Brian Fennelly (1937-2015)
With
a degree in mechanical engineering, American composer Brian
Fennelly began his career as an officer in the Air
Force, with service in the U. S. and Korea. After receiving a B. A.
from Union College, he entered Yale on a Woodrow Wilson fellowship,
where he studied music composition and theory with Mel Powell, Allen
Forte, Gunther Schuller and George Perle. From
1968 to 1997 he was Professor of Music in the Faculty of Arts and
Science at New York University, and Professor Emeritus from 1998 to 2015. In
addition to a Guggenheim fellowship, his awards included three
fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, two commissions
from the Koussevitsky Foundation as well as commissions from the Fromm
Foundation, Meet the Composer /Readers Digest, the Hudson Valley
Philharmonic, and others. In 1997 he received a lifetime achievement
award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His music has
been awarded prizes in many competitions, which include the Goffredo
Petrassi Competition for Orchestral Music (1993), International Trumpet
Guild Competition (First Prize, 1990), the Louisville Orchestra New
Music Competition (First Prize, 1986), Shreveport Symphony Competition
(1981), and the Premio Citta di Trieste (1981). Over a dozen of his
works appear on CD, with orchestral and chamber music released on the
New World, CRI, Pro Viva, First Edition, Capstone, and New Ariel
labels. Fennelly's music has been performed by numerous orchestras
including the Rochester Philharmonic, American Composers Orchestra, and
The Louisville Orchestra, as well as by chamber ensembles such as the
American and Empire Brass Quintets, and the Concord and Audubon String
Quartets. His choral music has been sung by the Gregg Smith Singers and
the New York Virtuoso Singers, among others. In addition to
composing and teaching, he was active as a pianist, and as an
officer and board member in a number of music organizations; he also
co-directed the Washington Square Contemporary Music Society, which he
founded in 1976.COMPOSITIONS Fennelly Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Composition for Liam, piano (1961; rev. 2003)
Two Whitman Songs, mezzo-soprano and piano (1962; rev. 2005)
Suite for Doublebass (1963; rev. 1981)
Duo for Violin and Piano (1964)
For Solo Flute (1964, rev. 1976)
Songs with Improvisation (6 songs), mezzo-soprano, clarinet and piano (1964; rev. 1969) [text: e. e. cummings]
Psalm XIII, chorus, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones) (1965; rev. 2007)
Two Movements for Wind Quartet (oboe, clarinet, trumpet and trombone) (1965)
Wind Quintet (1967) [for Gunther Schuller]
Divisions, violin (1968; rev. 1981)
Evanescences, alto flute, clarinet, violin, cello and electronic sounds (1969)
Three Pieces for Tape (1969)
SUNYATA, 4-channel electronic sounds (1970) [also 2-channel version]
Tesserae I, Fantasy for Harpsichord (1971)
Festive Psalm, chorus, narrator, organ and electronic sounds) (1972) [text: from Psalm 72]
Tesserae II, "Fantasy for Cello" (1972; rev. 2003)
Prelude and Elegy, brass quintet (1973)
String Quartet in Two Movements (No. 1) (1971-74)
Praise Yah!, 3-part chorus and organ, w/opt. 3 trumpets and improvised percussion) (1974) [text: from Psalms 117, 148]
In Wildness is the Preservation of the World (Orchestral Fantasy after Thoreau), orchestra (1974-75)
Concert Piece for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra (1976)
Consort I, trombone quintet (ATTBB) (1976)
Tesserae III, viola (1976) [Chaconne; Interlude; Finale]
Tesserae IV, contrabass trombone (1976)/Tesserae V, tuba (1980) [these pieces are now identical and published as one]
Tesserae VI, trumpet (1976)
Sonata Seria, piano (1976)
Empirical Rag, brass quintet (1977)
- version #2, piano (1978)
- version #3, violin and piano (1978; rev. 2000)
- version #4, wind quintet (1979; rev. 2006)
- version #5, clarinet, trombone, cello and piano (1979) ["Warsaw" version]
- version #6, for Harmonie ensemble (2 ob, 2 cl, 2 hn, 2 bsn, w/opt. cbsn) (1979; rev. 2006)
- version #7, violin, cello and piano (1980; rev. 2001)
- version #8, orchestra (1980)
- version #9, string quartet (1981; rev. 2000)
- version #10, piano 4-hands (1994)
Quintuplo (....fivefold five....), brass quintet and orchestra (1977-78)
Scintilla Prisca, cello and piano (1979; arr for cello and orchestra, 1981)
Tesserae VII, clarinet (1979)
Tesserae V, tuba (1980) [based on "Tesserae IV", 1976]
Tesserae VIII, alto saxophone (1980)
Tropes and Echoes, clarinet and orchestra (1981; arr. for clarinet and chamber ensemble, 1986)
Winterkill, chorus and piano (1981; rev. 2005) [text: P. B. Shelley]
Tesserae IX, solo percussion (1981)
Two Poems of Shelley, chorus (1982-83)
Canzona and Dance, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1982-83)
Three Intermezzi, bass clarinet and marimba (1983)
Concerto for Saxophone (1983-84; arr. for saxophone and piano, 1985)
- Hypnotic Song, alto saxophone and piano [arr. 1985 from 1st mvt of Concerto for Saxophone, 1983-84]
Triple Play (Trio No. 1), violin, cello and piano (1984)
Tangoblique, piano (1984; rev. 2004)
Fantasy Variations, orchestra (1984-85)
Thoreau Fantasy No. 2 (Ambrosial Mornings), orchestra (1984-85)
Coralita (Corollary I), horn and piano (1986)
Trio No. 2, violin, cello, and piano (or harpsichord) (1986-87)
- Cantilena, flute, viola and harp (2000) [from Trio No. 2, 1986-87]
Brass Quintet (No. 1) (1987)
Corollary II, alto saxophone and piano (1987-88)
Keats on Love (3 pieces), chorus and piano (1989)
Corollary III, trumpet and piano (1989)
Lunar Halos (Parasalenae), doublebass and chamber orchestra (1990)
Reflected Arc, oboe and piano (1991; rev. 2007)
Paraphrasis, piano (1991)
A Sprig of Andromeda, orchestra (1992) [from "A Thoreau Symphony"]
On Civil Disobedience, orchestra (1993) [from "A Thoreau Symphony"]
Locking Horns (Brass Quintet No. 2) (1993) [2 tpts(F tpts, flg), hn, trb, B.trb or tba]
Proud Music, chorus, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones and organ (1994) [text: Walt Whitman]
Soon Shall the Winter's Foil, chorus (1994) [text: Walt Whitman]
Reflections/Metamorphoses, chamber orchestra (1995)
Skyscapes I, alto saxophone and string quartet (1995)
Monogram, piano (1996; rev. 2003) [tribute to Richard Swift]
Chrysalis, orchestra (1996-97) [from "A Thoreau Symphony"]
A Thoreau Symphony, orchestra (1992-1997) [A Sprig of Andromeda; On Civil Disobedience; Chrysalis]
Sonata Serena, piano (1997)
Skyscapes II, trumpet and string quartet (1999)
Sukhi!, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1999)
Three's Company, flute/piccolo, alto saxophone and piano (1999-2000)
Velvet and Spice (Brass Quintet No. 3) (1999-2000)
Arias and Interludes (String Quartet No. 2) (2001)
Variations on "Watkins Ale", viol quartet (treble, alto, bass 1, bass 2) (2001)
Consort II: Photogram, saxophone quartet (2002)
Skyscapes III, flute/picc/alto fl, clarinet/bass cl, violin, cello and piano (2002)
Tombeau and Tango, 2 bass viols (gambas) (2002)
- Prelude and Maverick Tango, guitar (2003) [newly composed "Prelude" added]
- Maverick Tango (2003; arr. for violin and cello, 2010)
Corollary IV, trombone and piano (2002)
Quincunx, trombone, piano and marimba/vibes (2003)
Sasquatch, contrabass trombone (or bass trombone) and 2 percussionists (2003-04)
Sigol Musings, violin (2004; arr. for cello, 2005)
ThingamaBob, harpsichord (2004; arr. for piano, 2005)
- Thingamabob, brass quintet (2006)
Three Pieces for Piano (1996-2005) [Monogram, 1996; Tangoblique, 1984/2004; ThingamaBob, 2004/05]
String Quartet No. 3, "Sigol: Thirty Flowers" (2005)
Skyscapes IV, flute/picc/alto fl, clarinet/bass cl, violin, cello and guitar (2006)
"Sigol" for Strings, string orchestra (2007)
Sock Monkeys, 2 clarinets (2007; revision of "Miniatures", 1989) [arr. for 2 flutes, 2007]
The Other Side of Time, winds, brass and percussion (30 players) (2009)
Fantasia Concertante for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra (2009)
Sacred Songs (3 songs), baritone and piano (2010-11) [text: George Herbert]
WORKS BY GENRE Fennelly Links ~ top of page ~
Orchestra
In Wildness is the Preservation of the World (Orchestral Fantasy after Thoreau), orchestra (1974-75)
Empirical Rag (1977) [version #8, orchestra, 1980]
Fantasy Variations, orchestra (1984-85)
Thoreau Fantasy No. 2 (Ambrosial Mornings), orchestra (1984-85)
A Thoreau Symphony, orchestra (1992-1997)
- On Civil Disobedience, orchestra (1993) [from "A Thoreau Symphony"]
- A Sprig of Andromeda, orchestra (1992) [from "A Thoreau Symphony"]
- Chrysalis, orchestra (1996-97) [from "A Thoreau Symphony"]
"Sigol" for Strings, string orchestra (2007)
The Other Side of Time, winds, brass and percussion (30 players) (2009)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Concert Piece for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra (1976)
Quintuplo (....fivefold five....), brass quintet and orchestra (1977-78)
Scintilla Prisca, cello and orchestra (1979; arr. 1981 from piece for cello and piano)
Tropes and Echoes, clarinet and orchestra (1981; arr. for clarinet and chamber ensemble, 1986)
Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra (1983-84)
Lunar Halos (Parasalenae), doublebass and chamber orchestra (1990)
Reflections/Metamorphoses, chamber orchestra (1995)
Fantasia Concertante for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra (2009)
Choral
Psalm XIII, chorus, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones) (1965; rev. 2007)
Festive Psalm, chorus, narrator, organ and electronic sounds) (1972) [text: from Psalm 72]
Praise Yah!, 3-part chorus and organ, w/opt. 3 trumpets and improvised percussion) (1974) [text: from Psalms 117, 148]
Winterkill, chorus and piano (1981; rev. 2005) [text: P. B. Shelley]
Two Poems of Shelley, chorus (1982-83)
- Music, When Soft Voices Die, chorus (1982)
- Love's Philosophy, chorus (1983)
Keats on Love (3 pieces), chorus and piano (1989)
- I cry your mercy
- Hush, hush! tread softly!
- Bright star
Proud Music, chorus, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones and organ (1994) [text: Walt Whitman]
Soon Shall the Winter's Foil, chorus (1994) [text: Walt Whitman]
Chamber
Duo for Violin and Piano (1964)
Two Movements for Wind Quartet (oboe, clarinet, trumpet and trombone) (1965)
Wind Quintet (1967) [for Gunther Schuller]
Evanescences, alto flute, clarinet, violin, cello and electronic sounds (1969)
Prelude and Elegy, brass quintet (1973)
String Quartet in Two Movements (No. 1) (1971-74)
Consort I, trombone quintet (ATTBB) (1976)
Empirical Rag, brass quintet (1977)
- version #3, violin and piano (1978; rev. 2000)
- version #4, wind quintet (1979; rev. 2006)
- version #5, clarinet, trombone, cello and piano (1979) ["Warsaw" version]
- version #6, for Harmonie ensemble (2 ob, 2 cl, 2 hn, 2 bsn, w/opt. cbsn) (1979; rev. 2006)
- version #7, violin, cello and piano (1980; rev. 2001)
- version #9, string quartet (1981; rev. 2000)
- version #10, piano 4-hands (1994)
Tropes and Echoes, clarinet and chamber ensemble (fl, ob(E.hn), hn, bsn, vln, vla, vcl, pf, perc) (1981; arr. for chbr ens, 1986)
Canzona and Dance, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1982-83)
Three Intermezzi, bass clarinet and marimba (1983)
Triple Play (Trio No. 1), violin, cello and piano (1984)
Trio No. 2, violin, cello, and piano (or harpsichord) (1986-87)
- Cantilena, flute, viola and harp (2000) [from Trio No. 2, 1986-87]
Brass Quintet (No. 1) (1987)
Locking Horns (Brass Quintet No. 2) (1993) [2 tpts(F tpts, flg), hn, trb, B.trb or tba]
Skyscapes I, alto saxophone and string quartet (1995)
Skyscapes II, trumpet and string quartet (1999)
Sukhi!, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1999)
Three's Company, flute/piccolo, alto saxophone and piano (1999-2000)
Velvet and Spice (Brass Quintet No. 3) (1999-2000)
Arias and Interludes (String Quartet No. 2) (2001)
Variations on "Watkins Ale", viol quartet (treble, alto, bass 1, bass 2) (2001)
Consort II: Photogram, saxophone quartet (2002)
Skyscapes III, flute/picc/alto fl, clarinet/bass cl, violin, cello and piano (2002)
Tombeau and Tango, 2 bass viols (gambas) (2002)
- Prelude and Maverick Tango, guitar (2003) [newly composed "Prelude" added]
- Maverick Tango (2003; arr. for violin and cello, 2010)
Quincunx, trombone, piano and marimba/vibes (2003)
Sasquatch, contrabass trombone (or bass trombone) and 2 percussionists (2003-04)
String Quartet No. 3, "Sigol: Thirty Flowers" (2005)
Skyscapes IV, flute/picc/alto fl, clarinet/bass cl, violin, cello and guitar (2006)
Thingamabob, brass quintet (2006)
Sock Monkeys, 2 clarinets (2007; revision of "Miniatures", 1989) [arr. for 2 flutes, 2007]
Brass
Two Movements for Wind Quartet (oboe, clarinet, trumpet and trombone) (1965)
Prelude and Elegy, brass quintet (1973)
Consort I, trombone quintet (ATTBB) (1976)
Tesserae IV, contrabass trombone (1976)/Tesserae V, tuba (1980) [these pieces are now identical and published as one]
Tesserae VI, trumpet (1976)
Empirical Rag, brass quintet (1977)
Tesserae V, tuba (1980) [based on "Tesserae IV", 1976)
Coralita (Corollary I), horn and piano (1986)
Brass Quintet (No. 1) (1987)
Corollary III, trumpet and piano (1989)
Locking Horns (Brass Quintet No. 2) (1993) [2 tpts(F tpts, flg), hn, trb, B.trb or tba]
Skyscapes II, trumpet and string quartet (1999)
Velvet and Spice (Brass Quintet No. 3) (1999-2000)
Corollary IV, trombone and piano (2002)
Quincunx, trombone, piano and marimba/vibes (2003)
Sasquatch, contrabass trombone (or bass trombone) and 2 percussionists (2003-04)
Thingamabob, brass quintet (2006)
Percussion
Tesserae IX, solo percussion (1981)
Solo Instrument
Suite for Doublebass (1963; rev. 1981)
For Solo Flute (1964, rev. 1976)
Divisions, violin (1968; rev. 1981)
Tesserae II, "Fantasy for Cello" (1972; rev. 2003)
Tesserae III, viola (1976) [Chaconne; Interlude; Finale]
Tesserae IV, contrabass trombone (1976)/Tesserae V, tuba (1980) [these pieces are now identical and published as one]
Tesserae VI, trumpet (1976)
Empirical Rag (1977) [version #3, violin and piano, 1978; rev. 2000]
Scintilla Prisca, cello and piano (1979; arr for cello and orchestra, 1981)
Tesserae VII, clarinet (1979)
Tesserae V, tuba (1980) [based on "Tesserae IV", 1976)
Tesserae VIII, alto saxophone (1980)
Tesserae IX, solo percussion (1981)
Concerto for Saxophone (1983-84; arr. for saxophone and piano, 1985)
- Hypnotic Song, alto saxophone and piano [arr. 1985 from 1st mvt of Concerto for Saxophone, 1983-84]
Coralita (Corollary I), horn and piano (1986)
Corollary II, alto saxophone and piano (1987-88)
Corollary III, trumpet and piano (1989)
Reflected Arc, oboe and piano (1991; rev. 2007)
Prelude and Maverick Tango, guitar (2003) [newly composed "Prelude" added] [from "Tombeau and Tango, 2002]
Corollary IV, trombone and piano (2002)
Sigol Musings, violin (2004; arr. for cello, 2005)
Piano/Harpsichord
Composition for Liam, piano (1961; rev. 2003)
Tesserae I, Fantasy for Harpsichord (1971)
Sonata Seria, piano (1976)
Empirical Rag (1977) [version #10, piano 4-hands, 1994]
Empirical Rag (1977) [version #2, piano, 1978]
Tangoblique, piano (1984; rev. 2004)
Paraphrasis, piano (1991)
Monogram, piano (1996; rev. 2003) [tribute to Richard Swift]
Sonata Serena, piano (1997)
ThingamaBob, harpsichord (2004; arr. for piano, 2005)
Three Pieces for Piano (1996-2005) [Monogram, 1996; Tangoblique, 1984/2004; ThingamaBob, 2004/05]
Vocal
Two Whitman Songs, mezzo-soprano and piano (1962; rev. 2005)
- A Noiseless Patient Spider
- Invocation
Songs with Improvisation (6 songs), mezzo-soprano, clarinet and piano (1964; rev. 1969) [text: e. e. cummings]
- crazy jay blue
- the sky was
- Beautiful
- off a pane)the
- un(bee)mo
- pity this busy monster, manunkind
Sacred Songs (3 songs), baritone and piano (2010-11) [text: George Herbert]
- Love (I)
- The Temper (I)
- Love (II)
Electronic
Evanescences, alto flute, clarinet, violin, cello and electronic sounds (1969)
Three Pieces for Tape (1969)
SUNYATA, 4-channel electronic sounds (1970) [also 2-channel version]
Festive Psalm, chorus, narrator, organ and electronic sounds) (1972) [text: from Psalm 72]
FENNELLY LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Brian Fennelly in Conversation with Bruce Duffie (bruceduffie.com)
Composer's website (at American Music Center) . . . contact Brian Fennelly: FennellyBL(at)aol.com
Fennelly @ American Composers Alliance
Fennelly @ American Composers Forum
Fennelly @ American Music Center
Fennelly @ Answers.com
Fennelly @ Facebook
Fennelly @ Fauxharmonic Orchestra
Fennelly @ InstantEncore
Fennelly @ LinkedIn
Fennelly @ Naxos
Fennelly @ New World Records
Fennelly @ The New York Times
Fennelly @ New York University
Fennelly @ OrchestraList
Fennelly @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Fennelly @ Sigma Alpha Iota
Fennelly @ Society of Composers
Fennelly @ ThatNewMusicLibrary
Fennelly @ Washington Square Contemporary Music Society
Publisher
Fennelly @ American Composers Edition (American Composers Alliance, www.composers.com)
Fennelly @ Margun Music (Music Sales Corp./G. Schirmer, 257 Park Ave. South, 20th floor, NY, NY 10010}
Fennelly @ Needham Publishing Co. (P.O.Box 206, 5 West Mill St., Medfield, MA 02052)
Fennelly @ G. Ricordi & C. (Via Berchet 2, 20121 Milan, Italy/U. S. representative: Boosey and Hawkes)
Fennelly @ G. Schirmer
Fennelly @ Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc. (810 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10012)
Fennelly @ SONOTON Musikverlag-Musikproduktion (Schleibinger Strasse 10, 8000 Munich 80,Germany/www.sonoton.de)
Fennelly @ Frank E. Warren Music Service (29 South Main St., Sharon, MA 02067/Fewpub@juno.com)
Streaming Audio
Fennelly @ DRAM
Fennelly @ Rhapsody
Fennelly @ Society of Composers
Recordings
Fennelly @ ArkivMusic
Fennelly @ ClassicsOnline
Fennelly @ Discogs
Fennelly @ DRAM
Fennelly @ Albany Records
Fennelly @ Capstone Records
Fennelly @ New World Records
Video
Fennelly @ YouTube
Fennelly @ Google Video
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