The Ship of Death (1993-96)

Unperformed.

My influences for this work are: Wagner, gospel, jazz, rock, Mahler, Berg, Vaughn Williams (of the Sea Symphony), John Adams (of Harmonium and Harmonielehre), Corigliano (of Symphony #1), Rouse, Penderecki, Mozart, The Doors, and the litany of my usual favorites: Bach, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Yes, etc. It was written under the mentorship of William Bolcom, whose Songs of Innocence and of Experience I had not yet heard, only heard about.

The hour-long work is in two huge movements. In following the form of the poem, which is in ten sections, it breaks down as such: Part One: Introduction and Sections I - V; then Part Two: Introduction and Sections VI - X.

mp3 excerpts of a MIDI realization:

Part Description Text in use Clip length Size
Part One Introduction middle; instrumental --- 1:10 1.34 MB
Section I middle; chorus and orch. "The apples falling like great drops of dew..." :54 1.03 MB
Section II middle; orch. 1st half/chorus 2nd half "The grim frost is at hand..." 1:10 1.35 MB
Part Two Introduction opening; instrumental --- 1:30 1.73 MB

© by the Composer. All Rights Reserved. Licensing agent: BMI.

Score and parts on rental.

INSTRUMENTATION:

3 Flutes (1.2.3. doubling piccolos, 2. doubling alto flute)
3 Oboes (3. doubling english horn)
2 Bb Clarinets (2. doubling Eb clarinet)
Bb Bass clarinet
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon

4 Horns
3 C Trumpets
2 Tenor Trombones
Bass trombone
Tuba

Timpani

Percussion (at least 6 players)

The required percussion instruments are: marimba, tuned gongs (see score for specific pitches), chinese opera gong, glockenspiel, crotales, vibraphone (plugged in), chimes, xylophone, tam-tam, bass drum, suspended cymbals (small, medium, large) together, large chinese cymbal, splash cymbal, guiro, crash cymbals (large and medium concert cymbals and small, ugly toy cymbals), 2 triangles (small, large) together, tenor drum and snare drum together, sleigh bells, tambourine, 2 woodblocks (large, small) and 2 cowbells (large, small) together, flexatone, police whistle, claves, 4 tom-toms, maracas, ratchet, and a deep bell tuned to A"

Piano and celesta (1 player)
Harp

4 Vocal soloists: Dramatic soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone

Large SATB CHORUS

Strings