Works by James Matheson
Unchained (2017) for orchestra without strings Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Music Director. The premiere performances took place February 24, 25, and 26th with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, James Gaffigan, cond. [1]
Gustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez is a Venezuelan-Spanish conductor and violinist. He is the music director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
James Gaffigan is an American conductor. His father, Dennis Gaffigan, was a salesman for Procter & Gamble, and his mother, Cheryl Gaffigan, was a school secretary. Gaffigan was a student at the LaGuardia High School and the Juilliard School Preparatory Division.
Violin Concerto (2011) for violin and large orchestra 25’ Co-Commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Premiere performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Baird Dodge, violin; Esa-Pekka Salonen, cond.), December 15, 16 and 17th, 2011 and the Los Angeles Philharmonic (Martin Chalifour, violin; Pablo Heras-Casado, cond.), March 2, 3 and 4th, 2012
Esa-Pekka Salonen is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and music director-designate of the San Francisco Symphony.
Pablo Heras-Casado is a Spanish conductor.
Four Fanfares (2011) for large orchestra 2' Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Music Director Premiere performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, April 23 and 30, 2011, David Afkham, cond.
True South (2010) for small orchestra 16' Commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert, Music Director Premiere performances by the New York Philharmonic, December 17 and 18, 2010, Alan Gilbert, cond.
Borromean Rings (2010) for piano, 2 violins, viola and cello 20' Commissioned by the Cheswatyr Foundation, premiered August 29, 2010 at Maverick Concerts, with the Borromeo String Quartet and Judith Gordon, piano
Fault Lines (2009) for piano, violin, viola and cello 10' Commissioned by Mayfest, premiered May 21, 2010
Sharp Objects (2008) for string orchestra without basses 5' Commissioned for by Phillips Academy for the Corelli Ensemble Premiered February 29, 2007
The Anatomy of Melancholy (2008) for Bb clarinet, violin, 'cello and piano 16' Commissioned by Antares, premiered February 8, 2008 at the Ravinia Festival
Quartet for Oboe and Strings (2008) for oboe, violin, viola and cello 11' Commissioned by Winsor Music, premiered September 20, 2008
Cradle Songs (2008) for SATB Chorus 10' Commissioned by Phillips Academy (Andover) for Fidelio Settings of two poems by William Blake titled "A Cradle Song"
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. What he called his prophetic works were said by 20th-century critic Northrop Frye to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". His visual artistry led 21st-century critic Jonathan Jones to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced". In 2002, Blake was placed at number 38 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. While he lived in London his entire life, except for three years spent in Felpham, he produced a diverse and symbolically rich œuvre, which embraced the imagination as "the body of God" or "human existence itself".
Violin Sonata (2007) for violin and piano 16' Commissioned by Brooklyn Friends of Chamber Music
On Spaces (2007) for piano six hands 4' Commissioned by Phillips Academy (Andover) for the dedication of the school's new Steinway D grand piano
Contact (2005) for alto saxophone and piano 14’ Commissioned by a consortium of nineteen saxophone/piano duos
La Seine (2007) for English horn (also arr. for Alto Saxophone) 4' Commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra
Songs of Desire, Love and Loss (2004) for soprano and mixed chamber ensemble 20’ A setting of seven poems by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Alan Dugan Commissioned by Carnegie Hall, Premiered October 10, 2004
Alan Dugan was an American poet.
Umbras and Illuminations (2004) for orchestra 20’ Commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra Premiered by ASO April 23, 2004, David Alan Miller, cond.
Colonnade (2003) for chamber orchestra 18’ Commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra Premiered by ASO, David Alan Miller, cond.
The Paces (2003) for piano and chamber orchestra 20’ Commissioned by the Stott Fund Premiered by Charles Abramovic and Orchestra 2001, Kimmel Center, PA
River, River, River (2001) for orchestra 10’ Commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Premiered by Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Orchestra Hall, Chicago
Burn (2001) for Wind Ensemble 9’ Commissioned by the Cornell University Wind Ensemble
Buzz (2001) for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano 7’ Premiered by Ensemble X Recorded by Antares on Innova
Falling (2000) for piano trio 13’ Premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (chamber series) Published by C.F. Peters Corporation
Gliss (1999) for orchestra 12’ Premiered August 1999 by the Festival Orchestra of the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival and Institute chamber orchestra
Pound (1999) for piano solo 11’ Premiered by Xak Bjerken at Cornell University Recorded by Mr. Bjerken on High Rise (CRI)
Spin (1998) for string quartet 13’ May 16, 1999, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (chamber series)
Sleep (1997) concerto for violin and chamber orchestra 25’ Premiered March 1997 by Baird Dodge, violin and Festival Orchestra, Cornell University, Mark Scatterday, cond.
Nonet (1990) for mixed ensemble 9’ Premiered by Orchestra 2001, Philadelphia, PA
