Hilary Tann (1947- )
Hilary
Tann’s childhood was spent in the coal-mining valleys of South Wales.
Her home in Ferndale, Rhondda, has inspired her music and her poetry.
The titles of her music reflect her love for the mountains of Wales
– With the
Heather and Small Birds and The Grey Tide and the Green.
Other titles reflect her attachment to the countryside of her adopted
home in the United States – Fanfare For a River,
and Adirondack
Light. Tann
lives in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York
where she is the John Howard Payne Professor of Music at Union College,
Schenectady. She holds degrees in composition from the University of
Wales at Cardiff and from Princeton University. From 1982 to 1995 she
held a number of Executive Committee positions with the International
League of Women Composers and was recently Composer-in-Residence at the
2011 Eastman School of Music Women in Music Festival. Her music is
influenced by her love of Wales and a strong identification with the
natural world. A deep interest in the traditional music of Japan has
led to private study of the shakuhachi and guest visits to Japan,
Korea, and China. Her compositions have been widely performed
by
ensembles such as the European Women’s Orchestra, Tenebrae, Lontano,
Meininger Trio, Thai Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic,
BBCNOW, and KBS Philharmonic in Seoul, Korea.COMPOSITIONS Tann Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Tann on Tann
As Ferns, string orchestra (1977?/1979?; rev. 1990)
Duo, oboe and viola (1981)
Doppelganger, piano (1984)
Windhover, soprano saxophone (or flute) (1985)
Winter Sun, Summer Rain, flute, clarinet, viola, cello and celesta (1986)
Arachne, a dramatic song cycle (4 songs), soprano solo (with crotle) (1987) [text: Jordan Smith]
The Open Field (in memorian Tienanmen Square), orchestra (1989)
Llef, shakuhachi (or flute) and cello (1990)
Of Erthe and Air, flute/picc, clarinet/bass cl and percussion (1990) [also arr. for fl/picc, sop/alt/bari sax, perc]
Sound Dawn, tenor, baritone, bass voices (6-part male chorus) and piano (pub. 1991)
Through the Echoing Timber, orchestra (1991)
Adirondack Light, narrator and chamber orchestra (1992) [text: Jordan Smith]
Look Little Low Heavens, trumpet (1992)
Water's Edge, piano duet [2 pianos???] (1993) [arr. 1994 for string orchestra]
- Dawn Light
- From the Riverbed
- Toward Dusk [arr. 2001 for piccolo, flute and string orchestra]
The Cresset Stone, cello (or viola; or violin) (1993)
With the Heather and Small Birds, chamber orchestra (1994)
From the Song of Amergin, flute, viola and harp (1995)
From Afar, orchestra (1996)
Mother and Son, soprano, Eb clarinet (or violin), viola and cello (1996?; pub. 1999) [text: R.S. Thomas]
Here, the Cliffs, rhapsody for violin and orchestra (1997)
The Moor, female chorus [SA] (1997) [text: R.S. Thomas]
Nothing Forgotten, violin, cello and piano (1997)
The Walls of Morlais Castle, oboe, viola and cello (1998) [arr. 2009 for string orchestra]
Psalm 104 (Praise, My Soul), chorus, 2 trumpets in C and organ (pub. 1999) [also arr. for chorus and small orch]
In the First, Spinning Place, concerto, alto saxophone and orchestra (1999)
Fanfare for a river, orchestra (pub. 2000)
Anecdote, soliloquy for cello and orchestra (2000)
The Grey Tide and the Green, orchestra (2001)
Sarsen, orchestra (2001) [for youth/community orchestra]
A Sad Pavan Forbidding Mourning, guitar (pub. 2002)
Wales, Our Land (Cymru, ein gwald), chorus, w/opt. flute (2002) [text: unknown Welsh-American slate quarryman]
First Watch, carillon (2002)
Psalm 136 (Luminaria Magna), chorus and organ (2003)
Gardens of Anna Maria Luisa de Medici, flute, cello and piano (2003-04)
From the Feather to the Mountain, orchestra (2004) [for youth/community orchestra]
Like Lightnings, oboe (2004)
Songs of the Cotton Grass, song cycle (3 songs), soprano and oboe (or other melody instrument) (1999-2005) [text: Menna Elfyn]
Pinnae Ventorm, organ (pub. 2005)
Contemplations 21, 22, female chorus [SSA] (2005)
Contemplations 8, 9, female chorus [SSA] (2005)
Light From the Cliffs, piano (2005) [develops ideas from violin rhapsody "Here, the Cliffs", 1997]
Children of Grace, chorus and organ (pub. 2006) [text: Anon; Herbert; Harter]
Psalm 86 (Incline Thine Ear), chorus and organ, w/opt. trumpet (pub. 2006)
Kilvert's Hills, bassoon (or horn) (pub. 2006)
That Jewel-Spirit, female chorus, flute and string orchestra (or piano) (pub. 2007) [text: Penny Harter; Matsuo Bashô]
Shakkei, oboe and chamber orchestra (2007)
Paradise, chorus (2008) [text: George Herbert/Psalm 95(96)]
Wellspring, female chorus [SSA] (2008) [text: Menna Elfyn]
High Rock Spring, orchestra (2009) [for youth/community orchestra]
Reibo, orchestra (2009-10) [for youth/community orchestra]
Shoji, flute and oboe (2010)
Some of the Silence, saxophone quartet (2010)
Exultet Terra, antiphonal choirs and double-reed quintet (2011)
On Ear and Ear..., viola and piano (2011)
Between Sunsets (3 songs), soprano and piano (fp. 2012) [text: e.e. cummings]
...Slate, Blue-Gray, violin, cello and piano (2012?)
WORKS BY GENRE Tann Links ~ ~ ~ Tann on Tann ~ top of page ~
Orchestra
As Ferns, string orchestra (1977?/1979?; rev. 1990)
The Open Field (in memorian Tienanmen Square), orchestra (1989)
Through the Echoing Timber, orchestra (1991)
Adirondack Light, narrator and chamber orchestra (1992) [text: Jordan Smith]
Water's Edge, string orchestra (1993; arr. 1994 from original work for piano duet]
- Dawn Light
- From the Riverbed
- Toward Dusk [also arr. 2001 for piccolo, flute and string orchestra]
With the Heather and Small Birds, chamber orchestra (1994)
From Afar, orchestra (1996)
The Walls of Morlais Castle, oboe, viola and cello (1998) [arr. 2009 for string orchestra]
Fanfare for a river, orchestra (pub. 2000)
The Grey Tide and the Green, orchestra (2001)
Sarsen, orchestra (2001) [for youth/community orchestra]
From the Feather to the Mountain, orchestra (2004) [for youth/community orchestra]
High Rock Spring, orchestra (2009) [for youth/community orchestra]
Reibo, orchestra (2009-10) [for youth/community orchestra]
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Here, the Cliffs, rhapsody for violin and orchestra (1997)
In the First, Spinning Place, concerto, alto saxophone and orchestra (1999)
Anecdote, soliloquy for cello and orchestra (2000)
Shakkei, oboe and chamber orchestra (2007)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Psalm 104 (Praise, My Soul), chorus and chamber orchestra (1999; arr. 2002)
That Jewel-Spirit, female chorus, flute and string orchestra (or piano) (pub. 2007) [text: Penny Harter; Matsuo Bashô]
Choral
Sound Dawn, tenor, baritone, bass voices (6-part male chorus) and piano (pub. 1991)
The Moor, female chorus [SA] (1997) [text: R.S. Thomas]
Psalm 104 (Praise, My Soul), chorus, 2 trumpets in C and organ (pub. 1999) [also arr. for chorus and small orch]
Wales, Our Land (Cymru, ein gwald), chorus, w/opt. flute (2002) [text: unknown Welsh-American slate quarryman]
Psalm 136 (Luminaria Magna), chorus and organ (2003)
Contemplations 21, 22, female chorus [SSA] (2005)
Contemplations 8, 9, female chorus [SSA] (2005)
Children of Grace, chorus and organ (pub. 2006) [text: Anon; Herbert; Harter]
Psalm 86 (Incline Thine Ear), chorus and organ, w/opt. trumpet (pub. 2006)
That Jewel-Spirit, female chorus, flute and string orchestra (or piano) (pub. 2007) [text: Penny Harter; Matsuo Bashô]
Paradise, chorus (2008) [text: George Herbert/Psalm 95(96)]
Wellspring, female chorus [SSA] (2008) [text: Menna Elfyn]
Exultet Terra, antiphonal choirs and double-reed quintet (2011)
Chamber
Duo, oboe and viola (1981)
Winter Sun, Summer Rain, flute, clarinet, viola, cello and celesta (1986)
Llef, shakuhachi (or flute) and cello (1990)
Of Erthe and Air, flute/picc, clarinet/bass cl and percussion (1990) [also arr. for fl/picc, sop/alt/bari sax, perc]
From the Song of Amergin, flute, viola and harp (1995)
Nothing Forgotten, violin, cello and piano (1997)
The Walls of Morlais Castle, oboe, viola and cello (1998) [arr. 2009 for string orchestra]
First Watch, carillon (2002)
Gardens of Anna Maria Luisa de Medici, flute, cello and piano (2003-04)
Shoji, flute and oboe (2010)
Some of the Silence, saxophone quartet (2010)
...Slate, Blue-Gray, violin, cello and piano (2012?)
Instrument and Piano
In the First, Spinning Place (1999) [arr. 2009 for alto sax and piano from orig. work for sax and orch]
Shakkei (2007) [arr. for oboe (or flute; or sopr sax) and piano, from orig. work for oboe and string orch]
On Ear and Ear..., viola and piano (2011)
Solo Instrument
Windhover, soprano saxophone (or flute) (1985)
Look Little Low Heavens, trumpet (1992)
The Cresset Stone, cello (or viola; or violin) (1993)
A Sad Pavan Forbidding Mourning, guitar (pub. 2002)
Like Lightnings, oboe (2004)
Kilvert's Hills, bassoon (or horn) (pub. 2006)
Piano or Organ
Doppelganger, piano (1984)
Water's Edge, piano duet [2 pianos???] (1993) [arr. 1994 for string orchestra]
- Dawn Light
- From the Riverbed
- Toward Dusk [arr. 2001 for piccolo, flute and string orchestra]
Light From the Cliffs, piano (2005) [develops ideas from violin rhapsody "Here, the Cliffs", 1997]
Pinnae Ventorm, organ (pub. 2005)
Vocal
Arachne, a dramatic song cycle (4 songs), soprano solo (with crotle) (1987) [text: Jordan Smith]
- A Primer for Those Who Have Dealings with the Gods
- Arachne's Boast
- Athene's Song
- The Spider's Valediction
Sound Dawn, tenor, baritone, bass voices (6-part male chorus) and piano (pub. 1991)
Mother and Son, soprano, Eb clarinet (or violin), viola and cello (1996?; pub. 1999) [text: R.S. Thomas]
Songs of the Cotton Grass, song cycle (3 songs), soprano and oboe (or other melody instrument) (1999-2005) [text: Menna Elfyn]
- A Girl's Song to Her Mother (1999; rev. 2004)
- Wings of the Grasses (2003) [originally for "A Garland for Presteigne"]
- Vale of Feathers (2005)
Between Sunsets (3 songs), soprano and piano (fp. 2012) [text: e.e. cummings]
- who are you, little i
- love is the every only god
- in the rain
Incidental/Film
TANN LINKS Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Tann on Tann ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Composer Hilary Tann Headlines the 13th Annual Women Composers Festival of Hartford (CT.com)
Union Professor's Composition Gets Commissioned (Joseph Dalton, The Times Union/Union College)
Composer's website . . . contact Hilary Tann: here
Tann @ Wikipedia
Tann @ Audiophile Audition (via Google Advanced Search)
Tann @ Classical Archives
Tann @ Classical Composers Database
Tann @ composition:today
Tann @ 8 Strings & a Whistle
Tann @ Facebook
Tann @ Fondazione Adkins Chiti
Tann @ InstantEncore
Tann @ Klassika
Tann @ LinkedIn
Tann @ MusicWeb International
Tann @ MySpaceMusic
Tann @ New Music USA [formerly American Music Center]
Tann @ The New York Times
Tann @ New York Women Composers, Inc.
Tann @ Sound and Music/The British Music Collection
Tann @ Union College
Tann @ Women Composers Festival of Hartford
Publisher
Tann @ Composer's website/publisher listings
Tann @ Brichtmark Music
Tann @ Oxford University Press
Tann @ Rowanberry Music
Streaming Audio
Tann @ Composer's website - check under individual work listings
Tann @ Classical Archives
Tann @ last.fm
Tann @ MySpaceMusic
Tann @ Rhapsody.com
Tann @ SoundCloud
Recordings
Tann @ Composer's website
Tann @ Amazon.com
Tann @ ArkivMusic
Tann @ CD Universe
Tann @ ClassicsOnline
Tann @ Discogs
Video
Tann @ YouTube
Tann @ Google Video
~ top of page ~
Tann on Tann: Three Welsh Poets: A Composer's View/Eastman School of Music (VIDEO)
See also: Part 4 Part 6 Part 7
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