Michael Schelle (1950- )
The
music of Michael Schelle (pronounced Shelley) has been commissioned
and/or performed by over 300 orchestras and professional chamber
ensembles across the US and abroad including the Chicago Symphony,
Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, XTET (Los
Angeles) and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Recent international
performances of his music have included Kammerorchester Basel
(Switzerland), St. Petersburg (Russia) Philharmonic, Czestochowa
Philharmonic (Poland), Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional (Costa Rica), the
Koenig Ensemble of London, CoMET (Contemporary Music Ensemble of
Tokyo), the Firenza International Music Festival (Italy), Spoleto USA,
Wolf Trap and throughout Europe, China and Japan. He is a two
time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a restaurant critic (Indianapolis) and
the author of THE SCORE
(440-page film music book published in 2000 by Silman-James Press,
Inc., Los Angeles). Schelle has received composition grants and awards
from many prestigious arts organizations including the National
Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the American
Symphony Orchestra League, the Welsh Arts Council (Cardiff, Wales), the
Barlow Foundation (Utah), American Pianists Association, and the New
York State Arts Council.
Originally from Bergen County, New Jersey, Schelle holds degrees from
Villanova University (theatre), Trinity College of Music (London), the
Hartt School (Connecticut) and a Ph.D. from the University of
Minnesota. He has also been the featured guest composer for many
leading institutions and new music festivals across the US and abroad
including recent extended international residencies at Nagoya Imperial
University (Japan), Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music
(Japan), Beijing People's Power Grid University of the Arts (China) and
the University of San Jose, Costa Rica. His composition teachers
have included Aaron Copland, Arnold
Franchetti and Dominick Argento. Michael Schelle is Composer in
Residence at Butler University's School of Music in Indianapolis.COMPOSITIONS Schelle Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Lancaster Variations for Orchestra (1976)
Katzenmusik, baritone voice and 6 players (1976)
El Salon Medico, orchestra (1977)
- El Salon Medico (1977) [arr. 1990 for concert band by Rocky J. Reuter and Michael Schelle]
The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin, male chorus (1977)
Hopfer Herschlag, 5 players and electronic tape (1977)
Chamber Concerto, solo violin and 3 players (1978)
Masque - A Story of Puppets, Poets, Kings and Clowns, orchestra (1979)
Music for the Last Days of Strindberg, 9 players (1979)
Second Sonata for Piano (1979)
King Ubu, band (1980)
Double Quartet, 8 winds (1980)
Cry Wolf, piano, cello and 5 percussionists (1981)
Swanwhite, soprano and piano (1981)
Pygmies, orchestra and tape (1982)
Redbud, doublebass (1982)
Music for Two Pianos (1982)
Golden Bells, orchestra and chorus (1983)
Pygmies II, speaker and orchestra (1983)
Rattlesnake!, solo percussionist (1983)
Blue Plate Special, solo tuba, w/auxilliary percussion (1983)
Swashbuckler!, orchestra (1984)
Cliffhanger March, band (1984)
Music for the Alabama Kid, 8 players (1984)
Play Us Chastity on Your Violin, solo violin and 13 players (1984)
Seven Steps from Hell, band (1985)
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (1986)
HOWL! (after Allen Ginsberg and Benny Goodman), solo clarinet and flute, cello, piano and percussion (1986)
Kidspeace, orchestra and voices (1987)
Caroleluia, chorus (1987)
Dei Angelus, chorus and organ (1987)
Oboe Darkness, youth choir, oboe and percussion (1987)
Six Seasonal Anthems, chorus and organ (1987)
The Great Soap Opera, chamber opera (1988)
Musica Magnetizzare, 5 chamber players (1988)
Daydream, 6 players/actors (1988)
Racing With Rabbits!, solo percussionist (1988)
The Big Night, orchestra (1989)
Invocation, band (1989)
Inizio, violin and cello (1989)
Rapscallion, chamber orchestra (1990)
After the Meridian: "Times of Future Passed", soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1990)
Contraband, band (1990)
Berlin Archetype, solo cello . . . w/clarinet, piano and off-stage trumpet and tenor (1990)
Struwwelpeter, tenor and piano (1991) [arr. for tenor and chamber ensemble, 2006]
Blast!, orchestra (1992)
Pipuff, an anti-pollution vocal adventure for large youth choir (1992)
Gran Coro, organ (1992)
SPIRITS, orchestra (1993) [each movement also available individually]
- Jonestown Echo (The Rev. Jim Jones)
- Detour to Nowhere (John Dillinger)
- Limberlost (Gene Stratton Porter)
- One for the Gipper (Knute Rockne)
- Ben Bonhommes Rouge (Ezra Pound)
- The Last Ride (James Dean)
Guttersnipe, band (1994)
When Hell Freezes Over, double concerto for bass clarinet, baritone sax and symphonic wind ensemble (1995)
Mayday!, 4 percussionists and orchestra (1995)
Hammerstein, piano (1995)
Spider Baby, chamber orchestra (1996)
Subwoofer, flute (1996)
Aesop Rules!, musical for kids /w tenor sax, keyboards and percussion (1997) [Grades 1 - 5]
GODZILLA, clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, piano, bass and percussion (1997)
Janus: Third Sonata for Piano (1998)
Samurai, orchestra (1999)
Gimme Shelter, violin and piano (2001) [many composers have a 9/11 piece, this is mine]
Wright Flight, concerto for piano and orchestra (2002)
Snapdragon, large percussion ensemble and piano (2002)
Crashout, orchestra (2004)
Chrysalis, orchestra (2004)
Prayer, solo cello, w/piano and harp (2004) [also for solo cello and 13 chamber players [small wind ensemble])
Extraction on No. 8, orchestra (2005)
Vox Humana, orchestra, cell phones and pre-recorded medium (2005)
Ear Infection, string orchestra (2005)
The Beast of Brazil, orchestra (2005)
It's Curtains for You, Bub, large mixed chamber ensemble (2005)
Heartland (7 mvts), violin, clarinet, tenor sax, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (2007)
The Viola the Wind Swept Away, solo viola, w/ clarinet, bass clarinet, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (2007)
No Child Left Behind, 11 chamber players (2007)
In Secret, viola and piano (2008)
The Fall of Susan McClary (3 mvts), 6 chamber players [flexible/mixed instruments] (2009)
Calhoun, large mixed chamber ensemble (2009)
Nagoya Spiral, 4 players and 'tape' (2009)
Rain, soprano and chamber orchestra (2009) [text: Vladimir Nabokov]
Ra-ahmen, chorus and 2 (or 4) doublebasses (2010)
Stiff, string quartet (2010)
Say Goodnight, Gracie, 4 wind players, 14 music stands and stagehand (2010)
Straight, No Lithium, Nine Bipolar Piano Praeludium(s) in Three Sets, piano (2010/11)
The End of the World, band (2011)
Guardian, violin and chamber orchestra (2011)
Strong Quartet (aka "String Quartet for Strong Quartet") (2011)
Exorcism of the Sugar Plum Fairy, orchestra (2012)
WORKS BY GENRE Schelle Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
The Great Soap Opera, chamber opera (1988)
Aesop Rules!, musical for kids /w tenor sax, keyboards and percussion (1997) [Grades 1 - 5]
Orchestra
Lancaster Variations for Orchestra (1976)
El Salon Medico, orchestra (1977) [arr. 1990 for concert band]
Masque - A Story of Puppets, Poets, Kings and Clowns, orchestra (1979)
Pygmies, orchestra and tape (1982)
Golden Bells, orchestra and chorus (1983)
Pygmies II, speaker and orchestra (1983)
Swashbuckler!, orchestra (1984)
Kidspeace, orchestra and voices (1987)
The Big Night, orchestra (1989)
Rapscallion, chamber orchestra (1990)
Blast!, orchestra (1992)
SPIRITS, orchestra (1993) [each movement also available individually]
- Jonestown Echo (The Rev. Jim Jones)
- Detour to Nowhere (John Dillinger)
- Limberlost (Gene Stratton Porter)
- One for the Gipper (Knute Rockne)
- Ben Bonhommes Rouge (Ezra Pound)
- The Last Ride (James Dean)
Spider Baby, chamber orchestra (1996)
Samurai, orchestra (1999)
Crashout, orchestra (2004)
Chrysalis, orchestra (2004)
Extraction on No. 8, orchestra (2005)
Vox Humana, orchestra, cell phones and pre-recorded medium (2005)
Ear Infection, string orchestra (2005)
The Beast of Brazil, orchestra (2005)
Exorcism of the Sugar Plum Fairy, orchestra (2012)
Band
King Ubu, band (1980)
Cliffhanger March, band (1984)
Seven Steps from Hell, band (1985)
Invocation, band (1989)
El Salon Medico (1977) [arr. 1990 for concert band by Rocky J. Reuter and Michael Schelle]
Contraband, band (1990)
Guttersnipe, band (1994)
When Hell Freezes Over, double concerto for bass clarinet, baritone sax and symphonic wind ensemble (1995)
- Baptism
- Confession
- Confirmation
Prayer, solo cello and 13 chamber players [small wind ensemble] (2004)
The End of the World, band (2011)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Ensemble
Chamber Concerto, solo violin and 3 players (1978)
Play Us Chastity on Your Violin, solo violin and 13 players (1984)
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (1986)
HOWL! (after Allen Ginsberg and Benny Goodman), solo clarinet and flute, cello, piano and percussion (1986)
Berlin Archetype, solo cello . . . w/clarinet, piano and off-stage trumpet and tenor (1990)
When Hell Freezes Over, double concerto for bass clarinet, baritone sax and symphonic wind ensemble (1995)
- Baptism
- Confession
- Confirmation
Mayday!, 4 percussionists and orchestra (1995)
Wright Flight, concerto for piano and orchestra (2002)
Prayer, solo cello and 13 chamber players [small wind ensemble] (2004)
The Viola the Wind Swept Away, solo viola, w/ clarinet, bass clarinet, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (2007)
Rain, soprano and chamber orchestra (2009) [text: Vladimir Nabokov]
Guardian, violin and chamber orchestra (2011)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Golden Bells, orchestra and chorus (1983)
After the Meridian: "Times of Future Passed", soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1990)
Choral
The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin, male chorus (1977)
Caroleluia, chorus (1987)
Dei Angelus, chorus and organ (1987)
Oboe Darkness, youth choir, oboe and percussion (1987)
Six Seasonal Anthems, chorus and organ (1987)
Pipuff, an anti-pollution vocal adventure for large youth choir (1992)
Ra-ahmen, chorus and 2 (or 4) doublebasses (2010)
Chamber
Hopfer Herschlag, 5 players and electronic tape (1977)
Chamber Concerto, solo violin and 3 players (1978)
Music for the Last Days of Strindberg, 9 players (1979)
Double Quartet, 8 winds (1980)
Cry Wolf, piano, cello and 5 percussionists (1981)
Music for the Alabama Kid, 8 players (1984)
Play Us Chastity on Your Violin, solo violin and 13 players (1984)
HOWL! (after Allen Ginsberg and Benny Goodman), solo clarinet and 4 players (1986)
Musica Magnetizzare, 5 chamber players (1988)
Daydream, 6 players/actors (1988)
Inizio, violin and cello (1989)
Berlin Archetype, solo cello . . . w/clarinet, piano and off-stage trumpet and tenor (1990)
GODZILLA, clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, piano, bass and percussion (1997)
Gimme Shelter, violin and piano (2001) [many composers have a 9/11 piece, this is mine]
Snapdragon, large percussion ensemble and piano (2002)
Prayer, solo cello, w/piano and harp (2004) [also for solo cello and 13 chamber players [small wind ensemble])
It's Curtains for You, Bub, large mixed chamber ensemble (2005)
Heartland (7 mvts), violin, clarinet, tenor sax, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (2007)
- Buckeye Zombies
- Hawkeye Feeder
- Ill-i-noise
- Badger Baby
- Bluegrass Voodoo
- Michigan Militia
- Threnody for the Victims of Indiana
The Viola the Wind Swept Away, solo viola, w/ clarinet, bass clarinet, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (2007)
No Child Left Behind, 11 chamber players (2007)
In Secret, viola and piano (2008)
The Fall of Susan McClary (3 mvts), 6 chamber players [flexible/mixed instruments] (2009)
- Caligynophobia
- horror feminae
- The Pines of Santa Monica
Calhoun, large mixed chamber ensemble (2009)
Nagoya Spiral, 4 players and 'tape' (2009)
Stiff, string quartet (2010)
Say Goodnight, Gracie, 4 wind players, 14 music stands and stagehand (2010)
Strong Quartet (aka "String Quartet for Strong Quartet") (2011)
Solo Instrument
Redbud, doublebass (1982)
Rattlesnake!, solo percussionist (1983)
Blue Plate Special, solo tuba, w/auxilliary percussion (1983)
Racing With Rabbits!, solo percussionist (1988)
Subwoofer, flute (1996)
Piano or Organ
Second Sonata for Piano (1979)
Music for Two Pianos (1982)
Gran Coro, organ (1992)
Hammerstein, piano (1995)
Janus: Third Sonata for Piano (1998)
Straight, No Lithium, Nine Bipolar Piano Praeludium(s) in Three Sets, piano (2010/11)
- SPRECHSTIMME (Overkill, Fumio, Sprechsamba)
- APPARITIONS (Castle, Stille Nacht, Driller)
- BACCHANALIA (Strapping, St. Francis, No Lithium)
Vocal
Katzenmusik, baritone voice and 6 players (1976)
Swanwhite, soprano and piano (1981)
Struwwelpeter, tenor and piano (1991) [arr. for tenor and chamber ensemble, 2006]
Rain, soprano and chamber orchestra (2009) [text: Vladimir Nabokov]
Electronic
Hopfer Herschlag, 5 players and electronic tape (1977) - DUPE
Pygmies, orchestra and tape (1982) - DUPE
Vox Humana, orchestra, cell phones and pre-recorded medium (2005) - DUPE
Nagoya Spiral, 4 players and 'tape' (2009) - DUPE
SCHELLE LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Interview with Michael Schelle (Orkestra Projekt)
The Score - Interviews with Film Composers, Silman-James Press/Review (MusicWeb International) also here
Composer's website . . . contact Michael Schelle: here
Schelle @ Wikipedia
Schelle @ Albany Records/DRAM Online
Schelle @ American Composers Alliance
Schelle @ Butler University also here
Schelle @ Classical Archives
Schelle @ Classical Net
Schelle @ Facebook
Schelle @ The Fillmore Gazette
Schelle @ Hartt School of Music
Schelle @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Schelle @ InstantEncore
Schelle @ LinkedIn
Schelle @ Meet the Composer
Schelle @ The New York Times
Schelle @ ReverbNation
Schelle @ Sigma Alpha Iota
Schelle @ Wind Repertory Project
Publisher
Schelle @ Composer's website
Schelle @ American Composers Edition
Schelle @ European American Music
Schelle @ Indiana University Press
Schelle @ Lauren Keiser Music [Hal Leonard]
Schelle @ Silman-James Press
Streaming Audio
Schelle @ Composer's website
Schelle @ Classical Archives
Schelle @ ReverbNation
Schelle @ SoundCloud
Recordings
Schelle @ Composer's website
Schelle @ Amazon.com
Schelle @ ArkivMusic
Schelle @ CD Universe
Schelle @ ClassicsOnline
Video
Schelle @ YouTube
Schelle @ Google Video
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