Christian Wolff 2014
New Music
BIOGRAPHY
Christian Wolff Christian Wolff was born in 1934 in Nice, France. He has lived mostly in the U.S. since 1941. He studied piano with Grete Sultan and composition, briefly, with John Cage. Though mostly self-taught as a composer, the work of John Cage, Morton Feldman, David Tudor and Earle Brown have been important to him, as well as long associations with Cornelius Cardew and Frederic Rzewski. A particular feature of his music is the various freedoms it allows performers at the time of performance as well as the variable results possible for any one particular piece, for which various new notations have been invented. Underlying notions in the work are shared freedom, self-determination and democratically-spirited collaboration. His music is published by C.F. Peters, New York and much of it is recorded, on many labels. A number of pieces, starting in 1953, have been used and commissioned by Merce Cunningham and his dance company. Wolff has been active as a performer and as improvisor - with Takehisa Kosugi, Steve Lacey, Christian Marclay, Keith Rowe, William Winant, the group AMM, Kui Dong and Larry Polansky. His writings on music (up to 1998) are collected in Cues: Writings and Conversations, published by MusikTexte, Cologne. He has received awards and grants from the American Academy and National Institute of Arts and Letters, the Ford Foundation, DAAD Berlin, the Asian Cultural Council, the Fromm Foundation, the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts (the John Cage Award for music) and the Mellon Foundation. He is a member of the Akademie der Kuenste in Berlin and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2004 he received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts. Academically trained as a classicist, Wolff was professor of classics and music at Dartmouth College from 1971 to 1999.
For further information:
Frankfurt
New York
London
C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG Hedderichstr. 108 – 110 D-60596 Frankfurt/Main Deutschland +49 (0) 69 63 00 99-0 stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com
C. F. Peters Corporation 70 – 30 80th Street Glendale NY 11385 USA + (1) 718 416 7800 gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com
Peters Edition Ltd 2 – 6 Baches Street London N1 6DN UK +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 newmusic@editionpeters.com
WORK LIST
A Piano Piece (2006) 5 minutes Solo Piano EP 68170 Aarau Songs (1994) 17 minutes Cl—2Vln, Vla, Vc EP 67624 Accompaniments (1972) 18 minutes Solo Piano (Pianist Sings text freely and operates hi-hat or bass drum) EP 66318 Ain’t Gonna Study War no More (1993) 4 minutes Marimba and Timpani EP 67564 Another Possibility (2004) 9 minutes Solo Electric Guitar EP 68097 Apartment House Exercise (2002) 14 minutes 4 or more players (free instrumentation) EP 68093 Ashbery Madrigals (2012) 7 minutes SSAATTBB EP 68409 Balancing (2002) 8 minutes Solo Accordion EP 68031 Basel (2008) 25–35 minutes A-Sax(Cl), Tbn, 2Elec-Gtr, Vc, Pf and any additional players (free instrumentation) EP 68238 Berlin Exercises 1 to 4 (with song “Vergnuegungen”) (2000) 14 minutes 4 or more instruments (free instrumentation) EP 68033 Black Song Organ Preludes (1986) 12 minutes Solo Organ EP 67177 Boras Song (2000) 5 minutes Hn–Tpt–Vln–Pf EP 67852 Bowery Preludes (1985–86) 18 minutes Fl(Picc/A-fl)—Tbn—Perc—Pf EP 67137
WORK LIST
Bratislava (1995) 15 minutes Fl, Ob, Cl, B-Cl, Acdn, Pf, Vln, Vc EP 67670 Braverman Music (1978) 26 minutes Variable Instrumental Ensemble (4 or more players free instrumentation, or 1 or 2 pianos) EP 66822 Bread and Roses (1976) 11 minutes Solo Violin EP 66721 Bread and Roses (1976) 8 minutes Solo Piano EP 66751 Brich den Hungrigen Brot (1991) 4 minutes Flute and Piano EP 67459 Burdocks (1970–71) 10–55 minutes For one or more groups of 5 or more players (free instrumentation) EP 66316 Cello Song Variations (“Hallelujah, I’m a Bum”) (1978) 12 minutes Violoncello Solo EP 66824 Cello Suite Variation (2000) 14 minutes Solo Cello EP 67971 Changing the System (1973–74) 15–50 minutes For 8 or more players, any instruments (free instrumentation) EP 66319 Dark as a Dungeon (1977) 7 minutes Solo Clarinet EP 66729 Dark as a Dungeon (1977) 7 minutes Trombone and Contrabass EP 66750 Digger Song (1988) 10 minutes Vln, Va, Vc, Perc EP 67274 Dijon (2012) 20–24 minutes 4-6 Players (free instrumentation) EP 68413
WORK LIST
Duet I (1960) 5–12 minutes Pf/4h EP 6490 Duet II (1961) 5–9 minutes Horn and Piano EP 6491 Duo 6 (2005) 10–12 minutes TptC—Vln EP 68167 Duo 7 (2007) 6 minutes Perc and Melody Instrument EP 68240 Duo 8 (2008) 9 minutes Vln.Vc EP 68306 Duo 9 (2008–10) 7 minutes Vln.Vc EP 68311 Duo for Pianists I (1957) 4 minutes 2Pf/4h EP 6492 Duo for Pianists II (1958) 4–15 minutes 2Pf/4h EP 6493 Duo for Two Flutes (1950) circa 2 minutes Two Flutes EP 68095 Duo for Violinist and Pianist (1961) 5–17 minutes Violin and Piano EP 6494 Duo for Violins (1950) 5 minutes 2Vln EP 6495 Edges (1968) 6–15+ minutes For any number of players, any number of instrument (free instrumentation) EP 66315 Eisler Ensemble Pieces 1 and 2 (arrangement of “For Cornelius”) (1983) 12 minutes Cl(B-cl)—Vln, Vc—Pf EP 67043
WORK LIST
Electric Spring I (1966) 4 minutes Hn, Db, ElecGtr, ElecBass EP 6823 Electric Spring II (1966, Rev. 1970) 6 minutes T-rec—ElecGtr—ElecBass—Tbn (B-tbn ad lib) EP 6824 Electric Spring III (1967) 4 minutes Vln, Elecbass, Hn, ElecGtr EP 6825 Emma (1988–89) 17 minutes Va, Vc, Pf EP 67276 Evening Shade, Wake Up (2004) 5 minutes Small SATB Chorus EP 68237 Exercise 21 (“O Freedom”) (1981) 6 minutes Pf/4h EP 66914 Exercise 22 (“Bread and Roses for John”) (1982) 5 minutes Pf/4h EP 67139 Exercise 24 (“J.C.’s Bread and Roses”) (orchestration of Exercise 22) (1983) 5 minutes 1.1.1.1—2.1.0.0—Perc—Pf—Str EP 67135 Exercise 25 (“Liyashizwa”) (1986) 5 minutes 2.2.2(B-Cl).2—2.2.2.1—1Perc—Hp—Str EP 67136 Exercise 28 (2000) 7 minutes Theremin—Vln—Hn—Db EP 67939 Exercise X (1993) 4–12 minutes Percussion Ensemble EP 67567 Exercises (1-14a) (1973–74) 90 minutes (total) For any number of instruments, preferably melody (free instrumentation) EP 66589 Exercises 15–18 (1975) 26 minutes (total) Free instrumentation, various numbers of players including string quartet, also trombone solo, piano solo EP 66727
WORKI LIST
Exercises 19/20 (‘Harmonic Tremors, “Acres of Clams”) (1980) 13 minutes 2Pf/4h EP 66948 Exercises 26/27 (Snare Drum Peace March) (1988) 9 minutes Solo Snare Drum EP 67323 Exercises 29 & 30 (2011) 12 minutes Free Instrumentation (at least 2 players) EP 68394 Exercises 31, 32, 33 (“Merce Notes”), 34 (“John Cage Notes”, ‘100 sounds for J.C.’) (2011–12) 25 minutes Free Instrumentation EP 68393 Fall I/II (2000) 15 minutes 3Perc/6Perc EP 67959 Fall III (2000) 9 minutes 12 Perc EP 68402 Flutist (with Percussionists) (2003) 9 minutes Flute and percussion EP 68100 Flutist and Guitarist (1993) 12 minutes Flute and Guitar EP 67565 For 1, 2, or 3 People (1964) 10–40 minutes For any instruments (free instrumentation) EP 6822 For 2 Violinists, Violist, and Cellist (2008) 30 minutes 2Vln.Vla.Vc EP 68284 For 5 or 10 People (1962) 5–10 minutes For any group of 5 or 10 players (free instrumentation) EP 6637 For 6 or 7 Players (1959) 23 minutes Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Violin, Viola and Bass (also optional Flute) EP 68335 For a Medley (2012) 11 minutes 2 Percussion EP 68140
WORK LIST
For E. C. (2003) 5 minutes 2Vln.Vla.Vc EP 68314 For Harp Player (2009) 14 minutes Solo Harp EP 68312 For John Ashbery’s Hoelderlin Marginalia (2004) 12 minutes Vln, 2Pf EP 68241 For Morty (1987) 6 minutes Glock, Vib, Pf (2 or 3 players) EP 67275 For Pianist (1959) 10–15 minutes Solo Piano EP 6496 For Piano I (1952) 7 minutes Solo Piano EP 6497 For Piano II (1953) 10 minutes Solo Piano EP 6498 For Piano with Preparations (1955) Prepared Piano Solo EP 67972 For Prepared Piano (1951) 6 minutes Prepared Piano Solo EP 67855 For Si (1992) 10 minutes Cl(B-Cl), Tpt, 2Perc, Pf, Db EP 67460 Four Small Duos (2010) 6 minutes 2vlns.2accordions.2tba.2cl(B-cl) EP 68403 Fragment (2001) 10 minutes 2 Pianos 4 Hands EP 67999 From Leaning Forward (1988) 15 minutes Soprano, Baritone, Cl(B-Cl), Vc EP 67293
WORK LIST
Ghent Song (1999) 15 minutes 4Rec—Perc EP 67967 Grete (Microexercises 23-36) (2007) 18 minutes three or more players (free instrumentation) EP 68210 37 Haiku (2005) 18 minutes Ob—Hn—Vla.Vc—Bar EP 68173 Hay una Mujer Desaparecida (1979) 12 minutes Solo Piano EP 66892 “I Like to Think of Harriet Tubman” (1985) 6 minutes Female voice, Alto and Low Bass Instruments EP 67048 In Between Pieces (1963) 5–9 minutes For any 3 players (free instrumentation) EP 6664 individuals, collective (2012) circa 28 minutes 3.2.CA.2.Bcl.2.Cbsn - 4.2.3.Tba - 3 Perc - 8.8.6.6.4 EP 68411 Instrumental Exercises with Peace March 4 (1985) 25 minutes 2Cl(BCl,A-Sax)—2Kbd—Perc—ElecBass(Vc) EP 68242 Isn’t This a Time (1982) 4 minutes For (any) Saxophone or other reed instrument EP 66915 Jasper (1991) 17 minutes Violin and Double bass EP 67504 John Heartfield (Peace March 10) (2003) 30 minutes 4-8 players, voice, 2 or more voices, bass EP 68098 John, David, (1993, 1997–98) 23 minutes Perc Solo—2(Picc).2.2(Bcl).2—2.2.2.1—T—Pf—Hp—Str EP 67866R Kegama (1991) 4 minutes Cl(B-cl), perc, Pf, Vln, Vc EP 67461
WORK LIST
Keyboard Miscellany (1998–) 20 minutes Solo Piano EP 68190 Lines (1972) 15–20 minutes 2Vln.Vla.Vc (or Qt of Str Instr, 4 or more players) EP 66317 London (2010) 10 minutes Fl.Cl(Bb).A-Sax(Eb).Bsn-Hn(F)-Vln.Vc EP 68397 Long Peace March (1986–87) 24 minutes 1(picc).1.1(B-Cl).A-Sax.1(Cbsn)—1.0.1.0—Perc—Str(0.0.1.1.1) EP 67181 Long Piano (Peace March 11) (2004–05) 60 minutes Solo Piano EP 68172 Look She Said (1991) 14 minutes Solo Double Bass EP 67462 Madrigals (1950) 6 minutes 3 voices or voice(s) & instruments(s) EP 67679 Malvina (1989) 14 minutes Solo Koto (13 string) EP 67505A Malvina (1992) 14 minutes 2 Violas EP 67505B Memory (1994) 14 minutes 1(picc).0.1(B-cl).1—1.0.0.0—Hp—Str(1.0.1.1.0) EP 67671 Merce (1993) 3–35 minutes Percussion (2–9 players) EP 67566 Metal & Breath (2007) 2–35 minutes Metal Percussion, Voice, and/or Winds EP 68208 Microexercises (1–22) (2006) 14 minutes Free Instrumentation EP 68147
WORK LIST
Mosaic Trio (2000) 5 minutes Tpt—Vln—Pf EP 67078 Moving Spaces (2002) 30 minutes 2, 3, or 4 performers (ad lib sound system) EP 68408 Nine (1951) 5 minutes 2 Vcs, Fl, Cl, Hn, Tpt, Tbn, Cel, Pf EP 6499 6 Nocturnes/For John and Eric Satie (2007) 8–14 minutes Free Instrumentation EP 68239 One Coat of Paint (2004) 29 minutes Percussion and Cello EP 68157 Or 4 People (1994) 8–35 minutes 1 – 4 Players EP 67626 Orchestra: Pieces (2005) 17 minutes 4.4.4.4 — 4.4.3.Tba— Perc (4)— 12.10.8.8.6 EP 68105 Ordinary Matter (2001) 22 minutes Three Orchestras (total: 5.3.2Ca.3.B-cl.3.A-sax(Clar).Bar-sax(B-cl)–8.6.5.2–6Perc–2Hp –Str(8.8.10.0.6) EP 67994 Out-Take (2005) 9 minutes 1-2Tba (with optional other instr) EP 68166 Overture (2012) 15 minutes Pf – 1.1.Ca.1.B-cl.0–1.1.2.1–Timp–1Perc–Hp–Str(1.1.1.1.1) EP 68384 Pairs (1968) 4–8 minutes For 2, 4, 6 or 8 players, any instruments (free instrumentation) EP 66179 Peace March 1 (“Stop using Uranium”) (1983–84) 5 minutes Solo Flute EP 67044 Peace March 2 (1984) 8 minutes Fl, Cl, Vc, perc, Pf EP 67045
WORK LIST
Peace March 3 (“The Sun is Burning”) (1984) 6 minutes Fl, Vc, perc EP 67046 Pebbles (1999) 35 minutes Vn—Pf EP 67962 Peggy (1993) 11 minutes 1 or 2 Trombones EP 67568 Percussionist (2000–) 15 minutes Solo Percussion EP 67785 Percussionist Dances (1997) 23 minutes Solo Percussion EP 67837 Percussionist Songs (1994–95) 20 minutes Solo Percussion (some possible as duet) EP 67625 Pianist – Pieces (2001) 12 minutes Solo Piano EP 68032 Piano Song (“I am a dangerous woman”) (1983) 11 minutes Solo Piano EP 67047 Piano Trio (‘Greenham–Seneca–Camiso’) (1985) 11 minutes Vln.Vc—Pf EP 67138 Pieces for Julius (1995) 9 minutes Fl, Hn, Va, Vc EP67735 Preludes 1–11 (1980–81) 30 minutes Solo Piano EP 66916 Prose Collection (1968–71) 65–120 mintues various combinations Frog Peak Press Pulse (1998) 12 minutes Tpt—P(1) EP 67908
WORK LIST
Quartet (1965) 5 minutes 4 Horns EP 66157 Quartet for Frederic, Larry, Michael, Robyn (2005–07) 30 minutes B-cl—ElecGtr—Perc—Pf EP 68207 Quintet (2009) 50 minutes 2Perc—ElecGtr—Db—Pf EP 68313 Quodlibet (2007) 18 minutes 1.1.1.Bcl.1—1.1.1.1—2Perc—Str EP 68280R Rhapsody (2009) 29 minutes 1.0.0.1–1.1.1.0–Hp–Str(9.0.6.6.3) (divided in 3 groups with 3 conductors) EP 68289 Robert (2010) 30 minutes 5 or more players (free instrumentation) EP 68359 Rosas (1989–90) 10 minutes Pf—Perc EP 67325 Rukus (1990–91) 14 minutes T-sax(Bar-sax), ElecGtr, Db EP 67463 Ruth (1991) 24 minutes Trombone and Piano EP 67464 Santa Fe (2012) 17 minutes four or more players (free instrumentation) EP 68407 Schoene met Vetters (1998–99) 17 minutes Fl(Bass)—Bcl—Trb—Vn—Va—Vc—Cb EP 67909R Second Serenade (2012) 5 minutes Fl, Cl, Vln EP 68406 Septet (1964) 8–10 minutes For 7 Players (free instrumentation) EP 6821
WORK LIST
Serenade (1950) 6 minutes Flute, Clarinet and Violin EP 67569 Six Melodies Variation (1993) 3 minutes Solo Violin EP 67571 Small Preludes 1–20 (2008–09) 17 minutes Solo Piano EP 68282 Snowdrop (1970) 15–19 minutes Harpsichord and/or other instruments EP 66314 Sonata (1957) 4 minutes 3Pf EP 68156 Song (for 6) (2011) 14 minutes Hrn.Tpt-2Perc-Pf-Cb EP 68400 Spring (1995) 14 minutes 2.2.2.2—2.1.1.1—3perc—Str(6.6.4.4.2) EP 67642R Spring Three (2011) 19 minutes Perc, E-gtr, Pf, Db (other instrumentations possible) EP 68401 Spring Two (2011) 23 minutes 2.0.2.B-cl.1–2.2.1.0–Str(6.6.4.4.2) EP 68362 Stardust Pieces (1979) 15 minutes Vc—Pf EP 66890 String Bass exercise out of ‘Bandiera Rossa’ (1975) 20 minutes Solo Double Bass EP 66699 String Quartet Exercise Out Of Songs (1974–76) 32 minutes String Quartet EP 66664 String Trio (1950) 3 minutes minutes String Trio EP 67627
WORK LIST
String Trio for Robert Ashley (2009) 14 minutes Vln.Vla.Vc EP 68283 Studies (3) (1974–76) 8 minutes Solo Piano (Instrumental arrangements are possible) EP 66698 Suite I (1954) 11 minutes Prepared Piano Solo EP 6500 Summer (1961) 5–17 minutes String Quartet EP 6501 The Death of Mother Jones (1977) 15 minutes Solo Violin EP 66823 Three Flutists (2011) 6 minutes 3Fl EP 68399 Three Pieces (“Rock About”, “Instrumental”, “Starving to Death on a Government Claim”) (1979–80) 11 minutes Violin and Viola EP 66891 Tilbury 1 (1969) 10 minutes Any Instrument(s), with or without amplification (free instrumentation) EP 66312 Tilbury 2 and 3 (1969) 12 minutes Any Instrument(s), with or without amplification (free instrumentation) EP 66313 Tilbury 4 (1970) 5–10 minutes 2 or any greater number of players EP 67570 Tilbury 5 (1996) 13 minutes Vn, Tbn, Pf (Va and other instruments ad lib) EP 67736 Toss (1968) 4 minutes for eight or more players (free instrumentation) Oxford Univ Press Touch (2002) 20 minutes Solo Piano EP 68164
WORK LIST
Trio I (1951) 5 minutes Flute, Trumpet and Violoncello EP 6502 Trio II (1961) 15 minutes Piano, 4-hands and percussion EP 66156 Trio III (1996) 20 minutes Vln, perc, Pf EP 67737 Trio V for James Tenney (2006) 6 minutes Pf/4h—Perc EP 68174 Trust (2012) 9–11 minutes Fl, Cl, Hn, Tpt, Perc, Vln, Vla, Vcl, Cb EP 68412 Tuba Song (1992) 12 minutes 1 or 2 Tubas EP 67465 Two Pianists (1993–94) 22 minutes 2Pf/4h EP 67640 Two Players (1996) 7 minutes Hn—Vc EP 67838 Untitled (1996) 8 minutes Elec Bass Gtr EP 67902 Variation (2001) 13 minutes Tpt—Perc—Db—8(4)channel amplification system with EP 68334 Violin Duo for Petr (2011) 7 minutes 2Vln EP 68396 Violin Quartet (2006) 14 minutes 4Vln EP 68148 Violist and Percussionist (1996) 8 minutes Va—P(1) EP 67839
WORK LIST
Violist Pieces (1997) 14 minutes Solo Viola EP 67840 Wesleyan Organ Song (2003) 25 minutes Solo Organ EP 68099 Wobbly Music (1975–76) 32 minutes SATB and (at least) one Keyboard, Guitar(s) and 2 (or more) Melody Instruments EP 66949 Woodsounds & Others (2005) 5 minutes Solo Percussion EP 68168 Zither Spieler (2000) 14 minutes Solo Zither EP 67979
For further information:
Frankfurt
New York
London
C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG Hedderichstr. 108 – 110 D-60596 Frankfurt/Main Deutschland +49 (0) 69 63 00 99-0 stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com
C. F. Peters Corporation 70 – 30 80th Street Glendale NY 11385 USA + (1) 718 416 7800 gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com
Peters Edition Ltd 2 – 6 Baches Street London N1 6DN UK +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 newmusic@editionpeters.com