Orchestra

Hawking Radiation ⁽²⁰²¹⁾

Commissioned by Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, Music Director

Instrumentation: 3-3-3-3, 4-3-3-1, 3 Perc., Hp., Str.
Duration: ca. 25 minutes

Pixelandia ⁽²⁰¹⁵⁾

Commissioned by Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, Music Director
with funding provided by the Fromm Music Foundation

Instrumentation: 2 (dbl. Picc. & A. Fl.) 2 (E.H.) 2 (B. Cl.) 2 (Cbsn.) – 2 2 2 (B. Tbn.) 1 – 3 Perc. – Pno. – Str.
Duration: ca. 20 minutes

Mountain is Mountain ⁽²⁰⁰⁷⁾

Commissioned by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra

Instrumentation: solo flute and string orchestra
Duration: ca. 16 minutes
(mvt I audio available at SoundCloud.)

Amid Haze – Concerto for Erhu and Chamber Orchestra ^(1998-1999)

Commissioned by ALEA III

Instrumentation: erhu, flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, 2 percussions, strings
Duration: ca. 13 minutes

Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra ⁽¹⁹⁹⁵⁾

Instrumentation: solo clarinet and string orchestra
Duration: ca. 14 minutes

Chamber Ensemble

Flicker ^{(saxophones version, 2023)}

Instrumentation: soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone and piano
Duration: ca. 3 minutes
(see “Flicker” for piano trio version, 2008)

Resurfacing ⁽²⁰²²⁾

Commissioned by Winsor Music

Instrumentation: oboe, bass clarinet, violin, and cello
Duration: ca. 9 minutes

(video available at the LISTEN page.)

Saving Faces ⁽²⁰²⁰⁾

Commissioned by KlangForum Heidelberg
Lyrics by Yu-Hui Chang

Instrumentation: vocalists (soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass), alto saxophone, tenor trombone, violin, cello, accordion, and percussion
Duration: ca. 17 minutes

Germinate ⁽²⁰¹⁹⁾

Commissioned by Boston Musica Viva
for BMV’s 50th Anniversary Season

Instrumentation: flute/piccolo, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(audio available at Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud & the LISTEN page.)

(Recording included in Yu-Hui Chang’s “Mind Like Water” CD album, available at New Focus Recordings.)

Incredulous ⁽²⁰¹⁸⁾

Instrumentation: alto flute, bass clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, and percussion
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(audio available at the LISTEN page.)

The Path in Front of Me ⁽²⁰¹⁷⁾

Commissioned by Shelter Music Boston
Lyrics by Yu-Hui Chang (with quotes from Shelter Music Boston audience members)

Instrumentation: mezzo soprano, violin, cello and marimba
Duration: ca. 6 minutes

Mind Like Water 若水 ^{(2016) (2021 revision)}

Written for Lydian String Quartet

Instrumentation: violins (2), viola, and cello
Duration: ca. 14 minutes

(video of 2016 version available at YouTube.)
(audio of the 2021 revision available at Spotify, YouTube and the LISTEN page.)
(Recording included in Yu-Hui Chang’s “Mind Like Water” CD album, available at New Focus Recordings.)

On the Podium ⁽²⁰¹⁴⁾

Commissioned by the Empyrean Ensemble

Instrumentation: flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, piano and percussion
Duration: ca. 3 minutes

Intersect ⁽²⁰¹⁴⁾

Commissioned by ECCE

Instrumentation: flute/bass flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(audio available at the LISTEN page.)

In Thin Air ⁽²⁰¹²⁾

Written for Dinosaur Annex Music Ensemble

Instrumentation: violin, piano, and percussion
Duration: ca. 15 minutes
(audio available at Spotify, YouTube mvt 1, mvt 2, mvt 3 and at the LISTEN page.)

(Recording included in Yu-Hui Chang’s “Mind Like Water” CD album, available at New Focus Recordings.)

Under a Dim, Orange Light ⁽²⁰¹²⁾

Commissioned by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble

Instrumentation: flute/bass flute, viola, and guitar
Duration: ca. 11 minutes
(video available at YouTube.)

When the Wind Comes, the Grass Bends ⁽²⁰¹¹⁾

Commissioned by the Lydian String Quartet

Instrumentation: string quintet – violin(2), viola, cello(2)
Duration: ca. 11 minutes
(mvt.1 audio available at the LISTEN page.)

Pu Songling’s Bizarre Tales ⁽²⁰¹¹⁾

Commissioned by Meet The Composer
For Music from China

Instrumentation: erhu, pipa, yangqin, piccolo/alto flute, bass clarinet, and percussion
Duration: ca. 15 minutes
(audio available at the LISTEN page.)

Rhetorical Flourishes: Three Shepard Songs ⁽²⁰¹⁰⁾

I. Oh! On an April Morning

II. Let’s Hear It

III. Empiricist of Clouds

Commissioned by the Monadnock Music Festival
Lyrics by Neil Shepard

Instrumentation: soprano, viola, clarinet/bass clarinet, and percussion
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(Movement 1&2 audio available at the LISTEN page. Video available on YouTube.)

Burst ⁽²⁰¹⁰⁾

Commissioned by the Magic Clarinet Quartet

Instrumentation: Bb clarinets (3) and bass clarinet
Duration: ca. 3 minutes

Toil, Live, and Sing ^(2009-2010)

Written for 2010 Pacific Rim Music Festival

Instrumentation: ajaeng, violin, and cello
Duration: ca. 7 minutes

Sky Lantern 天燈 ⁽²⁰⁰⁹⁾

Commissioned by the Tone Melody Flute Ensemble

Instrumentation: piccolos (2), G flutes (2), flutes (21), alto flutes (6), bass flutes (4), clarinet, bassoon, percussion (2), piano, cello, and double bass
Duration: ca. 10 minutes
(video available at YouTube.)

At the Brink of the Chill ^(2008-2009)

Commissioned by the Koussevitzky Music Foundation and the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble

Instrumentation: violin, viola, cello, double bass, and piano
Duration: ca. 18 minutes
(audio available at the LISTEN page.)

The Orphan of Zhao ⁽²⁰⁰⁸⁾

(Concert Version) – derived from the incidental music for a play of the same title
Commissioned by the Brandeis Theater Company and the MusicUnitesUS

Instrumentation: erhu, yang-qin, viola, cello, percussion
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

Flicker ⁽²⁰⁰⁸⁾ 

Commissioned by the Triple Helix

Instrumentation: violin, cello, and piano
Duration: ca. 3 minutes
(audio available at the LISTEN page.)

(See “Flicker” for soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone and piano version, 2023)

Dou Zhen 鬥陣 ⁽²⁰⁰⁸⁾ 

Commissioned by the Ju Percussion Group

Instrumentation: six percussionists with mixed instruments
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(video available at YouTube.)

The Orphan of Zhao ⁽²⁰⁰⁷⁾

– incidental music for a play of the same title
Commissioned by the Brandeis Theater Company and the MusicUnitesUS

Instrumentation: erhu, yang-qin, viola, cello, percussion
Duration: ca. 38 minutes

Lost Threads ^(2005-06)

Written for the Empyrean Ensemble, with funding from Meet the Composer

Instrumentation: piccolo/alto flute, viola, bass clarinet, and percussion
Duration: ca. 12 minutes

Transpiration ^(2003-04)

Written for pianist Amy Briggs and the Empyrean Ensemble

Instrumentation: violin, cello, and piano
Duration: ca. 12 minutes

Shadow Chase ⁽²⁰⁰³⁾

Commissioned by the Left Coast Ensemble, with funding from the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation and Meet the Composer

Instrumentation: string quartet
Duration: ca. 10 minutes
(audio available at the LISTEN page.)
(Recording included on LCCE’s “San Francisco Premieres” CD album is available here.)

Lotus•Piercing•Tender ⁽²⁰⁰³⁾

Written for the Violafest! – a Viola Festival

Instrumentation: four violas
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

Longing for String Trio ^(2002-2003)

Commissioned by The 2003 International Festival of Women in Music Today, Seoul

Instrumentation: violin, viola, and cello
Duration: ca 10 minutes

kai•men•da•ji 開門大吉 ⁽²⁰⁰²⁾

Commissioned by the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
Written for pianist Lara Downes and Alexander String Quartet

Instrumentation: 2 violins, viola, cello, and piano
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

Perplexing Sorrow ^(2001-2002)

Commissioned by Earplay

Instrumentation: flute, viola, and piano
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

The Horizon Unfolds ⁽²⁰⁰⁰⁾

Instrumentation: clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone, percussion, violin, and double bass
Duration: ca. 11 minutes

Sestetto No.2 ⁽¹⁹⁹⁶⁾

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion
Duration: ca. 12 minutes

Clarinet Quartet ^(1994-1995)

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: 4 clarinets in b-flat
Duration: ca. 9 minutes

Ripples ⁽¹⁹⁹⁰⁾

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: flute, violin, cello, and piano
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

Sestetto ^(1989-1990)

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Duration: ca. 12 minutes

Solo and Duet

Three Fantasias ^{(cello solo version, 2023)}

Instrumentation: cello solo
Duration: ca. 9 minutes
(See “Three Fantasias” clarinet solo version, 2006)

Davy! Davy! ⁽²⁰²³⁾

In Celebration of David Rakowski’s 65th Birthday

Instrumentation: solo piano
Duration: ca. 2 minutes

Mind Stretch ⁽²⁰²¹⁾

Commissioned by pianist Jihye Chang
for the Boston Études Project by Jihye Chang

Instrumentation: solo piano
Duration: ca. 3.5 minutes

(audio available at Spotify, YouTube & the LISTEN page.)

(Recording included in Jihye Chang’s “Boston Etudes” CD album, available at New Focus Recordings.)

Alter Ego ⁽²⁰¹⁹⁾

Commissioned by the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation
written for Lev Sivkov

Instrumentation: solo cello
Duration: ca. 17 minutes

(audio available at Spotify, YouTube mvt 1, mvt 2, mvt 3, and at the LISTEN page.)
(Recording included in Yu-Hui Chang’s “Mind Like Water” CD album, available at New Focus Recordings.)

A Long Overdue Sequel ⁽²⁰¹⁵⁾

written for Robert Schulz
in celebration of Eric Chasalow’s 60th birthday

Instrumentation: percussion solo
Duration: ca. 8 minutes
(video available at the LISTEN page.)

Metamorphosis 破蛹 ⁽²⁰¹⁴⁾

Commissioned by Pei-Ching Wu 吳珮菁

Instrumentation: solo marimba with 6 mallets and 14 percussion instruments
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

It Might Be Lonelier Without the Loneliness ⁽²⁰¹⁴⁾

I. It might be lonelier

II. I envy Seas, whereon He rides

III. The first Day’s Night had come

Commissioned by Sarah Pelletier and Lois Shapiro
Lyrics by Emily Dickinson

Instrumentation: soprano and piano
Duration: ca. 11 minutes

Rio del Tizon ⁽²⁰¹⁰⁾

Commissioned by cellist Rhonda Rider

Instrumentation: solo cello
Duration: ca. 6.5 minutes
(Recording included on cellist Rhonda Rider’s “The Grand Canyon Project” CD album is available at MSR Classics.)
(audio available at SoundCloud, Spotify & YouTube.)

Through Time…, with Su Shr ⁽²⁰⁰⁹⁾

Commissioned by cellist Rhonda Rider

Instrumentation: cello and piano
Duration: ca. 7.5 minutes

Worries Just As Real 少年別識愁滋味 ⁽²⁰⁰⁸⁾

Commissioned by the National Chiang Kai –Shek Cultural Center

Instrumentation: violin and piano
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(Recording included on violinist Daniel Stepner’s “Music At Brandeis” CD album is available at Centaur Records.)

Binge Delirium ⁽²⁰⁰⁷⁾ 

Commissioned by Chris Froh

Instrumentation: one percussionist with mixed instruments
Duration: ca. 10 minutes
(video available at the LISTEN page.)

Wu ^(2006-07)

Commissioned by the Arts Council Korea

Instrumentation: gayaguem and cello
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

Lonebird ⁽²⁰⁰⁶⁾

Commissioned by Chamber Music Now, for pianist Marilyn Nonken

Instrumentation: solo piano
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

Three Fantasias ⁽²⁰⁰⁶⁾

Commissioned by clarinetist Wen-Shin Chang

Instrumentation: solo clarinet
Duration: ca. 9 minutes
(video available at YouTube.)

(See “Three Fantasias” cello solo version, 2023)

Tangled in Smoke ⁽²⁰⁰⁴⁾

Written for pianist Amy Briggs

Instrumentation: solo piano
Duration: ca. 3 minutes
(Recording included on Amy Briggs’ “Tangos for Piano” CD album is available here.)
(audio available at Spotify & YouTube.)

Subliminal Waters ⁽²⁰⁰¹⁾

Instrumentation: solo violin
Duration: ca. 13 minutes

Ballade ⁽¹⁹⁹⁸⁾

Instrumentation: solo piano
Duration: ca. 7 minutes
(Recording included on Lara Downes’s “Reform” CD album is available at Azica Records.)

Duet for Clarinet and Violoncello ^(1996-1997)

Instrumentation: clartinet and cello
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

A Common Man’s Dream ⁽¹⁹⁹⁵⁾

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: tenor and piano
Duration: ca. 5 minutes

Music for Solo Marimba ⁽¹⁹⁹²⁾ 

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: solo marimba
Duration: ca. 8 minutes

Escape ⁽¹⁹⁹¹⁾

Instrumentation: solo flute
Duration: ca. 11 minutes

Clarinet Sonata ^(1988-1989)

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: clarinet and piano
Duration: ca. 8 minutes

Choral & Vocal

Cherokee Smudging Prayer ⁽²⁰²³⁾

Commissioned by Winsor Music

Instrumentation: voice & piano/instrumental
Duration: ca. 3 minutes

Saving Faces ⁽²⁰²⁰⁾

Commissioned by KlangForum Heidelberg
Lyrics by Yu-Hui Chang

Instrumentation: vocalists (soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass), alto saxophone, tenor trombone, violin, cello, accordion, and percussion
Duration: ca. 17 minutes

The Path in Front of Me ⁽²⁰¹⁷⁾

Commissioned by Shelter Music Boston
Lyrics by Yu-Hui Chang (with quotes from Shelter Music Boston audience members)

Instrumentation: mezzo soprano, violin, cello and marimba
Duration: ca. 6 minutes

在拂面的暖風中,我們歌唱 ⁽²⁰¹⁷⁾

Commissioned by the Innovation Series of the National Theater & Concert Hall, Taiwan
Lyrics by Yu-Hui Chang

Instrumentation: chamber choir,  children’s choir, piano, percussion (2) and theater design
Duration: ca. 7 minutes

Ching 慶 ⁽²⁰¹³⁾

Commissioned by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra
for Taipei Symphony Orchestra Chorus’ 20th Anniversary
Lyrics by 向陽 & Yu-Hui Chang

Instrumentation: large mixed chorus, flute/piccolo, clarinet, French horn, bass trombone, double bass, piano, and percussion (2)
Duration: ca. 30 minutes

It Is an Illusion You Were Ever Free ⁽²⁰¹⁰⁾

I. Little Fugue

II. Valentine

III. Like Lightning Across an Open Field

Commissioned by the Barlow Endowment and Triple Helix Piano Trio
Lyrics by Frank Bidart

Instrumentation: piano trio and women’s choir  (mixed chorus version available, arranged in 2011)
Duration: ca. 14 minutes

Rhetorical Flourishes: Three Shepard Songs ⁽²⁰¹⁰⁾

I. Oh! On an April Morning

II. Let’s Hear It

III. Empiricist of Clouds

Commissioned by the Monadnock Music Festival
Lyrics by Neil Shepard

Instrumentation: soprano, viola, clarinet/bass clarinet, and percussion
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(audio available at the LISTEN page.)

Being: Two Collins Songs ⁽²⁰⁰⁹⁾

I. The Night House

II. Shoveling Snow with Buddha

Commissioned by Volti
Lyrics by Billy Collins

Instrumentation: a cappella chamber choir
Duration: ca. 7 minutes (The Night House) | ca. 6 minutes (Shoveling Snow with Buddha)
(These two songs may be performed as a set or as individual pieces.)
(audio available at Spotify and YouTube: The Night House  |  Shoveling Snow with Buddha )
(Recording included on Volti’s “Houses of Voices” CD album is available at Innova Recordings.)

Orpheus With His Lute ⁽²⁰⁰⁶⁾

Written for James Olesen
Lyrics by William Shakespeare

Instrumentation: chamber choir
Duration: ca. 3 minutes

Sestetto ^(1989-1990)

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Duration: ca. 12 minutes

Percussion

A Long Overdue Sequel ⁽²⁰¹⁵⁾

written for Robert Schulz
in celebration of Eric Chasalow’s 60th birthday

Instrumentation: percussion solo
Duration: ca. 8 minutes
(video available at the LISTEN page.)

Metamorphosis 破蛹 ⁽²⁰¹⁴⁾

Commissioned by Pei-Ching Wu 吳珮菁

Instrumentation: solo marimba with 6 mallets and 14 percussion instruments
Duration: ca. 10 minutes

Dou Zhen 鬥陣 ⁽²⁰⁰⁸⁾

Commissioned by the Ju Percussion Group

Instrumentation: six percussionists with mixed instruments
Duration: ca. 12 minutes
(video available at YouTube.)

Binge Delirium ⁽²⁰⁰⁷⁾

Commissioned by Chris Froh

Instrumentation: one percussionist with mixed instruments
Duration: ca. 10 minutes
(video available at the LISTEN page.)

Music for Solo Marimba ⁽¹⁹⁹²⁾

(not available for performance)

Instrumentation: solo marimba
Duration: ca. 8 minutes