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Bruce Roter (1962-     )

Bruce Roter, composerBruce Craig Roter was born in Brooklyn, New York and received his musical education at the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler, and Christopher Rouse. His music has been critically acclaimed and embraced by audiences throughout the United States and abroad. A recipient of numerous ASCAP awards, Roter has been commissioned by the Albany Symphony, the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony, and the Carson City Symphony. Additionally, in 2000, he received a prestigious Continental Harmony commission from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Composers Forum. Roter's music frequently reflects American heritage. This is evident in works such as A Camp David Overture (Prayer for Peace), Spiritscapes (A South Dakota Cantata), With Courage and Compassion (A Salute to First Responders), TR: A "Bully" Portrait, and The Days of Struggle and Discovery (in Praise of Explorers), written to commemorate the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. A passionate advocate for modern music, Roter appears frequently on radio, television and in pre-concert lectures to introduce audiences to new music. In the composer's own words, "We express our need for community in so many ways; I happen to express that need through music. Through my music, I reach out to others, and in my reaching out, I am gratified that my music has touched so many people."

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Roter Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Clarinet Sonata (1979)
Double Concerto for Clarinet, Cello and Orchestra (1980)
Fantasy and Pas de Deux, 2 clarinets and piano (1981)
Chaconne, piano (1982)
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death (Yeats), for baritone and viola (1982)
The Duck and the Kangaroo, soprano and piano (1983)
Three Short Songs (Shelley), mezzo-soprano and piano (1983)
String Trio (1985)
Fanfare for Band (1987)
Quartet for Flute, Clarinet, Viola and Cello (1987-88)
A Camp David Overture (Prayer for Peace), orchestra (1988; rev. 1995)
    - Anthem for a World United, band (1988; rev. 1995) [arr. of Conclusion of "A Camp David Overture]
Elohim Lanu (Psalm 46), chorus (1990)
Duet for Timpani and Dancer (1991)
Sonata for Double Bass (1991)
Concerto 1010, band (1992)
Three Short Songs (on poems by Judah al-Harizi), tenor, flute, clarinet, viola and cello (1992)
Last Poem, baritone and piano (1992)
The Place Where the Past is Never Dead, chorus (1994)
Fortune Cookie Lieder: a chance song cycle, vocalist and double bass (1994)
Wedding Processional and Recessional, string trio (1994) [also arr. for keyboard]
Four Duets, solo horn (1994)
In Memoriam: Flight 800, chamber orchestra (1997)
Sonatine for Solo Cello (1997) (fp. 2009)
Maoz Tzur, chorus (1999) [arr. by Michael Levi]
Divertimento for Cello and Harp (1999)
Spiritscapes (A South Dakota Cantata), soprano, baritone, chorus and band (2000)
Nocturne, violin and piano (2000)
TR: A "Bully Portrait," narrator and orchestra (2001)
With Courage and Compassion (A Salute to First Responders), orchestra (2003)
The Days of Struggle and Discovery (in Praise of Explorers), orchestra (2004)
Two Preludes, piano (2004)
Sonata for Flute and Percussion (2006)
Those Who Build... [Cantata for a New Arts Center], soprano, chorus and band (2007)
The Classroom, children's peace opera (2010)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Roter Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Duet for Timpani and Dancer (1991)
The Classroom, children's peace opera (2010)

Orchestra
A Camp David Overture (Prayer for Peace), orchestra (1988; rev. 1995)
In Memoriam: Flight 800, chamber orchestra (1997)
TR: A "Bully Portrait," narrator and orchestra (2001)
With Courage and Compassion (A Salute to First Responders), orchestra (2003)
The Days of Struggle and Discovery (in Praise of Explorers), orchestra (2004)

Band
Fanfare for Band (1987)
Anthem for a World United, band (1988; rev. 1995) [arr. of Conclusion of "A Camp David Overture]
Concerto 1010, band (1992)
Spiritscapes (A South Dakota Cantata), soprano, baritone, chorus and band (2000)
Those Who Build... [Cantata for a New Arts Center], soprano, chorus and band (2007)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Double Concerto for Clarinet, Cello and Orchestra (1980)

Chorus w/Orchestra or Band
Spiritscapes (A South Dakota Cantata), soprano, baritone, chorus and band (2000)
Those Who Build... [Cantata for a New Arts Center], soprano, chorus and chorus (2007)

Choral
Elohim Lanu (Psalm 46), chorus (1990)
The Place Where the Past is Never Dead, chorus (1994)
Maoz Tzur, chorus (1999) [arr. by Michael Levi]

Chamber
Fantasy and Pas de Deux, 2 clarinets and piano (1981)
String Trio (1985)
Quartet for Flute, Clarinet, Viola and Cello (1987-88)
Duet for Timpani and Dancer (1991)
Wedding Processional and Recessional, string trio (1994) [also arr. for keyboard]
Divertimento for Cello and Harp (1999)
Sonata for Flute and Percussion (2006)

Solo Instrument
Clarinet Sonata (1979)
Sonata for Double Bass (1991)
Four Duets, solo horn (1994)
Sonatine for Solo Cello (1997) (fp. 2009)
Nocturne, violin and piano (2000)

Piano
Chaconne, piano (1982)
Wedding Processional and Recessional, string trio (1994) [also arr. for keyboard]
Two Preludes, piano (2004)

Vocal
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death (Yeats), for baritone and viola (1982)
The Duck and the Kangaroo, soprano and piano (1983)
Three Short Songs (Shelley), mezzo-soprano and piano (1983)
Three Short Songs (on poems by Judah al-Harizi), tenor, flute, clarinet, viola and cello (1992)
Last Poem, baritone and piano (1992)
Fortune Cookie Lieder: a chance song cycle, vocalist and double bass (1994)


ROTER  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
The Human Element (Ghassan Rubeiz, Common Ground News Service)

Composer's website

Roter @ American Composers Forum
Roter @ PBS/Continental Harmony/Spiritscapes

Streaming Audio
Roter @ Composer's website
Roter @ PBS

Recordings
[none at the moment]

Roter @ YouTube
Roter @ YouTube/Sontine for Solo Cello   -   1    2    3
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