Matthew Welch – complete list of compositions

Opera/Choral/Vocal

Barbarella, a film trailer opera, for mezzo-soprano, narrator, video and electronics, 2014, 3’. Produced by the composer and Experiments in Opera, premiered May 2 and 3, 2014, NYC.

The Mutt - a radio opera for voice, 2 electric guitars and electronics. An opera as imaginary interview as documentary about the master skateboarder Rodney Mullen. Premiered by Experiments in Opera, Feb 28, 2014. 13 minutes.

ReAnimator Requiem - for choir (ssaattbb), electric guitar, bass guitar and drums. Premiered November 2, 2013 at Abrons Art Center NYC, produced by Experiments in Opera, with the composer conducting. 30 minutes, one act.

The Three Truths, a Robot Micro-Opera, 2012, 8’. Premiered as an Experiments in Opera production with Hotel Elefant performing, Anne Rhodes and Jeffrey Gavett soloists, Paolo Bortolameolli cunducting, Actors Fund Center, Brooklyn, New York, Feb 9, 2013.

Borges and the Other, a 2-act opera with text by the composer and adapted from Jorge Luis Borges. for an expanded version of Blarvuster: 2 mezzo-soprani, tenor and baritone, SATB chorus, flute, viola, 2 electric guitars, piano, bass guitar, vibraphone, drum set; 2007-2012, 85'. The opera can be divided into subsets, each of the 2 acts and the choral tableaux may be performed separately or in small combinations, in order to form a shorter opera. First premiered 2007 (act two scenes), and with a full premiere May 11, 2012. Performed by Blarvuster at Roulette (NYC) with the composer conducting. Borges and the Other has received funding from the Jerome Foundation via Roulette, and segments have been performed at Roulette, The Stone, Le Poisson Rouge, Rider University.

Orchestra/Large Ensemble

"We Love You Madly" - for chamber orchestra (flute/picc, clarinet, Lupophon, Kontraforte, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp, piano, vln, vc, drumset), premiered at and commissioned by the Jazzwerkstatt, Bern Switzerland with the composer conducting guest soloists and Ensemble Proton, February 16, 2014. 14 minutes.

Ritual Fall - for bagpipe and orchestra (of variable size). Premiered November 17, 2013 with the composer as soloist, Paolo Bortolameolli conducting the Zephrus Project Orchestra. 4 minutes.

Sudamala, for Highland Bagpipe and Orchestra, 2012, 11’. Premiered by Yale Philharmonia, composer as soloist, Jonathan Brandini conducting, New Haven,

CT Dec. 6, 2012.

The Favrile Opalescence, a concerto for Solo Highland Bagpipe and Percussion Sextet, 2012, 13’. Premiered and commissioned by Columbia State University Percussion Ensemble, Paul Vaillancourt directing, composer as soloist, October 2012.

from Orbis Tertius, for Highland Bagpipe and Brass Septet (picc tpt, 3 tpt, tbne, bs tbne, tba), 2011, 8’. Premiered by the composer and the Yale Philharmonia, Paolo Bortolameolli conducting, New Haven, CT, Feb 2, 2012.

The Mosaic of Iridescence, for Blarvuster: Bagpipe/alto sax/voice, flute/piccolo, viola, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit, 2010, 45'-75'. Premiered by Blarvuster at The Stone, February 23, 2010 (NYC). Reorchestrated for Ensemble Proton, Bern CH, and premiered Feb 16, 2014.

Hodinotra Chelalhodin, for Baritone, Cello and Orchestra, 2220 2221 Hp, Pno, 3 Perc, Bar, sl Vc, strings, 2005, 10'. Premiered by the Ostravska Banda, Ostrava, Czech Rep. (Peter Suminik cond.) August 23, 2005 (full orchestra version exists substituting 2 bassoons for bar. and vc).

The Self and the Other, double concerto for Bagpipe, piano and percussion ensemble (8 percussionists), 2004, 15'. Commissioned and premiered by the Columbus State University Percussion Ensemble, March 14, 2004. (featured on Matthew Welch CD Dream Tigers on Tzadik Records 8015, 2005).

Symphony of Drones No. 2, for large ensemble, 2002, open duration (20'-30'). Premiered with the composer conducting March 3, 2002.

Cherede Otroenhe, concerto for bagpipe and orchestra, 2001, 12'. Premiered by the Janacek Conservatory Orchestra with the composer as soloist and Zsolt Nagy conducting, Ostrava, Cz Rep., September, 2001. (featured on 2002 recording, Matthew Welch, Ceol Nua, Leo Records 336).

Symphony of Drones No. 1, for large ensemble, 2001, open duration (20'-40'). Premiered with the composer conducting, May 3, 2001. (featured on 2002 recording, Matthew Welch, Ceol Nua, Leo Records 336).

Self/Non-Self and Luminosity in the Bardo, concerto for harp and chamber ensemble (flute, oboe, bass clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and bass), 2001, 20'. Premiered by Elizabeth Bell (soloist) and ensemble with the composer conducting, May 3, 2001 and NY Premiere with Nina Kellman (soloist) and the Orchestra of the S.E.M. Ensemble, Peter Kotik conducting, February, 2005. Performed with Shelley Burgon (soloist) and ensemble with the composer conducting, July 8, 2006.

<, for 10(x) instruments, 2000, 5'. Premiered by the Wesleyan wind ensemble,

April 2001.

Chamber Music

Beriberi Blues, for two acting percussionists, 2 glockenspiels and two Filipino bamboo buzzers (Balimbing), 2014, 10-12’. Commissioned by Radical 2 percussion duo.

Cumha Na Marbh - Requiem aeternam dona eis (Sting Quartet #2) for violin, violin, viola and cello, 2013, 13’. Premiered at Norfolk, CT July 27, 2013, commissioned by Astrid Baumgardner and premiered by the Kubrik Quartet.

Lagu Campur Dua, for 7-tone Balinese gamelan gender wayang(or two marimbas), 2012, 8’. Premiered by the composer and Gamelan Wira Surya of Wesleyan University as part of New Music New Haven at Yale University, New Haven, CT, March 1, 2012.

"...for fear that my shadow may enter the world...", (new expanded version), for flute/piccolo, violin, cello and percussion (triangle and glockenspiel), 2010, 7'. Premiered by The Cadillac Moon Ensemble at Issue Project Room, June 17, 2010. Melos Senis, for bagpipe and brass quartet (picc trpt, trpt, tbne, tba), 2009, 4'. Premiered by the composer and musicians March 12, 2009 (NYC).

Loch Fyne Variations, for percussion quartet (glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone and marimba) 2009, 10'. Commissioned by Ethos Percussion with funds from the Jerome Foundation. Premiered by Ethos Percussion April 15, 2009 (NYC).

The Secret Labyrith of Ts'ui Pen, for clarinet, percussion (vb/mar), piano, violin and cello, 2008, 7', commissioned and performed by The Transit Quintet Nov. 14, 2008.

Variasi Ombak, for flute, viola, harp and two percussion (vibraphone and marimba/crotales), 2008, 10', commissioned and premiered by Percussia with the composer conducting Sept. 6, 2008.

Colloquy of the Birds, for bagpipe and electric guitar quartet, 2008, 10', commissioned by Dither Quartet, Premiered by the composer and Dither Quartet May 4, 2008.

Ulrikke, for cello and percussion (vb, xyl, gong), 2008, 10', commissioned and

premiered by Odd Appetite with funds from Music At The Anthology Jan. 25, 2008 The House of Asterion, for piano and violin ad libitum, 2006, 7'. Premiered by Emily Manzo (solo piano version) Oct. 26, 2006. (ad libitum performed also in July 2006 as version for electric guitar). Siubhal Turnlar, for string quartet, 2004, 25'. Premiered by the Flux Quartet (premiere June 20, 2005). (featured on Matthew Welch CD Dream Tigers on Tzadik Records 8015, 2005). Dream Tigers, for electric guitar quartet, 2003, 10' Logam-logam, Kayu-kayu, for two soprano saxophones, viola and cello, each with temple bowls, 2003, 30'. Premiered by XYZ composer collective July 11, 2003. Solo Book 2, 2003, open duration, premiered by the composer, May 22, 2003. Ornatornithic, for sextet (fl., bcl., vln, vc, pno, perc: mar, vib,glock.), 2002, 10'. Commissioned and premiered by the Avian Music Ensemble with the composer conducting, May 31, 2002. (studio recording featured on the Avian Ensemble 2007 CD release Aethletics).

Trio, for clarinet, cello and vibraphone, 2001, 10'. Premiered in Finland by Juho Laitinan trio, 2001.

Keeping All Rates Even Now, for solo viola, 2001, 8'. Commissioned and Premiered by Karen Waltuch, NYC, June, 2001.

Short Piece, flute solo, 2001, 3'. Premiered by Sarah-Jane Ripa, May, 2001.

Gamelreachd, for percussion sextet, 2000, 5'.

Enantiomorphs, for four clarinets, 2000, 10'. Premiered by Susan Tveekram, Joeseph Getter, Julie Strand and Yana, October, 2000. (featured on Matthew Welch CD Dream Tigers on Tzadik Records 8015, 2005).

(?), for solo electric guitar, 2000, 5'.

(!), for solo pipe organ, 2000, 10'. Premiered by Sandy Glassman, 2000.

miru, for solo bass Koto, 2000, 10'. Premiered by Riuko Mitzutani, 2000.

(-) [+/-], for 3(x) instruments, 2000, open duration. Premiered the composer and ad hoc ensemble, March, 2000.

Traversing Mad-hatten (14 solo compositions), 2000, open duration. Premiered by the composer March, 2000. (featured on 2002 recording, Matthew Welch, Ceol Nua, Leo Records 336).

"...with regard to harmony...", for violin, guitar and piano, 1998, 8'. Premiered by the SFU composer's ensemble, Spring, 1999.

"...without regard to harmony...", for solo violin, 1998, graphic score, open duration.

Transformations in Search of Form, for two violins, 1998, 7'. Premiered by Mark Ferris and unknown, December, 1998.

A Bhoilich, for clarinet, vibraphone and piano, 1998, 5'. Commissioned and premiered by Ensemble Symposium, November, 1998.

1912-1992, for solo Cello, 1998, 10'. Read 1998.

Mu, for solo flute, 1998, 2'. Read 1998.

36 White Brushstrokes on a White Canvas, for 1-4 clarinets, 1998, 20'. Premiered by Francois Houle, Spring 1999.

In Search of the Bull, for Javanese Gongs and Kempuls (solo percussion), 1998, 8'. Read 1998.

A Periodic Table of the Elements, for ensemble 1997, open duration

Translucency 2, for solo vibraphone, 1997, 15'. Read 1997.

Elegy for Mother Theresa, for piano and percussion, 1997, 8'. read 1997.

Marimbaireachd, for solo Marimba, 1997, 10'. Premiered by Ashley Deekus, Feb. 18, 2007.

Etude Sonata, for solo bagpipe, 1997, 15'. Read 1997

Disturbing the Inertia, forString Trio, 1997, 5'. Read 1997

I Dropped Some Coins into the Well, for piano and percussion, 1997, 5'. Premiered by the composer and Daniel Rendall, 1997.  

Piano solo

The House of Asterion, for piano and violin ad libitum, 2006, 7'. Premiered by Emily Manzo (solo piano version) Oct. 26, 2006. (ad libitum performed also in July 2006 as version for electric guitar).

In Praise of Morag, for solo piano, 2001, 20'. Premiered by Shawn Onsgard, May 3, 2001.

})({, for solo piano, 2000, 8'. Read 2000.

Looking at Mondrian, for solo piano, 1999, 45'. Premiered by Shawn Onsgard, March, 2000. Ursa Major, for solo piano, 1998, 20'. Premiered by Tetsu Hiruta, November 1998.

Orion, for solo piano, 1998, 10'. Premiered by Tetsu Hiruta, April 13, 1998.

Two Piano Pieces (Wed, am and A Conversation), for solo piano, 1997, 15'. Translucency 1, for solo piano, 1997, 12'. premiered by Tetsu Hiruta, Nov. 1997. Bagpipes, Blarvuster, Gamelan and other The Library of Babel, for bagpipe and electric guitar, 2014, 10-15’. The Finger Lock, for Blarvuster, bagpipe/sax/voice with electric guitar, bass guitar and drumset, 2014, 30’. Commissioned by and premiered at the Switchboard Music Festival, San Francisco, CA, April 12, 2014.

Borges and the Other, a 2-act opera with text by the composer and adapted from Jorge Luis Borges. for an expanded version of Blarvuster: 2 mezzo-soprani, tenor and baritone, SATB chorus, flute, viola, 2 electric guitars, piano, bass guitar, vibraphone, drum set; 2007-2012, 85'. The opera can be divided into subsets, each of the 2 acts and the choral tableaux may be performed separately or in small combinations, in order to form a shorter opera. First premiered 2007 (act two scenes), and with a full premiere May 11, 2012. Performed by Blarvuster at Roulette (NYC) with the composer conducting. Borges and the Other has received funding from the Jerome Foundation via Roulette, and segments have been performed at Roulette, The Stone, Le Poisson Rouge, Rider University. Borges and the Other, act 2 originated as Canntaireachd Masolah, an opera in idioglossia - with vocalese sung by the composer, 2010. Available on Tzadik Records.

Canang Tenget, for solo bagpipe, 2010, open duration. Premiered by the composer at Sushi Contemporary Performance and Visial Art, San Diego, Ca, September 17, 2010.

The Mosaic of Iridescence, for Blarvuster: Bagpipe/alto sax/voice, flute/piccolo, viola, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit, 2010, 45'-75'.

Premiered by Blarvuster at The Stone, February 23, 2010 (NYC). Reorchestrated for Ensemble Proton, Bern CH, and premiered Feb 16, 2014.

Blind Piper's Obstinacy #2 - The Unjust Incarceration, for Blarvuster: Bagpipe/alto sax, flute/piccolo, viola, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit, 2008, flexible duration (30'-60'), commissioned by RPI-EMPAC. Premiered by the composer and Blarvuster April 25, 2008.

Bhima Swarga, for Balinese Gamelan Semara Dana, electronics and saxophone (in collaboration with video and electronics on the part of Ikue Mori), 2006, 40', performed 2006, 2007, 2008 by Ikue Mori, Welch and Gamelan Dharmaswara. Premiered July 1, 2006. (Collaboration released on Tzadik DVD edition #3007, 2007)

Blind Piper's Obstinacy, for bagpipe, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit (open to additional instrumentation), 2006, flexible duration (30'-60'), Premiered and performed by Blarvuster 2006-2008.

Blarvuster Songbook, a collection of 10 compositions for the composer's ensemble Blarvuster (bagpipes/soprano sax/vocals, flutes, viola, electric guitar, electric bass, drum kit/glockenspiel), 2002-2006, 45'. Premiered and performed by Blarvuster over beginning in 2002. Titles include: High Street, Song 1, Song 2, Bottums Up, Gorgamor the Giant Gecko, Pak Gusti Aji (all available on the Tzadik release Matthew Welch: Blarvuster, Tzadik 8077), Jigs and Academic Quadrangle.

Lagu Campur, for Balinese Gamelan Semara Dana, 2005, 12'. Premiered by the composer and Gamelan Dharmaswara, June 20, 2005.

Hag at the Churn, a theme collection of 15 electro-acoustic compositions, 1998-2003 (released as a CD under the same name, Newsonic Records 33, 2003), 60'.

Road to Ulawatu, for small bagpipe band, 2002, 8'

"...for fear that my shadow may enter the world...", for solo bagpipe (version 1) or Javanese Gamelan (version 2), 2000, 10'. version 1 premiered by the composer, December, 2000.

Untitled Gamelan piece, 2002, 10'

Eile Suite, for bagpipe and drum band, 2000, 8'.

Meditation on the Partials 4,5,6 and 7, for four bagpipes (conductor option), 2000, 28'. Studio recording 2000.

Hearing in the Bardo, for electro-acoustic tape, 1999, 12'. Premiered by the composer, Spring, 1999.

Through the Bardo, for electro-acoustic tape, 1998, 6'. Premiered by the composer, December 1998.

Ambience from the Milldust, version 1, for electro-acoustic tape, 1998, 7'. Premiered by the composer, December, 1998.

D=M/V, for electro-acoustic tape, 1997, 4'