List of compositions by David Maslanka

David Maslanka (born August 30, 1943 in New Bedford, Massachusetts) is a U.S. composer who writes for a variety of genres, including works for choir, wind ensemble, chamber music, and orchestra. Best known for his highly acclaimed wind ensemble compositions, Maslanka has published nearly 100 pieces, including nine symphonies, seven of them for concert band, nine concerti, and a full Mass.

Maslanka's works for winds and percussion have become especially well known. They include among others: A Child's Garden of Dreams for Symphonic Wind Ensemble, a concerto for alto saxophone, a concerto for two horns, a concerto for flute, a concerto for clarinet, a concerto for solo percussion, a concerto for tenor trombone, two concerti for piano, winds and percussion, seven symphonies, Mass for soloists, chorus, boys chorus, wind orchestra and organ, and three quintets. Percussion works include, Variations of 'Lost Love' and My Lady White: for solo marimba, and three ensemble works: Acadia II: Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble, Crown of Thorns, and Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion. In addition, he has written a wide variety of chamber, orchestral, and choral pieces most of which are listed below.

Wind ensemble works

A Tuning Piece: Songs of Fall and Winter (1995) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered July 1995 at the Kappa Kappa Psi National Convention by the Intercollegiate Honor Band, James Croft, conductor. Symphonic Band; Based on several hymn tunes, it is a piece about tuning and attuning, growing out of perceptions of life after age 50. Commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi.

Alex and The Phantom Band (2001) - for Wind Ensemble and Narrator.

A Carl Sandburg Reader (2007) - for Baritone and Soprano Soloists, and Wind Ensemble. A Carl Sandburg Reader was commissioned by the Illinois State University Office of Advancement, Illinois State University Office of Student Affairs, Illinois State University College of Fine Arts, Illinois State University School of Music, and the Illinois State University Band honoring the Illinois State University Sesquicentennial Celebration.

A Child's Garden of Dreams (1981) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered 2/82 at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., NU Wind Ensemble, John P. Paynter, conductor. For Symphonic Wind Ensemble, with a large percussion section, harp, piano, and electric organ. This five-movement work is based on dreams of a young girl who was about to die. Commissioned by John and Marietta Paynter.

Collected Chorale Settings - Arr. for Wind, Brass, Percussion, and String Instruments

Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (1999) - for Solo Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble. Premiered 3/00 by the University of Arizona Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Gregg Hanson, conductor, Joseph Lulloff, solo saxophone. Commissioned by a consortium headed by the University of Texas at Austin/Jerry Junkin and the University of Arizona/Gregg Hanson

Concerto for Marimba and Band (1990) - for Marimba soloist and Band. Premiered 11/90 at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Philadelphia, PA by the U.S. Air Force Band, Steven Grimo, conductor, Randall Eyles, marimba. A pastoral music which explores quiet moods and colors - except for one large outburst. Commissioned by the U.S. Air Force Band

Concerto for Piano, Winds and Percussion (1976) - for Solo Piano and Wind Ensemble. Premiered 2/79 by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor, William Dobbins, piano. Three movements, musically and emotionally demanding.

Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble (2007) - for Solo Trombone and Wind Ensemble. The concerto was commissioned by a consortium of music schools headed by Conductor Gary Green and Trombonist Timothy Connor of the University of Miami Frost School of Music, and is dedicated to the memory of flutist Christine Nield-Capote. The Concerto for Trombone is composed for an ensemble of 21 wind and brass instruments, double bass, piano, and a substantial percussion group. It is in three large movements, each of a very intense song-like nature. In addition to the solo trombone, the concerto features a prominent supporting solo cello part.

Concerto No. 2 for Piano, Winds, and Percussion (2003) - for Solo Piano and Wind Ensemble

David's Book: Concerto for Solo Percussionist and Wind Ensemble (2006) - for Solo Percussionist and Wind Ensemble

Desert Roads: Four Songs for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble (2004) - for Solo Clarinet and Wind Ensemble

Give Us This Day: Short Symphony for Wind Ensemble (2005) - for Wind Ensemble

Golden Light - A Celebration Piece (1990) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered 8/90 at the Cohasset Music Circus, Cohasset, MA: Senior Wind Ensemble of the South Shore Conservatory, Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr., conductor. "Golden Light" was written for a high school wind ensemble. It is a very demanding study in rhythmic independence and speed, and is a fair test of any ensemble. Commissioned by the South Shore Conservatory.

Heart Songs (1997) - for Young Band. Premiered 4/98 by the Harwood Junior High School Symphonic Band (Bedford, TX), Christopher Ferrell, conductor. Commissioned by the Harwood Junior High School Symphonic Band/Joe Green.

Hell's Gate (1997) - for Three Saxophones and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Premiered 3/97 by the Hellgate High School Symphonic Band, John H. Combs, conductor. Written for the Hellgate High School Band of Missoula, Montana; a single movement work that chronicles a soul journey. Commissioned by the Hellgate High School Symphonic Band/John H. Combs

In Memoriam (1989) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered 2/90 at the Texas Music Educators Association annual conference, San Antonio, TX by the University of Texas at Arlington Wind Ensemble, Ray C. Lichtenwalter, conductor. Composed for Ray Lichtenwalter in memory of his wife Susan; embraces the hymn "Nur den lieben Gott lasst walten" - ("If you only trust in God to guide you"). Commissioned by the University of Texas at Arlington Wind Ensemble/Ray C. Lichtenwalter

Laudamus Te (1994) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered 4/95 by the Mount St. Charles Academy Symphonic Band, Woonsocket, RI, Marc Blanchette, conductor. Commissioned by the Mount St. Charles Academy Symphonic Band/Marc Blanchette. Laudamus Te - we praise you: a line from the Latin Gloria; a dark piece; praise growing out of depression and darkness.

Liberation (2010) - for Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chorus. Premiered 3/14/2010 Okazaki – Japanese Wind Ensemble Conductors Conference. United States Premiere 04/18/2010 by the Illinois State University Symphonic Winds Stephen K. Steele, Conductor.

Mass (revised 2005) - for SATB Chorus, Boys Chorus, Soprano & Baritone soli, Organ, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Premiered 4/96 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Tucson, AZ, by the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble, Gregg Hanson, conductor. A complete setting the Latin Mass, intercut with solo songs on poems of Richard Beale. Commissioned by a consortium headed by the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble/Gregg Hanson

Montana Music: Chorale Variations (1993) - for Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Premiered 5/93 by the Bishop Ireton High School Band, Alexandria, VA, Garwood Whaley, conductor. Like "In Memoriam" and other works, "Montana Music" embodies a hymn tune (O Sacred Head) in a free-variation context. Commissioned by the Bishop Ireton High School Band, Alexandria, VA/Garwood Whaley

Morning Star(1997) - for Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Premiered 5/97 by the Grand Ledge High School Wind Symphony, Grand Ledge, MI, Michael Kaufman, conductor. Commissioned by the Grand Ledge High School Wind Symphony

Mother Earth - a Fanfare (2003) - for Wind Ensemble

O Earth, O Stars: Music for Flute, Cello, and Wind Ensemble (2010)- Double Concerto for Flute, Cello and Wind Ensemble. Premiered 11/18/10 by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Stephen K. Steele, Conductor; Kimberly Risinger, Flute; Adriana La Rosa Ransom, Cello.

Prelude On A Gregorian Tune (1981) - for Young Band. The melody is evolved from a piece of Gregorian Chant; a gentle, sunny piece for young band.

Procession of the Academics (2007) - for Wind Ensemble

Rollo Takes A Walk (1980) - for Band

Sea Dreams: Concerto for two Horns and Wind Ensemble (1997) - for Two Horns and Wind Ensemble. Premiered 4/98 by the Arizona State University Wind Ensemble, Richard Strange, conductor, Thomas Bacon and James Graves, horns. Commissioned by a consortium headed by Thomas Bacon

Song Book (2001) - for Flute and Wind Ensemble. Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble is a concerto in five movements. The title Song Book comes out of the intimate nature of the music, and the voice-like quality of the flute.

Symphony No. 2 (1985) - for Concert Band. Premiered 2/87 at the College Band Directors National Association National Convention, Evanston, Ill., Northwestern University Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, John P. Paynter, conductor. Commissioned by the Big Ten Band Directors Association

Symphony No. 3 (1991) - for Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Premiered 11/91 at the University of Connecticut (Storrs) by the Uconn Wind Ensemble, Gary Green, conductor. Commissioned by the University of Connecticut Research Council/Gary Green

Symphony No. 4 (1993) - for Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Premiered 2/94 at the 1994 Texas Music Educators Association convention, San Antonio, TX, by the University of Texas at Austin Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jerry Junkin, conductor. Commissioned by a consortium headed by the University of Texas at Austin Symphonic Wind Ensemble/Jerry Junkin

Symphony No. 5 (2000) - for Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Commissioned by a consortium headed by Illinois State University Wind Symphony/Stephen K. Steele

Symphony No. 7 (2004) - for Wind Ensemble. Commissioned by a consortium headed by Illinois State University/Stephen K. Steele. Premiered 3/10/05 at the Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts, Normal, IL, by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Stephen K. Steele, conductor.

Symphony No. 8 (2008) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered 11/20/08 at the Illinois State University Center for Performing Arts, Normal, IL, by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Stephen K. Steele, conductor. Commissioned by a consortium headed by Stephen K. Steele.

Symphony No. 9 (2011) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered 11/17/11 at the Illinois State University Center for Performing Arts, Normal, IL, by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Stephen K. Steele, conductor.

Tears (1994) - for Wind Ensemble. Premiered 10/94 at the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, Madison, WI by the Intercollegiate Honor Band, Allan McMurray, conductor. Tears is a single-movement, 13-minute work that can be played by band or wind ensemble. Commissioned by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association.

Testament (2001) - for Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Written in response to the events of 9/11, Testament is a statement of belief in the healing power of music. Commissioned by L.D. Bell High School Band (Hurst, TX) – Joseph Grzybowski, and Consortium

Traveler - for Wind Ensemble. Commissioned by the University of Texas at Arlington chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

ufo Dreams: Concerto for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble (1998) - for Euphonium solo and Wind Ensemble. Premiered 3/99 by the Hellgate High School Wind Ensemble, Missoula, MT, John H. Combs, conductor, Matthew Maslanka, solo euphonium. Commissioned by the Hellgate High School Wind Ensemble/John H. Combs

Unending Stream of Life: Variations on "All Creatures of Our God and King" (2007) - for Wind Ensemble

Variants on a Hymn Tune (1994) - for Euphonium solo and Young Wind Ensemble. Premiered 2/95 at the Music Educators National Conference Northwestern Convention, Spokane, WA by the Missoula All-City Winds, John Schuberg, conductor, Matthew Maslanka, euphonium solo. Commissioned by the Missoula All-City Winds

Orchestral works

11:11 - A Dance at the Edge of the World (2001) - for Orchestra. 11:11 is a single-movement, 16-minute piece for standard orchestra, which grew out of my persistently seeing the time 11:11 on digital clocks.

A Child's Garden of Dreams: Book II (1989) - for Large Orchestra. A four movement "symphony" based on dreams of a young girl as reported by Carl Jung in "Man and His Symbols". The world premiere of the entire work was by the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra at the Hayes School of Music on Dec. 7, 2008.

Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (2008) - for Solo Saxophone and Orchestra, transcribed from Wind Ensemble

Death and the Maiden (1974) - for Chamber Opera. Story by Ray Bradbury, Libretto by John A. Wiles, Jr. Chamber opera in three scenes, based on a story by Ray Bradbury. Never performed, but a source of music for a number of other pieces.

In Lonely Fields (1998) - for Seven Solo Percussionists and Orchestra. Commissioned by the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble (Mt. Pleasant, MI)

Music for String Orchestra (1992) - for String Orchestra. Premiered 5/92 in Missoula, MT by the String Orchestra of the Rockies. A substantial (17 min.) three-movement work. I would like to see it performed more… Commissioned by the String Orchestra of the Rockies

Symphony No. 1 (1970) - for Orchestra

Symphony No. 6 (Living Earth) (2003) - for Orchestra. A symphony in 5 movements with the following titles: 1. Living Earth-1, 2. Rain, 3. November- Geese on the wing, 4. Dreamer, 5. Living Earth-2. Commissioned by James Allen Anderson and the Rho Tau Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia for the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra.

World Music - for Orchestra

Choral works

A Litany for Courage and the Seasons - for Chorus, Clarinet and Vibraphone. Premiered 4/88 by the University of Connecticut Concert Choir, Peter Bagley, conductor. Six Songs for Chorus, Clarinet and Vibraphone on Poems of Richard Beale. Commissioned by Robert Isgro and the Geneseo Chamber Singers.

City Tree - for SSAA Chorus and Harp. Premiered 5/73 by the State University of New York - Geneseo Women's Chorus. Women's chorus and harp - single movement, poem by William Matheson

Collected Chorale Settings - for SATB

Four Lullabies - for SA Chorus and Piano. With Barberi Paull

The Four Seasons - for SATB Chorus. With Barberi Paull

Hear My Prayer O Lord (Psalm 102) - for SATB Chorus and Piano. Written for 2-part choir, either men or women, and piano. This Psalm setting is energetic and joyful.

I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark - for SATB Chorus. Premiered 5/77 by the State University of New York - Geneseo Chamber Singers, Robert Isgro, conductor. A dense and dark piece on a poem by the dense and dark English Catholic poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. His writing is soulful and compelling.

Seven Lyrics From Sappho - for SATB Chorus. Written as an experiment while I was composing Quintet No. 1. Each morning as a warm-up, I would wit and write an entire brief choral movement, not getting up until the movement was finished. This is a nice little set of pieces, hardly ever performed, I don't know why.

The Hungry Heart - for SATB Chorus. Premiered 12/97 in Missoula, MT by the University of Montana Chamber Chorale, Gary Funk, conductor. Commissioned by the University of Montana Chamber Chorale

The Nameless Fear; or: The Unanswered Question Put Yet Another Way - for SATB Chorus, Speakers, Harpsichord, Guitars, Flute, Bassoon, Percussion. Premiered 3/73 by The State University of New York - Geneseo Chamber Singers, James Walker, conductor.

The One and Only Book of Madrigals - for SSATB, SATTB

Solo and chamber works

A Litany for Courage and the Seasons - for Chorus, Clarinet and Vibraphone. Premiered April 1988 by the University of Connecticut Concert Choir, Peter Bagley, conductor. Six Songs for Chorus, Clarinet and Vibraphone on Poems of Richard Beale. Commissioned by Robert Isgro and the Geneseo Chamber Singers

Mountain Roads - for Saxophone Quartet. Premiered 11/98 at Lawrence University Conservatory, Appleton, WI by the Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet. Commissioned by the Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet. The plan of the piece follows the model of a Baroque cantata.

Anne Sexton Songs - for Soprano and Piano. Premiered July 1977 at Tanglewood, Sheila Allen, soprano. Three songs on poems of Anne Sexton for mezzo soprano and piano

Arcadia - Cello Quartet. A single-movement work that was pronounced too difficult by the people for whom I wrote it, and which has never been performed.

Recitation Book - Saxophone Quartet. Commissioned for the Masato Kumoi Saxophone Quartet in 2006. A five movement collection circling the theme of death.

Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano - for Alto Saxophone and Piano. Premiered January 1989 at the North American Saxophone Alliance 1989 National Conference, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. Susan Jennings, saxophone, Bruce Patterson, piano. In three movements, a huge and extremely demanding piece; its musical roots are quite varied: Liszt, Gesualdo, Pettersson.

Sonata for Horn and Piano

Songbook for Marimba and Alto Saxophone - Marimba and Alto Saxophone Duet. A seven movement piece based largely on old hymns and Bach chorale melodies.

Percussion works

Arcadia II: Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble (1982) - for Solo Marimba and Percussion Ensemble. Premiered 12/87 by the Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant) Percussion Ensemble, Robert Hohner, conductor. Arcadia - Garden of Eden, mythical land of origins, a concerto in three movements which has nothing to do with Arcadia for Cello Quartet.

Arcadia: Transcribed for Marimba Quartet by Jeffery A. White - for Marimba Quartet

Crown of Thorns (1991) - for Keyboard Percussion Ensemble. Premiered 11/91 by the University of Oklahoma (Norman) Percussion ensemble, Richard Gipson, conductor. Commissioned by the University of Oklahoma Percussion Ensemble/Richard Gipson

Hohner (2001) - for Large Percussion Ensemble. Hohner is a single-movement, 10-minute work for large percussion ensemble, written as a memorial Robert Hohner.

In Lonely Fields (1998) - for Seven Solo Percussionists and Orchestra. Commissioned by the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble (Mt. Pleasant, MI)

Montana Music: Fantasy on a Chorale Tune (1993) - for Transcribed for Vibraphone and Marimba by Jeffery A. White

Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion (1992) - for Percussion Ensemble. Premiered 12/93 at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Chicago by the Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble, Robert Hohner, conductor. The dances are slow, melodic, and nocturnal. Commissioned by the Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble/Robert Hohner

My Lady White (1980) - for Marimba. Premiered 5/80 in Dallas, Texas, Lauren Vogel, marimba. Three movements, each a reflection of a poetic image. "My Lady White" is a reference to a poem of that name by Chaucer. Commissioned by Harvey Vogel

Time Stream (2002) - for Steel Drum Band. Time Stream is an eight-minute piece for steel drum band, based on the Bach Chorale Christ lag in Todesbanden.

Variations on 'Lost Love' (1997) - for Marimba. Premiered 10/77 at Ithaca College, Leigh Howard Stevens, marimba. Commissioned by the New York State Music Educators Association

References

Maslanka, David. Personal web page. http://www.davidmaslanka.com