Compositions (1975 — 2007) by Conrad Cummings
"The Golden Gate" opera in two acts, libretto from the novel in verse by Vikram Seth adapted by the composer [2006 - ]; workshops: American Opera Projects "Six Scenes" series, September 2006; American Opera Projects, Opera Index, and Manhattan School of Music, "Operas in Progress" series, March 2007
"The Passing Months" for soprano saxophone and piano [2006] for French soprano saxophonist Daniel Gremelle; premiere scheduled for August 2007 in Taipei, Taiwan
"Five Songs from 'The Golden Gate'" lyrics by Vikram Seth from his novel in verse "The Golden Gate"; one song each for coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, mezzo, tenor, and bass with piano [2005-6]; premiere: American Opera Projects "First Glimpse" series, May 2006
"Still 'The Golden Gate'" lyrics by Vikram Seth from his novel in verse "The Golden Gate"; soprano and bass voices and piano [2005]; premiere: Karen Siegle soprano, Steven Hrycelak bass, Sheryl Lee piano, New York University, March 2005
"In Memoriam Marge Laszlo" (a tribute to the Roller Derby star) for chamber ensemble (fl, sop sax, pf, vln, vlc) [2003]; premiere: January 2004, Avian Orchestra All-Sports Event, University Settlement House Gymnasium, New York City
"Shakespeare in Loves" for soprano and baritone voices and Baroque ensemble (fl, vln, vlc, harpsichord) [2000]; premiere: Brandywine Baroque, Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Wilmington DE and Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia, May 2000
"Pierrette Bloch, Boucles" film score for French art documentarian Thierry Spitzer’s portrait of the painter Pierrette Bloch [1997]; European broadcasts, 1997 and 1998
"Barnar Venet: Lignes" film score for Thierry Spitzer’s portrait of the sculptor Barnar Venet [1995]; European broadcasts, 1995 and 1996
"Tonkin" opera in three acts, libretto by the composer in association with Thomas Bird, additional material by Robert T. Jones, commissioned by Opera Delaware with support from Opera America, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rockefeller Foundation [1993]; premiere: Opera Delaware, November 27, December 2 and 4, 1993, Grand Opera House, Wilmington Delaware; David Lawton conductor, Harry Silverstein director, John Culbert designer, Peggy Kriha, Mathew Lord, Perry Ward, and Kathryn Honan-Carter leads; Robert McDonald, Ruben Del Pilar, Laura Hemphill, Sarah Hill, Eileen Frizzell, Charlotte Paulsen, Robert O’Neil, and Bill Fabris secondary leads; the Opera Delaware Chorus, C. Lawler Rogers director; accompanying symposium, Neil Sheehan, featured speaker, funded by the Delaware Humanities Forum
"There Is No Hope For Art" for soprano, piano, and double bass [1992]; premiere: Urban Diva, The Kitchen, New York, April 1982
"Denouement" for large orchestra [1991]; premiere: New Jersey Symphony, Robert Spano conductor, November 1992; The Louisville Symphony, Robert Spano conductor, February 1994
"Scenes from Tonkin" for voices and chamber orchestra (sop, mez, ten, bar, 2fl, 2ob, 2cl, 2bsn, kbd, vln, vla, vlc, bass) [1990]; premiere: Bang on a Can Festival, May 1990 La MaMa ETC Annex, New York City
"Photo-Op" an opera about political campaigning with lyrics by James Siena [1989]; stage premiere: eighteen performances at La MaMa ETC in collaboration with Ridge Theater, May-June1992; concert premiere: Cummings Ensemble, Knitting Factory, New York City, May 1989; The Club at La MaMa, May1990; Electronic Music Plus Festival, Oberlin Conservatory, October 1990
"Denouement" for two harpsichords [1988]; premiere: Brandywine Baroque, Karen Flint and Ray Urwin harpsichords, April 1989
"Insertions" for amplified voices and instruments with lyrics by James Siena, Vikram Seth, Michael Blumenthal, and Hanon Reznikov [1988]; premiere: Cummings Ensemble, Knitting Factory New York, May 1988; P.S. 122 New York, June 1988; Finney Chapel Oberlin College, October 1989
"Positions 1956" for amplified voices and instruments with lyrics by Michael Korie based on 1950’s marriage manuals [1989]; premiere: Cummings Ensemble, Knitting Factory New York, May 1988; P.S. 122 New York, June 1988; Finney Chapel Oberlin College, October 1989; Avian Orchestra Valentine’s Day Event, Bill Young Studio, New York, February 2003
"Where I Live" for soprano, baritone and Baroque ensemble with lyrics by Anne Sexton [1987]; commissioned by the Carole Buck Sells Foundation for "The Baroque in Architecture and Music" symposium, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, June 1987
"I Wish They All Could Be. . ." for instrumental octet [1986], commissioned by the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players; premiere: Cheltenham International Festival of Music (UK), July 1986; San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, December 1987; Musical Elements, 92nd Street Y, New York, November 1988; Oakland Ballet, March 1989
"Fragments from ’The Golden Gate’" for mezzo soprano, tenor, and piano with lyrics by Vikram Seth, commissioned by the San Francisco Opera Center [1985]; premiere: December 1985
"Suite from Eros and Psyche" for chamber orchestra, commissioned by the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus (OH) [1985]; premiere: November 1985
"Black Box Music" for one hundred clarinets, commissioned by the International Clarinet Conference [1986]; premiere, Oberlin College, July 1986
"Light Metal" an interactive sound installation to commemorate the centenary of the aluminum refining process, invented at Oberlin College [1984]; premiere: Charles C. Hall Science Laboratory, Oberlin College, December 1984
"Zephyr’s Lesson" for instrumental quartet and electronic sounds, commissioned by the New Music Consort [1984]; premiere: Weill Recital Hall, New York, March 1984
"Eros and Psyche" opera in three acts, libretto by the composer, commissioned for the 150th anniversary of Oberlin College [1983]; premiere: Oberlin Opera Theatre, November 1983, Judith Layng director, Robert Baustian conductor, Michael Grube designer; Ann Panagulias, Salvatore Champagne, and Denise Graves leads; scenes from the opera performed by Opera Works, Mitzi Newhouse Theater, Lincoln Center, June 1986
"Dinosaur Music" a twelve-channel electronic sound environment commissioned by the Smithsonian Institution for the re-opening of the Dinosaur Hall at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, January 1982
"Seven Songs" for baritone, piano, and computer synthesized singing voices realized at IRCAM (Paris) [1980]; premiere: Thomas Buckner baritone, the American Center Paris, February 1980; Warsaw Academy of Music, November 1984
"Summer Air" for instrumental nonet, commissioned by the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players [1980]; premiere: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, January 1981; New Music Consort, Weill Recital Hall, May 1982
"Beast Songs" for soprano, instrumental ensemble, and computer synthesized singing voices realized at IRCAM (Paris), commissioned by Ensemble Kaleidocollage [1979]; premiere: The American Center Paris, November 1979; Brooklyn Philharmonic at BAM, January 1981; San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, January 1981; Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, September 1982
"Tap Dancer" for percussion sextet [1978]; premiere: Brooklyn College Percussion Ensemble, December 1978; San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, January 1981
"Skin Songs" for soprano and instrumental ensemble, commissioned by the San Francisco Conservatory New Music Ensemble, John Adams director [1978]; premiere: Hellman Hall, December 1978; San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, January 1981
"Endangered Species" dance score for electronic sounds, commissioned by choreographer Welland Lathrop for the Xoregos Dance Company; premiere: May 1977 Attic Theater, San Francisco; October 1978, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
"Bone Songs" for trumpet, clarinet, and double bass [1975]; premiere: Weill Recital Hall, The Ensemble, December 1976; San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, January 1981
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