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Joseph Klein (1962-    )

Joseph Klein's compositions range from solo pieces to works for large ensemble, including vocal and electroacoustic music, often incorporating intermedia or theatrical elements. His work reflects an ongoing interest in systems and musical processes drawn from such sources as fractal geometry and chaos theory, often inspired by natural phenomena. Recent works have reflected literary influences from Franz Kafka to Alice Fulton, including a number of works based on the writings of Elias Canetti. His compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and have been featured at national and international music venues including the Gaudeamus International Musicweek (Amsterdam), Ammerman Center Symposium on Arts and Technology, Symposium XII for New Band Music, Living Arts of Tulsa New Genre Festival, and the American Music Week in Bulgaria (Sofia); contemporary music festivals at Louisiana, Bowling Green, Florida State, Towson, Morehead State, and Western Illinois Universities, The Juilliard School, the University of Florida, and the University of Memphis. He has been a featured guest composer at such institutions as Cornell University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, SUNY Buffalo, University of Louisville, University of North Dakota, Pepperdine University, Arkansas Governor's School, American University in Bulgaria (Blagoevgrad), Janácek Akademie (Brno, Czech Republic), National Taiwan Normal University (Taipei, Taiwan), Myongji University (Yongin, South Korea), and Sichuan Conservatory (Chengdu, China). Klein holds a Doctor of Music degree in Composition from Indiana University, and has studied with Harvey Sollberger, Claude Baker, Eugene O'Brien, Stan Gibb, Robert Erickson, Roger Reynolds, and Bernard Rands. He is currently Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of North Texas College of Music, where he has served as Chair of Composition Studies since 1999.

COMPOSITIONS                                                     Joseph Klein Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Klein on Klein
Images, jazz combo (1982)
Kaleidoscope, guitar ensemble (1982)
Two Diametrically Opposing Units: Vacuum & Plenum, any solo performer or combination of performers (1982)
Outdoor Music IV, 4 trumpets and 4 pedestrians (1983)
Elegy, bassoon (1983)
Songs of Life and the Prune Danish Controversy, mezzo-soprano, 2 prepared guitars and percussion (1983)
Ritual IV, solo performer, w/opt. intermedia (1985)
Aphasia, flute ensemble (1985)
IcarUS At thE caBARet VoLtairE: parT I (tHe RENdeZVOus), 2 guitars (1985)
Prime Set, solo percussion (1985)
Three Love Songs, mezzo-soprano, percussion, harp and piano/celesta (1985)
March Transforms, wind ensemble (1986)
DEdi/seC(r)ATIONS, voice and percussion (1986)
Missa Brevis, chorus (1987)
Rubber Angels, woodwind quintet (1987)
arcus vitae, 2 guitars (1987)
MOTET: memento mori, 4 solo voices (1988)
Parallaxes, trombone quartet (1988)
dreaming the dark down slowly, theater work, vocal soloists, dancer and chorus (1989)
Mélodrame, double bass and intermedia environment (1989)
Pax impotens, string quartet (1989)
Three Haiku, mezzo-soprano and percussion (1989)
Stone Soup, children's theater work, mixed chamber ensemble (1990)
false relationships, wind octet (1990)
Transient Forms, orchestra (1991)
The Muses of Bedlam, double bass (1991)
Riot Act, trumpet ensemble (1992)
Wake for K.G., brass and percussion (1993)
Goblin Market, trombone, with prepared piano and intermedia environment (1993)
Pathways: Opposing Forces, trombone and chamber orchestra (1993)
Three Ceremonial Pieces, organ (1994)
Pathways: Interior Shadows, soprano saxophone and chamber orchestra (1995)
Pathways: Revolution, solo percussion and chamber orchestra (1995)
Lament, wind quartet [variable] (1995)
Lament, string orchestra (1996)
Dog, female voice, bassoon and intermedia (1997)
the road in its unfoldings, wind symphony (1997)
Three Studies in Change, brass quintet (1997)
Der Leichenschleicher, double bass (1997)
Die Tischtuchtolle, violin (1997)
Two Lullabies, voice (1997)
Leviathan, male voice, bass trombone and intermedia (1998)
Der Leidverweser, contrabassoon (1998)
Occam's Razor, 7 studies for 10 players, mixed chamber ensemble [10 players] (1999)
Three Little Pieces, bassoon and piano (2000)
Der Waßerhehler, ocarina (2000)
Die Silbenreine, glass harmonica (2000)
Der Ohrenzeuge, bass flute (2001)
Die Müde, alto saxophone (2004)
Monogram, piano (2004)
Three Poems from Felt, poetry reading, w/computer music (2005)
Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka, narrator, chorus and computer music (2006)
Die Sternklare, solo percussion (2006)
Die Königskünderin, trumpet (2006)
Der Schönheitsmolch, bass saxophone (2008)
Der Demutsahne, guitar (2008)
Cornell Set, poetry reading, w/computer music (2011)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                        Joseph Klein Links    ~ ~ ~    Klein on Klein     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater/Intermedia
Outdoor Music IV, 4 trumpets and 4 pedestrians (1983)
Ritual IV, solo performer, w/opt. intermedia (1985)
dreaming the dark down slowly, theater work, vocal soloists, dancer and chorus (1989)
Mélodrame, double bass and intermedia environment (1989)
Stone Soup, children's theater work, mixed chamber ensemble (1990)
Goblin Market, trombone, with prepared piano and intermedia environment (1993)
Dog, female voice, bassoon and intermedia (1997)
Leviathan, male voice, bass trombone and intermedia (1998)

Orchestra
Transient Forms, orchestra (1991)
Lament, string orchestra (1996)

Band/Wind Ensemble
March Transforms, wind ensemble (1986)
the road in its unfoldings, wind symphony (1997)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Pathways: Opposing Forces, trombone and chamber orchestra (1993)
Pathways: Interior Shadows, soprano saxophone and chamber orchestra (1995)
Pathways: Revolution, solo percussion and chamber orchestra (1995)

Choral
Missa Brevis, chorus (1987)
MOTET: memento mori, 4 solo voices (1988)
dreaming the dark down slowly, theater work, vocal soloists, dancer and chorus (1989)
Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka, narrator, chorus and computer music (2006)

Chamber
Images, jazz combo (1982)
Kaleidoscope, guitar ensemble (1982)
Two Diametrically Opposing Units: Vacuum & Plenum, any solo performer or combination of performers (1982)
Outdoor Music IV, 4 trumpets and 4 pedestrians (1983)
Aphasia, flute ensemble (1985)
IcarUS At thE caBARet VoLtairE: parT I (tHe RENdeZVOus), 2 guitars (1985)
Rubber Angels, woodwind quintet (1987)
arcus vitae, 2 guitars (1987)
Parallaxes, trombone quartet (1988)
Pax impotens, string quartet (1989)
false relationships, wind octet (1990)
Riot Act, trumpet ensemble (1992)
Wake for K.G., brass and percussion (1993)
Goblin Market, trombone, with prepared piano and intermedia environment (1993)
Lament, wind quartet [variable] (1995)
Three Studies in Change, brass quintet (1997)
Occam's Razor, 7 studies for 10 players, mixed chamber ensemble [10 players] (1999)
    - Estuary (chaotic fugato quasi toccata)
    - Au seuil de ruine (notturno interrotto)
    - One of many circles (hyperfractal variants)_
    - Maßenkristalle (loxodromic chaconne)
    - The myth of eternal return (entropic ostinato)
    - Crown knots & cascades (meta-rondo in chiasmus)
    - Time's maw (moto perpetuo)

Percussion
Prime Set, solo percussion (1985)
DEdi/seC(r)ATIONS, voice and percussion (1986)
Three Haiku, mezzo-soprano and percussion (1989)
Wake for K.G., brass and percussion (1993)
Pathways: Revolution, solo percussion and chamber orchestra (1995)
Die Silbenreine, glass harmonica (2000)
Die Sternklare, solo percussion (2006)

Instrument and Piano
Goblin Market, trombone, with prepared piano and intermedia environment (1993)
Three Little Pieces, bassoon and piano (2000)

Solo Instrument
Two Diametrically Opposing Units: Vacuum & Plenum, any solo performer or combination of performers (1982)
Elegy, bassoon (1983)
Ritual IV, solo performer, w/opt. intermedia (1985)
Mélodrame, double bass and intermedia environment (1989)
The Muses of Bedlam, double bass (1991)
Der Leichenschleicher, double bass (1997)
Die Tischtuchtolle, violin (1997)
Der Leidverweser, contrabassoon (1998)
Der Waßerhehler, ocarina (2000)
Die Silbenreine, glass harmonica (2000)
Der Ohrenzeuge, bass flute (2001)
Die Müde, alto saxophone (2004)
Die Königskünderin, trumpet (2006)
Der Schönheitsmolch, bass saxophone (2008)
Der Demutsahne, guitar (2008)

Piano/Organ/Glass Harmonica
Three Ceremonial Pieces, organ (1994)
Die Silbenreine, glass harmonica (2000)
Monogram, piano (2004)

Vocal
Songs of Life and the Prune Danish Controversy, mezzo-soprano, 2 prepared guitars and percussion (1983)
Three Love Songs, mezzo-soprano, percussion, harp and piano/celesta (1985)
DEdi/seC(r)ATIONS, voice and percussion (1986)
MOTET: memento mori, 4 solo voices (1988)
Three Haiku, mezzo-soprano and percussion (1989)
Dog, female voice, bassoon and intermedia (1997)
Two Lullabies, voice (1997)
Leviathan, male voice, bass trombone and intermedia (1998)
Three Poems from Felt, poetry reading, w/computer music (2005)
Cornell Set, poetry reading, w/computer music (2011)

Electronic/Electroacoustic/Multimedia
Ritual IV, solo performer, w/opt. intermedia (1985)
Mélodrame, double bass and intermedia environment (1989)
Goblin Market, trombone, with prepared piano and intermedia environment (1993)
Dog, female voice, bassoon and intermedia (1997)
Leviathan, male voice, bass trombone and intermedia (1998)
Three Poems from Felt, poetry reading, w/computer music (2005)
Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka, narrator, chorus and computer music (2006)
Cornell Set, poetry reading, w/computer music (2011)


JOSEPH KLEIN  LINKS                                                   Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Klein on Klein      ~ top of page ~
iARTA Participants Engage in Creative Exchange in Chengdu, China (Univ of North Texas)
Students Soak Up Zappa This Summer (Univ of North Texas)

Composer's website   . . .   contact Joseph Klein:  here   and    here
    . . .  see also   here

Joseph Klein @ Classical Archives
Joseph Klein @ Contemporary Composers Index
Joseph Klein @ Innova Records
Joseph Klein @ New Music USA [formerly American Music Center]
Joseph Klein @ Writers at Cornell

Publisher
Joseph Klein @ Composer's website

Streaming Audio
Joseph Klein @ Composer's website  -  check under individual work listings
Joseph Klein @ Classical Archives
Joseph Klein @ SoundCloud
Joseph Klein @ Writers at Cornell

Recordings
Joseph Klein @ Composer's website
Joseph Klein @ Amazon.com
Joseph Klein @ ArkivMusic
Joseph Klein @ CD Universe
Joseph Klein @ ClassicsOnline
Joseph Klein @ Innova Records

And check out these recordings:
    - Zwei Parabeln nach Franz Kafka . . . on CDCM Computer Music Series, Vol. 39 (Centaur CRC-3219)
    - Dog (after W.S. Merwin) . . . on CDCM Computer Music Series, Vol. 27 (Centaur CRC-2407)
    - Pathways: Opposing Forces . . . on Pathways: New Music for Trombone (Mark MCD-1629)

Video
Joseph Klein @ YouTube [nothing at the moment?]
Joseph Klein @ Google Video
Joseph Klein @ Vimeo [none at the moment]
                                                                                                                                                                             ~ top of page ~
Joseph Klein on Joseph Klein: Interview/Writers at Cornell (streaming audio)
Composers Speak on the Web at Pytheas
                            ~ click on composer picture to listen ~