SATB 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)

I’d Like to go Away Alone, op. 105

Published on

setting of poem by Alena Synkova (child survivor of Terezin)

Eng. tr. by Jeanne Nemcova, for Voice & Piano/Organ

(1’27”) 2/91, premiered at Merkin Hall 6/23/91 by

Helene Williams & Composer; recorded on

Songs of Conscience cassette 3/91 & CD 6/03;

arr. (op. 105A)  for Solo Soprano with SATB Chorus

& Piano/Organ; premiered by Cantor Susan Alcott,

Asbury Choir, Asbury United Methodist Church 4/27/95;

also performed by Helene Williams &

Workmen’s Circle Chorus, CUNY Graduate Ctr, 4/18/04

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 Shebeirach, op. 129A

Published on

written as part of Friday Evening Service, 4/11/97

but not performed with it;

premiere 7/3/97 by Faith Steinsnyder, David Perper & composer

ACC-GTM Convention, Huntington Hilton Hotel;

also sung by them 8/16/09, 8/20/09, 8/8/10, 1/23/11;

solo version premiered by Janis Sabatino Hills & composer,

Malverne Community Presbyterian Church (LICA) 10/19/97;

choral version premiere by North Shore Synagogue Choir & composer

at Malverne Community Presbyterian Church (LICA) 11/15/98

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)

Second Inaugural, op. 169

Published on

setting of portion of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

for SATB & Keyboard

premiered at Christ Church Babylon, 2/13/05

performed & recorded by Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus 2/26/06

also performed in Wooster, OH 2/12/09

and in Chicago, conducted by Michael Teolis, 2/15/10

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