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Richard St. Clair (1946-     )

Richard St. Clair, composerBorn in Jamestown, North Dakota, Richard St. Clair received his early music education in the public school system in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He studied piano with Paul Lundquist, Earnest Harris, Ursala Oppens, and Leonard Shure, and composition at Harvard University with Billy Jim Layton, Leon Kirchner, Roger Sessions, David Del Tredici, and Earl Kim. His professional debut as a composer occurred when he was invited to perform his Piano Piece No. 1 at the Marlboro Festival of Music in 1967 under a Rockefeller Foundation grant. There he was encouraged by then director Rudolf Serkin to pursue a career in composition. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Harvard College in 1969 and went on to earn his Ph.D. in Music Composition from Harvard University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1978. St. Clair's music has recently been featured in concert at Washington DC's prestigious Smithsonian Institution. Performances of his music have featured distinguished soloists including Trevor Barnard, Cheryl Bibbs, Anthony and Joseph Paratore, Robert Stallman, Jane Struss, Michael Calmes, and Robert Kopelson; and distinguished ensembles including Basso Moderno Duo, Janus 21, Coro Allegro, Convivium Musicum, The University of North Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, and the MIT Concert Band. His Love Canzonettes (1990) was performed by the Chorus of the Boston Cecilia supported by an Alfred Nash Patterson grant. Of St. Clair's epochal Lamentations of Shinran, a setting for two voices and string quartet of Japanese poet-saint Shinran Shonin's profound cycle Shozomatsu Wasan, Boston Phoenix critic Lloyd Schwartz wrote in 2000, "St. Clair has created a fascinating sound world, both charged and atmospheric. Every cliché of Eastern music has been either avoided or utterly transformed. His is a stirring and original voice." His music has been recorded by Virginia Eskin and by the Row Twelve Contemporary Music Ensemble. St. Clair has embraced a wide variety of musical idioms, ranging from pure diatonicism in his Love-Canzonettes and Moabit Liederbuch to atonality in his Piano Piece No. 1 and fourth and fifth Piano Sonatas, and styles as disparate as avant-garde, neoclassical, and ragtime. Many of his works involve a careful melding and/or dramatic juxtaposition of different styles and musical languages. His musical expression can be brightly optimistic or darkly brooding, whimsical or obsessive, yet what unifies his work is a deep conviction concerning the classical tradition which his music emulates even in his most challenging atonal works. Also of interest is Richard St. Clair's activity as a poet, an activity which he has pursued even longer than his career as a composer. He has written over 400 poems, several of which have been published. He has excelled in the sonnet, with over 40 such poems to his credit, and has also composed over 100 haiku, dozens of tanka, and triolets, villanelle and sestinas.

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Richard St. Clair Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
[under construction]

Prophecy of Micah [Opus 1] -- 1963-1964, dur: 5:30. Mixed chorus SATB,  Organ or Piano accompaniment.
Lamb of God [Opus 1A]  -- 1963-1964 mp3 sound dur: 1:45. Mixed chorus SATB a cappella.
Statement for Bells [Opus 2] -- 1964 dur: 1:00 for Keyboard Carillon
Piano Piece no. 1 [Opus 3] -- 1966-7 Dur: 6:00. Solo piano.
Piano Piece no. 2 [Opus 4] -- 1967 Dur: 7:00. Solo piano.
She Weeps over Rahoon [Opus 5] (Poem by James Joyce) - 1968 Dur: 2:00.  Contralto/Piano.
Dreamscapes [Opus 6] -- 1967-8 Dur: 14:00 For Violin and Piano.
Three Movements [Opus 7] -- 1968 Dur: 6:00. For Violin and Piano.
Piano Sonata no. 1 [Opus 8] -1968-9 Dur: 20:00. Review of Premiere, Dec. 8, 1970
Serenade Opus [9] -- 1969 Dur: 9:00 For solo piano.  mp3 recording sound  Review of Premiere, Dec. 8, 1970
Fantasy [Opus 10] -- 1969 mp3 recording sound Dur: 3:30 Piano solo. Review of Premiere, Dec. 8, 1970
Two Songs [Opus 11] (Poems by William Mullen) -- 1969 Dur: 4:00.  Baritone with Piano accompaniment.
Images of Tintern Abbey [Opus 12] (Poem by William Wordsworth) -- 1968-9 Dur: 14:00. Ten/Cl/2Vln/Va/Vlc.
Medley [Opus 13] -- 1969 Dur: 9:00. Piano 4-hands.   Review of Premiere, Dec. 8, 1970
Toccata Rag [Opus 14] -- 1970 Dur: 2:00. Piano solo, performed by the composer.   Review of Premiere, Dec. 8, 1970
Four Concert Dances [Opus 15] -- 1968-70 Dur: 8:00. Piano solo. Review of Premiere, Dec. 8, 1970
Concerto a Capriccio [Opus 16] -- 1969-70 Dur: 15:00. Piano and Orchestra.
Two Piano Pieces [Opus 17] -- 1970 Dur: 10:00. Piano solo. Dedicated to Roger Sessions.
Piano Sonata no. 2 [Opus 18] --  1970 Dur: 25:00.
Four Short Pieces for Solo Violin [Opus 19] -- 1970 Dur: 3:00. Musical impressions or take-offs of four songs by the Beatles.
Duo-Sonata [Opus 20] -- 1970 Dur: 15:00. Two violins.
Eight Piano Pieces for Children [Opus 21] mp3 recording sound -- 1970 Dur: 6:00.
Songs of a Wayside Inn [Opus 22] (Poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) -- 1970  12:00  For Mezzo-soprano and Piano.
Five Folk-Pieces [Opus 23] -- 1970 mp3 recording sound  Dur: 8:00 Piano solo.
Four Preludes and Counterpoints [Opus 24] -- 1970. Dur: 8:00. Piano solo.
Christmas Trio [Opus 25] -- mp3 sound 1970 Dur: 16:00 For Flute, Cello and Piano.
Allegrino in F [Opus 26] -- 1970 Dur: 2:00. Piano solo.
Piano Sonata no. 3 [Opus 27] --  mp3 recording 1971 Dur: 12:00. Piano solo. Performed by the composer.
Six Songs [Opus 28] (poems by Kenneth Patchen) -- 1970-71,  Dur: 14:00, Soprano and Piano (read)
Peace Is Life [Opus 29] (anonymous text) -- 1971. Dur: 1:00. (For sound file see Two Short Anthems, no. 2)
Yonder [Opus 30] (poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, "The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo") -- 1971-72, chorus (SSAATTBB)
Double Concerto ["Amen Concerto"] [Opus 31] -- 1971-2 Dur: 25:00 For 2 Pianos and Concert Band.
Batik [Opus 32] -- 1972 04:00 Piano solo.
Color Studies ["Transfiguration"] [Opus 33] -- 1972 Dur: 10:00.  For string trio (Violin, Viola, Cello).
Piano Sonata no. 4 [Opus 34] -- 1973 mp3 recording sound Dur: 23:00. Piano solo.
Piano Sonata no. 5 [Opus 35]-- 1974 mp3 recording sound Dur: 07:30. Piano solo.
Canzona [Opus 36] -- 1975, Dur:  04:00 for String Quartet.
Soliloquies [Opus 37] -- 1975 (rev.) Dir: 15:00. Flute solo.
Notes from Captivity [Opus 38] -- 1976 Dur: 3:00 Clarinet solo.
Seven Dedications, piano, op. 39 (1973-76) [in honor of Copland, Stravinsky, Ruggles, Ives, Hovhaness, Sessions and Schoenberg]


A Round for Machaut [Opus 40] -- 1975/89 mp3 sound Dur: 2:00. SATB soli or Small Chorus.
Two Short Anthems: Help Me, O Power Above [1989, Opus 41] (Poem by R.St.Clair); Peace Is Life (1971, Opus 29) chorus SATB
Two Chassic Chorales for Organ (1975/1989) mp3 sound [Opus 41a] (Dur.: ca. 5:00)
Ragañera [Opus 42] -- 1989 4:00 Piano solo. Classical ragtime style. Performed by the composer.
Champion Rag [Opus 43] -- 1989 Dur: 3:00, Piano solo. Performed by the composer.
Ragtime Serenade sound [Opus 44] -- 1989 Dur: 3:30, Piano solo.
Blue Rag Espagnole [Opus 45] -- 1989 Dur: 4:30, Piano solo. Performed by the composer.
The Twenty-Third Psalm [Opus 46] -- (Bible KJV) -- 1989-90 Dur: 7:00 Chorus SAATBB.
The Twenty-Third Psalm [Opus 46a] -- (Bible/KJV) -- 1989-90 Dur: 7:00 Same as above, but chorus, horn and trombone
Sentimental Rag [Opus 47] -- 1989 3:30, Piano solo. Performed by the composer.
Testimonium [Opus 48] -- 1990 Dur: 4:00 Organ solo. Written in honor of John Raymond Ferris, who was then retiring as director of the Harvard University Choir.
Starry-Eyed Rag [Opus 49] -- 1989-90 3:00 Piano solo. Performed by the composer.
The Windhover [Opus 50] -- (Poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins) -- 1990 Dur: 4:00 Chorus SSAA. (for women's chorus).
Missa Syllabica [Opus 51] -- mp3 recording sound 1990-1 15:00 Chorus SATB, a cappella Latin Mass. Performed by Convivium Musicum, David Hodgkins, cond.
Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace [Opus 52] -- (St.Francis Prayer) -- 1990 mp3 recording sound Dir: 2:00. Chorus SATB a cappella.
Heaven [Opus 52a] (George Herbert) -- 1990 Dur: 3:00. Dialogue piece between a choir and an echo choir.  SATB/SATB a cappella
Three Prayers (Serenity Prayer, The Lord's Prayer, Benediction) [Opus 53] -- 1990 Dur: 8:00. Chorus SATB a cappella
Jubilant Rag [Opus 54] -- Piano Solo. 1990 Dur: 3:30. Performed by the composer.
Peloponnesian Rag [Opus 55] -- 1990 Dir: 4:00. Piano solo. Performed by the composer.
Magnificat [Opus 56] -- (Bible KJV) -- 1990 mp3 sound 05:30 Chorus SSAA (women's chorus) a cappella.
Heavenly Rag [Opus 57] -- 1990 Dir: 4:00. Piano solo.
Elegy [Opus 58] -- 1990 Dur: 7:00 Full orchestra or string orchestra versions. In memory of Leonard Bernstein.
String Quartet no. 1 [Opus 59] -- mp3 sound  1990 Dur: 18:00. In 3 movements.
Iron Filings [Opus 60] -- 1989. Piano solo. Dur: ca. 3:00. Performed by the composer.


Madrigals for Spring [Opus 61] mp3 sound (Poetic fragments by Percy Bysshe Shelley) -- 1990 Dur: 15:00 Chorus SSAT a cappella.
Magnificat [Opus 61a] for Women's Chorus SSAA a cappella (1990)  mp3 sound (Dur: ca. 5:00)
Love-Canzonettes [Opus 62] (Poems by John Dryden) -- 1990 Dur: 23:00 Chorus SSAATTBB a cappella. Performed by Boston Cecilia.
    - The Lady's Song
    - Go Tell Amynta
    - How Happy the Lover
    - When Alexis Lay Press'd
    - You Say 'Tis Love
    - Sylvia, the Fair
    - Ah How Sweet It Is to Love
    - Celia
    - Tell Me, Thyrsis
    - Fair Iris and Her Swain
Overture to 'Beowulf' [Opus 63] -- 1990 Dur: 6:00 Full-size Concert Band.
The Clear Vision [Opus 64] -- (Poem by John Greenleaf Whittier) -- 1990 Dur: 7:00. Chorus TTBB (men's chorus) a cappella.
Amendments [Opus 65] -- 1990 Dur: 11:00 Piano solo. mp3 recording sound 12-tone (strict 'row' technique) style.
Moabit Liederbuch [Opus 66] -- (Sonnets by Albrecht Haushofer ) -- 1990 Dur: 16:00.  Soprano and Piano.
Sonata for Solo Violin [Opus 67] -- 1991 Dur: 10:00.
Variations on a Hallowe'en Costume  [Opus 68]  -- 1991-2 mp3 sound  Dur: 14:00 Piano solo
Plaint for Somalia [Opus 69] -- 1993 Dur: 3:00 Piano solo.
Short and Sweet [Opus 70] -- 1989 Dur: 3:30. Solo Piano.
String Quartet no. 2, op. 71 (1991-93) [based upon the 12-tone row of a str qt (destroyed) which I wrote as a student, 1964-69
Sparkling Rag [Opus 72] -- 1989 Dur: 3:30. Solo Piano. Performed by the Composer.
...suggestions... [Opus 73] -- 1994 Dur: 4:00. Piano solo. zen-like pieces
Moon Flowers (50 Haiku-Moments), piano, op. 74 (1994) [to commemorate 300th year of haiku master Matsuo Basho's death]
Persistence (Rag) [Opus 75] -- 1989 Dur: 3:00 Piano Solo.
Fantastic Rhapsody [Opus 76] -- 1994 (rev., 1998) mp3 sound  Dur: 8:00 For Trumpet in C, Violin and Piano.
Ballade no. 1 in D for Piano [Opus 77] - 1993/94 - 1999. mp3 recording sound  Dur.: ca. 6:00.


Desert Hallucinations, baritone voice and cello, op. 78 (1994-95) [text: Donald Rubinstein]
Explorations, clarinet and piano, op. 79 (1995)
Etiquette Rag, piano, op. 80 (1989-90)
High Flight, chorus w/solo soprano, op. 81 (1990-95) [text: John G. Magee, Jr.] [in memory of crew of USS Challenger]
A Higher Glory, chorus, op. 82 (1975/95) [text: New Testament, adapted]
Alas, Good Friend, chorus, op. 83 (1969/95) [text: Percy Bysshe Shelley]
Piano Sonata No. 6, op. 84 (1994-95)
Evening Anthem, chorus, op. 85 (1994-95) [text: Richard St. Clair]
Three Meditations, string orchestra, op. 86 (1990-95, in progress)
Ricercare, orchestra, op. 87 (1995)
Joyful, Our Hearts Are Joyful, chorus, op. 88 (1995)
Equinox, tenor and piano, op. 88a (1996) [text: William Mullen]
Eucaphonies, brass quintet, op. 89 (1990-96) [previous title: "The Ancient Art: Hocquetus-Motet"]
In Praise of Our Loves, chorus and chamber orchestra, op. 90 (1995-96)
Three Short Sandburg Choruses, unison chorus, op. 91 (1996)
    - Fog
    - Nocturne in a Deserted Brickyard
    - Grass
Inventings, flute and oboe, op. 92 (1996)
Flower of the Dharma, chorus, piano and percussion (or chorus and orchestra), op. 93 (1997)
Diamond Cutter, carillon, op. 94 (1997)
Jeux d'Esprit (Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra), op. 95 (1990-97)
Today's Lord's Prayer, chorus, op. 96 (1997)
Ragtime Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 7), op. 97 (1997) [celebrating 100 years of Ragtime Music]
Beautiful Mountain, piano, op. 98 (1997) [title is a pun/reference to Arnold Schoenberg's last name]
Two Songs of Innocence, chorus, op. 99 (1997) [text: from William Blake's "Songs of Innocence"]
    - On the Ecchoing Green
    - Night
Ascent, small chorus of high voices; or 2 sopranos and alto, op. 100 (1993-97) [text: Anne Morrow Lindbergh]
Songs of the Pure Land, mezzo-soprano and piano, op. 101 (1997) [text: Japanese poems by Honen Shonin, 1133-1212]
Suite for the Piano Alone, op. 102 (1990-97; rev. 2010)
Tango Request, piano, op. 103 (1998)
The Lamentations of Shinran, soprano, tenor and string quartet, op. 104 (1998) [text: Shinran Shonin, 1173-1262/in Japanese]
Toccata Moderna, harpsichord, op. 105 (1990/1998)
Songlets, mezzo-soprano, clarinet and piano, op. 106 (1999) [text: on haiku poems by Issa Kobayashi]
Seven Dhamma Lessons, reciter, flute, oboe, piano and percussion, op. 107 (1999)
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, op. 108 (2000)
Nocturne in G, piano, op. 109 (2000)
Odysseus Rag, piano, op. 110 (2000)
Penelope Rag, piano, op. 110a (2000)
Five Thoughtful Pieces, piano, op. 111 (2000)
Owl Night, soprano and piano, op. 112 (2000) [text: Susan Spilecki]
From "Children of the Sparrow", flute, piano and reciter, op. 113 (2000) [musical reactions to haiku by Robert Gibson]
Song of Sorrow, In Memory of Sept. 11, 2001, violin and piano, op. 114 (2001)
Six Whimsical Miniatures, harpsichord (or piano) (2003-2005)
String Quartet No. 3 (2005/2009)
Songs from the Chinese (10 songs), soprano, flute, double bass and piano (2005) [based on San Chu poems of Yuan Dynasty]
Outburst, double bass and piano (2006) [special tuning: AA-D-G-c]
Streams of Consciousness, organ (2006)
Surprises (4 short pieces), piano (2008)
Piano Sonata No. 8 (2008)
There Is A Spirit, chorus (2009)
The Land of Peace and Bliss: A Musical Mandala, mezzo-soprano, cello and piano (completed 2009)
Organ Mass, organ (1972/2009)
Six Strange Waltzes, piano (2009)
Ballade No. 2, piano (1995-2009)
An Idyll, flute (2009)
The Hermit, cello (2009)
Animations (12 pieces), piano (2009)
Bachiana Dodecafonica, piano (2010)
Kisamboge: A Dharma Celebration, chorus (w or w/o piano) (2010) [text: Shan-tao/China, 613-681 BCE]
Energies for Four Players, flute, violin, double bass and piano) (2010)
Fantasy Impromptu, piano (2010)
Introduction to the Piano: 32 pieces for beginning pianists (2010)
Twelve Miniatures, piano (2011)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Richard St. Clair Links     ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Dramatic/Theater

Orchestra

Band

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra

Chorus w/Orchestra

Choral

Chamber

Solo Instrument

Piano

Vocal

Incidental/Film

Electronic


RICHARD ST. CLAIR  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
[under construction]

Composer's website    . . .   contact Richard St. Clair:  sshin02143(at)aol(dot)com

Richard St. Clair @ Wikipedia
Richard St. Clair @ American Music Center
Richard St. Clair @ composition:today
Richard St. Clair @ Facebook
Richard St. Clair @ Kalvos & Damian
Richard St. Clair @ LinkedIn

Richard St. Clair @ MyScoreStore

Publisher
Richard St. Clair @ Composer's website
Richard St. Clair @ Werner Icking Music Archive

Streaming Audio
Richard St. Clair @ Composer's website
Richard St. Clair @ Werner Icking Music Archive

Recordings
Richard St. Clair @ ArkivMusic

Video
[none at the moment]
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