Choral with instruments

We Are Innocent, op. 94

Published on

cantata on letters of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg, 1987-88, 45’30”

for baritone (or tenor), soprano, and optional chorus, with piano or orchestra

in 12 movements, prelude & 2 interludes.

First complete performance by Helene Williams and Peter Schlosser,

with composer at piano, on “Meet the Composer” grant,

at Bryant Library, Roslyn 6/14/88;

also perf. at Museum of Fine Art (Roslyn)10/6/88,

Community Church of Boston, 12/11/88, WESPAC (Ardsley, NY) 12/22/88;

prem. with (Metropolitan Philharmonic) Chorus

at Community Church of NY 6/19/88

also perf. WQXR-AM, NY (“The Listening Room”) 12/8/88

#2, 1, 7 & 4 perf. at Weill Recital Hall benefit for Ezrath Nashim 6/14/89

and at Temple Sinai of Roslyn 8/20/89

prem. w/Soloists, Chorus & Orchestra:

Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus & Orch, cond. by composer

[Associate Conductor: Bill Grossman]

Marymount Manhattan Theater 6/11/89;

video on YouTube as indicated below:

audio recording: OPUS ONE #145

other perfs w/Helene Williams, Ronald Edwards & Chor:

Plandome Unitarian Church 6/19/93;

w/Helene Williams, Gregory Mercer & Chor:

6/15/03 Puffin Cultural Forum, Teaneck NJ;

6/18/03 Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, Manhattan

Prelude

1) Childhood Memories (Julius)

2) The Shofar (Ethel [+Chorus])

3) Together (Julius & Ethel)

4) We Are Innocent (Julius & Ethel [+Chorus])

5) How Sad I Was To Leave You (Ethel) + Interlude

6) How Much You Have Given Me (Julius)

7) The Astounding Spectacle (Ethel & Julius [+Chorus])

7A) Interlude

8) A Visit From Mother (Ethel)

9) Of Course It Isn’t Easy (Julius)

10) “Mercy”?

11) On the Threshold of Death (Julius)

(Variations on a theme by Edith Segal, used by permission)

12) To Michael & Robert (Ethel & Julius [+Chorus])

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The, op. 99

Published on

setting of preamble for SATB and Piano or Winds & Percussion

(8′) Summer 1988; prem. at United Nations 10/26/88

by Solo Quartet of the Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus

(Helene Williams, Mara Goodman,

Herman Gaddy, Douglas Kiddie);

also perf. by them, Temple Sinai, Roslyn 8/20/49;

and by Christ Church Babylon Choir 10/24/04

Requiem for Hiroshima, A, op. 101

Published on

setting of text by Lee Baxandall (1959, rev. 1988-9) 25′

for SATB Soli, Chorus & Orch

chamber orch version: shakuhachi, fl./picc., cl., tpt,

koto, perc., pno, vn, va, vc, cb

in 6 movements:

1) Dies Irae (THE DEAD CRY OUT)

2) Mors stupebit (WHO MAY JUDGE)

3) Liber Scriptus (THIS IS WHAT WAS DONE. THIS IS WHO WE WERE)

4) Lacrymosa (THE KILLED)

5) Rex Tremendae (THE KILLER)

6) Libera Me (NO REST)

last movt previewed Union Theological Seminary

CALC 25th anniversary 7/22/90

entire work previewed w/Solo Octet & Piano, WQXR 8/3/90

premiere: Riverside Church 8/5/90

w/Voices Saintpaulia, Inoue Chamber Ensemble,

& Solo Quartet of the Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus

conducted by Geoffrey Fairweather; broadcast WBAI 8/7/90

prem.w/Solo Octet, Piano & Organ: 9/3/95

Malverne Community Presbyterian Church (LICA concert)

Song, op. 120A

Published on

2003 completion of 1925 13-measure sketch by Marc Blitztsein

on poem by Rupert Brooke, for Voice & Piano;

also arr. for SATB & Piano;

premiered by Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman

and recorded by them 10/9/04 in Boulder, CO;

released on Original Cast Records OC 6127

The Marc Blitzstein Centennial Concert CD;

choral version premiered at Blitzstein Centennial concerts,

Feb.-Mar. 2005

Mi Chamocha, op. 129 #6

Published on

#6 from Friday Evening Service, op. 129 (1996) in Hebrew (2′)

octatonic setting for solo voice & piano/organ

(w/optional unison chorus)

sung by Helene Williams on LICA concerts at

Malverne Community Presbyterian Church, 11/15/98

and Plainview-Old Bethpage Library 12/19/10

Friday Evening Service, op. 129

Published on

in Hebrew & English (45′), 1996, for Cantor, SATB, Children’s Choir,

Organ/Piano +obbligato Flute, Clarinet, Harp, Cello, Violin (in #12)

commissioned by North Shore Synagogue,

dedicated to Rabbi Daniel Fogel, premiered there 4/11/97 (45′)

1. Prelude

2. A New Song (Shir Chadash)(Heb. & Eng.)

3. Reader’s Kaddish (Heb.)

4. Barchu (Heb.)

5. Shma (Heb.)

6. Mi Chamocha (Heb.)

7. Hashkivenu (Heb./Eng.)

8. V’Shamru (Heb.)

9. Avot V’Emaot (Heb. [arr.])

10. Yis’mchu (Heb.) [op. 53 #1]

11. Zog nit keynmol (Yiddish & Eng.[arr.])

12. Shalom Rav (Heb.)[w/Vn obblig.]

13. Meditation

14. May the Words (Eng.) [op. 52A]

15. Adoration (Eng.) [op. 53#2]

16. Kaddish Underscore [op. 63]

17. Lo Yisa Goi (Heb.[arr.])

18. Postlude

Faith, op. 138

Published on

setting of text by James Baldwin (3′)

for solo voice or SATB chorus & piano;

choral premiere, Malverne Community Presbyterian Church 11/15/98

solo premiere, Helene Williams & composer, Hofstra (LICA) 1/17/99

also sung by Faith Steinsnyder with composer at piano

8/16/09, 8/20/09, 8/8/10, 1/23/11 (Lehrman birthday concerts)

What Can I Give?, op. 145

Published on

2-part canon with accompaniment (+optional bells)

setting of poem by Christina Rossettii (2′)

for Malverne Community Presbyterian Church Jr. Choir

premiered by them 12/17/00;

performed & recorded with bell choir,

St. George’s Church, Hempstead 12/10/06

Conspiritor Reality, op. 184

Published on

aka “Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been,”

part of a projected opera, Alger, based on the story of Alger Hiss.

libretto by Kim Rich; premiered in solo version

by Helene Williams & composer, Tamiment Library NYU 6/13/07

premiere of choral version 6/17/10 by members of

Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus & NY City Labor Chorus

at Local 802, viewable on YouTube at