COMPOSITIONS (1974-2004) By JOAN LA BARBARA

Snowbird's Dance, Into the Light, and Beyond [2004] *(SA) for voice, flute and string quartet. Premiere: June 4, 2004: Joan La Barbara and Locrian Ensemble, Riverside Church, NYC

Dragons on the Wall [2001] (I-P)* for solo voice, instrumental ensemble and pre-recorded dancers' voices. Music score commissioned by Mary Flagler Cary Trust for Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company; premiere: February 3, 2001, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark workshops/w-i-p performances in 1999: Harlem School of the Arts, NYC; Thread Waxing Space, NYC; 2000 Feet Festival, Philadelphia. workshops/w-i-p performances in 1998: Whitney Museum, NYC; Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Poetry Festival in New Jersey.

Snowbird's Dance, into the light [2000] *(SA) for voice, flute and string quartet. Premiere: May 19, 2000: Joan La Barbara and Locrian Ensemble, Riverside Church, NYC

"Tales and Mosaics" [1999] for voice, saxophones, p'iri and pre-recorded sounds co-composers Joan La Barbara and Peter Gordon premiere: February 27, 1999 at The Forum at The College of Santa Fe

"a trail of indeterminate light" [1997] *(SA) for solo cello w/voice (cellist who sings) commissioned by Music Teachers National Association and New Mexico MTA premiere: November 14, 1997 by Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick at St. John's Church, Music Teachers Association Conference, Santa Fe, NM

de profundis: out of the depths, a sign [1996] for 4 voices, percussion and tape (electronically-modified and concrete sounds) text by Melody Sumner Carnahan recorded for Frog Peak Music: "The Time is Now", CD released 1998 [duration: 9:10]

A Different Train [1996] for 4 voices, bowed pianos and tape (electronically-modified and concrete sounds) text by Melody Sumner Carnahan recorded for Frog Peak Music: "The Time is Now", CD released 1998 [duration: 3:30]

de profundis: out of the depths, a sign//a different train [1996] for 4 voices, percussion, bowed pianos, tape (electronically-modified & concrete sounds text by Melody Sumner Carnahan [duration: 12:28] premiere tape version: December 7, 1997 at The College of Santa Fe premiere concert version: April 13, 2000 Interpretations at Merkin Concert Hall, NYC

Calligraphy II/Shadows [1995] *(SA) for voice and chinese instruments: Dizi (bamboo flutes), Erhu (2-silk-string violin-like instrument), Yangqi (dulcimer played with bamboo mallets) and percussion commissioned by Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company; premiere: June 8-11, 1995 by Joan La Barbara w/ Tao Chen - Dizi, Sisi Chen - yangqi and Bao-Li Zhang - Erhu, members of The Chinese Music Ensemble of New York at St. Mark's Danspace, New York

"in the shadow and act of the haunting place" (1995) *(SA) for voice and chamber ensemble (hrn,tba,pno,perc,vn,vc) premiere: January 17,1995 by San Francisco Contemporary Music Players at Veterans' Building Green Room, San Francisco, CA
Listen to Excerpts

The Misfortune of the Immortals (1994-95) a collaborative (co-composers Mark Coniglio, Joan La Barbara and Morton Subotnick) interdisciplinary interactive media opera for voices, dancers, actors, video projections (by Steina and Woody Vasulka), MIDI instruments and interactive computer systems allowing onstage performers to interactively control the theatrical environment. commissioned by Walker Art Center, Spoleto Festival and California Institute of the Arts made possible by a grant from Meet The Composer/Reader's Digest Commissioning Program, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund workshops/performances in 1992: Yellow Springs Institute, PA workshops/performances in 1993: Atlantic Center for the Arts, FL workshops & performances in 1994: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN and Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ performance April 24-27,1996: "Three Sites/Multiple Views Festival", a telecommunications event taking place in three cities simultaneously: The Kitchen Center, NYC; The Electronic Cafe, Santa Monica, sponsored by California Institute of the Arts Center for Experiments in Art, Information and Technology (CEAIT) and Site Santa Fe

"73 Poems" (1993) a collaboration with text artist Kenneth Goldsmith, settings (of the 79 poems in the series) for multiple voices with electronic modification commissioned by Permanent Press for publication as a book with cd premieres include: The Drawing Center, NY (January 20, 1993) (26 excerpts); List Gallery/MIT Visual Arts Center, Cambridge (March 7, 1993) (37excerpts) and World Premiere at Wolfson Gallery, Miami (December 4, 1993) (complete work) recorded for Lovely Music CD3002: "73 Poems", released 1994

ShamanSong (1992) suite for voice, percussion and tape world premiere: Athens Concert Hall, Athens, Greece (March 2, 1992) Joan La Barbara with David Moss, voices and percussion

Awakenings II (1992) *(SA) for voice and chamber ensemble premiere: January 28, 1992 by Ensemble 21, conducted by Arthur Weisberg, at Arizona State University Concert Hall, Tempe, AZ

Face to Face (1992) for voices, electronics and percussion U.S. premiere: Joan La Barbara and David Moss, SonicWorks Festival, DiverseWorks, Houston, TX (February 1, 1992) European premiere: Athens Concert Hall, Athens, Greece (March 2, 1992)

"to hear the wind roar" (1991) *(SA) a work for multiple voices and hand-held percussion, in 3 versions: (1) solo voice and percussion with tape, (2) 8-voice chamber vocal ensemble and percussion, (3) full chorus, with hand-held percussion commissioned by The Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Fe, The Gregg Smith Singers and I Cantori, made possible by a grant from Meet The Composer/Reader's Digest Commissioning Program, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund premieres: I Cantori (vocal ensemble version) - Occidental College, Pasadena, CA (May 9, and October 24, 1992) Gregg Smith Singers (full chorus version) - Adirondack American Music Festival (July 18, 1992) and St. Peter's Church, NYC (March 6,1993) Joan La Barbara (solo version) - Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe (August 8, 1992); European premiere Podewil-Berlin June 10,1993)

Awakenings (1991) *(SA) for chamber ensemble, commissioned by the University of Iowa to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Center for New Music premiere: September 21, 1991 University of Iowa faculty musicians recorded for Music & Arts CD-830, CD released 1994-95

Anima (1991) filmscore for voice, percussion, electronic keyboard synthesizers, computer (all performed by La Barbara), gamelan (Kristina Melcher), Tar and Dumbek (Polly Tapia Ferber), cello (Erika Duke) and indigenous Diablo Canyon sounds premiere: New York Independent Filmakers Festival, September 25, 1992

Klangbild K?ln (1991) a sound painting for voice, percussion and indigenous K?ln sounds Akustische International Competition Selection 1990-91 premiere: May 7, 1991 WestDeutscher Rundfunk-K?ln broadcast

In the Dreamtime (1990) a self-portrait sound collage of 17 works spanning 14 years commissioned by WestDeutscher Rundfunk-K?ln premiere: May 7, 1991

Events in the Elsewhere (1990) an opera inspired by the life and work of British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking developed with funding from National Endowment for the Arts Opera/Music Theater - New American Works program premiere: August 24 &25, 1990, Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe performance April 24-27,1996: "Three Sites/Multiple Views Festival", a telecommunications event taking place in three cities simultaneously: The Kitchen Center, NYC; The Electronic Cafe, Santa Monica, sponsored by California Institute of the Arts Center for Experiments in Art, Information and Technology (CEAIT) and Site Santa Fe (N.B. A performance score is available upon request, indicating interactive elements and triggering materials.)

l'albero dalle foglie azzurre (the tree of blue leaves) (1989) *(SA) for solo oboe and tape commissioned by The Saint Louis Symphony for Barbara Herr Orland, oboe premiere: March 20, 1989 by Barbara Herr Orland - oboe, Saint Louis Symphony Discovery Series, Sheldon Performing Arts Centre, St.Louis, MO recorded September 19, 1992 by Barbara Herr Orland for Centaur Records - "The Virtuoso in the Computer Age-III; CDCM Computer Music Series Vol.13" (Centaur CRC 2166), CD released 1993

Urban Tropics (1988) a sound painting for voice, percussion and indigenous Miami sounds commissioned by New Music America-Miami Festival 1988 broadcast premiere: December 12, 1988 Miami, Florida concert premiere: March 30, 1989, Ventura City Hall concerts series recorded for Lovely Music CD3001: "Sound Paintings", released 1990

Conversations (1988) unaccompanied solo voice premiere: August 3, 1988 Otto Botanico, Rome Italy

Prologue to The Book of Knowing ... (and) of Overthrowing (1987-89) solo performance aria based on female creation myths from 6 cultures (music composed by Joan La Barbara; projections and costumes by Judy Chicago; lighting design - Aubrey Wilson; movement consultant - Bela Lewitzky; movement coach Rhaz Zeisler; photographer & staging coach - Donald Woodman) production supported in part by the New Mexico Arts Division and the National Endowment for the Arts premiere: July 6, 1988 Merkin Concert Hall, 1st New York International Festival of the Arts

Helga's Lied (1986) *(SA) voice and chamber ensemble commissioned by Esbjerg Ensemble premiered October 10, 1988 Aarhus Concert Hall, Aarhus, Denmark by Joan La Barbara (voice) with Esberg Ensemble US premiere, June 1, 1989: Ojai Music Festival, Lukas Foss conducting rescored for voice, cello and electronics, premiered by Joan La Barbara and Erika Duke, December 13, 1987 at Kunsthaus Zurich, Switzerland

ROTHKO (1986) for voice, 16 voices on tape and 2 bowed pianos premiered April 5, 1986, at The Rothko Chapel, Houston, TX New Music America Festival

Voice Windows (1986) for voice and interactive video systems premiered March 3, 1986, Los Angeles Theatre Center, LA, CA [video collaboration with Steina and Woody Vasulka]

A Rothko Study (1985) for voice and chamber ensemble premiered November 3, 1985, Bing Auditorium, Los Angeles County Museum Los Angeles, CA for New Music America Festival

Loose Tongues (1985) for multiple voices commissioned for National Public Radio's "House with a View, premiered first as radiowork rescored for voice with tape and premiered at The Performance Gallery, San Francisco, September 1986 recorded for "CD Connection", New Arts Program [benefit] cd, released 1996

After "Obervogelsang" (1984) for amplified voice and tape premiere: June 5, 1984, New York Philharmonic Horizons Festival, Avery Fisher Hall, NYC

Time(d) Trials and Unscheduled Events (1984) *(SA) for multiple voices commissioned by The Independent Composers Association for "Sounds in Motion" radio series broadcast for Los Angeles Olympics Arts Festival premiere broadcast: KUSC-FM for Los Angeles Olympics Arts Festival 1984 rescored for 8 voices; premiered by I Cantori, July 4, 1987 Los Angeles recorded for Lovely Music CD3001: "Sound Paintings", CD released 1990

Berliner Tr?ume (Berlin Dreaming) (1983) for multi-track tape commissioned for Airworks radio series premiere broadcast WNYC-FM, January 1984 rescored for voice and tape; premiered February 18, 1984, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN recorded for Lovely Music CD3001: "Sound Paintings", CD released 1990

The Solar Wind III (1984) *(SA) for amplified voice and orchestra premiere: May 12, 1984 at The Scottish Rite Hall, San Francisco, CA (Bay Area) Women's Philharmonic, Jeannine Wager, conducting

The Solar Wind II (1983) *(SA) for mixed chorus and instruments (fl/picc, kybrd synth., 2 perc) commissioned by Ars Nova vocal ensemble premiere: November 14, 1983, Danmarks Radio, Copenhagen, DK by Ars Nova

The Solar Wind (1982) *(SA) for voice and chamber ensemble National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship commission premiere: Los Angeles Philharmonic, William Kraft conducting, February 7, 1983 at Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles Music Center, LA, CA recorded for "the Art of Joan La Barbara", Nonesuch Records LP 78029-1, released 1985

Vlissingen Harbor (1982) *(SA) for voice and chamber ensemble premiere: December 6, 1982 Monday Evening Concerts, Bing Auditorium, Los Angeles County Museum. Los Angeles, CA recorded for "the Art of Joan La Barbara", Nonesuch Records LP 78029-1, released 1985

Winds of the Canyon (1982) for voice and tape premiere: November 12, 1982, San Francisco Symphony, New and Unusual Music series, Japan Art Center, San Francisco, CA rescored and restaged as theater work, directed by Barbara Karp, visual environment by Lita Albuquerque premiere: March 3, 1986, Los Angeles Theatre Center, LA, CA

Silent Scroll (1982) for voice, cello (or double bass), flute, zoomoozophone, cup gongs commissioned by Newband premiere: April 25, 1982 at Symphony Space, NY by Newband recorded for "Microtonal Works by Partch, Cage, La Barbara and Drummond/Newband", Mode 18, CD released 1990

as lightning comes, in flashes (1981) mixed media performance environment with 7 singers, 5 dancers, stereo tape, 8-channel tape, electronics, video and costumes Premiere: February 28, 1981, at Contemporary Music Festival'81, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA performers: voices: Joan La Barbara, sharon Krofina, Elizabeth Lindenfeld, Guillermo Gomez-Pena, Annebarbe Kau, Kim MacInnes, Guy Orndu?o dancers: Maria Talamantes, Susanna Steg, Anne Sotelo, Sarah Berkgman electronics: Hal Dalby, John Faverman, Rand Steiger, Skip Brunner, Steve Bilow recorded: "as lightning comes, in flashes", Wizard Records RVW2283, LP released 1983

October Music: Star Showers and Extraterrestrials (1980) for voice and multi-track tape National Endowment for the Arts, Visual Arts Fellowship commission premiere: October 1980 at The American Center for Students and Artists, Paris, France recorded for "the Art of Joan La Barbara", Nonesuch Records LP 78029-1, released 1985

Erin (1980) for voice and multi-track tape commissioned by VPRO radio, Hilversum Holland premiered first as radiowork on VPRO, 1980 premiered as work for live voice and tape: June 21, 1980, at Theatre Gerard Philipe, Paris, FR recorded: "as lightning comes, in flashes", Wizard Records RVW2283, LP released 1983 recorded for Lovely Music CD3001: "Sound Paintings", CD released 1990

ShadowSong (1979) for voice and multi-track tape commissioned by RIAS-Berlin premiered as work for live voice and tape: October 5 & 6, 1979, at La Chapelle de Sorbonne, Festival d'Automne ? Paris, Paris, France recorded for "Reluctant Gypsy", Wizard Records RVW2279, LP released 1979 recorded for Lovely Music CD3001: "Sound Paintings", CD released 1990

Klee Alee (1979) for voice and multi-track tape commissioned by RIAS-Berlin premiered as work for live voice and tape: October 5 & 6, 1979, at La Chapelle de Sorbonne, Festival d'Automne ? Paris, Paris, France recorded for "Reluctant Gypsy", Wizard Records RVW2279, LP released 1979 recorded for Lovely Music CD3001: "Sound Paintings", CD released 1990

California Chant ("Raicha Tria") (1979) for amplified or unamplified voice premiered October 27, 1979 at K-19 performance space, Berlin Text-Sound Festival

The Executioner's Bracelet (1979) for multi-track tape, a gallery installation piece commissioned by Galerie Yvon Lambert premiere showing September 1979, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris, FR

Responsive Resonance with Feathers (1979) *(SA) for piano and tape commissioned by Joan Tower premiere: May 21, 1979 by Joan Tower, piano at Christ and St. Stephen's Church, NYC

Twelve for Five in Eight (1979) *(SA) for five voices premiere: April 29, 1979 performed by Joan La Barbara with The Extended Vocal Techniques Ensemble of San Diego (Linda Vickerman, Deborah Kavasch, Ed Harkins, Philip Larson) at California Institute of the Arts, Contemporary Music Festival, Valencia, CA

"quatre petites b?tes" (1978-79) a quadraphonic soundance commissioned by Annette Baack premiered as a performance work for voice and tape at Baack'scher Kunstraum, K?ln, May 9, 1979 premiered as installation work at daadgalerie May 1979, Berlin recorded for "Reluctant Gypsy", Wizard Records RVW2279, LP released 1979; compact disc scheduled for release on Lovely Music, 2002

Autumn Signal (1978) for voice and Buchla synthesizer premiered October 22, 1978, Metamusik Festival, Berlin recorded for "Reluctant Gypsy" LP, Wizard Records RVW2279, released 1979; compact disc scheduled for release on Lovely Music, 2002

Chandra (1978) for solo voice, male chorus and chamber orchestra commissioned by Pro Musica Nova Festival, Radio Bremen premiere: May 7, 1978 performed by Joan La Barbara with NordDeutsche Rundfunk Orchestra und Chor at Pro Musica Nova Festival, Bremen, Germany

Ides of March, No. 3a (1978) *(SA) for trombone, tuba, 2 voices and percussion premiere: March 16, 1978 at California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA performers: Rebecca Bower - trombone, David Downs tuba, Joan Callopy and Joan La Barbara - voices, John Fitzgerald - percussion

Ides of March, No. 3 (1978) *(SA) for trombone, tuba, voice and percussion premiere: March 11, 1978 Theatre Vanguard. Los Angeles performers: Rebecca Bower - trombone, David Downs tuba, Joan La Barbara - voice, John Fitzgerald - percussion

CYCLONE CON(S)T(R)AINED (1978) a sound installation premiere: January 15-29, 1978 at Project Studios One, Institute for Art and Urban Resources, NY

Twelvesong (Zw?lfgesang) (1977) for multi-track tape commissioned by Radio Bremen premiered as radiowork on RadioBremen, Germany, November 1977 premiered as work for live voice and tape: May 6, 1978 at Pro Musica Nova Festival, Bremen, Germany recorded: "as lightning comes, in flashes", Wizard Records RVW2283, LP released 1983; compact disc scheduled for release on Lovely Music, 2002

Layers (As Is) (1977) voice, electronics, acoustic and electric percussion premiere: October 25, 1977 at Entermedia Theatre, Dance Umbrella Series, NYC performers: Joan La Barbara and Bruce Ditmas with Sara Rudner Dance Company

Ides of March, No. 7 (1977) *(SA) for voice, french horn, trombone and percussion premiere: June 19, 1977 at Sonesta Koepelzaal, HOLLAND FESTIVAL, Amsterdam performers: Joan La Barbara - voice, Ricardo Almeida - french horn, Annemarie Roelofs - trombone, David Weiss-percussion

Loisaida (1977) for voice, kalimba, steel drum and hi-hat cymbal premiered February 17 & 18, 1978 performed by Joan La Barbara, Bruce Ditmas and Warren Smith at The Kitchen Center for Video and Music, NYC

Cathing (1977) for voice and tape premiered February 17 & 18, 1978, at The Kitchen Center for Video and Music, NYC recorded for "TAPESONGS", CHIAROSCURO CR-196, LP released 1978

Ides of March, No. 4a (1976-77) *(SA) for amplified voice with tenor saxophone, trombone, voice and percussion on tape premiere: August 10, 1977 at Ste. Maximim, Provence, France

CYCLONE (1977) a sound environment consisting of pre-recorded synthesized winds, phase shifters, amplified and electronic percussion, electric guitar, voices, suspended cymbal and a light-panning device premiere: May 14, 1977 at ISCM League of Composers Welmusiktage '77, Bonn, Germany International Jury Award for sound environment

Ides of March, No. 5a (1977) *(SA) for english horn, voice, bowed vibraphone and percussion premiere: April 6, 1977 Carnegie Recital Hall, NYC

Ides of March, No. 5 (1977) *(SA) for english horn, voice and percussion premiere: April 6, 1977 Carnegie Recital Hall, NYC performers: Nora Post - oboe, Joan La Barbara - voice, Jan Williams - percussion at Albright-Knox Museum, Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, Buffalo, NY

Chords and Gongs (1976) for voice, chinese cymbal, finger cymbals and gongs premiere: December 17, 1976 at The New School, NYC performers: Joan La Barbara and Bruce Ditmas

Ides of March, No. 4 (1976) *(SA) for tenor saxophone, trombone, voice and percussion premiere: December 17, 1976 at The New School, NYC performers: Ned Rothenberg - tenor saxophone, Peter Zummo - trombone, Joan La Barbara - voice and Bruce Ditmas - percussion

Les Oiseaux qui chantent dans ma t?te (1976) for voice alone premiered on Radio France live broadcast, November 4, 1976

Des Accords pour Teeny (1976) for voice alone premiered on Radio France live broadcast, November 4, 1976

Chords (1976) for amplified voice alone premiere: April 22, 1976 performed by Joan La Barbara at Composers' Forum, WBAI Free Music Store, NYC

An Exaltation of Larks (1976) for voice with electronics, MOOG drum, synthesizer premiered April 22, 1976 performed by Joan La Barbara and Bruce Ditmas at Composers' Forum, WBAI Free Music Store, NYC

Ides of March, No. 2 (1976) *(SA) for soprano saxophone, voice and percussion premiered April 22, 1976 performed by Richard Landry - soprano saxophone, Joan La Barbara -voice and Bruce Ditmas - percussion at Composers' Forum, WBAI Free Music Store, NYC

Space Testing (1976) for acoustic voice in a sonic environment premiered: Theatre Vanguard, Los Angeles, CA, 1976

Thunder (1975) for 6 tympani and voice with electronics commissioned by CAPS Music Fellowship premiere: February 15, 1975 at The Kitchen, NYC performers: Warren Smith and Bruce Ditmas - tympani, Joan La Barbara - voice recorded for "TAPESONGS", CHIAROSCURO CR-196, LP released 1978

Hunters (1975) video performance piece for vocalist in an outdoor environment premiere: October 18, 1975, Mills College, Oakland, CA

Vermont II (1975) video performance piece for vocalist in an outdoor environment premiere: October 18, 1975, Mills College, Oakland, CA

WARP-32375-1 (1975) for voice and percussion premiere: May 25, 1977 Maison de la Culture, Rennes, France performers: Joan La Barbara - voice and Bruce Ditmas - percussion

Performance Piece (1974, revised 1979) *(SA) for solo voice premiere March 17, 1979, 1750 Arch Street, Berkeley, CA

Circular Song (1975) *(SA) for amplified voice alone premiere: December 19 & 20, 1975 at Environ, NYC recorded: "Voice is the Original Instrument", Wizard Records RVW-2266, LP released 1976; compact disc scheduled for release on Lovely Music, 2000

An Exploration in Sound and Movement (1975) for two performers, using voice and movement premiere: December 19 & 20, 1975 at Environ, NYC performers: Joan La Barbara and Dana Reitz

Ides of March (1974) *(SA) for string quartet, 3 voices (soprano, alto, baritone) percussion and contra-bass arranged in three trios premiere: February 15, 1976 at The Kitchen, NYC performers: Martha Caplin - violin, Norbert Osterreich, - violin, Natasha Ghent - viola, Barbara Bogatin - cello, Sheila Schonbrun - soprano, Joan La Barbara - alto, Elliot Levine - baritone, Bruce Ditmas - percussion, Harvie Swartz - contra-bass

Hear What I Feel (1974) *(SA) a performance piece involving sensory deprivation for amplified vocalist with assistant premiere: January 15, 1975 at Washington Square Church, NYC

Vocal Extensions (1975) for voice with electronics premiere: January 15, 1975 at Washington Square Church, NYC recorded: "Voice is the Original Instrument", Wizard Records RVW-2266, LP released 1976; compact disc scheduled for release on Lovely Music, 2002

Voice Piece: One-Note Internal Resonance Investigation (1974) *(SA) for amplified voice alone premiere: December 9, 1974 at St. Mark's Church, NYC recorded: "Voice is the Original Instrument", Wizard Records RVW-2266, LP released 1976; compact disc scheduled for release on Lovely Music, 2002

* (SA) indicates score available

[All performances by Joan La Barbara unless otherwise noted]

Joan La Barbara's music is published by Joan La Barbara (publisher member ASCAP)

Recordings issued by Centaur, Chiaroscuro, Elektra-Nonesuch, Lovely Music, Music & Arts, New World, Permanent Press, Wizard Music, (please see discography for listing of recordings)

top