Jamie Kowalski — Works for Orchestra

Breaking of the Ice Shelf (2021)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4/3/3/1; perc.; celesta, strings
Duration: 4:45

Description

This work uses a construction of mine I call non-octave-repeating scales. This particular scale's pattern repeats at the perfect fourth, instead of the octave:
This idea was first explored in the middle movement of Vesuvius, and is more fully realized here. One thing that makes the scale interesting to me is that register is dictated by harmony, and harmony is dictated by register. A chain of three parallel voices will change chord quality in surprising ways. Balancing chords in the orchestra is often a challenge, as not every not every note is available for doubling or for a typically desired distribution.

Sheet Music

Download PDF Full Score
Download PDF Reduced Score

Audio

Breaking of the Ice Shelf

Video

Reduced score presentation

East and West Windows (2019)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4/2/3/1; perc.; strings
Duration: 4:30

Sheet Music

Download PDF Score

Audio

East and West Windows

Bagatelles (2015)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4/2/3/1; perc.; strings
Duration: 24:00

Sheet Music

Download PDF Score

Audio

  1. Figure and Ground
  2. Gliding with Elephant
  3. J'adoube
  4. Return to the Hive
  5. Precipice
  6. Light Bends

Museum of False Memories (2013)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4/2/3/1; perc.; strings
Duration: 20:00

Description

Commissioned by Dance Box Theater for performance in 2013. The show, which also included The Cornell Boxes, played to a sold-out audience from October 3-6, 2013 at Joe's Movement Emporium in Mt. Rainier, MD. For a complete description of the performance, please visit the Museum Of False Memories page on their website.

Sheet Music

Purchase Study Score Download PDF Score

Audio

  1. First We Make Room
  2. Particle Shock
  3. Apophis in Plaster
  4. Valeurs Personnelles
  5. How Fire Begins

Video

Live dance performance by Dancebox Theater
First We Make Room reduced score presentation
Particle Shock reduced score presentation
Particle Shock MidiSpark Animation

Oneironauts (2010)

Instr: 3/3/3/3; 4/3/3/1; perc.; piano; harp; strings
Duration: 7:30

Description

"Oneironaut" means "explorer of dreams." It is used primarily to describe those who practice the art of Lucid Dreaming. A lucid dream is one in which the dreamer is fully aware and conscious during sleep, and able to directly influence the shape and direction of the dream. This work was intended to evoke the feeling of such a journey -- the sudden and often fleeting moments of clarity, and the ever-shifting visuals and story components.

Sheet Music

Download PDF Score

Audio

Oneironauts

The Cornell Boxes (2008)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4;3;3;1; perc.; strings
Duration: 21:00

Description

This orchestral suite was written as an homage to artist and sculptor Joseph Cornell, (1903-1972), and was inspired by an exhibit of his assemblages at the National Gallery of Art in 2007.

Sheet Music


Purchase Study Score
Download PDF Score

Audio

  1. Hotel Eden
  2. Sand Fountain
  3. Soap Bubble Set, 1941
  4. In the Workshop
  5. Balloon Girl (Tilly Losch)
  6. Rose Castle

Video

Live dance performance by Dancebox Theater:
Hotel Eden MidiSpark Animation

Equilibrium (2007, Revised 2009)

Instr: 3/3/3/3; 4;3;3;1; perc.; piano; strings
Duration: 10:00

Description

Though at first glance, Equilibrium may appear to be a piano concerto, It may be better described as a concerto for orchestra with piano. The line between solo and accompaniment is pushed, blurred, and often simply doesn't exist. The writing is highly chromatic, yet almost always implies common, though shifting, tonal centers.

Sheet Music

Download PDF Score

Audio

Equilibrium

Summer Music (2007)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4/3/3/1; timp; perc; strings
Duration: 6:00

Description

I wrote Summer Music as a dedication to DC Youth Orchestra Program founder Maestro Lyn McLain to honor his service to the arts and to the community. Many years ago while I was in Program, McLain was a personal inspiration to me, helping me to grow both as a musician and a composer. The title refers to my fond memories of the summer concerts of which I took part.

Premiere

2007, John McLaughlin Williams, DC Youth Orchestra & Alumni, Kennedy Center, Washington DC

Sheet Music

Download PDF Score

Audio

Summer Music

Five Unlikely Visions (2006, Revised 2007)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4;3;3;1; harp; perc.; strings

Description

These five short works attempt to capture impressions of hypnagogic images that came to me during long bouts of insomnia. The suite (minus the third movement) was a finalist in the 2006 Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Composition Competition, and was performed twice by that orchestra.

Premiere

2006, Ulysses James, Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic

Sheet Music

  1. Overgrowth (2006 version)
  2. A Miniature Spectacle (2006 version)
  3. Room in Filtered Light (2006 version)
  4. Suddenly Moths (2006 version)
  5. Dust Ascending (2006 version)

Audio

  1. Overgrowth
  2. A Miniature Spectacle
  3. Room in Filtered Light
  4. Suddenly Moths
  5. Dust Ascending

Video

Suddenly Moths: MidiSpark Animation

Vesuvius (2006)

Instr: 3/3/3/3; 4;3;3;1; harp; perc.; strings

Description

This work was inspired by a visit to Mt. Vesuvius during my honeymoon. The harmonic language represents an attempt to merge the qualities of impressionism and primitivism.

Sheet Music


Purchase Study Score
Download PDF Score

Audio

  1. From the Foot
  2. From Sea
  3. From the Mouth

Video

From Sea: MidiSpark Animation

Autumn Concerto (2005)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 2 hns, 2 tpts; perc; harp; strings; piano solo

Description

"Dorothy" of the dedication is my grandmother, Dorothy Ludorf, who passed away as this work was being written. The title "The Same Tree," aside from reminding us that falling leaves do not fundamentally change the nature of a tree, is a personal reminder to myself that a family tree remains unchanged after the passing of a loved one.

Sheet Music

  1. Polychromasia
  2. The Same Tree (for Dorothy)
  3. Leaves Scattering

Audio

  1. Polychromasia
  2. The Same Tree (for Dorothy)
  3. Leaves Scattering

Where Things Will Fall (1995, Revised 2004)

Instr: 2 fl, ob, bass cl.; 3 hns, tba; 2 harps; perc; strings
Duration: 3:00

Audio

Where Things Will Fall

Epidemic (1994, Revised 2004)

Instr: 2/1/1/2; 2 tpts; timp; perc; strings
Duration: 2:00

Audio

Epidempic

View of Mount Fuji from Edo (1992)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4/2/3/1; perc; pno; strings
Duration: 8:00

Audio

View of Mount Fuji from Edo

Pythagoras (1990)

Instr: 2/2/3/2; 4/2/2/1; timp; perc; strings
Duration: 9:00

Premiere

1990, Nevilla Ottley, Takoma Park Symphony Orchestra, Takoma Park MD

The Reign of Anchaidepes (1981)

Instr: 3/3/3/3; 4/3/3/1; harp; timp; perc; strings
Duration: 16:00

Symphony #1 in F Minor (1980)

Instr: 2/2/2/2; 4/3/3/1; timp; perc; strings
Duration: 18:00

Premiere

1980, Jamie Kowalski, DC Youth Orchestra, Washington DC