| Title | Instrumentation | Duration | Listen |
| Indigo Heaven (2025) |
concerto for clarinet and orchestra for Stephen Williamson, clarinet / Chicago Symphony, Gustavo Gimeno |
ca. 27' | |
| Canyon (2024) |
concerto for string quartet and orchestra Commissioned by the Amarillo Symphony for its 100th anniversary, Harrington String Quartet, Amarillo Symphony, George Jackson, cond. |
ca. 32' |
Watch premiere April 19/20, 2024 at the Globe-news Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo, Texas. |
| Concerto for Marimba and Chamber Orchestra (2013/ rev 2024) |
version for marimba and chamber orchesta for Ji Su Jung, marimba / Colorado Springs Symphony |
ca. 20' | |
| On the Bridge of the Eternal (2020/rev 2024) |
for orchestra (may be performed as a 17’ purely orchestral work, or 22’ with choral introduction on text by St. Augustine) |
ca. 17' or ca. 22' |
|
| The Wind and Petit Jean (2014/rev 2023) | for orchestra | ca. 13' |
Listen Arkansas Symphony Orchestra / Geoffrey Robson, conducting |
| The World in Ecstatic Motion (2022) |
concerto for flute and orchestra for Marina Piccini, flute, and various orchestras as part of a consortium |
ca. 22' | |
| If Falling is a Leaf (2020/2021) | for strings and harpsichord, with recited poem by Melissa Studdard | ca. 7' | |
| On the Bridge of the Eternal (2020) |
for orchestra Written for the University of Colorado Boulder’s centennial |
ca. 17' | |
|
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' |
Watch The Percussion Collective with the Curtis Orchestra, Verizon Hall |
| 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' | |
| 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' | |
|
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. |
| Dreamtime Ancestors (2015) | for orchestra | ca. 20' | |
| 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 |
| Making Up For Lost Time (2015) | for orchestra | ca. 12' | |
| Rainbow Serpent (2015) | for orchestra | ca. 7' | |
| 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. |
|
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' | |
| Concerto (2013) | for marimba and wind sinfonietta | ca. 20' | |
| Une Certaine joie de vivre (2010) | for orchestra | ca. 3' | |
| Symphony (2009) |
for orchestra Commissioned by Robert Spano for the Atlanta Symphony |
ca. 35' |
Listen - I Listen - II Listen - III Listen - IV
|
| 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' |
Pittsburgh Symphony/Andris Nelsons, conducting |
| Field of Infinite Forms (2008) |
for orchestra and digital playback Electronics realized by Mark Wingate Acoustic music realized by Christopher Theofanidis |
ca. 20' |
|
| Rex Tremendae Majestatis (2008) |
for solo organ, orchestral brass, and percussion Commissioned by the Pacific Symphony for Paul Jacobs |
ca. 8' |
Pacific Symphony/Carl St. Clair, conducting |
| The Refuge (2007) |
Libretto by Leah Lax for soloists, chorus, orchestra, and several non-Western ensembles Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera |
ca. 90' |
|
| Muse (2007) |
for strings and harpsichord Commissioned by The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra as part of their New Brandenburg Project. |
ca. 12' |
Portland Youth Philharmonic/ David Hattner, Musical Director; Wieden+Kennedy Building Portland, Oregon |
| Concerto (2006) |
for piano and chamber orchestra Commissioned by Pro Musica Columbus for Donald Berman |
ca. 21' |
Pro Musica Columbus/Timothy Russell, conducting |
| The Here and Now (2005) |
for soloists, chorus, and orchestra Commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus |
ca. 35' |
|
| Concerto (2003) |
for viola and chamber orchestra Commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra for Kim Kashkashian |
ca. 27' | |
| Artemis (2003) |
A ballet, with orchestra Commissioned by The American Ballet Theatre, Lar Lubovitch, choreographer |
ca. 25' | |
| Peace, Love, Light YOUMEONE (2002) |
for string orchestra Commissioned by the California Symphony |
ca. 6' | |
| Concerto (1997/2002) |
for bassoon and chamber orchestra Commissioned by the Absolute Ensemble for Martin Kuuskmann |
ca. 23' |
Mvt II. beautiful Mvt III. threatening, fast Martin Kuuskman, bassoon Northwest Sinfonia / Barry Jekowsky, conducting |
| Rainbow Body (2000) |
for orchestra Commissioned by the Houston Symphony |
ca. 12' |
Listen |
| Flourishes (1998) |
for orchestra and antiphonal brass Commissioned by the Ft. Worth Symphony for the opening of Bass Hall |
ca. 4' | |
| Visions and Miracles (1997) |
for string quartet or string orchestra Commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for the Cassatt, Muir, and Cuartetto Latinoamericano String Quartets |
ca. 17' |
Listen
|
| As Dancing is to Architecture (1996) |
for orchestra Commissioned by the California Symphony |
ca. 4' |
|
| This dream, strange and moving (1995) |
for orchestra Commissioned by the California Symphony |
ca. 8' | |
| Concerto (1994) |
for alto saxophone and orchestra Commissioned by Worldwide Concurrent Premieres and Commissioning Fund for a consortium of 10 saxophonists |
ca. 18' |
Biography