcending Passages for Cello and Orchestra
Cello and Orchestra - Duration: c. 24:00
Commissioned by the Seattle Symphony with funding from the Barlow Foundation for cellist, Walter Gray, this 3-movement work is a continuous interaction between cello and orchestra. A River of Voices begins with clearly shaped phrases in the cello, which are constantly immersed in the fast moving orchestral passages and interrupted by the cello's own funky rhythms. As the phrases begin to dissolve, the momentum subsides, and the cello is left to drift, unclear of its direction. In Prayer and Transformation the cello find its course in new phrases which echo earlier orchestral material and become the driving force leading the entire orchestra to its own overpowering transformation. The cello sets a fast pace for Relentless beginning quietly and transparently continuing to lead the orchestra with unflagging energy to finish with one final burst.
Available on rental
PATHWAYS: A Symphony in Four Movements
Large Orchestra - Duration: 30:42
Movements: Oracle/Ancient Fantasies and Forgotten Songs/Slow Funk and Fast Shuffle/Revelation. Commissioned by the Winston-Salem Symphony, Pathways is described by Jim Shertzer of the Winston-Salem Journal as "a contemporary musical rarity: a work that is entertaining and substantial." Ancient Fantasies was "brimming with plaintive, other worldly tunes and seductive musical textures" and Slow Funk and Fast Shuffle was a "crowd pleaser" as the "unexpected accents of the ‘funk’ section and the jazzy solos of the ‘shuffle’ section had even leaden feet tapping." George Sinclair of The Sentinel says the music of Pathways "sounds both familiar and new" and "although the sounds are wondrously varied and complex" there is "tonal clarity and stark simplicity of melodic line."
Available on rental
KARASUMA: A Fast Funk for Orchestra
Large Orchestra/trap set - Duration: c 7:00
Premiered by the Boston Pops, KARASUMA is a true "crossover" inspired by an encounter with music students in Kyoto, Japan. Karasuma literally means "blackbird" but has more complex meanings in its use as the name of a street, subway line and district of the city. It opens with a funky cowbell rhythm punctuated by brass material which is later transformed into a beautiful and expansive divisi string section leading back to a "big band shout chorus" finale.
Available on rental
Tuahku: Dark Samba for Orchestra
Large Orchestra - Duration: c. 10:00
The second in a series of "crossover" orchestral works which combine various popular styles and musical ideas with classical methods of development and orchestral techniques. The word, Tuahku, is an attempt to spell in English the Native American, Lushootseed name [xw´aq’w] for that place which is now widely know as Mt. Rainier. This 14,000 majestic peak is probably the best known symbol of the Pacific Northwest where the composer was living at the time he conceived and completed most of the piece. Tuahku, the "(sky) wiper" must have been an inspiration for people living near it for hundreds if not thousands of years. As a dormant (not dead) volcano, this deceptively peaceful snow capped landmark certainly has its dark and threatening side as it conceals its tremendous power and energy far below. The subtitle, Dark Samba, refers to the "double-time" rhythmic pattern which underlies the entire piece from the crashing opening throughout the more reflective and somewhat foreboding sections.
Recorded on compact disc, The Skylark Sings: Music by David Kechley, Liscio 97892 (lisciorecordings.com)
Available on rental
Lightning Images
Large Orchestra - Duration: 16:15
1994 ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Competition
Honorable Mention
Received Honorable Mention, 1994 ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Competition. Stravinsky said he "saw" the entire Rite of Spring in a dream in the same way one sees a scene at night during a flash of lightning, only for a few seconds, but in great detail. Images opens with a crash of brake drums against a "black" background and goes on to explore its basic material in both textural and intensely lyrical ways.
Available on rental
For Young People, Family, or Pops Concerts
Alexander and the Windup Mouse
Narrator and Orchestra - Duration: 17:00
Based on the children’s book by Leo Lionni and dedicated to the composer’s son, Benjamin, this narrated work has been performed successfully by a number of orchestras including the Seattle Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, Johnson City Symphony, Charlotte Symphony and Baton Rouge Symphony. Alexander is a real mouse, but would like to be a toy mouse like Willy. In the end when Willy is found in a box of old discarded toys, Alexander asks the magic lizard to turn Willy into a real mouse and they "dance until dawn." This wonderful story is delightfully illustrated by the music with each character clearly portrayed. The music is sophisticated yet accessible to both children and adults alike.
Available on rental
Clocks and More Clocks
Narrator and Orchestra - Duration: 12:50
Based on the book by Pat Hutchins and dedicated to the composer’s son, Aaron, this work tells the story of Mr. Higgins who cannot understand why his clocks do not all tell the same time. As he runs from the living room to the bedroom to the attic, each clock is a minute faster than the last one! Finally, the clock maker shows him that the clocks are all just right. Each clock is musically represented by a different set of percussion sounds and at the end all the clocks sound together in a percussion extravaganza!
Available on rental
Mama Don’t Allow
Narrator and alto saxophone, trumpet, string bass, percussion/traps, bassoon/contrabassoon, trombone, harp, violin, cello - Duration: c. 10:30.
Commissioned by the Women’s Association of the Minnesota Orchestra and based on the children’s book by Thacher Hurd, Mama was performed with great success more than 100 times during the 94-95 and 1999-2000 season. Miles receives a saxophone for his birthday and he and his friends form the "Swamp Band." They play so loud that the townspeople throw them out, but the alligators "like it loud" and the band is hired to play for the alligator ball. Miles and his friends are almost eaten, but narrowly escape as they put the alligators to sleep asking the audience to sing with them a "Lullaby of Swampland." The musicians play the parts of the characters and are called upon to join the narrator in telling the story with brief dialogue. The names of the actual musicians can be substituted for the story’s characters to personalize each performance.
Available on rental
The Funky Chicken for String Orchestra
String Orchestra - Duration: 3:45
Described by Andrew Pincus of the Berkshire Eagle as "a jazzy fugue which [works] its way up through the strings to the accompaniment of a jazz figure in the bass fiddle," this piece has received more than 200 performances by such varied groups as the Cleveland Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Winston-Salem Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Buffalo Symphony, and the Louisville Orchestra.
Available on rental
Works for Chamber Orchestra
Five Ancient Lyrics on Poems by Sappho
Soprano, Harp and Strings - Duration: c. 18:00
First Prize Winner
Shreveport Symphony 1980-81 Composers Competition
"Brilliantly conceived. Always certain of its direction, and displaying unity as well as variety" wrote Melinda Bargreen of the Everett Herald upon hearing the premiere by the Northwest Chamber Orchestra. This is a melodic and highly accessible work consisting of five songs set in English translated from the original ancient Greek fragments. Sappho's lyric poetry is beautifully enhanced and intensified by the musical setting.
Available on rental
Silver Tears
Solo piccolo and strings - Duration: 5:05
"…evokes a feeling of Japanese haiku in his lyrical work" according to Micheal Anthony of the Minneapolis Star & Tribune after hearing its performance by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. This brief work "uses modest means to [achieve a] most expressive effect. The quasi-improvisatory solo line...builds against the sheerest string textures until it can build no more, whereupon it ceases" wrote Rodney Shewan of the St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch in his review of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra performance. His final statement says it all: "Simple, but ravishing."
Available on rental
Concerto for Violin and Strings
Solo violin and string orchestra - Duration: c. 29:00
Winner
Opus I Chamber Orchestra competition for Ohio Composers, 1979
Commissioned by the Northwest Chamber Orchestra for violinist Linda Melsted, this work exploits the textural and timbral possibilities of the orchestra as well as the solo violin while at the same time providing rhythmic energy and lyricism. "Skillfully crafted and clear in structure...Gratefully written for strings, the concerto was designed to make the musicians sound good." says Wilma Salisbury of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Available on rental