Joseph Turrin (1947- )
Joseph
Turrin is a greatly valued contributor to contemporary American musical
life thanks to his wide-ranging activities as a composer, orchestrator,
conductor, pianist, and teacher. According to The New York Times,
"Turrin's music
is nervous, loud, swift and aggressive to the point of violence. It is
also beautifully made, negotiating its constant changes of speed and
pulse with grace. Turrin's music is young: no past, only future."
He studied composition at the Eastman School of Music and the Manhattan
School of Music, and has pursued a career that has always been
multifaceted. As a composer, he has produced works in many
genres. His works have been performed by the New York
Philharmonic, St.
Martin-in-the-Fields Academy Orchestra. Lincoln Center Chamber Music
Society, Canadian Brass, Ann Sophie Mutter, Baltimore Symphony,
Gewandhausorchester (Leipzig, Germany), Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, New
Orleans Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, English
Chamber Orchestra, Little Orchestra Society of New York, Wynton
Marsalis, Philip Smith, Joseph Alessi, Lew Soloff, Carol Wincenc, Hugh
Wolff, Kurt Masur, Erich Leinsdorf, Ramon Vargas, Evelyn Glennie.
Susannah McCorkle, US Army Band, US Air Force Band, US Marine Band (The
Presidents Own), US Army Brass Quintet, University of Notre Dame Band,
Atlantic Brass Quintet, New Jersey Chamber Music Society, West Point
Military Academy Band, Eastman Wind Ensemble, University of North Texas
Wind Symphony and many others. Turrin is also active as a composer and
conductor for film and theatre. Several of his films and recording
projects have been nominated for Emmy and Grammy Awards. He has
received awards and grants from the National Endowment on the Arts,
United Nations (for contributions in the arts), ASCAP, American
Music Center, first prize in the 2004 National Band Association's
William Revelli Composition Contest, and seven Fellowships from the New
Jersey State Council on the Arts, in addition to the Ann M. Alburger
Award for Chamber Music. In 2006 he was awarded an honorary degree from
the Eastman school of Music and the University of Rochester. He is on
the composition faculty of the Hartt School of Music and Montclair
State University.COMPOSITIONS Turrin Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
[under construction]
WORKS BY GENRE Turrin Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
The Barricade, musical (1968)
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, narrator and orchestra/or chamber ensemble (1977; rev. 1998) [text: Hans Christian Andersen]
Love Games, musical in 2 acts (1980) [libretto: based on "Reigen" by A. Schnitzler; book: Len Auclair; text: Judy Spencer]
Frankie, musical (1990) [libretto: George Abbott]
When Tony Plays The Sax, narrator, orchestra, solo alto sax, jazz vocal, and rhythm section (1995) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Any Way You Play It-It's Music, narrator/vocal, cello, synth kybd & 2 children actors/singers & orch (1996) [text: G. Nissenson]
The Fir Tree, narrator, vocal soloist and orchestra (1996) [text: Gloria Nissenson, based on Hans Christian Andersen]
The Scarecrow, opera in 2 acts (1976; rev. 2005) [libretto: Bernard Stambler] [originally titled "Feathertop"]
Yes, Virginia, incidental music (2004) [play by Gloria Nissenson]
The Fir Tree, narrator, vocal soloist, double brass quintet & perc (2007) [based on H. C. Andersen, adapted by Gloria Nissenson]
Orchestra
Variations, string quartet/or string orchestra (1967; rev. 1989)
Symphony in Two Movements, orchestra (1970, withdrawn)
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, narrator and orchestra/or chamber ensemble (1977; rev. 1998) [text: Hans Christian Andersen]
Festival March, orchestra (1983, withdrawn)
Suite, orchestra (1986)
Bagatelle, chamber orchestra (1987)
A New Life Overture, orchestra (1989) [from film "A New Life"]
Fanfare for George Gershwin, orchestra (1989)
Civil War Suite (5 mvts), orchestra (1994)
- Into Battle
- Hymn
- The Charge
- Far From Thee
- Honor and Glory
Modinha, chamber orchestra (1995) [commissioned by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for "The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim"]
When Tony Plays The Sax, narrator, orchestra, solo alto sax, jazz vocal, and rhythm section (1995) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Any Way You Play It-It's Music, narrator/vocal, cello, synth kybd & 2 children actors/singers & orch (1996) [text: G. Nissenson]
The Fir Tree, narrator, vocal soloist and orchestra (1996) [text: Gloria Nissenson, based on Hans Christian Andersen]
Symphonia Celestium, orchestra (2009)
- Astrum Luminosus
- Vespera
- Dance of the Spirits
Band/Wind Ensemble
Concertino for Tuba and Band (1976; rev. 1985)
Serenade Romantic, wind ensemble (1982)
Serenade for Band (1984, withdrawn)
Sadie Thompson, wind ensemble (1987) [arr. from film score]
Escapade, piccolo trumpet and piano (1989) [also arr. for piccolo trumpet and brass band/wind ensemble]
Invocation, chorus and band (or piano) (1992) [text: Walt Whitman]
Faith in Tomorrow, chorus and band (or piano) (1995; rev. 1999) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Hope Alive, chorus and band (or piano) (1995) [text: Heather Anne Stanig]
Two Sketches for Band (1995)
- Gettysburg Hymn
- Marching Song
Soundings for Band (1997)
- Ritual
- Reflections
- Ceremonial
Ritual, band (1997; rev. 2008) [1st mvt from "Soundings for Band", 1997]
Chronicles, trumpet and wind ensemble (1998)
- Prologue
- Lamentation
- Epilogue
Zarabanda, xylophone, marimba and band (1998) [also arr. for xylophone and piano]
Fandango, trumpet, trombone and band (or piano) (1999)
Hemispheres, wind ensemble (2002)
- Genesis
- Earth Canto
- Rajas
Quadrille, 3 trombones and band (2002)
Arabesque, brass band (2004) [also arr. for wind ensemble?]
Illuminations, trombone and wind ensemble (2004)
Nessun Dorma, wind ensemble (2004)
High Flight, band (2008) [commissioned by the US Air Force Band, Washington, DC]
Scarecrow Overture, band (1976; rev. 2005; arr. 2010) [from opera; arr. by the composer]
Concertino for 11 Instruments and Wind Ensemble (2011)
Brass Ensemble
Caprice, trumpet and piano (1972) [arr. for trumpet and brass band, 1989]
March and Choral, 4 trumpets, 2 horns, 4 trombones, 2 euphonium, tuba and percussion (1972)
Festival Fanfare, 8 trumpets [cornet section] and percussion (1972)
Structures, brass ensemble (E-flat tpt, 4 B-flat tpt, flugelhorn, 4 hns, 4 trombones, 2 euphonium, 2 tuba & perc) (1981)
TV Wizard, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piccolo, piano and bass and drums (1983)
Prologue, speaker and brass band (1985)
Sweet Liberty, brass, flute, piano, bass and drums (1986)
Trilogy, brass band (1987)
- March
- Choral
- Rondo
Escapade, piccolo trumpet and piano (1989) [also arr. for piccolo trumpet and brass band/wind ensemble]
Arabesque, 2 Bb instruments and brass band (or piano) (1990)
Soundscapes, brass quintet (1994)
- Riffs
- Soliloquy
- Jive Dance
Solarium, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba and piano (1995)
Fanfare for Five, brass quintet (1997)
Hymn for Diana, brass band (1997) [in memory of Princess Diana]
Jazzalogue No. 1, 3 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones and tuba (1997)
My Song of Songs, trumpet and brass band (1998) [arrangement based on a melody by John Hallett]
West Side Story Suite, 4 tpt, 4 hn, 4 trom & tuba (2000) [arr. of Bernstein score; commissioned by Carnegie Hall for NY Phil brass]
Asterisum, 12-16 trombones (2003)
Lament, 2 flugelhorns and brass band (2004)
Overture for Brass, brass band (2004)
Animation, brass band (2004)
Three Carols, brass ensemble (2006) [commissioned by Canadian Brass and NY Philharmonic Brass]
Rhapsody Noel, brass ensemble (2006) [commissioned by Canadian Brass and NY Philharmonic Brass]
The Fir Tree, narrator, vocal soloist, double brass quintet & perc (2007) [based on H. C. Andersen, adapted by Gloria Nissenson]
Holiday Jubilee, duet for horn, tuba and brass ensemble, w/percussion (2009)
Ceremonial Prelude, brass choir and percussion (2010)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Band
Elegy, trumpet and string orchestra (1970; rev. 1994)
Caprice, trumpet and piano (1972) [arr. for trumpet and brass band, 1989]
Concertino for Tuba and Band (1976)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1985)
Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (1988)
Escapade, piccolo trumpet and piano (1989) [also arr. for piccolo trumpet and brass band/wind ensemble]
Arabesque, 2 Bb instruments and brass band (or piano) (1990)
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (1991) [Movement - Landscape - Excursion]
When Tony Plays The Sax, narrator, orchestra, solo alto sax, jazz vocal, and rhythm section (1995) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Chronicles, trumpet and wind ensemble (1998)
My Song of Songs, trumpet and brass band (1998) [arrangement based on a melody by John Hallett]
Two Gershwin Portraits, 2 trumpets & orch (1998) [based on songs: "Someone To Watch Over Me" & "Fascinating Rhythm"]
Zarabanda, xylophone, marimba and band (1998) [also arr. for xylophone and piano]
Fandango, trumpet, trombone and band (or piano) (1999)
Shanghai Concerto, piano and orchestra (2001)
Quadrille, 3 trombones and band (2002)
Illuminations, trombone and wind ensemble (2004)
Lament, 2 flugelhorns and brass band (2004)
Concertino for 11 Instruments and Wind Ensemble (2011)
Chorus w/Orchestra or Band
Lullaby of Broadway, vocal soloist, chorus and orchestra (1985)
Invocation, chorus and band (or piano) (1992) [text: Walt Whitman]
Faith in Tomorrow, chorus and band (or piano) (1995; rev. 1999) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Hope Alive, chorus and band (or piano) (1995) [text: Heather Anne Stanig]
Faith in Tomorrow, chorus and piano/or band (1995; rev. 1999) [text Gloria Nissenson]
Hope Alive, chorus and piano/or band (1995) [text: Heather Anne Stanig]
Choral
Three American Folk Songs, chorus (and opt. piano) (1970)
- Careless Love
- Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
- Peter Grey
Psalm 121, chorus (and opt. piano) (1970)
Credo, male chorus (1970) [text: E. A. Robinson]
Two Russian Love Songs, chorus and piano/or clarinet and cello (1971)
- Do Not Awaken My Memories
- Snow Flurries
Invocation, chorus and piano (1992) [text: Walt Whitman]
Faith in Tomorrow, chorus and piano/or band (1995; rev. 1999) [text Gloria Nissenson]
Hope Alive, chorus and piano/or band (1995) [text: Heather Anne Stanig]
Hymn for Peace, chorus, flute, cello and piano (2003) [text: Arvid Morne]
Morning Star, female chorus and piano (2011) [text: Dorian Laskowski and Joseph Turrin]
Chamber
Two Pieces, clarinet and cello (1967)
Variations, string quartet/or string orchestra (1967; rev. 1989)
Walden Trio, flute, cello and piano (1974) [Awakening - Nocturne - Scherzo - Epilogue]
Wedding Prelude, organ, flute, trumpet, horn and harp (1974)
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, narrator, fl,ob, cl, bsn, hn, tpt and pf/or orch (1977; rev. 1998) [text: Hans Christian Andersen]
Sweet Liberty, brass ensemble, flute, piano, bass and drums (1986)
Arabesque, 2 Bb instruments and piano (1990) [also arr. for brass band]
Riffs and Fanfares, string trio, clarinet, horn and piano (1990)
Arcade, flute/alto flute, oboe/cor anglais, viola and cello (1991) [Prelude - Bourree - Arioso - Waltz - Quadrille]
Soundscapes, brass quintet (1994) [Riffs - Soliloquy - Jive Dance]
Three Summer Dances, wind quintet (1994)
Solarium, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba and piano (1995)
Fanfare for Five, brass quintet (1997)
Festival Music for the Golden Pavilion, string quartet, trumpet, horn, trombone, bass and keyboard (1997)
Fragments, alto saxophone/soprano sax and and viola (2003)
O Come and Dwell in Me, trumpet, trombone and piano (2006)
Statements, flute, clarinet and piano (2009)
Equinox, woodwind quintet, string quartet, trumpet, alto sax, harp, piano, double bass and 2 percussionist (2010)
Instrument and Piano or Organ or Guitar
Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano (1967) [Contrapunctus – Dance]
Elegy, trumpet and string orchestra/or piano (1970; rev. 1994)
Aeolus, flute and piano (1972)
Caprice, trumpet and piano (1972)
Sonatina, clarinet and piano (1972)
Intrada, trumpet and piano (1988)
Escapade, piccolo trumpet and piano (1989) [also arr. for piccolo trumpet and brass band/wind ensemble]
Winter Sky, native American flute and piano (1994)
Dedications (3 pieces), flute and piano (1995)
- Recitation (for Geroge Abbott)
- Winter Sky (for James Pellerite)
- Song for Flute (for James Galway)
Joyful Rain, native American flute and guitar (1995)
Two Portraits, flugelhorn/or trumpet and piano (1995) [Psalm - Incantation]
Night Flight, flute and piano (1995)
Vision, flute and piano (1995)
Someone to Watch Over Me, trumpet and piano (1997)
Zarabanda, xylophone and piano (1998) [arr. from work for xylophone and band]
Four Miniatures, trumpet/flugelhorn and piano (2000)
Three Episodes, trumpet and piano (2001)
Concert Piece No. 1, euphonium and piano (2004)
In Memorium, trumpet (or flugelhorn) and piano (2004)
Sonatina for Trombone and Organ (2006)
Serenade, violin and piano (2009)
Preludium, viola and piano (2011)
Solo Instrument
Five Pieces, clarinet (1971)
Etudes for Solo Trumpet (3 pieces) (2000)
- Antaras
- Quadrille
- Saltarello
Dance Etude, trumpet (2005)
Romance Etude, trumpet (2005)
Two Images, trumpet [dbl w/ flugelhorn] (2004)
Etudes and Duets for Solo Trumpet (2010)
Piano or Organ
Children Suite (5 pieces), piano (1970)
- Children's Song
- Song for my Doll
- Playing
- It's Raining - Waltz
- Going to the Park
Piano Suite (6 pieces) (1987)
- March
- Siciliana
- Vocalise
- Fragment
- Nocturne
- Toccata
Prelude, piano (1988)
Canticle, organ (1988)
Romantic Sketches (4 pieces), piano (1981-89)
- Dream Waltz (1981)
- Song for Barbara (1981)
- Waltz for Bernadette (1989)
- Waltz for Ann (1986)
Theme from "A New Life", piano (1989) [music from the film]
Silent Night / God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, piano (1994) [transcriptions for solo piano]
Symmetries, 2 pianos (2003)
Three Petite Etudes, piano (2011)
Vocal
Away Delights, voice and piano (1972) [text: Joseph Turrin]
A Certain Slant of Light, voice and piano (1972) [text: Emily Dickinson]
Songs of Protest, voice and piano (1972)
- Death of a Soldier
- in Guernica
- The Dead in the Square
12 Haiku Songs, for soprano and piano (1978)
Friendship, 2 female voices and piano (1988) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Grave Diggers Song, tenor, baritone and piano (1988) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Love is Everywhere with You, soprano, baritone and piano (1988) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
She Walks in Beauty, baritone voice and piano (1990) [text: Lord Byron]
Lullaby, voice and piano, w/opt. flute (1991) [text: Shakespeare, from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"]
Moon Song, voice and piano (1994) [text: Joseph Turrin]
True Love, voice and piano (1995) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Anyway You Play It – It’s Music, voice and piano/or orchestra (1996) [text: Gloria Nissenson]
Ave Maria, soprano and piano (2001)
A Dream Within A Dream, soprano and piano (2001) [text: Edgar Allan Poe]
Your Love, soprano and piano (2004) [text: Christina Marcum]
Lux Illustris (Light of Lights), 2 sopranos, baritone, flute, cello and piano (2004)
Thine, O God, voice and piano (2005)
Night Song, voice and piano (2005) [text: based on a passage from Don Quixote by Cervantes]
Lovers Infiniteness, voice and piano (2007) [text: John Donne]
Film
The Guest, film score (1968)
Little Darlings, film score (1978)
Verna--USO Girl, TV film score (1978)
Sadie Thompson, film score (1985)
Nightmare on Elm Street III, film score (1986)
Tough Guys Don't Dance, film score (1987)
Weeds, film score (1987)
A New Life, film score (1988)
1992 Olympic Fanfare (1992)
Kingdom of Shadows, video documentary score (1998)
Broken Blossoms, film score (2000)
Diary of a Lost Girl, film score (2001)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, film score (2002)
Intolerance, film score (2002)
Incidental Music
Veronicas Room, incidental music (1979) [play by Ira Levin]
The Skin Of Our Teeth, incidental music (1984) [play by Thornton Wilder]
TURRIN LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Hemispheres By Joseph Turrin: A Critical Analysis (Joan deAlbuquerque, Univ of North Texas)
Composer's website . . . contact Joseph Turrin: here
Turrin @ Wikipedia.nl (in Dutch) - translated by google here
Turrin @ C. Alan Publications
Turrin @ American Music Center
Turrin @ CITWF / Complete Index to World Film
Turrin @ Classical Archives
Turrin @ Classical Composers Database
Turrin @ Curnow Music Press
Turrin @ earsense - chamberbase
Turrin @ Facebook
Turrin @ Film Reference
Turrin @ Hartt School of Music
Turrin @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Turrin @ InstantEncore
Turrin @ Montclair State University
Turrin @ MusicWeb International
Turrin @ Naxos
Turrin @ The New York Times
Turrin @ Theodore Presser
Turrin @ Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival
Turrin @ TrumpetHerald.com
Turrin @ University of Notre Dame Band
Turrin @ University of Texas at Austin/Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music
Turrin @ Wind Repertory Project
Turrin @ Winwood Music
Turrin @ Zimbel Press
Publisher
Turrin @ Composer's website/publisher listings
Turrin @ C. Alan Publications
Turrin @ Boosey & Hawkes
Turrin @ Curnow Music Press
Turrin @ Editions Bim
Turrin @ Niel A. Kjos Music
Turrin @ Hal Leonard
Turrin @ Hickman Music Editions
Turrin @ Paramount Pictures
Turrin @ C. F. Peters
Turrin @ Theodore Presser
Turrin @ Warner Brothers Music
Turrin @ Winwood Music
Turrin @ Zimbel Press
Streaming Audio
Turrin @ Classical Archives
Turrin @ last.fm
Turrin @ Rhapsody.com also here
Turrin @ SoundCloud
Recordings
Turrin @ Composer's website
Turrin @ ArkivMusic
Turrin @ CD Universe
Turrin @ ClassicsOnline
Turrin @ Discogs
Video
Turrin @ YouTube
Turrin @ Google Video
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