Michael Daugherty (1954- )
Michael
Daugherty, born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has created a niche in
the
music world that is uniquely his own, composing concert music inspired
by American popular culture. He first came to international attention
in the 1990s with a series of witty, dark-humored, brilliantly-scored
pieces inspired by 20th-century American icons such as Superman, Jackie
O, Elvis, J. Edgar Hoover, and Rosa Parks, and places such as Route 66,
Niagara Falls, and Sunset Strip. With compositional originality and
ingenuity to match his subject matter, Daugherty became one of
America's most frequently performed and commissioned living composers.
The London Times has described Daugherty as "a master icon-maker" and
hailed his "maverick imagination, fearless structural sense and
meticulous ear". His music has the uncanny knack of speaking
everybody’s language at once while retaining the ability to surprise,
move, stimulate, inspire and amuse. His idiom bears the stamp of
classic modernism, with colliding tonalities and blocks of sound; at
the same time, his melodies can be eloquent and stirring.- Conductors Guild
COMPOSITIONS Daugherty Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Daugherty on Daugherty
Piano Plus, piano (1985)
Snap!, chamber orchestra (1987)
Blue Like an Orange, chamber orchestra (1987)
Mxyzptlk, 2 flutes and orchestra (1988) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 3]
Oh, Lois!, orchestra (1989) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 4]
Flamingo, chamber orchestra (1991)
Lex, orchestra (1991) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 1]
Desi, wind ensemble (1991)
Firecracker, solo oboe, flute (pic), bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and keyboard (1991)
Viola Zombie, 2 violas (1991)
Firecracker, solo oboe, flute (pic), bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and keyboard (1991)
Sing Sing: J. Edgar Hoover, string quartet and tape (1992)
Lex, electric violin, 2 synth, timpani and 4 percussionsts (1991-93)
Red Cape Tango, orchestra (1993) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 5] (arr. by Mark Spede, 1999)
Krypton, orchestra (1993) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 2]
Metropolis Symphony, orchestra (1988-93) [Lex, 1991; Krypton, 1993; Mxyzptlk, 1988; Oh, Lois!, 1989; Red Cape Tango, 1993]
Bizarro, wind ensemble (1993)
Dead Elvis, solo bassoon, Eb clarinet, trumpet, bass trombone, violin, double bass and percussion (1993)
Elvis Everywhere, string quartet and tape (1993)
Strut, string orchestra (1989/94)
Paul Robeson Told Me, string quartet and tape (1994)
Motown Metal, brass ensemble (1994)
Shaken Not Stirred, 3 percussionists and elec/or acoustic bass (w/ or w/o amplification) (1994)
Lounge Lizards, 2 pianos (lids off, if possible) and 2 percussionists (1994)
What's That Spell?, 2 amplifed sopranos and chamber orchestra (1995)
Leap Day, high school orchestra (1996)
Le Tombeau de Liberace, piano and orchestra or chamber orchestra (1996)
Yo amaba a Lucy (I Loved Lucy), flute and guitar (1996)
Timbuktuba, 4 euphonium, 2 tubas and percussion (1996)
Jackie O, chamber opera in 2 acts (1997)
- Jackie's Song, cello (1996)
- Jackie's Song, cello, violin, flute, bass clarinet piano and percussion (1996)
Niagara Falls, band (1997)
Sinatra Shag, flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (1997)
Route 66, orchestra (1998)
Spaghetti Western, English Horn and orchestra (1998)
Bounce, 2 bassoons (1998)
Hell's Angels, bassoon quartet and orchestra (1998-99)
Sunset Strip, orchestra (1999)
UFO, solo percussion and orchestra (1999) (arr. for solo percussion and band, 2000)
Motor City Triptych, orchestra (2000)
Used Car Salesman, percussion quartet (2000)
The High and the Mighty, piccolo and piano (2000)
Philadelphia Stories, orchestra (2001)
Rosa Parks Boulevard, band (2001)
Monk in the Kitchen, piano (2001) [variation on Thelonius Monk's "'Round Midnight"]
Pachelbel's Key, youth orchestra (2002)
Bells for Stokowski, band (2002)
Venetian Blinds, piano (2002)
Time Machine, 3 conductors and orchestra (2003)
Raise the Roof, orchestra (2003)
Fire and Blood, violin and orchestra (2003)
Once Upon a Castle: Symphonie Concertante for Organ and Orchestra (2003)
Tell My Fortune, orchestra (2004)
Crystal, flute, alto flute, metal windchimes (optional) and piano (2004)
Ghost Ranch, orchestra (2005)
Brooklyn Bridge, clarinet and band (2005)
Above Clouds from Ghost Ranch, 4 horns, string orchestra and percussion (2005)
Walk the Walk, baritone sax (or bass clarinet or contrabassoon) and percussion (1 or 2 players) (2005)
Ladder to the Moon, solo violin, wind octet, double bass and percussion (2006)
Regrets Only, violin, cello, piano (2006)
Diamond in the Rough, violin, viola and 1 percussionist (glsp/tamb/tgl/metal wind chimes/2 tuned crystal glasses) (2006)
Bay of Pigs, acoustic guitar and string quartet (or string orchestra) (2006)
Ladder to the Moon, solo violin, wind octet, double bass and percussion (2006)
Deus ex Machina, piano and orchestra (2007)
Asclepius: fanfare, brass and percussion (2007)
Raise the Roof, timpani and band (2007)
March of the Metro, orchestra: (2008)
Troyjam, narrator and orchestra (2009)
Gee's Bend, electric guitar and orchestra (2009)
Letters from Lincoln, baritone and orchestra (2009)
Trail of Tears, flute and orchestra
Mount Rushmore, orchestra (2010)
Lost Vegas, band (2011)
Radio City, orchestra (2011)
WORKS BY GENRE Daugherty Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Jackie O, chamber opera in 2 acts (1997)
Orchestra
Snap!, chamber orchestra (1987)
Blue Like an Orange, chamber orchestra (1987)
Mxyzptlk, 2 flutes and orchestra (1988) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 3]
Oh, Lois!, orchestra (1989) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 4]
Flamingo, chamber orchestra (1991)
Lex, orchestra (1991) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 1]
Red Cape Tango, orchestra (1993) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 5]
Krypton, orchestra (1993) [Metropolis Symphony, mvt 2]
Metropolis Symphony, orchestra (1988-93) [Lex, 1991; Krypton, 1993; Mxyzptlk, 1988; Oh, Lois!, 1989; Red Cape Tango, 1993]
Strut, string orchestra (1989/94)
Leap Day, high school orchestra (1996)
Route 66, orchestra (1998)
Sunset Strip, orchestra (1999)
Motor City Triptych, orchestra (2000)
Philadelphia Stories, orchestra (2001)
Pachelbel's Key, youth orchestra (2002)
Time Machine, 3 conductors and orchestra (2003)
Raise the Roof, orchestra (2003)
Tell My Fortune, orchestra (2004)
Ghost Ranch, orchestra (2005)
Asclepius: fanfare, brass and percussion (2007)
March of the Metro, orchestra: (2008)
Troyjam, narrator and orchestra (2009)
Mount Rushmore, orchestra (2010)
Radio City, orchestra (2011)
Band
Desi, wind ensemble (1991)
Bizarro, wind ensemble (1993)
Niagara Falls, band (1997)
Red Cape Tango, band (arr. by Mark Spede, 1999)
UFO, solo percussion and band (2000)
Rosa Parks Boulevard, band (2001)
Bells for Stokowski, band (2002)
Brooklyn Bridge, clarinet and band (2005)
Raise the Roof, timpani and band (2007)
Lost Vegas, band (2011)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Ensemble or Band
Firecracker, solo oboe, flute (pic), bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and keyboard (1991)
Dead Elvis, solo bassoon, Eb clarinet, trumpet, bass trombone, violin, double bass and percussion (1993)
Le Tombeau de Liberace, piano and orchestra or chamber orchestra (1996)
Spaghetti Western, English Horn and orchestra (1998)
Hell's Angels, bassoon quartet and orchestra (1998-99)
UFO, solo percussion and orchestra (1999)
Fire and Blood, violin and orchestra (2003)
Once Upon a Castle: Symphonie Concertante for Organ and Orchestra (2003)
Above Clouds from Ghost Ranch, 4 horns, string orchestra and percussion (2005)
Bay of Pigs, acoustic guitar and string quartet (or string orchestra) (2006)
Ladder to the Moon, solo violin, wind octet, double bass and percussion (2006)
Deus ex Machina, piano and orchestra (2007)
Raise the Roof, timpani and band (2007)
Gee's Bend, electric guitar and orchestra (2009)
Trail of Tears, flute and orchestra
Chamber
Viola Zombie, 2 violas (1991)
Firecracker, solo oboe, flute (pic), bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and keyboard (1991)
Sing Sing: J. Edgar Hoover, string quartet and tape (1992)
Lex, electric violin, 2 synth, timpani and 4 percussionsts (1991-93)
Elvis Everywhere, string quartet and tape (1993)
Dead Elvis, solo bassoon, Eb clarinet, trumpet, bass trombone, violin, double bass and percussion (1993)
Paul Robeson Told Me, string quartet and tape (1994)
Motown Metal, brass ensemble (1994)
Shaken Not Stirred, 3 percussionists and elec/or acoustic bass (w/ or w/o amplification) (1994)
Lounge Lizards, 2 pianos (lids off, if possible) and 2 percussionists (1994)
Yo amaba a Lucy (I Loved Lucy), flute and guitar (1996)
Timbuktuba, 4 euphonium, 2 tubas and percussion (1996)
Jackie's Song, cello, violin, flute, bass clarinet piano and percussion (1996)
Sinatra Shag, flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (1997)
Bounce, 2 bassoons (1998)
Used Car Salesman, percussion quartet (2000)
The High and the Mighty, piccolo and piano (2000)
Crystal, flute, alto flute, metal windchimes (optional) and piano (2004)
Walk the Walk, baritone sax (or bass clarinet or contrabassoon) and percussion (1 or 2 players) (2005)
Regrets Only, violin, cello, piano (2006)
Diamond in the Rough, violin, viola and 1 percussionist (glsp/tamb/tgl/metal wind chimes/2 tuned crystal glasses) (2006)
Bay of Pigs, acoustic guitar and string quartet (or string orchestra) (2006)
Ladder to the Moon, solo violin, wind octet, double bass and percussion (2006)
Asclepius: fanfare, brass and percussion (2007)
Solo Instrument
Jackie's Song, cello (1996)
Piano
Piano Plus, piano (1985)
Monk in the Kitchen, piano (2001) [variation on Thelonius Monk's "'Round Midnight"]
Venetian Blinds, piano (2002)
Vocal
What's That Spell?, 2 amplifed sopranos and chamber orchestra (1995)
Letters from Lincoln, baritone and orchestra (2009)
DAUGHERTY LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Americana as Muse: Q&A with Michael Daugherty (MySpace.com Blogs)
Charlotte Symphony Presents Michael Daugherty's Deus Ex Machina (Huliq News)
Classical Composers Michael Alec Rose and Michael Daugherty Consider Pastoral & Urban (Russell Johnston, Nashville Scene)
A Composer’s Experience in Negotiating Traditions: Incorporation of Pop Music in Contemporary Compositions (H. Mathews)
'Cool' Composer Michael Daugherty at CU's Pendulum Series (Wes Blomster, dailycamera.com)
Icon Artist: Michael Daugherty - A Conversation with Frank J. Oteri (NewMusicBox)
Jackie O (The Banff Centre)
Michael Daugherty in Residence with the Pacific Symphony (Meet the Composer)
Myrrha in the Making (Kristin Kuster, American Composers Orchestra)
Who Says Classical Composers Can't Reflect Popular Culture? (GregSandow.com)
Composer's website . . . contact Michael Daugherty: here
Daugherty @ Wikipedia
Daugherty @ AllAboutOpera.com
Daugherty @ Answers.com
Daugherty @ BandQuest.org
Daugherty @ Boosey & Hawkes
Daugherty @ Classical Archives
Daugherty @ Classical Composers Database
Daugherty @ Classical Net
Daugherty @ ClassicsToday
Daugherty @ Collage New Music
Daugherty @ Conductors Guild
Daugherty @ Faber Music
Daugherty @ The Flying Inkpot
Daugherty @ Ithaca College
Daugherty @ The Los Angeles Philharmonic
Daugherty @ MusicWeb International
Daugherty @ MySpaceMusic
Daugherty @ Naxos
Daugherty @ The New York Times
Daugherty @ peermusic classical
Daugherty @ Pro Musica of Detroit
Daugherty @ United States Marine Band
Daugherty @ University of Michigan
Daugherty @ The Wind Repertory Project
Publisher
Daugherty @ Composer's website/publisher listings
Daugherty @ Boosey & Hawkes
Daugherty @ Faber Music
Daugherty @ peermusic classical
Streaming Audio
Daugherty @ Composer's website
Daugherty @ Classical Archives
Daugherty @ last.fm
Daugherty @ MySpaceMusic
Daugherty @ Rhapsody
Recordings
Daugherty @ Composer's website
Daugherty @ Albany Records
Daugherty @ ArkivMusic
Daugherty @ ClassicsOnline
Video
Daugherty @ Composer's website
Daugherty @ YouTube
Daugherty @ Google Video
Daugherty @ Vimeo
~ top of page ~
Daugherty on Daugherty: Icon Artist - Conversation w/Frank J. Oteri/NewMusicBox (VIDEO)
Daugherty on Daugherty: In His Own Words (VIDEO)
. . . see also Michael Daugherty: On Composing
Daugherty on Daugherty: Interview @ Pendulum New Music Series (VIDEO)
Daugherty on Daugherty: Why He Became a Composer/BandQuest (VIDEO)
. . . see more of this BandQuest conversation here & here & here & here
Daugherty on Daugherty: About Gee's Bend (VIDEO)
Daugherty on Daugherty: John Whitwell & Michael Daugherty Conversation (VIDEO)
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