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Beth Anderson (1950-    )

Beth Anderson is a critically acclaimed composer of neo-romantic, avant-garde music, text-sound works, and musical theater. Born in Kentucky, she studied primarily in California with John Cage, Terry Riley, Robert Ashley and Larry Austin at Mills College and U.C. Davis. She is a member of Broadcast Musicians Inc. (BMI), the American Composers' Forum, International Alliance of Women in Music, the American Music Center, Poets and Writers andNew York Women Composers. She resides in New York City where she produces Women’s Work, a concert series of women composers each March. Her early work was considered post-Cagian, non-academic. More recently, her music has become more lyrical while retaining qualities of minimalism. Anderson is best known for her swales, a musical form she invented based on collages and samples of newly composed music rather than existing music. She has been commissioned by the Collegium Musicum Carinthia, Darren J. Campbell and Keith Borden, the Minnesota Sinfonia, the Staten Island Symphony, the Cabrillo Music Festival, the San Francisco Conservatory's New Music Ensemble, Andrew Bolotowsky, Marlow Fisher, the University of the Redlands' New Music Ensemble, Mimi Dye, the Montclair College Dance Festival, Daniel McCusker & Dancers, and the Soho Baroque Opera Company. She has taught at the College of New Rochelle, The New School for Social Research, New York University, New York University's University-Without-Walls, Mills College in Oakland, NYC's Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, New York Technical College, Young Audiences' residencies in composition at P.S. 166, NYC and at Trinity School in New Rochelle, Greenwich House Music School, Brooklyn Music School, Lucy B. Moses School of Music & Dance, NYC Public Schools (High School for Music and Art, Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School, P.S. 206, P.S. 155, P.S. 146), D.C.37 City Workers' Union, Ocean Avenue Senior Citizens Center, and the Mills College Preparatory Program.

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Beth Anderson Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
A Postcard, medium voice and piano (1967) [text: Beth Anderson]
A Day, medium voice and piano (1967) [text: Beth Anderson]
Paranoia, medium voice and 2 flutes (or piano) (1968) [text: Beth Anderson]
Valid For Life, 2 pianos and percussion; or 2 large strung things (1973) [graphic score]
Womanrite, voice and piano (1973)
Queen Christina, opera, sopr, mz-sopr, baritone, chmbr orch, tape/film/slides & audience participation (1973)[libretto: Anderson]
Tulip Clause, tenor, 8 instruments and tape (1973) [graphic score]
Tower Of Power, church organ and 4-channel tape (1973) [graphic score]
Torero Piece, text-sound piece, 2 speaking voices (1973)
Recital Piece, piano, tape and theatrics (1973) [graphic score]
Thus Spake Johnston, tape (1973) [piece made from Jill Johnston's voice]
Peachy Keen-O, female voices, elec gtr, org, vibe, lrg membranophones & metalophones, dancers, peach light & tape (1973)
Music for Myself, voice, piano, vibraphone, mirrors and light (1973)
Music for Charlemagne Palestine, string quartet (1973) [graphic score]
I Am Uh Am I, string quartet (1973) [graphic score]
Hallophone, environment, 2 sax, steel guitar, voice, tapes, slides and dancers (1973)
Tulip Clause and Buchla Bird Hiss Down the Road of Life, tape (1973)
The Messiah Is Come, human sculpture, w/internal & external sound sources, tape, db, fl, voices, speakers, piano, percussion,
     slides (1974) [collaboration with sculptor Paul Cotton] [revised as "The Bridegroom Is Hear"]
Good-Bye Bridget Bardot Or Hello Charlotte Moorman, cello, tape and cloth wrapper (1974)
She Wrote, voice, 2 violins and tape (1974) [text: Gertrude Stein and Kathy Acker]
Joan, oratorio, soloists and orchestra (1974) [text: from the trial of Joan of Arc]
Incline Thine Ear to Me, voices and any instruments (1975)
If I Were A Poet, text-sound piece (1975)
The People Rumble Louder, text-sound piece, voice and electronics/or solo speaking voice (1975)
Poem To Michael, John And Alison, text-sound piece, speaking voice (1975)
He Said, 2 clarinets and tape, w/opt. video (1975)
They Did It, piano and tape (1976)
Soap Tuning, 2-4 speaking voices (1976) [theatre piece]
Nongovernmental Process, text-sound piece, speaking voice (1976)
Zen Piece, 2 speaking voices and props (1976)
Ode, tape (1976)
Black/White, text-sound piece, multiple speaking voices (1976)
I Can't Stand It, text-sound and percussion (1976)
Let It, text-sound piece ( 1976)
Twelve Bar Blues, text-sound piece (1976)
6.76 Kentucky Poem, text-sound piece (1976)
He's Not Afraid of Marrying Me, text-sound piece (1976)
Pe-Yo-Te, text-sound piece (1976)
Promised Church Beautiful River, trombone and tape (1977)
Crackers And Checkers, text-sound piece (1977)
I Wish I Were Single Again, text-sound piece (1977)
Jackson Mac Low, text-sound piece, speaking voice, (pub. 1977)
Joan, 15-track tape (1977) [based on material from oratorio, "Joan", 1974] [sometimes mislabled as "On Joan"]
He Says He's Got, medium voice and piano/or guitar (1977) [text: Beth Anderson]
If You Have A Thought In Your Head, round, 1 to 4 voices (1978) [pub. in Sol Weber's "Rounds Galore!", 1994]
Morning View and Maiden Spring, speaker, tape, speaker, slides and lights) (1978) [multimedia piece]
Beauty Runs Faster, voice and piano (1978)
Alleluia, 2 tenors (or tenor and mezzo-soprano) and 2 trumpets (1978)
Time Stands Still, voice and piano (1978)
The Only One I Want, medium voice and piano (1978) [text: Beth Anderson]
Yes Sir Ree, text-sound and percussion (1978)
Kitchy Kitchin, text-sound and percussion (1979)
The Preying Mantis And The Bluebird, flute/or violin, and harp/or piano (1979)
In Six, mezzo-soprano and piano (1979)
Ocean Motion Mildew Mind, text-sound and percussion (1979)
Lullaby Of The Eighth Ancestor, flute/or violin, and piano (1979)
Twinkle Tonight, mezzo-soprano and piano (1979) [text: Beth Anderson] ["Twinkle Twinkle"]
Water-Strider Courrente, flute, clarinet, drum set, piano, small organ and double bass (1979)
Skaters' Suite, mz-sop., vln, vc, db & tape (1979) [also arr. for fl(or va), ob(or cl), vc & pf] [comm. by Diane Jacobowitz Dancers]
The Eighth Ancestor, flute, violin, cello and piano; or baroq. fl, alto recorder, cello and harpsichord (1979)
Six Stories In Series, text-sound piece, speaking voice and piano (1979)
Sally's Success, text-sound piece, speaking voice and piano (1979)
John Cage, text-sound piece (1979) [other name poems for: Alison Knowles, Martha Graham, John Giorno, and others]
Preparation For The Dominant: Outrunning The Inevitable, flute, violin and ocarina (1979)
Trio: Dream in D, flute/or violin, cello and piano (1980)
Dr. Blood's Mermaid Lullaby, flute/or oboe/or violin/or cello, and piano (1980)
World Honeymoon, film score (1980)
Nirvana Manor, musical, 20 voices, piano, db and percussion (1981)
Country Time, text-sound piece, speaking voice and percussion, with or without taped bird calls (1981)
Shakuhachi Run, flute/or shakuhachi w/opt. hand drum (1981)
My Private Beach, voice, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, sop sax, alto sax, tenor sax and piano (1981)
Revelation, chamber orchestra (1981)
Suite For Winds And Percussion (1981)
Knots, mezzo-soprano and piano (1981) [text: R. D. Lang]
Junk Love, medium voice and piano (1981) [text: Beth Anderson]
Overture For Band (1981)
Manos Inquietas (parts 1, 2, & 3), piano (1982) [commissioned by Bonnie Schiebman Dancers]
Elizabeth Rex: or, The Well-Bred Mother Goes to Camp, musical, 8 voices, piano, bass and drums (1983)
Quilt Music, piano (1983)
Riot Rot, radio opera, text-sound and rock band (1983) [text-sound and theatre piece]
Belgian Tango, piano (1984) [also arr. for violin, accordion and piano]
    - Belgian Tango, violin and piano (2000)
Little Trio, flute, viola and guitar (1984)
Taking Sides, piano (1984)
Net Work, piano (1984) [orig. commissioned for sax qt & 2 kybds; re-commissioned by choreographer Donna Oberstein]
Revel, electric violin, alto sax, bass clarinet, trumpet, trombone, double bass, piano and percussion (1984)
    - Revel, chamber orchestra (fl, ob, cl, bsn, 2 hn, 2 tpt, trom, harp, 3 perc and string orch) (1984)
Full Circle, piano (1985)
Pennyroyal Swale, string quartet (1985)
Wallonian Waltz, piano  (1986)
Rosemary Swale, string quartet (1986)
Dreaming Fields, song cycle (3 songs), mezzo-soprano and piano (1987)
Brass Swale, 2 trumpets, baritone horn and trombone (1988) [brass quartet and quintet versions available]
The Angel, soprano, string quartet and harp (1988) [story by Hans Christian Andersen; text: Tony Calabrese]
Avon (4 songs), medium voice and piano (1990) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
A Way Back Home, voice and piano (1990?) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
German Swale, tape (1990) [played as an environment for three German art galleries]
The Land of Counterpane, high voice and piano (1991) [text: Robert Louis Stevensen]
The Fat Opera, musical, 4 voices, piano and drums (1991)
Saturday-Sunday Swale, brass quintet (1991)
My Laughing Child, round, 1 to 4 voices (1992) [pub. Sol Weber's "Rounds Galore!", 1994]
August Swale, flute, oboe, bassoon (or cello), horn, violin and viola (1992)
    - August Swale, woodwind quintet (fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn) (2003)
Guitar Swale, 2 guitars (1993)
Minnesota Swale, chamber orchestra (1993)
January Swale, string quartet (1995)
May Swale, viola/or double bass/or bass flute (1995)
New Mexico Swale, flute, violin, viola, cello and percussion (1995)
Flute Swale, flute (1996)
Precious Memories, chorus (1996) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan and Beth Anderson]
Rhode Island Swale, piano or harpsichord (1996)
September Swale, mandolin and guitar; or piano; or harpsichord; or violin and piano (1996)
Lullaby, high or low voice (1997) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
Piano Concerto, piano, string orchestra and percussion (1 player: drum set+, marimba) (1997)
Magnificat, female chorus and organ/or piano (1998) [also arr. for SATB chorus and organ]
Qoheleth, operetta, contralto, tenor, string quartet, harpsichord and percussion (1998) [libretto: Royce Dendler]
Lullaby, high or low voice and piano (1998) [text: W. H. Auden]
Harlem Songs (4 songs), baritone, double bass and piano (1999) [also available for voice and double bass]
Ghent Swale, violin/or double bass, and piano (1999)
May We Ever Mindful Be, chorus and piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
Who Is This Jesus, voice and harp/or piano; or female chorus with or w/o piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Little Tree, voice and harp/or piano; or female chorus with or w/o piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Good Christmas Cat, voice and piano; or chorus and harp/or piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
Cat Songs (6 songs), baritone & piano; or voice & db (2000) [texts: Blake, Swift, Edward Penfield, Palmer Cox, Emily Dickinson]
In The Company Of Women, chorus with or without piano/or organ (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
Tales #1, violin and piano (2000)
Tales #2, violin and piano (2000)
Tales #3, violin and piano (2000)
March Swale, string quartet (2000)
Three Swales, string orchestra (2000) [Kentucky Swale; Blue Bell Swale; March Swale]
Mourning Dove Swale, string orchestra (2001) [dedicated to those who died 9/11/01]
July Swale, string quartet; or string orchestra (2001)
June Swale, string quartet (2001)
Toledo Swale, 2 violins and soprano sax/or flute (2001)
Cleveland Swale, 2 double basses and piano (2001)
April Swale, viola and harpsichord (2001)
The Seneca Falls Follies, female chorus and piano (2003)
We Thank Thee, chorus and piano (2003) [text: Emerson]
Comment, flute (2003)
Swimmers on the Shore, baritone and piano (2004) [text: David Mason]
Dark Songs (3 songs), soprano, alto and piano (2004) [text: Dana Gioia and David Mason]
Animal Songs (7 songs), high or low voice and piano (2004) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan and Florence Page Jaques]
Night Song, soprano, viola and piano (2005) [text: David Mason]
Winter Solstice, soprano and piano (2005) [text: Ann Silsbee]
Jasmine Swale, violin, viola and cello (2005)
Killdeer and Chickory, text-sound piece, voice and percussion (2005)
Sam the Same, medium voice and piano (2006) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
Dream Song, chorus (2009)
Archaic Tale, violin and piano (2010)
What the Heart of the Young Man Said to the Psalmist, voice and piano (2011) [text: Longfellow]
Angel Songs, voice and piano (2011)
    - Israfel [text: Edgar Allen Poe]
    - Be Not Forgetful [text: The Bible/Hebrews 13:2]
     -The Angel of the Darker Drink [text: Omar Khayyam]
Kummi Dance, violin and piano (2011)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Beth Anderson Links     ~ top of page ~
Swales  -  about Swales  here
Pennyroyal Swale, string quartet (1985)
Rosemary Swale, string quartet (1986)
Brass Swale, 2 trumpets, baritone horn and trombone (1988) [brass quartet and quintet versions available]
German Swale, tape (1990) [played as an environment for three German art galleries]
Saturday-Sunday Swale, brass quintet (1991)
August Swale, flute, oboe, bassoon (or cello), horn, violin and viola (1992)
    - August Swale, woodwind quintet (fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn) (2003)
Guitar Swale, 2 guitars (1993)
Minnesota Swale, chamber orchestra (1993)
January Swale, string quartet (1995)
May Swale, viola/or double bass/or bass flute (1995)
New Mexico Swale, flute, violin, viola, cello and percussion (1995)
Flute Swale, flute (1996)
Rhode Island Swale, piano or harpsichord (1996)
September Swale, mandolin and guitar; or piano; or harpsichord; or violin and piano (1996)
Ghent Swale, violin/or double bass, and piano (1999)
March Swale, string quartet (2000)
Three Swales, string orchestra (2000)
    - Kentucky Swale, string orchestra
    - Blue Bell Swale, string orchestra
    - March Swale, string orchestra
Mourning Dove Swale, string orchestra (2001) [dedicated to those who died 9/11/01]
July Swale, string quartet; or string orchestra (2001)
June Swale, string quartet (2001)
Toledo Swale, 2 violins and soprano sax/or flute (2001)
Cleveland Swale, 2 double basses and piano (2001)
April Swale, viola and harpsichord (2001)
Jasmine Swale, violin, viola and cello (2005)

Dramatic/Theater
Queen Christina, opera, sopr, mz-sopr, baritone, chmbr orch, tape/film/slides & audience participation (1973)[libretto: Anderson]
Hallophone, environment, 2 sax, steel guitar, voice, tapes, slides and dancers (1973)
The Messiah Is Come, human sculpture, w/internal & external sound sources, tape, db, fl, voices, speakers, piano, percussion,
     slides (1974) [collaboration with sculptor Paul Cotton] [revised as "The Bridegroom Is Hear"]
Recital Piece, piano, tape and theatrics (1973) [graphic score]
Joan, oratorio, soloists and orchestra (1974) [text: from the trial of Joan of Arc]
Soap Tuning, 2-4 speaking voices (1976) [theatre piece]
Zen Piece, 2 speaking voices and props (1976) [theatre piece]
Skaters' Suite, mz-sop., vln, vc, db & tape (1979) [also arr. for fl(or va), ob(or cl), vc & pf] [comm. by Diane Jacobowitz Dancers]
Nirvana Manor, musical, 20 voices, piano, db and percussion (1981)
Manos Inquietas (parts 1, 2, & 3), piano (1982) [commissioned by Bonnie Schiebman Dancers]
Elizabeth Rex: or, The Well-Bred Mother Goes to Camp, musical, 8 voices, piano, bass and drums (1983)
Riot Rot, radio opera, text-sound and rock band (1983) [text-sound and theatre piece]
Net Work, piano (1984) [orig. commissioned for sax qt & 2 kybds; re-commissioned by choreographer Donna Oberstein]
The Fat Opera, musical, 4 voices, piano and drums (1991)
Qoheleth, operetta, contralto, tenor, string quartet, harpsichord and percussion (1998) [libretto: Royce Dendler]

Orchestra
Revelation, chamber orchestra (1981)
Revel, chamber orchestra (fl, ob, cl, bsn, 2 hn, 2 tpt, trom, harp, 3 perc and string orch) (1984)[arr. from original chamber work]
Minnesota Swale, chamber orchestra (1993)
Three Swales, string orchestra (2000)
    - Kentucky Swale, string orchestra
    - Blue Bell Swale, string orchestra
    - March Swale, string orchestra
Mourning Dove Swale, string orchestra (2001) [dedicated to those who died 9/11/01]
July Swale, string quartet; or string orchestra (2001)

Band
Suite For Winds And Percussion (1981)
Overture For Band (1981)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Piano Concerto, piano, string orchestra and percussion (1 player: drum set+, marimba) (1997)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Joan, oratorio, soloists and orchestra (1974) [text: from the trial of Joan of Arc]

Choral
If You Have A Thought In Your Head, round, 1 to 4 voices (1978) [pub. in Sol Weber's "Rounds Galore!", 1994]
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, mezzo-soprano and piano; or chorus (1987) [text: Eugene Field] [from "Dreaming Fields", voice & pf]
My Laughing Child, round, 1 to 4 voices (1992) [pub. Sol Weber's "Rounds Galore!", 1994]
Precious Memories, chorus (1996) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan and Beth Anderson]
    - Precious Memories, chorus (S,S,S,A,A,T) (2003) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan and Beth Anderson]
Magnificat, female chorus and organ/or piano (1998) [also arr. for SATB chorus and organ]
May We Ever Mindful Be, chorus and piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
Who Is This Jesus, voice and harp/or piano; or female chorus with or w/o piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Little Tree, voice and harp/or piano; or female chorus with or w/o piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Good Christmas Cat, voice and piano; or chorus and harp/or piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
In The Company Of Women, chorus with or without piano/or organ (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Seneca Falls Follies, female chorus and piano (2003)
We Thank Thee, chorus and piano (2003) [text: Emerson]
Dream Song, chorus (2009)

Chamber
Music for Charlemagne Palestine, string quartet (1973) [graphic score]
I Am Uh Am I, string quartet (1973) [graphic score]
Valid For Life, 2 pianos and percussion; or 2 large strung things (1973) [graphic score]
She Wrote, voice, 2 violins and tape (1974) [text: Gertrude Stein and Kathy Acker]
He Said, 2 clarinets and tape, w/opt. video (1975)
Water-Strider Courrente, flute, clarinet, drum set, piano, small organ and double bass (1979)
Skaters' Suite, mz-sop., vln, vc, db & tape (1979) [also arr. for fl(or va), ob(or cl), vc & pf] [comm. by Diane Jacobowitz Dancers]
The Eighth Ancestor, flute, violin, cello and piano; or baroq. fl, alto recorder, cello and harpsichord (1979)
Preparation For The Dominant: Outrunning The Inevitable, flute, violin and ocarina (1979)
Trio: Dream in D, flute/or violin, cello and piano (1980)
Dr. Blood's Mermaid Lullaby, flute/or oboe/or violin/or cello, and piano (1980)
Suite For Winds And Percussion (1981)
Belgian Tango, violin, accordion and piano (1984; arr. from original work for piano; also arr. for violin and piano)
Little Trio, flute, viola and guitar (1984)
Net Work, piano (1984) [orig. commissioned for sax qt & 2 kybds; re-commissioned by choreographer Donna Oberstein]
Revel, electric violin, alto sax, bass cl, trumpet, trombone, double bass, pf and perc (1984) [also arr. for chamber orch]
Pennyroyal Swale, string quartet (1985)
Rosemary Swale, string quartet (1986)
Brass Swale, 2 trumpets, baritone horn and trombone (1988) [brass quartet and quintet versions available]
Saturday-Sunday Swale, brass quintet (1991)
August Swale, flute, oboe, bassoon (or cello), horn, violin and viola (1992)
    - August Swale, woodwind quintet (fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn) (2003)
Guitar Swale, 2 guitars (1993)
January Swale, string quartet (1995)
New Mexico Swale, flute, violin, viola, cello and percussion (1995)
September Swale, mandolin and guitar; or piano; or harpsichord; or violin and piano (1996)
March Swale, string quartet (2000)
July Swale, string quartet; or string orchestra (2001)
June Swale, string quartet (2001)
Toledo Swale, 2 violins and soprano sax/or flute (2001)
Cleveland Swale, 2 double basses and piano (2001)
Jasmine Swale, violin, viola and cello (2005)

Percussion
Valid For Life, 2 pianos and percussion; or 2 large strung things (1973) [graphic score]
I Can't Stand It, text-sound and percussion (1976)
Yes Sir Ree, text-sound and percussion (1978)
Kitchy Kitchin, text-sound and percussion (1979)
Ocean Motion Mildew Mind, text-sound and percussion (1979)
Country Time, speaking voice and percussion (1981)
New Mexico Swale, flute, violin, viola, cello and percussion (1995)

Instrument and Piano or Organ or Harp
The Preying Mantis And The Bluebird, flute/or violin, and harp/or piano (1979)
Lullaby Of The Eighth Ancestor, flute (or violin) and piano (1979)
Belgian Tango, violin and piano (1984; arr. from original work for piano, 2000; also arr. for violin, accordion and piano)
September Swale, mandolin and guitar; or piano; or harpsichord; or violin and piano (1996)
Tales #1, violin and piano (2000)
Tales #2, violin and piano (2000)
Tales #3, violin and piano (2000)
April Swale, viola and harpsichord (2001)
Archaic Tale, violin and piano (2010)
Kummi Dance, violin and piano (2011)

Solo Instrument
Good-Bye Bridget Bardot Or Hello Charlotte Moorman, cello, tape and cloth wrapper (1974)
Promised Church Beautiful River, trombone and tape (1977)
Shakuhachi Run, flute/or shakuhachi w/opt. hand drum (1981)
May Swale, viola/or double bass/or bass flute (1995)
Flute Swale, flute (1996)
Comment, flute (2003)

Piano or Organ or Harpsichord
Tower Of Power, church organ and 4-channel tape (1973) [graphic score]
Recital Piece, piano, tape and theatrics (1973) [graphic score]
They Did It, piano and tape (1976)
Manos Inquietas (parts 1, 2, & 3), piano (1982) [commissioned by Bonnie Schiebman Dancers]
Quilt Music, piano (1983)
Belgian Tango, piano (1984) [also arr. for violin, accordion and piano; and violin and piano]
Taking Sides, piano (1984)
Net Work, piano (1984) [orig. commissioned for sax qt & 2 kybds; re-commissioned by choreographer Donna Oberstein]
Full Circle, piano (1985)
Wallonian Waltz, piano  (1986)
Rhode Island Swale, piano or harpsichord (1996)
September Swale, mandolin and guitar; or piano; or harpsichord; or violin and piano (1996)
Ghent Swale, violin/or double bass, and piano (1999)

Vocal
A Postcard, medium voice and piano (1967) [text: Beth Anderson]
A Day, medium voice and piano (1967) [text: Beth Anderson]
Paranoia, medium voice and 2 flutes (or piano) (1968) [text: Beth Anderson]
Womanrite, voice and piano (1973)
Tulip Clause, tenor, 8 instruments and tape (1973) [graphic score]
Peachy Keen-O, female voices, elec gtr, org, vibe, lrg membranophones & metalophones, dancers, peach light & tape (1973)
Incline Thine Ear to Me, voices and any instruments (1975)
The People Rumble Louder, voice and electronics; or solo speaking voice (1975)
He Says He's Got, medium voice and piano/or guitar (1977) [text: Beth Anderson]
If You Have A Thought In Your Head, round, 1 to 4 voices (1978) [pub. in Sol Weber's "Rounds Galore!", 1994]
Beauty Runs Faster, voice and piano (1978)
Alleluia, 2 tenors (or tenor and mezzo-soprano) and 2 trumpets (1978)
Time Stands Still, voice and piano (1978)
The Only One I Want, medium voice and piano (1978) [text: Beth Anderson]
In Six, mezzo-soprano and piano (1979)
Twinkle Tonight, mezzo-soprano and piano (1979) [text: Beth Anderson] ["Twinkle Twinkle"]
Skaters' Suite, mz-sop., vln, vc, db & tape (1979) [also arr. for fl(or va), ob(or cl), vc & pf] [comm. by Diane Jacobowitz Dancers]
My Private Beach, voice, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, sop sax, alto sax, tenor sax and piano (1981)
Knots, mezzo-soprano and piano (1981) [text: R. D. Lang]
Junk Love, medium voice and piano (1981) [text: Beth Anderson]
Dreaming Fields, song cycle (3 songs), mezzo-soprano and piano (1987)
    - The Sugar Plum Tree, mezzo-soprano and piano (1987) [text: Eugene Field]
    - The Duel, mezzo-soprano and piano (1987) [text: Eugene Field]
    - Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, mezzo-soprano and piano; or chorus (1987) [text: Eugene Field]
The Angel, soprano, string quartet and harp (1988) [story by Hans Christian Andersen; text: Tony Calabrese]
Avon (4 songs), medium voice and piano (1990) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
    - Talks To Teachers, medium voice and piano (1990) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
    - Eric Jessawala Says, medium voice and piano (1990) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
    - The New Tompkins Square Park, medium voice and piano (1990) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
    - Lately I've Been Working As An Artist's Model In A Life Study Class, voice and piano (1990) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
A Way Back Home, voice and piano (1990?) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Land of Counterpane, high voice and piano (1991) [text: Robert Louis Stevensen]
My Laughing Child, round, 1 to 4 voices (1992) [pub. Sol Weber's "Rounds Galore!", 1994]
Lullaby, high or low voice (1997) [text: Stephen Paul Miller]
Lullaby, high or low voice and piano (1998) [text: W. H. Auden]
Harlem Songs (4 songs), baritone, double bass and piano (1999) [also available for voice and double bass]
    - While You Love Me, baritone, double bass and piano (1999) [text: Georgia Douglas Johnson]
    - Tableau, baritone, double bass and piano (1999) [text: Countee Cullen]
    - Southern Road, baritone, double bass and piano (1999) [text: Sterling Brown]
    - Song, baritone, double bass and piano (1999) [text: Gwendolyn Bennett]
Who Is This Jesus, voice and harp/or piano; or female chorus with or w/o piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Little Tree, voice and harp/or piano; or female chorus with or w/o piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
The Good Christmas Cat, voice and piano; or chorus and harp/or piano (2000) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
Cat Songs (6 songs), baritone & piano; or voice & db (2000) [texts: Blake, Swift, Edward Penfield, Palmer Cox, Emily Dickinson]
    - Lazy Pussy
    - Kilkenny Cats
    - Tyger Tyger
    - Hey Diddle Diddle
    - She Sights A Bird
    - The Widow and Her Cat
Swimmers on the Shore, baritone and piano (2004) [text: David Mason]
Dark Songs (3 songs), soprano, alto and piano (2004) [text: Dana Gioia and David Mason]
    - Song of the Powers
    - Alley Cat Love Song
    - Sunday Night in Santa Rosa
Animal Songs (7 songs), high or low voice and piano (2004) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan and Florence Page Jaques]
    - The Wise Old Owl
    - Itty Bitty Dog
    - The Woodpecker
    - Dearie's Lament
    - The Butterscotch Bear
    - The Puffin
    - Barnacle Pete
Night Song, soprano, viola and piano (2005) [text: David Mason]
Winter Solstice, soprano and piano (2005) [text: Ann Silsbee]
Sam the Same, medium voice and piano (2006) [text: Jo-Ann Krestan]
What the Heart of the Young Man Said to the Psalmist, voice and piano (2011) [text: Longfellow]
Angel Songs, voice and piano (2011)
    - Israfel [text: Edgar Allen Poe]
    - Be Not Forgetful [text: The Bible/Hebrews 13:2]
     -The Angel of the Darker Drink [text: Omar Khayyam]

Speaking Voices/Text-Sound  -  about Text-Sound  here
Torero Piece, text-sound piece, 2 speaking voices (1973)
If I Were A Poet, text-sound piece (1975)
The People Rumble Louder, text-sound piece, voice and electronics/or solo speaking voice (1975)
Poem To Michael, John And Alison, text-sound piece, speaking voice (1975)
Soap Tuning, 2-4 speaking voices (1976) [theatre piece]
Nongovernmental Process, text-sound piece, speaking voice (1976)
Zen Piece, 2 speaking voices and props (1976) [theatre piece]
Black/White, text-sound piece, multiple speaking voices (1976)
I Can't Stand It, text-sound and percussion (1976)
Let It, text-sound piece ( 1976)
Twelve Bar Blues, text-sound piece (1976)
6.76 Kentucky Poem, text-sound piece (1976)
He's Not Afraid of Marrying Me, text-sound piece (1976)
Pe-Yo-Te, text-sound piece (1976)
Crackers And Checkers, text-sound piece (1977)
I Wish I Were Single Again, text-sound piece (1977)
Jackson Mac Low, text-sound piece, speaking voice, (pub. 1977)
Morning View and Maiden Spring, speaker, tape, speaker, slides and lights) (1978) [multimedia piece]
Yes Sir Ree, text-sound and percussion (1978)
Kitchy Kitchin, text-sound and percussion (1979)
Ocean Motion Mildew Mind, text-sound and percussion (1979)
Six Stories In Series, text-sound piece, speaking voice and piano (1979)
Sally's Success, text-sound piece, speaking voice and piano (1979)
John Cage, text-sound piece (1979) [other name poems for: Alison Knowles, Martha Graham, John Giorno, and others]
Country Time, text-sound piece, speaking voice and percussion, with or without taped bird calls (1981)
Riot Rot, radio opera, text-sound and rock band (1983) [text-sound and theatre piece]
Killdeer and Chickory, text-sound piece, voice and percussion (2005)

Incidental Music/Music for the Theatre
Whatever Bernhardt Goetz, music for a play with songs (????) [play by Stephen Paul Miller]
Avon, theatre music ["Avon" (4 songs), medium voice and piano, 1990]
Remembering the Women, theatre music ["The Seneca Falls Follies", female chorus and piano, 2003]

Film Score
World Honeymoon, film score (1980)

Multimedia
Hallophone, environment, 2 sax, steel guitar, voice, tapes, slides and dancers (1973)
Valid For Life, 2 pianos and percussion; or 2 large strung things (1973) [graphic score]
Tulip Clause, tenor, 8 instruments and tape (1973) [graphic score]
Tower Of Power, church organ and 4-channel tape (1973) [graphic score]
Recital Piece, piano, tape and theatrics (1973) [graphic score]
Peachy Keen-O, voices, electric guitar, organ, vibraphone, chin. drum and tape (1973)
Music for Myself, voice, piano, vibraphone, mirrors and light (1973)
The Messiah Is Come, human sculpture, w/internal & external sound sources, tape, db, fl, voices, speakers, piano, percussion,
     slides (1974) [collaboration with sculptor Paul Cotton] [revised as "The Bridegroom Is Hear"]
Good-Bye Bridget Bardot Or Hello Charlotte Moorman, cello, tape and cloth wrapper (1974)
She Wrote, voice, 2 violins and tape (1974) [text: Gertrude Stein and Kathy Acker]
He Said, 2 clarinets and tape, w/opt. video (1975)
They Did It, piano and tape (1976)
Morning View and Maiden Spring, speaker, tape, speaker, slides and lights) (1978) [multimedia piece]
Skaters' Suite, mz-sop., vln, vc, db & tape (1979) [also arr. for fl(or va), ob(or cl), vc & pf] [comm. by Diane Jacobowitz Dancers]

Electronic
Hallophone, environment, 2 sax, steel guitar, voice, tapes, slides and dancers (1973)
Tulip Clause, tenor, 8 instruments and tape (1973) [graphic score]
Tower Of Power, church organ and 4-channel tape (1973) [graphic score]
Recital Piece, piano, tape and theatrics (1973) [graphic score]
Thus Spake Johnston, tape (1973) [piece made from Jill Johnston's voice]
Peachy Keen-O, female voices, elec gtr, org, vibe, lrg membranophones & metalophones, dancers, peach light & tape (1973)
Tulip Clause and Buchla Bird Hiss Down the Road of Life, tape (1973)
The Messiah Is Come, human sculpture, w/internal & external sound sources, tape, db, fl, voices, speakers, piano, percussion,
     slides (1974) [collaboration with sculptor Paul Cotton] [revised as "The Bridegroom Is Hear"]
Good-Bye Bridget Bardot Or Hello Charlotte Moorman, cello, tape and cloth wrapper (1974)
She Wrote, voice, 2 violins and tape (1974) [text: Gertrude Stein and Kathy Acker]
The People Rumble Louder, voice and electronics; or solo speaking voice (1975)
He Said, 2 clarinets and tape, w/opt. video (1975)
They Did It, piano and tape (1976)
Ode, tape (1976)
Promised Church Beautiful River, trombone and tape (1977)
Joan, 15-track tape (1977) [based on material from oratorio, "Joan", 1974] [sometimes mislabled as "On Joan"]
Morning View and Maiden Spring, speaking voice and tape (1978)
Skaters' Suite, mz-sop., vln, vc, db & tape (1979) [also arr. for fl(or va), ob(or cl), vc & pf] [comm. by Diane Jacobowitz Dancers]
German Swale, tape (1990) [played as an environment for three German art galleries]


BETH ANDERSON  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
2011 String Poet Prize Composer : Beth Anderson (stringpoet.com)
Academie d’Underrated: Beth Anderson (Kyle Gann, PostClassic)
Beth Anderson - A New Interview with Beth Ann Gallup (JamesArts.com)
If I Were a Poet - Beth Anderson Investigation (Forthcoming Intuitions)
Innovative Women Composers: A Silent Minority? (Montse Andreu, Amazings. com)
Interview with Beth Anderson (electro-music.com)

Composer's website    . . .   contact Beth Anderson:  beth(at)beand(dot)com

Beth Anderson @ Wikipedia
Beth Anderson @ Albany Records
Beth Anderson @ American Composers Alliance
Beth Anderson @ American Music Center
Beth Anderson @ Answers.com
Beth Anderson @ Anything Piano/Living Composers Project
Beth Anderson @ Art & Popular Culture
Beth Anderson @ Bass Flute
Beth Anderson @ Classical.com
Beth Anderson @ Classical Archives
Beth Anderson @ Classical Composers Database
Beth Anderson @ ClassicsToday
Beth Anderson @ electro-music.com
Beth Anderson @ Facebook
Beth Anderson @ InstantEncore
Beth Anderson @ JamesArts
Beth Anderson @ Kalvos & Damian
Beth Anderson @ LinkedIn
Beth Anderson @ Modern Classical
Beth Anderson @ MusicalAmerica
Beth Anderson @ music-usa.org
Beth Anderson @ MusicWeb International
Beth Anderson @ MySpaceMusic
Beth Anderson @ New World Records
Beth Anderson @ The New York Times
Beth Anderson @ New York Women Composers, Inc.
Beth Anderson @ The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers (Sadie & Samuel, W.W. Norton, books.google.com)
Beth Anderson @ Pogus
Beth Anderson @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Beth Anderson @ Sequenza21
Beth Anderson @ SheerPluck
Beth Anderson @ UbuWeb
Beth Anderson @ Unsung: A History of Women in American Music (Christine Ammer, Hal Leonard, books.google.com)
Beth Anderson @ Vox Novus
Beth Anderson @ Women Composers and Music Technology in the US (Hinkle-Turner, Ashgate Pub, books.google.com)
Beth Anderson @ Yale University Library / OHAM (Oral History of American Music)
Beth Anderson @ George Yefchak

Publisher
Beth Anderson @ Composer's website/publisher listings
Beth Anderson @ Antes/Bella Music
Beth Anderson @ E.M.I/Joshua Corporation [Boston Music Co., distributor]

Streaming Audio
Beth Anderson @ Classical Archives
Beth Anderson @ Internet Archive / RadiOM (August 1974)
Beth Anderson @ last.fm
Beth Anderson @ MySpaceMusic
Beth Anderson @ Rhapsody.com
Beth Anderson @ UbuWeb

Recordings
Beth Anderson @ Composer's website
Beth Anderson @ Albany Records
Beth Anderson @ Amazon.com
Beth Anderson @ ArkivMusic
Beth Anderson @ CD Universe
Beth Anderson @ ClassicsOnline
Beth Anderson @ HD Tracks
Beth Anderson @ New World Records
Beth Anderson @ Pogus

Video
Beth Anderson @ YouTube
Beth Anderson @ Google Video


About Swales . . .
Beth Anderson's Swales combine folk-related vernacular music with "classically" developed techniques in an open, somewhat repetitive form. A swale is a meadow or a marsh where there is nourishment and moisture and therefore, a rich diversity of plant life. Anderson's work, since 1985, has been made from swatches (of newly composed music, rather than found music) that are reminiscent of this diversity. When a horse named Swale won the Kentucky derby, the composer discovered the word and has used it extensively.

About Text-Sound
Beth Anderson: "Text-sound is the use of words and phonemes to make a kind of percussive music usually . . . it can also be poetic/evocative, but in my case, it is usually percussive."