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David Lang (1957-     )

David Lang composerDavid Lang — the prolific, enthusiastic and complicated composer — embodies the restless spirit of invention. Musically adventurous, yet deeply versed in the classical tradition, Lang is determined to make a music that resists categorization. He is constantly in search of new musical forms. Many of his pieces resemble each other only in the fierce intelligence and clarity of vision that inform their structures. Lang's catalogue is extensive, and his opera, orchestra, chamber and solo works are by turns ominous, ethereal, urgent, hypnotic, unsettling and funky. Moments of heart-wrenching lyricism may be pushed up against metal-crunching chords. Intense rhythmic patterns may fracture or unravel into luminous pockets of harmonic sound. Much of his work seeks to expand the definition of virtuosity in music — even the deceptively simple pieces can be fiendishly difficult to play and require incredible concentration by the musicians. The effect is spellbinding.
-  Present Music

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Lang Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Hammer Amour, piano and chamber ensemble (1979, rev. 1989)
Illumination Rounds, violin and piano (1982)
While Nailing at Random, piano (1983)
By Fire, chorus (1984)
Eating Living Monkeys, orchestra (1985)
Frag, flute, oboe and cello (1985)
Spud, chamber ensemble (1986)
Dance/Drop, mixed ensemble (1987)
Are You Experienced?, narrator and chamber ensemble (1987-88)
Burn Notice, fl/vln, vc and piano (1988)
Judith and Holofernes, chamber opera (1989)
Orpheus Over and Under, 2 pianos (1989)
Bonehead, orchestra (1990)
International Business Machine, orchestra (1990)
The Anvil Chorus, solo percussion (1990)
Vent, flute and piano (1990)
Hunk of Burnin' Love, mixed ensemble (1991)
Press Release, solo bass clarinet or bassoon (1991)
Fire and Forget, string orchestra (1992)
Bitter Herb, cello and piano (1992)
Cage, in memory of John Cage, piano (1992)
Face So Pale, 6 pianos (1992)
Spartan Arcs, in memory of Yvar Mikhashoff, piano (1992)
My Evil Twin, mixed ensemble (1992)
Cheating, Lying, Stealing, mixed ensemble (1993)
Thorn, flute (1993)
Street, mixed ensemble (1993)
Slow Movement, mixed ensemble (1993)
Modern Painters, opera (1994)
Under Orpheus, 2 pianos and chamber ensemble (1994)                                                       ~ top of page ~
Deep, piano (1994)
Hecuba, women’s voices (1995)
wreck, string quartet (1995)
Wed, in memory of Kate Ericson, piano (1995)
Music for Gracious Living, actor and string quartet (1992/96)
Grid to a Halt, orchestra (1996)
Follow, mixed ensemble (1996)
Slip, mixed ensemble (1996)
Miracle Ear, toy piano (1996)
Memory Pieces, piano (1992-97)
    - Cage, in memory of John Cage (1992)
    - Spartan Arcs, in memory of Yvar Mikhashoff (1992)
    - Wed, in memory of Kate Ericson (1995)
    - Grind, in memory of Jacob Druckman (1996?)
    - Diet Coke, in memory of Bette Snapp (1997)
    - Cello, in memory of Anna Cholakian (1996?)
    - Wiggle, in memory of Frank Wigglesworth (1996)
    - Beach, in memory of David Huntley
Broken Door, piano (1997)
Hell, narrator and chamber ensemble (1997, rev. 2001)
Scraping Song, percussion solo (1997, rev. 2001)
The Most Dangerous Room in the House, dance and mixed ensemble (1997)
ariel's version, string orchestra (1998)
The Passing Measures, 8 alto voices, bass clarinet and orchestra (1998)
I Fought the Law, mixed ensemble (1998)
Link, mixed ensemble (1998) composed with Michael Gordon
The Carbon Copy Building, comic strip opera (1999) (with Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe)
The Difficulty of Crossing a Field, opera (1999)
Salt, dance and tape (1999)
Little Eye, cello and percussion (1999)
Sweet Air, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1999)                                                              ~ top of page ~
My Very Empty Mouth, mixed ensemble (1999)
Birds of Minnesota, percussion, harp and piano (2000)
this condition, chorus (2000)
Short Fall, piccolo, piano, violin and cello (2000)
pay me now, soprano, viola, cello and double bass (2000)
lost objects, staged oratorio (2001) (with Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe)
Birdcall Birthday, piano (2001)
Boy, piano (2001)
I Feel Pretty, doublebass (2001)
I Lie, chorus (2001)
Stick Figure, chamber ensemble (2001)
Slow Piano, piano (2001)
Men, trombone and mixed ensemble (2001)
How to Pray, orchestra (2002)
increase, orchestra (2002)
Cut, piano (2002)
How to Pray, mixed ensemble (2002)
The So-Called Laws of Nature, percussion quartet (2002)
Psalms Without Words (Books 1 & 2), piano (2002)
Depart, female chorus and 3 cellos (2002)
Amelia, music for dance film (2002)
breathless, wind quintet (2003)
difficulty, string quartet (2003)
World to Come, cello and electronics (2003)
this was written by hand, piano (2003)
The Point, piano (2003)
Child, recording (2003)  -  see Answers.com for more info
Fur, piano and orchestra (2004)
Loud Love Songs, percussion and orchestra (2004)                                                                    ~ top of page ~
Anatomy Theatre, opera (2005)
Writing on Water, 2 baritones, bass, 2 electric gtrs, brass, perc, pf and string orchestra (2005) [with Peter Greenaway]
Gravity, piano 4-hands (2005)
Again (After Ecclesiastes), chorus  (2005)
Hilda, incidental music, glockenspiel and vibraphone (2005?)
Warmth, 2 electric guitars (2006)
String of Pearls, marimba (2006)
Pierced, cello, percussion, piano and string orchestra (2007)
after gravity, piano 4-hands (2007)
Work, percussion, piano and cello (2007)
evening morning day, female chorus (2007)
Unchained Melody, percussion solo (2007)
The Little Match Girl Passion, chorus, playing percussion (2007) [winner of the Pulitzer Prize]
Open, mixed ensemble (2008)
Sunray, mixed ensemble (2008)
Monogrammed, dance work (2008)
Hunger, theater work, actor and percussion quartet (work in progress)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Lang Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Judith and Holofernes, chamber opera (1989)
Modern Painters, opera (1994)
The Most Dangerous Room in the House, dance and mixed ensemble (1997)
The Carbon Copy Building, comic bk opera (1999) [libretto & drawings: Ben Katchor] [in collab. w/Michael Gordon & Julia Wolfe]
The Difficulty of Crossing a Field, opera (1999)
Salt, dance and tape (1999)
Lost Objects, oratorio, soloists, chorus, DJ, elec ens. & Baroque orch (2001) [libretto: Artman][in collab. w/M. Gordon & J. Wolfe]
Amelia, music for dance film (2002)
Anatomy Theatre, opera (2005)
Shelter, staged oratorio (2005) [libretto: Deborah Artman] [in collaboration with Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe]
Monogrammed, dance work (2008)
Hunger, theater work, actor and percussion quartet (work in progress)

Orchestra
Eating Living Monkeys, orchestra (1985)
Bonehead, orchestra (1990)
International Business Machine, orchestra (1990)
Fire and Forget, string orchestra (1992)
Grid to a Halt, orchestra (1996)
ariel's version, string orchestra (1998)
How to Pray, orchestra (2002)
increase, orchestra (2002)

Chamber/Mixed Ensemble
Spud, chamber ensemble (1986)
Dance/Drop, mixed ensemble (1987)
Are You Experienced?, narrator and chamber ensemble (1987-88)
Hunk of Burnin' Love, mixed ensemble (1991)
My Evil Twin, mixed ensemble (1992)
Cheating, Lying, Stealing, mixed ensemble (1993)
Street, mixed ensemble (1993)
Slow Movement, mixed ensemble (1993)
Follow, mixed ensemble (1996)
Slip, mixed ensemble (1996)
Hell, narrator and chamber ensemble (1997, rev. 2001)                                                            ~ top of page ~
I Fought the Law, mixed ensemble (1998)
Link, mixed ensemble (1998) [composed with Michael Gordon]
My Very Empty Mouth, mixed ensemble (1999)
Stick Figure, chamber ensemble (2001)
How to Pray, mixed ensemble (2002)
Open, mixed ensemble (2008)
Sunray, mixed ensemble (2008)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Ensemble
Hammer Amour, piano and chamber ensemble (1979, rev. 1989)
Under Orpheus, 2 pianos and chamber ensemble (1994)
The Passing Measures, 8 alto voices, bass clarinet and orchestra (1998)
Little Eye, cello and percussion (1999)
Men, trombone and mixed ensemble (2001)
Fur, piano and orchestra (2004)
Loud Love Songs, percussion and orchestra (2004)
Pierced, cello, percussion, piano and string orchestra (2007)

Chorus w/Orchestra
The Passing Measures, 8 alto voices, bass clarinet and orchestra (1998)

Choral
By Fire, chorus (1984)
Hecuba, women’s voices (1995)
this condition, chorus (2000)
I Lie, chorus (2001)
Depart, female chorus and 3 cellos (2002)
Again (After Ecclesiastes), chorus (2005)                                                                                  ~ top of page ~
evening morning day, female chorus (2007)
The Little Match Girl Passion, chorus, playing percussion (2007) [winner of the Pulitzer Prize]

Chamber
Frag, flute, oboe and cello (1985)
Burn Notice, fl/vln, vc and piano (1988)
wreck, string quartet (1995)
Music for Gracious Living, actor and string quartet (1992/96)
Little Eye, cello and percussion (1999)
Sweet Air, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1999)
Short Fall, piccolo, piano, violin and cello (2000)
Birds of Minnesota, percussion, harp and piano (2000)
The So-Called Laws of Nature, percussion quartet (2002)
breathless, wind quintet (2003)
difficulty, string quartet (2003)
Child, recording (2003)  -  see Answers.com for more info
Warmth, 2 electric guitars (2006)
Work, percussion, piano and cello (2007)

Solo Instrument
Illumination Rounds, violin and piano (1982)
The Anvil Chorus, solo percussion (1990)
Vent, flute and piano  (1990)
Press Release, solo bass clarinet or bassoon (1991)
Bitter Herb, cello and piano (1992)
Thorn, flute (1993)
Scraping Song, percussion solo (1997, rev. 2001)
I Feel Pretty, doublebass (2001)
World to Come, cello and electronics (2003)
String of Pearls, marimba (2006)
Unchained Melody, percussion solo (2007)

Percussion
The Anvil Chorus, solo percussion (1990)
Scraping Song, percussion solo (1997, rev. 2001)
Little Eye, cello and percussion (1999)
Birds of Minnesota, percussion, harp and piano (2000)
The So-Called Laws of Nature, percussion quartet (2002)
Loud Love Songs, percussion and orchestra (2004)
Hilda, incidental music, glockenspiel and vibraphone (2005?)
String of Pearls, marimba (2006)
Pierced, cello, percussion, piano and string orchestra (2007)
Work, percussion, piano and cello (2007)
Unchained Melody, percussion solo (2007)
The Little Match Girl Passion, chorus, playing percussion (2007) [winner of the Pulitzer Prize]
Hunger, theater work, actor and percussion quartet (work in progress)

Piano
While Nailing at Random, piano (1983)
Orpheus Over and Under, 2 pianos (1989)
Cage, in memory of John Cage, piano (1992)
Face So Pale, 6 pianos (1992)
Spartan Arcs, in memory of Yvar Mikhashoff, piano (1992)                                                  ~ top of page ~
Deep, piano (1994)
Wed, in memory of Kate Ericson, piano (1995)
Miracle Ear, toy piano (1996)
Memory Pieces, piano (1992-97)
    - Cage, in memory of John Cage (1992)
    - Spartan Arcs, in memory of Yvar Mikhashoff (1992)
    - Wed, in memory of Kate Ericson (1995)
    - Grind, in memory of Jacob Druckman (1996?)
    - Diet Coke, in memory of Bette Snapp (1997)
    - Cello, in memory of Anna Cholakian (1996?)
    - Wiggle, in memory of Frank Wigglesworth (1996)
    - Beach, in memory of David Huntley
Broken Door, piano (1997)
Birdcall Birthday, piano (2001)
Boy, piano (2001)
Slow Piano, piano (2001)
Cut, piano (2002)
Psalms Without Words (Books 1 & 2), piano (2002)
this was written by hand, piano (2003)
The Point, piano (2003)
Gravity, piano 4-hands (2005)
after gravity, piano 4-hands (2007)

Vocal
pay me now, soprano, viola, cello and double bass (2000)
Writing on Water, 2 baritones, bass, 2 electric gtrs, brass, perc, pf and string orchestra (2005) [with Peter Greenaway]

Incidental/Film
Hilda, incidental music, glockenspiel and vibraphone (2005?)
Amelia, music for dance film (2002)

Electronic
Salt, dance and tape (1999)
World to Come, cello and electronics (2003)


LANG LINKS                                                            Works by Genre     ~ top of page ~
Amelia - A Film By Édouard Loc, Music by David Lang (Philip Scott, Fanfare Magazine, via ArchivMusic)
Bang On A Can/Interview - May 1999 (In the First Person, Frank J. Oteri, NewMusicBox)
Composer: David Lang  -  Amelia (Alicia Zuckerman, New York Magazine)
Composer David Lang on Winning a Pulitzer and Covering Lou Reed (Rebecca Milzoff, New York Magazine)
Composer on 'Bang on a Can' (PBS's Online NewsHour)
David Lang: Are You Experienced?  (New World Records)
David Lang Wins Pulitzer Prize (Gramaphone)
David Lang Wins Pulitzer for The Little Match Girl Passion (Nekesa Mumbi Moody, The Associated Press/TheStar.com)
David Lang's The Little Match Girl Passion awarded 2008 Pulitzer (NewMusicBox)
Elevated - David Lang/Cantaloupe Music (John Kelman, All About Jazz)
eMusic Q&A: Bang On A Can (Jayson Greene, eMusic)
Pop Goes The Music - Classical, Too (K. Robert Schwarz, The New York Times)

Composer's website    . . .   contact David Lang:  here

Lang @ Wikipedia
Lang @ American Composers Orchestra
Lang @ Art of the States
Lang @ ASCAP
Lang @ Bang on a Can
Lang @ Carnegie Hall Commissions
Lang @ Modern Classical
Lang @ Meet the Composer
Lang @ Musical America
Lang @ New Music Connoisseur
Lang @ Oberlin Conservatory's Backstage Pass
Lang @ Other Minds
Lang @ The Pulitzer Prizes
Lang @ G. Schirmer
Lang @ Susan Marshall & Company
Lang @ University of Iowa Alumi Association

Publisher
Lang @ Red Poppy Music
Lang @ Red Poppy Music/G. Schirmer

Streaming Audio
Lang @ Art of the States
Lang @ BBC Radio 4
Lang @ Carnegie Hall Commissions
Lang @ Gcast  -  David Lang Interview
Lang @ last.fm
Lang @ NPR
Lang @ Other Minds    -    Langmusic  or  Concerts
Lang @ PBS's NewsHour (via Odeo)
Lang @ Rhapsody
Lang @ WNYC/Radiolab    -    Salle Des Departs

Recordings                                                                                                                                         ~ top of page ~
Lang @ Composer's website
Lang @ ArkivMusic
Lang @ ClassicsOnline
Lang @ Naxos  -  Amelia

Video
Lang @ YouTube
        Amelia
        Anvil Chorus
        Monogrammed    1    2
Lang @ Google Video
Lang @ Vimeo
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