David Kirtley - composer
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Commercial CD Publications

Leaves falling from the Holy Tree  In memoriam Nicholas Black Elk, holy man of the Oglala Sioux

(completed September 2001). For orchestra. Awarded the “Masterworks Prize” for 2006: selected as one of the winning works to be recorded and included in volume nine of ERM Media’s critically acclaimed compact disc series “Masterworks of the New Era” – released September 15, 2006. Performed by the Kiev Philharmonic under the baton of Robert Ian Winstin. CD and MP3 download available for purchase at NumusicDirect.com, Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, and other sites. (ca. 12 min. 30 sec.)

 

Performances of Original Compositions

In the Father’s Garden  an opera in one act (a new version for counter-tenor, baritone, and orchestra completed March 2007). New York City Opera selected this orchestrated version for their contemporary opera series, VOX 2007: Showcasing American Composers. Featuring the operas of twelve American composers, the showcase was on May 12 and 13 of 2007 in New York University’s Skirball Center. The composer’s orchestration was made possible in part by a generous grant from the American Music Center’s Composer Assistance Program. A 12-minute excerpt of New York City Opera’s reading of this piece may be listened to at: http://www.nycopera.com/vox. (complete opera: ca. 21 min.)

Haiku Songs of Karigane

(completed March 2006). A set of five songs for soprano and piano. Comprised of three new songs plus the two songs of the original Haiku Songs of Karigane of 2002 (listed below). Japanese haiku text by Kaoru Karigane. Premiered April 2, 2006 by MeeAe Cecilia Nam, soprano, and Mutsumi Moteki, piano in the King Center Recital Hall at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Subsequent performances by the same artists were on September 26, 2006 in Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and in Kimball Recital Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music on October 16, 2007. Further performances were by Minori Okada, soprano and Mutsumi Moteki, piano at Kobe College (Kobe Jogakuin Daigaku) in Nishinomiya, Japan on October 31, 2007 and in Suginami Kokaido (small hall), in Tokyo, Japan on June 1, 2009. (ca. 15 min.)

Myth (completed January, 2003).  For bass clarinet and cello. Performed August 14, 2003 at BMOCA (Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art) in Boulder, CO, and August 17, 2003 at The Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos, NM and May 24, 2004 in Rotterdam, Netherlands all by the duo, ClariCello, comprised of Jason Gresl, bass clarinet, and Lara Turner, cello.  (ca. 7.5 min.)

Haiku Songs of Karigane  (completed July 2002).  Two songs for soprano and piano.   Haiku by Kaoru Karigane.  Premiered August 16, 2002 by Jennifer Bates, soprano and Eunai Cho, piano in Harris Concert Hall at the Aspen Music Festival.  Later performances by Kara Guggenmos, soprano and Mutsumi Moteki, piano on July 10 at the 2004 NATS Convention and by other performers at various venues.  (ca. 6 min.)

Into the Void  In memoriam 9/11/01 (completed December, 2001). For solo marimba.  Performed by Gilmar Goulart at the Theatro Treze de Maio in Santa Maria, Brazil on October 25, 2002.  Performed by Ross Karre at the Aspen Music Festival on August 8, 2002.  (ca. 8.5 min.)  

I yell, the mountains echo, the stars are quiet.  (completed January 2001).  For soprano and Pierrot ensemble.  Scored for voice, piccolo/flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, and piano.  Haiku by Mark Kirtley.  Performed May 7, 2002 in Grant Recital Hall, University of Missouri-Kansas City by the UMKC Musica Nova Ensemble with Melanie Snell, soprano and Leandro Espinosa, conductor.  Performed August 10, 2001 in Harris Concert Hall at the Aspen Music Festival, with Zorana Sadiq, soprano and Sydney Hodkinson, conductor.  Premiered February 16, 2001 in Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado at Boulder with Kathye Boline, soprano and Richard Niezen, conductor. (ca. 8 min.)

Coyote Juggles His Eyes (completed November 2000).  A transformation of a Native American folk tale into an opera without words for instrumentalists/actors.  Commissioned by Jason Gresl, clarinet.  Scored for clarinet/bass clarinet (Coyote), piccolo/flute (Chickadee), percussion (Raven), cello (Bear), violin (Butterfly), French horn (Raccoon).  Performed November 19, 2000 by The Muses’ Workshop in the Lyric Theater at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  (apx. 35 min.)

Anemone  (completed September, 2000).  A fantasy piece for viola, soprano/alto saxophone, percussion, and piano.  Commissioned by Erika Eckert.  Performed September 26, 2000 by Erika Eckert (viola), Tom Myer (saxophones), Doug Walter (percussion), and Mutsumi Moteki (piano) in Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado at Boulder, September 26, 2000.  (apx. 14 min.)

Sonata for piano solo

(completed December, 2000). The composer created a new revised edition in the spring of 2010. Movement I, The Voice, was performed by Dr. Mutsumi Moteki in Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado at Boulder, October 18, 1999. Dr. Moteki performed all three-movements in Grusin Music Hall on March 8, 2001 (the excerpts heard here are from that performance). She later performed an expanded version of Movement II, What Love Tells Me, at a CU Pendulum concert in the University of Colorado at Boulder Art Gallery on February 27, 2002. Movement III is titled The Wanderer. (complete work: ca. 33 min.)

In the Father’s Garden  (completed February 4, 1999). A chamber opera in one act. Scored for counter tenor, baritone, clarinet doubling bass clarinet, cello, piano doubling synthesizer, and two percussionists. Libretto by Mark Kirtley. Performed April 20, 1999 by the University of Colorado New Music Ensemble with John Neely Gaston, countertenor and Bradley Thompson, baritone in Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado at Boulder. (ca. 21 min.)

A swallow joyfully twittering in the morning sky (completed March, 1998).  Four miniatures based on haiku by Mark Kirtley.  Scored for flute doubling piccolo,  oboe doubling English horn,  clarinet doubling bass clarinet, alto sax doubling soprano sax,  bassoon, trumpet,  French horn, violin, double bass, and two percussionists.  Performed by the University of Colorado New Music Ensemble, Kathleen McGuire, conductor, October, 1998 in Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado at Boulder. (apx. 7 min.)

Breath of the Heart (completed February, 1998).  A fantasy piece for amplified shakuhachi,  large bass drum and tam-tam.  Commissioned by David Wheeler, shakuhachi.  Performed July 8, 1998 at the World Shakuhachi Festival in Boulder, Colorado; , March 6, 1998 at the Modern Music Festival  (M2F) in Boulder, Colorado; and April 1998 in Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  All three performances by David Wheeler, shakuhachi and David Kirtley, percussion.  (apx. 10 min.)

From the Wilderness  for viola solo (completed August 1996).  A four movement work for unaccompanied viola written for Michael Hall.  The first two movements performed at The Smart Museum at the University of Chicago by Michael Hall on November 13, 1997.  (Movements I and II, apx. 10 min.)

From Where the Sun Now Stands (completed July, 1995).  A reworking and arrangement for string quartet of four movements from an original song cycle, Songs for the Outcasts of Great Turtle’s Back.  Performed August 19, 1995  by the Lake String Quartet, as part of  a concert of my compositions presented  at Lake Yellowstone Hotel in Yellowstone National Park, WY.  (apx. 25 min.)

Contemplations and Variations  for piano solo  (completed 1982). Movement II performed  August 19, 1995 by James O’Meally,  as part of a concert of my compositions given at Lake Yellowstone Hotel in Yellowstone National Park, WY. (Movement II, apx. 7 min.)

Simple Fantasy  for piano solo (completed July, 1991).  Performed August 19, 1995 by James O’Meally,  as part of a concert of my compositions given at Lake Yellowstone Hotel in Yellowstone National Park, WY, and on numerous other occasions by the pianist, James O’Meally at concerts in Arizona. California, Idaho, and Utah.   (apx. 10 min.)

Songs for the Outcasts of Great Turtle’s Back (completed July, 1987).  A song cycle in ten movements about the destruction of American Indian culture and way of life.  Seven movements performed at the Yellow Springs Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the ensemble for new music, Relache on July 11, 1987.  Scored for mezzo soprano, baritone, flute doubling on Irish whistle and fipple flute, clarinet, alto and soprano saxophones, violin, accordion, piano doubling on synthesizer, bass drum, vibraphone, sleigh bells, cowbells, metal wind chimes,  rattles, pebbles, and three tom-toms.  (apx. 45 min.)