Kile Smith (1956- )
David Patrick Stearns of the Philadelphia Inquirer called Kile Smith’s Vespers
"breathtaking" and "ecstatically beautiful," adding that "few have
Smith’s lyrical immediacy and ability to find great musical variety
while maintaining an overall coherent personality." Kile Smith’s
frequently performed music has been praised by audiences and critics
for its emotional power, direct appeal, and strong voice. He is curator
of the Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music in the Free Library of
Philadelphia, co-host of Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection on WRTI 90.1 FM in Philadelphia, host of the contemporary American music show Now Is the Time on WRTI, and a part-time classical host there. Smith's latest works include the Vespers for Piffaro, The Renaissance Band and The Crossing, Exsultet for horn and string orchestra, written for Jennifer Montone, Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, American Spirituals, Book One for violin and piano, written for and recorded by David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, American Spirituals, Book Two for Anne Martindale Williams, Principal Cello of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and The Bremen Town Musicians
written for Auricolae. He is now working on a variety of commissions
for the 2008-2009 season, including a string quartet and a substantial
work for The Crossing on the poetry of Paul Celan.COMPOSITIONS Kile Smith Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Three Songs, No. 2, tenor and piano (1979)
Three Songs, No. 3, high voice and piano (1979)
Alas, and Did my Savior Bleed, high voice and organ (1981)
who are you, little I, high voice and piano (1981)
Holy Mountain, high voice and organ (1982)
Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts, high voice and organ (1982)
Thine for Ever, soprano and organ (1982)
Benediction, string orchestra (1983) [now 1st mvt of Hymn and Fugue No. 1]
Sonata for Horn and Piano (1983) ~ top of page ~
Mazurka, piano (1983; arr. for solo guitar or 4 guitars, 1984)
Five Scottish Songs, high voice and piano (1984)
Four Hymns for Four Guitars (1985)
St. Theodulph March, organ (1985; arr. for brass quintet, 1986)
Hymn for Piano, “Softly and Tenderly” (1986)
Sonata for Piano (1986)
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (1988)
Three Songs, No. 5, high voice and piano (1989)
Two Tunes by Gerard Manley Hopkins (harmonized K.S.), high voice and piano (1989)
Hymn and Fugue No. 1, string orchestra (1990)
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1991)
Sinfonietta, orchestra (1981-1991)
Concerto for Cristal Four-Hands and Orchestra (1992)
Hymn and Fugue No. 2, violin, cello and piano (1993)
Hymn and Fugue No. 3, alto saxophone, violin, cello and piano (1994)
Totentanz, guitar (1994)
Three Dances, orchestra (1995; arr. for string orchestra and percussion, 1999)
Sonata for Tuba and Piano (1986/96)
Four French Carols, brass quintet (1988/96; arr. for orchestra, 2002; arr. for string orchestra, 2004)
Spirituals for Cello and Piano (1987-97)
Etude for Tuba (1997)
Missy’s Waltz, piano (1997)
Now ys the Time of Crystymas, chorus (1997; rev. 2009)
Stationen auf dem Wege zur Freiheit (4 songs), soprano, tenor saxophone and piano (1998)
Hymn and Fugue No. 4, clarinet and piano (1998)
A Song of Sonia Sanchez, voice, violin, piano, 3 latin perc, double or electric bass (1998; rev. with orchestra, 2000)
Three Songs, No. 4, high voice and piano (1980/99)
Variations on a Theme of Schubert, piano (1998/99; rev. with orchestra, 1999)
The Waters of the Delaware, piano (1999)
Three Songs, No. 1, high voice and piano (1978/2000)
Chorale for Orchestra (2000) ~ top of page ~
Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins (3 songs), high voice and orchestra (2000)
Poems of Stephen Berg (2 songs), soprano, clarinet and piano (2000)
The Three Graces, oboe, horn, cello and string orchestra (2001; arr. for ob, hn, vc, db and pf, 2008)
Symphony: Lumen ad revelationem, orchestra (2002)
An April Breeze, solo trumpet and concert band (2002)
Alabanza, orchestra (2003)
The Voice of One Who Spoke, orchestra (2003)
Magnificat, soprano, soprano recorder and percussion (2003)
A Mighty Fortress, unison voices and orchestra (2004)
Psalm 46, baritone, chorus and orchestra (2004)
Three Italian Songs, medium voice and piano, or voice, violin, cello, clarinet and bass clarinet (2005)
Morire, (Irma Bartoli), medium voice and piano (2005)
American Spirituals (3), Book One, violin and piano (2006)
Chant, trombone, bassoon and piano (2006)
Fanfare, 4 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and tam-tam (1993, 2006)
Exsultet, horn and string orchestra (2007)
Air and Jig, english horn and viola (2007)
Vespers, double chorus and renaissance band (2008)
The Bremen Town Musicians, narrator, violin and cello (2008)
Two Laudate Psalms, mezzo-soprano, girls’ choir and piano (2009) [text: Psalms 113 and 150]
American Spirituals (3), Book Two, cello and piano (2009) [original title "Spirituals for Cello and Piano"]
The Best of All Possible Worlds, string quartet (2009)
Where Flames a Word (3 pieces), chorus (2009) [text: Paul Celan]
Diabelli Variation, piano (2010)
This Broad Land, bassoon and piano (2010) [also arr. for soprano saxophone and piano]
Thrice Blest, violin, viola and cello (2010)
No, Not One, violin, viola and cello (2010)
Behold, the Best, the Greatest Gift, chorus and organ (2010)
WORKS BY GENRE Kile Smith Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
The Bremen Town Musicians, narrator, violin and cello (2008)
Orchestra
Benediction, string orchestra (1983) [now 1st mvt of Hymn and Fugue No. 1]
Hymn and Fugue No. 1, string orchestra (1990)
Sinfonietta, orchestra (1981-1991)
Three Dances, orchestra (1995; arr. for string orchestra and percussion, 1999)
- Introduction and Country dance
- Waltz
- Fuguing Tune
Four French Carols (1988/96; arr. for orchestra, 2002; arr. for string orchestra, 2004)
- A Cry Went Up at Midnight
- Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
- Saw You Never
- O Come, Divine Messiah
Chorale for Orchestra (2000)
Symphony: Lumen ad revelationem, orchestra (2002)
Alabanza, orchestra (2003)
The Voice of One Who Spoke, orchestra (2003)
Band
An April Breeze, solo trumpet and concert band (2002)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Band
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1991)
Concerto for Cristal Four-Hands and Orchestra (1992)
Variations on a Theme of Schubert (1998/99; rev. with orchestra, 1999)
The Three Graces, oboe, horn, cello and string orchestra (2001; w/addition of piano and double bass, 2008)
An April Breeze, solo trumpet and concert band (2002)
Exsultet, horn and string orchestra (2007)
Chorus w/Orchestra or Ensemble
A Mighty Fortress, unison voices and orchestra (2004)
Psalm 46, baritone, chorus and orchestra (2004)
Vespers, double chorus and renaissance band (2008)
Choral
Now ys the Time of Crystymas, chorus (1997; rev. 2009)
Two Laudate Psalms, mezzo-soprano, girls’ choir and piano (2009) [text: Psalms 113 and 150]
Where Flames a Word (3 pieces), chorus (2009) [text: Paul Celan]
- Before your late face
- Conversation in the Mountains
- I know you, you are the deeply bowed
Behold, the Best, the Greatest Gift, chorus and organ (2010)
Chamber
Mazurka (1983; arr. for 4 guitars, 1984)
Four Hymns for Four Guitars (1985) ~ top of page ~
St. Theodulph March (1985; arr. for brass quintet, 1986)
Hymn and Fugue No. 2, violin, cello and piano (1993)
Hymn and Fugue No. 3, alto saxophone, violin, cello and piano (1994)
Four French Carols, brass quintet (1988/96; arr. for orchestra, 2002; arr. for string orchestra, 2004)
- A Cry Went Up at Midnight
- Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
- Saw You Never
- O Come, Divine Messiah
Hymn and Fugue No. 4, clarinet and piano (1998)
The Three Graces, oboe, horn, cello, double bass and piano (2001; arr. 2008)
Fanfare, 4 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and tam-tam (1993, 2006)
Air and Jig, english horn and viola (2007)
The Best of All Possible Worlds, string quartet (2009)
Thrice Blest, violin, viola and cello (2010)
No, Not One, violin, viola and cello (2010)
Solo Instrument
Sonata for Horn and Piano (1983)
Mazurka (1983; arr. for solo guitar, 1984)
Totentanz, guitar (1994)
Sonata for Tuba and Piano (1986/96)
Etude for Tuba (1997)
American Spirituals (3), Book One, violin and piano (2006)
- Sinner, Don’t Let This Harvest Pass
- My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
- The Old Ship of Zion
Chant, trombone, bassoon and piano (2006)
American Spirituals (3), Book Two, cello and piano (2009) [original title "Spirituals for Cello and Piano"]
- Jesus, Master, O discover
- When the stars begin to fall
- Little David, play on your harp
This Broad Land, bassoon and piano (2010) [also arr. for soprano saxophone and piano]
Piano/Organ
Mazurka, piano (1983)
St. Theodulph March, organ (1985; arr. for brass quintet, 1986)
Hymn for Piano, “Softly and Tenderly” (1986)
Sonata for Piano (1986)
Missy’s Waltz, piano (1997)
Variations on a Theme of Schubert, piano (1998/99)
The Waters of the Delaware, piano (1999)
Diabelli Variation, piano (2010)
Vocal
Three Songs, No. 2, tenor and piano (1979) [text: Gordon Brown Birrel]
- Comings
- Wee Wiggly Wee
- To a Waterfall ~ top of page ~
Three Songs, No. 3, high voice and piano (1979)
- Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God [text: John Donne]
- On Zacheus [text: Francis Quarles]
- The Voice of Still Waters [text: Mary Sheetz]
Alas, and Did my Savior Bleed, high voice and organ (1981)
who are you, little I, high voice and piano (1981) [text: e.e. cummings]
Holy Mountain, high voice and organ (1982)
Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts, high voice and organ (1982)
Thine for Ever, soprano and organ (1982)
Five Scottish Songs, high voice and piano (1984)
- Two Girls Singing [text: Iain Crichton Smith]
- Anemones [text: Marion Angus]
- The Lodging [text: George Mackay Brown]
- Wedding [text: George Mackay Brown]
On a Cat, Ageing [text: Sir Alexander Gray]
Three Songs, No. 5, high voice and piano (1989) [text: Gerard Manley Hopkins]
- Penmaen Pool
- Spring and Fall
- Henry Purcell
Two Tunes by Gerard Manley Hopkins (harmonized K.S.), high voice and piano (1989)
- Who is Silvia? (1st version [text: William Shakespeare]
- Who is Silvia? (2nd version [text: William Shakespeare]
Stationen auf dem Wege zur Freiheit (4 songs), soprano, tenor saxophone and piano (1998)
- Zucht (Discipline)
- Tat (Deed)
- Leiden (Suffering)
- Tod (Death)
A Song of Sonia Sanchez, voice, violin, piano, 3 latin perc, double or electric bass (1998; rev. with orchestra, 2000)
Three Songs, No. 4, high voice and piano (1980/99) [text: Kile Smith]
- Reading Gulag by the Fire
- The Rainmaker
- Untitled
Three Songs, No. 1, high voice and piano (1978/2000) [text: Percy Bysshe Shelley]
- The Isle
- Yet Look on Me
- Memory
Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins (3 songs), high voice and orchestra (2000)
- Spring and Fall
- As kingfishers catch fire
- Henry Purcell
Poems of Stephen Berg (2 songs), soprano, clarinet and piano (2000)
- Ibycus: Fragments 2, 3, 4 (B.C. 536)
- Always
Magnificat, soprano, soprano recorder and percussion (2003)
Three Italian Songs, medium voice and piano; or voice, violin, cello, clarinet and bass clarinet (2005)
- Morire (To die) [text: Irma Bartoli]
- Autunno (Autumn) [text: Giovanni Maggianni]
- Donare (To give) [text: Alexandra Fuso]
The Bremen Town Musicians, narrator, violin and cello (2008)
Church Music
- Psalms
- Gospel Acclamations (Verses)
- Offertories
- Magnificats
- Anthems
- Hymns
- Hymn Reharmonizations
KILE SMITH LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
David Patrick Stearns Talks with composer Kile Smith (philly.com)
Ensembles Unite in an Ambitious "Vespers" (David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer)
Interview with Composer Kile Smith (PR Perfect News)
Lyric Fest Presents World Premiere of Kyle Smith’s "Two Laudate Psalms" (Joe Barron, Montgomery Media)
Composer's website
Kile Smith @ American Composers Forum
Kile Smith @ American Music Center
Kile Smith @ Classical Archives
Kile Smith @ ClassicsOnline
Kile Smith @ The Crossing
Kile Smith @ InstantEncore
Kile Smith @ LinkedIn
Kile Smith @ MusicWeb International
Kile Smith @ MySpaceMusic/blog
Kile Smith @ Navona Records
Kile Smith @ Newburyport Chamber Music Festival
Kile Smith @ Now Is the Time
Kile Smith @ WRTI
Publisher
Kile Smith @ Composer's website
Kile Smith @ Hildegard Publishing Company, Inc.
Kile Smith @ Edwin F. Kalmus & Co., Inc.
Kile Smith @ Paul Jones Music
Kile Smith @ Tau Imprints
Kile Smith @ Theodore Presser Company
Kile Smith @ Westminster Brass Publications
Streaming Audio
Kile Smith @ Composer's website
Kile Smith @ Classical Archives
Kile Smith @ Philly.com/David Patrick Stearns talks w/Kile Smith - SPECIAL COMPOSER INTERVIEW
Kile Smith @ Rhapsody
Recordings
Kile Smith @ Composer's website
Kile Smith @ Amazon
Kile Smith @ ArkivMusic
Kile Smith @ CD Universe and here
Kile Smith @ ClassicsOnline
Kile Smith @ Navona Records
Kile Smith @ Naxos Direct
Video
Kile Smith @ YouTube
Kile Smith @ Google Video
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