Christopher Theofanidis

Works: Alphabetical

Title Instrumentation Duration Listen & Watch
Airs and Dances (2016) for double reed consort and percussion: 2 oboes, 1 English horn, 2 bassoons, 1 percussionist ca. 12'
A Thousand Cranes (2015)
I. Stars and Sonnets
II. Wind Spirit
III. Sadako
for strings and harp ca. 30' Watch - A Thousand Cranes (excerpts)
East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO) and Sivan Magen, harp. Performed at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas as part of Soundings: New Music at the Nasher, December 2015.
Allegory of the Cave (2012) for string quartet and piano
Commissioned by the Wilhelm Schole International for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Rio de Janeiro, Brazil June 2012
ca. 12'
All dreams begin with the horizon (2007) for solo piano
Commissioned by Meet the Composer for Tanya Bannister
ca. 10'
Tanya Bannister, piano
Aria (2016; adapted from Concerto for Marimba and Wind Sinfonietta 2013) for solo marimba
Written for Sam Um
ca. 7' Watch - Aria (2016) for solo marimba
Sam Um, Marimba
Ariel Ascending (1995) for string quartet
Commissioned by the Fromm Foundation and Tanglewood
for the Henschel Quartet
ca. 15'
the Henschel String Quartet
Artemis (2014) for Horn, string quintet, and keyboard ca. 25'
Artemis (2003) A ballet, with orchestra
Commissioned by The American Ballet Theatre, Lar Lubovitch, choreographer
ca. 25'
As Dancing is to Architecture (1996) for orchestra
Commissioned by the California Symphony
ca. 4'
California Symphony / Barry Jekowsky, conducting
At the Still Point (2013) for piano quintet ca. 35'
Birichino (2013) for solo piano ca. 7' Watch - Birichino
Jayson Gillham, piano, at the 2013 Cliburn Competition Semi-Finals, Bass Hall, Fort Worth, Texas.
Chamber Symphony #1 in D Major after P. I. Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet, Op. 11 (2018), a transcription for 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 B-flat clarinet, 1 bassoon, 2 horns, timpani, strings
Commissioned by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
ca. 28'
Concerto #2 (2018) for solo piano, strings, harp, and percussion ca. 20'
Concerto (2013) for marimba and wind sinfonietta ca. 20'
Concerto (2009) for cello and orchestra
commissioned for the Dallas Symphony and Nina Kotova
Concerto (2008) for violin and orchestra
Commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony for Sarah Chang
ca. 23'
Sarah Chang, violin
Pittsburgh Symphony / Andris Nelsons, conducting
Concerto (2006) for piano and chamber orchestra
Commissioned by Pro Musica Columbus for Donald Berman
ca. 21'
Donald Berman, piano
Pro Musica Columbus / Timothy Russell, conducting
Concerto (2003) for viola and chamber orchestra
Commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra for Kim Kashkashian
ca. 27'
Concerto (1997/2002) for bassoon and chamber orchestra
Commissioned by the Absolute Ensemble for Martin Kuuskmann
ca. 23'
Martin Kuuskman, bassoon
Yale Philharmonia / Shinik Hahm, conducting
Concerto (1994) for alto saxophone and orchestra
Commissioned by Worldwide Concurrent Premieres and Commissioning Fund for a consortium of 10 saxophonists
ca. 18'
The Conference of the Birds (2017)
I. The Valley of Quest
II. The Valley of Love
III. The Valley of Unity
IV. The Valley of Knowledge
V. The Valley of Detachment
VI. The Valley of Wonderment
VII. The Valley of Poverty and Annihilation
for string quartet ca. 15'
Creation/Creator (2015) for soloists, actors, chorus and orchestra ca. 80' I. Elephant in the Dark
II. God-Tapestry
IV. Laboratories of the Universe
V. In the Eternal
VII. Two Girls
XI. An Angel in the Marble
XII. The Music it Makes
IX. Between Green Thread and Broccoli
XIII. All Things Bound in a Single Book
Robert Spano, conductor
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Discipline and Transcendence (2019) for solo violin
Written for the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition 2020
ca. 5'
Dreamtime Ancestors (2015) for orchestra ca. 20'
Drum Circles (2019)
I. Rivers and Anthems
II. Sparks and Chants
III. How Can You Smile When You’re Deep in Thought?
IV. Spirits and Drums
V. Three Chords and the Truth (or, Learning to Breathe Again)
for percussion quartet and orchestra ca. 25'
Etenraku (1996) for winds, piano, and percussion
Commissioned by the National Symphony
ca. 3' Listen
Columbus State Wind Ensemble / Robert Rumbelow, conducting
Fantasy (2009) for violin and piano
[This is the second movement of the Violin Concerto in a chamber version]
ca. 8'
Field of Infinite Forms (2008) for orchestra and digital playback
Electronics realized by Mark Wingate
Acoustic music realized by Christopher Theofanidis
ca. 20'
Austin Symphony/Peter Bay, conducting
Five (2014) for string quartet ca. 18'
Flourishes (1998) for orchestra and antiphonal brass
Commissioned by the Ft. Worth Symphony
for the opening of Bass Hall
ca. 4'
Flow, my tears (1997) Version for solo violin, viola, ‘cello or guitar
Written for Carol Rodland in memory of Jacob Druckman
ca. 10'
Jennie Press, violin
Four Levertov Settings (2016) for SSATTB chorus and solo violin
The Game (2017) for orchestra
Commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony
Inspired by The Wire; Based on Tom Waits’ song
“Way down in the hole”
ca. 3'
The Gift (2013) for tenor, chorus, and orchestra
Commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony
ca. 20'
Heart of a Soldier Libretto by Donna Di Novelli
Francesca Zambello, director
Thomas Hampson, William Burden- lead roles
San Francisco Opera/ Patrick Summers, conducting
  Watch PBS NewsHour
Rick Rescorla saved lives during the Vietnam War, and again on 9/11, but he lost his life as a result. His story, told in the book "Heart of a Soldier" by James Stewart, has been recast as an opera in San Francisco. Spencer Michels reports. Watch preview from San Francisco Opera
Francesca Zambello, director; Thomas Hampson, William Burden - lead roles; San Francisco Opera/ Patrick Summers, conducting
The Here and Now (2005) for soloists, chorus, and orchestra
Commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus
ca. 35'
Hila Plittman, soprano; Rick Clement, tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone Atlanta Symphony and Chorus/Robert Spano, conducting
I wander the world in a dream of my own making (2005) for wind ensemble
Commissioned by a consortium of 11 wind ensembles
ca. 8' Listen
Columbus State Wind Ensemble/Robert Rumbelow, conducting
Kaoru (1994) for two flutes
Written for Kaoru Hinata and Christopher Vaneman
ca. 12' Watch Kaoru for two flutes
Benjamin Smolen, Johanna Borenstein, flutes Watch Kaoru for two flutes
Performed by Andrew Robson and Felice Doynov as part of the NY Philharmonic's 2016 Biennial at Greene Space in New York City. Watch Q2 Interview about Kaoru with Helga Davis
Q2's Helga Davis interviews Christopher Theofanidis about his work Kaoru (1994) for two flutes as part of the NY Philharmonic's Biennial at Greene Space in New York City.
Christopher Vaneman, Kaoru Hinata, flutes
Lakshmi and the Seed of Divine Desire (2017) for flute and piano ca. 14' Watch - Lakshmi and the Seed of Divine Desire
Benjamin Smolen, flute
Jennifer Hsiao, piano
The Legend of the Northern Lights (2014) for narrator, child actor and orchestra (with film) ca. 25' Watch NHSO Interview
New Haven Symphony Orchestra Music Director William Boughton interviews composer Christopher Theofanidis. Watch Interview about The Legend of the Northern Lights with WFMT's Noel Morris
Christopher Theofanidis discusses a brand new piece, The Legend of the Northern Lights, with WFMT's Noel Morris on the eve of its world premiere by the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago.
Making Up For Lost Time (2015) for orchestra ca. 12'
Messages to Myself (2007) for SSAATTBB, a capella chorus
Commissioned by the Houston Chamber Choir
ca. 15'
Houston Chamber Choir / Robert Simpson, conducting
Muse (2007) for strings and harpsichord
Commissioned by The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra as part of their New Brandenburg Project.
ca. 12'
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Watch Muse for strings and harpsichord
Portland Youth Philharmonic / David Hattner, Musical Director; Wieden+Kennedy Building Portland, Oregon
Netherland (1993) Alto Saxophone and Piano ca. 6'
Off the Clock (2019) for concert band ca. 12'
On the Bridge of the Eternal (2020) for orchestra
Written for the University of Colorado Boulder’s centennial
ca. 17'
One thing at a time (2017) for solo flute
6 Etude miniatures
ca. 10'
O Vis Aeternitatis (2000) for string quartet and piano
Commissioned by the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival for Speculum Musicae
ca. 15'
Curtis Macomber, Carol Zeavin, violins; Lois Martin, viola; Christopher Finckel, ‘cello; Aleck Karis, piano
Peace, Love, Light YOUMEONE (2002) for string orchestra
Commissioned by the California Symphony
ca. 6'
Quasi una Fantasia (2013) for 2 clarinets and string quartet
or 2 clarinets and string orchestra
ca. 10'
Quintet (2019)
I. The war in heaven
II. Aria for a lost beauty
III. Fire and magic
for Bb clarinet and string quartet ca. 20'
Raga (1992) for flute, clarinet, violin, 'cello, piano, and two percussion
Written for the Eastman Musica Nova
ca. 6'
Denise Cohen, flute; Christian Ellenwood, clarinet; Adrian Justus, violin; James Holland, ‘cello, Mauricio Nader, piano; Gareth Farr, Stefon Harris, percussion; Shafer Mahoney, conducting
Rainbow Body (2000) for orchestra
Commissioned by the Houston Symphony
ca. 12' Listen
Atlanta Symphony / Robert Spano, conducting
The Refuge (2007) Libretto by Leah Lax
for soloists, chorus, orchestra, and several non-Western ensembles
Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera
ca. 90'
Houston Grand Opera: Albina Shagimuratova, Rebekah Camm, sopranos; Faith Sherman, Jamie Barton, mezzo-sopranos; Beau Gibson, tenor; Liam Bonner, baritone; Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone; Philip Evbomoen, tenor soloist; Julie Trinh Dang, dan bau and dan tranh; Ali Durrani, Qawwali singer; Chandrakantha Courtney, sitars; David Courtney, tabla; Giridahar Kalamanglam, Samhitha Murthy, tanpuras; Vadim Angerov, bayan; Gifted and Talented Vocal Ensemble; Spanish Choir, Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral Chorus; Children’s Chorus and Orchestra of Houston Grand Opera; Patrick Summers, conducting
Rex Tremendae Majestatis (2008) for solo organ, brass, and percussion
Commissioned by the Pacific Symphony for Paul Jacobs
ca. 8'
Paul Jacobs, organ
Pacific Symphony / Carl St. Clair, conducting
Song of Elos (1999) On a poem by Judith Freeman
for soprano, string quartet, and piano
Written for Camille Zamora
ca. 10'
Elizabeth Weigle, soprano; Peabody Piano Quintet
Statues (1992) for solo piano
Written for Mauricio Nader
ca. 10'
Mauricio Nader, piano
Summer Music (2016) for orchestra
Commissioned by the Williamsport Symphony for their 50th anniversary
ca. 15'
Summer Verses (2009) for violin and ‘cello
commissioned by the Seattle Chamber Music Society
for James Ehnes and Robert DeMaine
ca. 20'
James Ehnes, violin; Robert DeMaine, ‘cello
Sweet Like That Concert Band (grade 3—available from Hal Leonard) ca. 4'
Symphony (2009) for orchestra
Commissioned by Robert Spano for the Atlanta Symphony
ca. 35' Listen - I
Listen - II
Listen - III
Listen - IV
Atlanta Symphony / Robert Spano, conducting
The Invention of Music (2001) After the Sophocles Satyr Play, The Ichneutiae
Libretto by William M. Hoffman
for soloists, chorus, orchestra, rock singer and band, and dancers (may be performed in concert or stage version)
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Philharmonic
ca. 40'
Libretto by William M. Hoffman based on a Sophocles Satyr Play. Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, tenor; Earle Patriarco, bass-baritone
Brooklyn Philharmonic / Robert Spano, conducting
The Wind and Petit Jean (2013) for orchestra ca. 13'
The world is aflame (2006) for violin and ‘cello
Commissioned by Juilliard for their centennial
for Curtis Macomber and Norman Fischer
ca. 10'
Curtis Macomber, violin; Norman Fischer, ‘cello
The Thirteen Clocks (2002) An opera in two acts
Based on the James Thurber story,
The Thirteen Clocks Libretto by Peter Webster
Commissioned by the Moores School of Music
ca. 120'
This dream, strange and moving (1995) for orchestra
Commissioned by the California Symphony
ca. 8'
Une Certaine joie de vivre (2010) for orchestra ca. 3'
Virtue (2013)
after Hildegard’s Ordo Virtutum
for soprano soloist, male actor, either 3 amplified female voices or women’s choir (may also be done with children’s choir), chamber orchestra ca. 20'
Visions and Miracles (1997/2002) for string quartet or string orchestra
Commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for the Cassatt, Muir, and Cuartetto Latinoamericano String Quartets
ca. 17' Listen
String Orchestra of New York City (SONYC)
What is the Word? (2017) for string quartet and electronics
Co-written with Mark Wingate
Commissioned by the Apollo Chamber Players; Based on Samuel Beckett’s poem of the same name
ca. 15'