COMPOSITIONS
 

Actuate/Resonate (2018)
large ensemble with electronics

Lines on Black (2018)
for voice, flute, violin, saxophone, piano, percussion, and electronics

binary/momentary iii (2018)
cello and electronics

for Delia Derbyshire (2018)
bass, guitar, and electronics

Matrix for George Lewis (2017)
2 electronic silent brass trombones

Seven Systems (2015)
2 piano, 2 percussion quartet with electronic playback and actuated snares

binary/momentary logics: flow state/joy state (2016)
String quartet

binary/momentary ii: flow state/joy state (2017)
Trumpet, 2 trombones, piano, and percussion

delay/line (2016)
Flute and delay line

Points Against Fields (2015)
Bassoon and playback

Broken Symmetries (2012)
Violin soloist, feedback electronics, flute, tenor saxophone, piano, and percussion

Chain Reactions/Five Events (2013)
String quartet and live electronics

Machine Language (2012)
Percussion soloist, 2 percussion, 2 violins, 2 bass clarinets, accordion, and fixed sine tones

MODULES (2014)
Brass quartet, percussion, analog synthesizer, and live electronics

hydra (2015)
Violin, piano, fixed media, and live electronics

Four Sixes (2014)
Percussion Sextet

Sixty Cycles (2013)
Sopranino saxophone soloist, feedback televisions, violin, and cello

Portraits/Self Portraits (2011)
Violin soloist with large ensemble

ATD V (2010)
Saxophone and electronics soloists with small ensemble

Tile Mosaic (after Chagall) (2010)
Two pianos, two percussion, and resonant pails

Standing Waves (2009)
Medium sized ensemble and electronics

Matrices (2009)
Percussion trio and electronics

7:6 (2006, rev. 2010)
Distorted, amplified cello

Lyra (2007 rev. 2010)
Amplified string quartet

Signal Flow (2009)
Percussion quartet and electronics

SWITCHES (2007)
Distorted, amplified cello and drumset

American Tokyo Daydream IV (data structures/monoliths) (2007)
Saxophones, electric guitar, and accordion

A Circle of 8 in a Prime of Primes for Sara (31), by Sam (29)
Sheng, pipa, suona, handbell choir, and live electronics

American Tokyo Daydream III (The Surprise) (2006)
Piano, string quaret, and live electronics

noise + mobile (2005)
Piano and electronic playback

 
Grossman Ensemble performing Actuate/Resonate at the University of Chicago



Actuate/Resonate was commissioned by the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition for the premiere performance by Grossman Ensemble, UChicago's incredible ensemble-in-resedence. This piece was written to take advantage of the specific acoustic qualities of the Performance Hall at the University of Chicago, where even the quietest sound on the stage is heard as if it were right in front of the listener. The piece begins with an attack of synthesized drum sounds and instrumental orchestrations of those same drum sounds. After a brief introduction, time freezes, and we enter ten minutes of relative stasis, as if we have zoomed into a single attack to examine its gradual unfolding. Suddenly, around the 11 minute mark of the work, we continue where we left off in the fifth bar. The ensemble has become a giant analog drum machine. Electronics can’t help but join in on the fun. The piano goes on a roque mission.

View the Complete Score



Performance by Grossman Ensemble:

Tim Munro, flute
Andrew Nogal, oboe
Katie Schoepflin, clarinet
Taimur Sullivan, saxophone
Matthew Oliphant, horn
Greg Beyer, percussion
John Corkill, percussion
Ben Melsky, harp
Daniel Pesca, piano
Spektral Quartet:
Clara Lyon, violin
Maeve Feinberg, violin
Doyle Armbrust, viola
Russell Rolen, cello

Recorded and Produced by Christopher L. Willis