chorus+orchestra/ens

A mammoth multi-media -musical theater work in 6 sections (Prologue, The Sounds, The Land, The People, The Idea, Epilogue) for orchestra, 2 bands, chorus, dancers, electronic tracks, narrators, visuals (film and slides). Any new production of this work would require new visuals representing the current state of the technology. The narrative is entirely from the poetry of Walt Whitman, which is recorded by the narrators on the electronic (CD) tracks. The work is a celebration of America's Bicenntenial in 1976; the majority of the sounds on the electronic tracks are short excerpts from American music of the previous two centuries, the remaining sounds were created in an electronic music studio. The CD for all the sound tracks is intact and available. The chorus does not sing text, but rather specific vowel-consonant combinations to melodies from other american music.most of the live music is not difficult, but the mounting of the production would be a formidable challenge.

A setting for choir, solo winds, strings and percussion, of the poem by ee cummings. The work has an exotic quality in the instrumentation and treatment of the choir, reflecting the qualities inherent in the poem. most of the work is of medium difficulty, and has been successfully performed by strong amateur groups. There is no unusual notation, nor are any extended performance techniques required.