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Rebecca Oswald, composer - audioclips

Click on any of the categories below to read about my works and hear 30- to 45- second MP3 audioclips. You will need an MP3 player in order to hear them. Click here for a free download of an MP3 player for your computer.

Printed scores (and parts, as applicable) of all my orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and solo instrument works listed below are available for purchase (the orchestral works can be rented).

Audioclips of my commercially available recordings are in the final category.

TV, Film, and Videogame production companies worldwide may clear and license my music through Music Supervisor, Inc.

orchestral works     chamber works

choral and vocal works

works for solo instruments     media music

pop music & recordings

 

A few words about commissioning music:
What's possible? and what's in it for you?

 

 

orchestral works

Finding the Murray River (2222/2220/timp/perc/hp/stgs); 6:00
This work won the Women's Philharmonic 1998 reading session competition. It has been performed in Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and twice in California. It will be performed again in March 2011 by the Willamette Valley Community Orchestra in Albany, Oregon. In fall 2010 this work will be available on CD on the Navona label, recorded by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in winter 2010. The Murray River in this case is a fictional geographical place, as well as a metaphor alluding to one's heart's desire. These audioclips are from the Women's Philharmonic reading session.
     murrayriver1     murrayriver2     murrayriver3

Sleep, Child (string orchestra); 5:00
I was inspired to write this piece after watching a newscast in which a mother living in a wartorn country tried to comfort her child. Sleep, Child begins and ends as a troubled lullaby, with a happier, reminiscent section in the middle. In summer 2010 this work will be available on CD on the Navona label, recorded by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in winter 2010. These audioclipas are from a reading by the University of Oregon Symphony Orchestra.
     sleepchild1     sleepchild2

Man of Oregon (2222/4221/timp/4perc/stgs); 23:00
Commissioned by the Bowerman family through the Oregon Humanities Center with financial support from the Oregon Community Foundation, this work is a symphonic biography of Bill Bowerman (1911-1999), famed track and field coach from the University of Oregon and the U.S. Olympics; co-founder of NIKE; inventor of the waffle-soled running shoe and all-weather track; author of the best-selling book Jogging, which sparked the entire jogging movement in the United States in the 1970s. This is the full orchestra version of Bowerman, Man of Oregon (see below). The premiere performance was on July 1, 2008, by the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra; Philip Brunelle, conductor. Audioclips coming soon!

Bowerman, Man of Oregon (1111/1111/timp/2perc/stgs); 23:00
These audioclips are from the October 2007 premiere performance by the Central Oregon Symphony, Michael Gesme, conductor. This is the chamber orchestra version of Man of Oregon (see above).
     bowerman1     bowerman2     bowerman3     bowerman4
          bowerman5     bowerman6     bowerman7     bowerman8

Sinfonia no. 1: Of Trees and Stars (2222/4220/timp/perc/hp/stgs); 10:30
This work won the Women's Philharmonic 2001 reading session competition. It explores orchestral color and texture as the musical themes interweave and transform. I wrote this work at a time when I was eager to move away from the city and its noise to a more rural setting.
     sinfonia1     sinfonia2     sinfonia3

An Autumn Concerto (solo Bb clarinet; 1101/1110/timp/perc/hp/stgs); 14:30
Commissioned by my friend Lisa Taylor, clarinetist, this concerto is a single-movement, through-composed work—rather like a tone poem in form—reflecting various aspects and activities of autumn as the days pass from equinox to solstice. These audioclips are a MIDI realization; as soon as this work premieres I'll post audioclips from the performance.
     autumn1     autumn2     autumn3     autumn4

The Sunbringer's Tale (SATB chorus; 2222/2220/timp/2perc/hp/stgs); 21:00
Information about this work is now in my choral works section, below.

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chamber works

Aesop's Fables (woodwind quintet plus narration); 12:00
The five movements of this work each tell of one of Aesop's Fables. Each movement has two main characters, highlighted by a different pairing of instruments. The music can stand alone, though all performances to date have included narration. Audiences of all ages enjoy this work. Arrieu Wind Quintet, resident ensemble at the Oregon State University Department of Music, performed Aesop's Fables twelve times in their 1999-2000 concert season: at libraries, school assemblies, and evening concerts, including the Oregon Mozart Players' "Chamber Music and Chocolate" concert series. As a school concert piece, it is an excellent vehicle for demonstrating the "personality" of the different instruments of the woodwind quintet.
     The Ant and the Grasshopper     aesop'sfables1
     The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse     aesop'sfables2
     The Hare and the Tortoise     aesop'sfables3
     The Wind and the Sun     aesop'sfables4
     The Lion and the Mouse     aesop'sfables5

Field Report: News from Rural Oregon (clarinet/piano); 11:20
This four-movement work was commissioned by clarinetist Lisa Taylor. It incorporates a charming, amusing mix of tonality and atonality, painting four pictures of life in the country. This performance was by Lisa Taylor and pianist Winnie Kerner.
     I. Goat Dance     fieldreport1
     II. 186 Days of Rain     fieldreport2
     III. Salmon Run     fieldreport3
     IV. Blackberry Season     fieldreport4

Loco Motives (flute, clarinet, violin, 'cello, percussion, piano); 5:30
This work uses extended triadic chords suggestive of jazz harmonies. Its motives have interesting gestural shapes. It evokes a lazy summer day broken by the sound and energy of a couple of passing trains. This reading was by the California E.A.R. Unit.
     locomotives1     locomotives2     locomotives3

Theseus and the Minotaur (horn, oboe, piano, percussion, narration); 18:00
This piece was commissioned and premiered by my friend Matt Monroe, horn player. It shows off the horn's capabilities in its lower range and uses a variety of extended techniques. Theseus and the Minotaur is an original retelling of the ancient Greek myth of how Theseus slew the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Between its six movements are narrations spoken by the four instrumentalists.
     I. Overture     theseus1
     II. The Voyage of Doom     theseus2
     III. Theseus and Ariadne     theseus3
     IV. In the Labyrinth     theseus4
     V. The Flight from Crete     theseus5
     VI. The Death of King Aegeus     theseus6

Barbara (flute quartet: 2 C flutes, alto flute, bass flute); 4:00
This piece is named for Barbara Bowerman, wife of Bill Bowerman, Oregon's legendary track coach and the co-founder of NIKE. Its main theme is the "Barbara" flute theme which recurs throughout my orchestral work Man of Oregon. This performance was by flutists Jill Pauls, Alice Burke, Cathy Patton, and Liz Hoffman.
     barbara1     barbara2

Dos Cabeceos (2 violins, cello, piano); 4:45
This chamber work references Argentine tango in a tangle of independent lines that interact to weave a complex rhythmic and harmonic texture. Cabeceo is a Spanish word meaning "a nod of the head." In Argentine tango social dancing, a cabeceo is the traditional nonverbal invitation to dance the tango.

     doscabeceos

Cactus Moon (percussion quartet); 1:20
This is a short, funny piece. The reading is by the Talujon Percussion Quartet.
     cactusmoon

Tin Roof (prepared classical guitar quartet); 3:00
This piece was commissioned by the Portland Guitar Duo. It is notated in fairly simple tablature useable for demonstrating prepared guitar techniques at masterclasses and workshops. "Preparing" a classical guitar means attaching a variety of common items or materials to a nylon string guitar, in various locations along its strings, in order to produce an amazing array of unexpected timbres or sounds, some percussive, some bell- or gong-like, and much more. These preparations frequently affect the intonation in unusual ways, which necessitates writing the score in tablature. This piece can be performed with two, three, or four guitars; this clip uses four guitars.
     tinroof

Ancient Roots (prepared classical guitar duo); 7:00
This three-movement work was also commissioned by the Portland Guitar Duo. Here, they asked for a more complex duo piece for concert performance. Using a number of prepared guitar techniques, it is also written in tablature. Audioclips are not yet available.

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choral and vocal works

The Sunbringer's Tale (SATB chorus; 2222/2220/timp/2perc/hp/stgs); 21:00
This is a single-movement work with four large, smoothly-connected sections. The text, which I wrote, is an original myth about the return of the sun after the cold and dark seasons. These clips are from a performance by the University of Oregon Lab Choir and a pickup orchestra, conducted by James Reddan.
     I. Songs from childhood     sunbringer1     sunbringer2
     II. Gifts for a journey     sunbringer3     sunbringer4
     III. The long night     sunbringer5     sunbringer6
     IV. Old songs and new     sunbringer7     sunbringer8

Journeys to Freedom: Rännakud Vabadusse (large SATB, small SATB, and treble choruses; flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, percussion); 9:00
This large-ensemble choral work incorporates folksongs from the U.S. and Estonia (sung in the original languages), and celebrates human freedom and dignity. It was co-commissioned by three choirs in Westminster, Maryland: the McDaniel College Concert Choir, the Masterworks Chorale of Carroll County, and the Children's Chorus of Carroll County. Its five smoothly-connected sections include immigrant songs, orphan songs, songs of slavery and poverty, songs of homelessness and despair, and finally, songs of welcome.
     journeys1     journeys2     journeys3     journeys4     journeys5

Reciprocity (SATB a cappella with divisi); 11:00
Commissioned by the Foundation for Universal Sacred Music, this multi-lingual, multi-faith choral work honors the positive and negative formulations of the ethic of reciprocity ("do unto others..." and "do not do to others..."), often called the "golden rule." The text quotes, in chronological order, eleven of our planet's history-shaping religious teachers and philosophers, going as far back as 3100 B.C., in their original languages as much as possible. The languages of the text are, in order: Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tibetan, Chinese, ancient Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, and again Arabic.
     reciprocity-hindu     reciprocity-jain     reciprocity-confucian
          reciprocity-jewish     reciprocity-christian     reciprocity-muslim

               reciprocity-zoroastrian     reciprocity-baha'i

Three Songs of the Soul (SATB a cappella with divisi); 12:00
These three texts are English translations of poems by Dutch metaphysical poet Jan Luyken (1649-1712). My settings, while wholly original, give a nod to the tonal harmonic language of the poet's lifetime. The second song was the Westminster Choir College 1998 graduating classes' anthem. Tom Manoff, NPR classical music reviewer, published a fine review after a concert which included the third song, as performed by the Oregon Repertory Singers. Three Songs of the Soul can be performed individually or as a set.
     I. The Soul's Devotion at the Rebirth of Life
               soul1-1     soul1-2
     II. The Soul Considers Its Nearness to God
               soul2-1     soul2-2     soul2-3

     III. The Soul Contemplates the Creator In the Creation
               soul3-1     soul3-2

Pied Beauty (SATB a cappella); 1:50
This is my madrigal-like setting of the charming poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
     piedbeauty1     piedbeauty2

In The Gloaming (SATB a cappella); 3:30
This is my choral setting of the popular song written in 1877 by Annie Fortescue Harrison and Meta Orred. This arrangement was commissioned by James Reed for James Reddan, and was recorded by the Linn-Benton Community College Chamber Choir in June 2010.
     inthegloaming

The Light on the Hill (SATB/organ); 3:50
This church anthem was commissioned by Reverend and Mrs. Woody Brown, of First United Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas. This original text reflects the inclusive nature of this particular congregation, and my melodies and harmonies give a nod to the church's Scottish roots. I also arranged The Light on the Hill as a one-page congregational hymn. The audioclip below is from the hymntune arrangement. Scores are available for perusal or purchase.
     lightonthehill

How Sacred Is This Place Today (SATB/organ); 5:00
This church anthem was commissioned by St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Eugene, Oregon, in honor of the opening of their new building. The text is from Genesis 28. I don't have a recording, but scores are available for perusal or purchase.

Strength and Power Supremely Great (SATB/organ); 3:45
This church anthem was commissioned by St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Eugene, Oregon, for Lent. The text is 12th c. anonymous. I don't have a recording, but scores are available for perusal or purchase.

Come and Find the Quiet Center (SATB hymntune setting); 3:10
This hymntune won the annual hymntune setting competition at Westminster Choir College in 1996. The words are by Shirley Erena Murray.
     quietcenter

Wise Words of Love (SSAA/piano); 13:00
Here I've set a number of short quotes from Shakespeare's plays. The words are lines spoken by women characters in a number of the plays, on various aspects of love. The tone of this piece ranges from tongue-in-cheek to deeply romantic and back. These clips are from its second performance by the University of Oregon Women's Chorus,Joanne McDade, conductor.
     1. Disdain     wisewords1
     2. Pursuit     wisewords2
     3. The Eyes of Love     wisewords3
     4. Folly     wisewords4
     5. Courtship     wisewords5
     6. Passion     wisewords6
     7. Devotion     wisewords7
     8. Marriage     wisewords8
     9. Parting     wisewords9

Let Him Return (SSA/piano); 6:15
This original text looks at war from the women's perspective: the hopes and prayers common to women of all centuries, countries, and faiths. This piece won Top Honors in the Waging Peace through Singing (2002) international choral composition competition, in the women's chorus category. Its premiere performance was in May 2005, by the She Sings! women's chorus, Martha Hill Duncan, conductor, in Kingston, Ontario (Canada).
     lethimreturn

Carol of the Seekers (SSAA a cappella); 2:45
I wrote the words and music for this simple Christmas carol. The voices evoke the sound of bells ringing. There is a simple, optional handbell part, not on this recording.
     seekers1     seekers2

Walk With Me (SSAA a cappella); 3:10
Here is a fun, upbeat, romantic piece for women's choir, on a text I wrote. This performance was by the She Sings! women's chorus, Martha Hill Duncan, conductor, in Kingston, Ontario (Canada).
     walkwithme

Pat-a-Pan (TTBB a cappella); 2:10
This is my arrangement and translation of the traditional Burgundian holiday carol. These audioclips have piano accompaniment, although optimally it should be performed a cappella.
     patapan1     patapan2

Ubi Caritas (A/T duet, accompanied by string trio or organ); 5:30
This text from the Mass of Maundy Thursday: "Wherever there is charity and love, God is there...." My setting of the beautiful Ubi Caritas text uses an original melody. It has been performed with alto and tenor soloists, and it could also be done with the alto and tenor sections of a choir.
     ubicaritas1     ubicaritas2

Your Hands (tenor/piano); 6:40
The text for this artsong is excerpted from the epilogue of an English translation of the epic poem The Twelve Words of the Gypsy by Greek poet Kostes Palamas (1859-1943). Palamas wrote the epilogue as an apology to his wife for neglecting her while writing his epic poem. Your Hands is a love song to a practical woman. The intricate, industrious piano accompaniment symbolizes the woman's active, tireless service. The lyrical, soaring melody provides the musical constancy around which the accompaniment dances. The score is available for purchase (write to inquire); a recording of this piece is the final track on my
October Wind CD, sung by tenor Peter Hollens.
     yourhands1     yourhands2

Double Beauty (soprano/piano); 2:50
The introspective, thoughtful text for this charming lullaby was written by British poet Eleanor Farjeon. The piece was commissioned by my friend, soprano Gretchen Farrar, for inclusion on her forthcoming CD. Audioclips coming soon!

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works for solo instruments

Sonata no. 1 (solo piano); 9:20
This single-movement work is the most serious piano piece I've written.
     sonata1     sonata2     sonata3     sonata4

Sheet music to the thirteen solo piano pieces on my October Wind CD can be purchased online as PDF downloads (as a set or as individual songs) from Lulu.com. For a coil bound copy of the book, send me an e-mail.
     
October Wind (solo piano); 2:50
     Truth (solo piano); 4:37
     The Rhythm of Snow (solo piano); 3:54
     New Leaf (solo piano); 4:49
     Perseids (solo piano); 3:46
     Think (solo piano); 4:31
     Regatta (solo piano); 3:40
     Reunion (solo piano); 3:36
     Dancing With Unseen Friends (solo piano); 4:13
     Periwinkle Blue (solo piano); 3:21
     Blessing Bowl (solo piano); 3:09
     A Starfish Serenade (solo piano, right hand only); 2:46
     Embrace (solo piano); 4:11
The CD can be purchased from CD Baby

The Dimming of the Day (solo natural horn in Eb); 3:00
When I get a recording I'll post audioclips. The music is available for purchase.

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media music

A History of the University of Oregon: This is a sweeping, warts-and-all story that covers more than one hundred years of the University's history in a three-hour video documentary. It is now available on DVD from the University of Oregon Duck Store. I wrote, recorded, and produced the music for the first part in 2001, and for the second and third parts in 2007. Below are just a few audiclips from a long list of score cues. The tracks are mostly MIDI, and are intended to sound "period."

     Part I: The Founding and Growing Pains: 1857-1925
          UO-pioneer     UO-coplandharp     UO-march
               UO-chambermusic     UO-majorrag     UO-uptown

     Part 2: Politics, War, and Rebirth: 1926-1960
          UO-bounce     UO-noir     UO-hatfield     UO-growth

     Part 3: The Years of Unrest: 1961-1989
          UO-groove     UO-dissonant     UO-funk     UO-flute
               UO-organ     UO-heavy

A History of the University of Oregon


Heroes in the Time of the Three Kingdoms (Heroes in the Time of the Three Kingdoms): In 1997 I wrote the music for this CD-ROM strategy game, the first product of OdinSoft Company, Taiwan. The game was released in January 1998. My challenge was to write short (1:00 to 1:30), loopable music tracks that sounded ancient and Chinese, yet totally cool for the game-playing public. The game is in Mandarin. It's no longer being made. Here are a few clips from its 17 tracks.
     
Three Kingdoms (game opening and store demo)     3kingdoms1-1
     
Ts'ao Ts'ao (hero theme)     3kingdoms1-2
     
Yüan Shao (hero theme)     3kingdoms1-3
     
Jade-green Chameleon (contemplative theme)     3kingdoms1-4
     
Strength in Numbers (strategy planning theme)     3kingdoms1-5
     
Ancient Castle (battle theme)     3kingdoms1-6

Heroes in the Time of the Three Kingdoms II (Heroes in the Time of the Three Kingdoms II): This is the sequel to the game above. It came out in February 1999. That summer it was the second-best selling game of any format in Taiwan. Like the first game, it's no longer being made. Here are a few clips from its 17 tracks.
     
Loyal Legions (opening theme)     3kingdoms2-1
     
Royal Blood (hero theme)     3kingdoms2-2
     
Two-faced Traitor (hero theme)     3kingdoms2-3
     
Heavy Rebel (hero theme)     3kingdoms2-4
     
Bamboo Grove (contemplative theme)     3kingdoms2-5
     
Banzai! (choosing your allies theme)     3kingdoms2-6

Three Kingdoms I     Three Kingdoms II
(game I)                                (game II)

Here is a 9-minute (18 MB) Quicktime movie edited from game II being played.
     Heroes II sample movie      

Need the player? Click to download:
     
Quicktime for Mac      - or -    Quicktime for Windows

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pop music & recordings

October Wind: As contemporary classical music, the pieces on this CD lean toward neo-Romanticism in style. Each one is carefully crafted for form and balance; none of the music is improvisational. These pieces range from thoughtful and introspective to shining and exuberant. Perhaps they will speak to your heart, mind, or spirit. Melodies and harmonies can take one on untold marvelous journeys! The first thirteen pieces are for solo piano; number twelve, A Starfish Serenade, is for the right hand only. In the fourteenth and final piece on this CD, an art song entitled Your Hands, I am joined by tenor Peter Hollens. His stellar voice brings its beautiful text to life. It is a love song to a practical woman. The lyrical, soaring melody provides the musical framework around which the accompaniment dances.

This 56-minute CD of mostly solo piano music is available for purchase from CDbaby. You can purchase MP3 downloads from numerous online retailers including CDbaby, Apple iTunes, and Amazon.

Click here to listen to audioclips and for more information.

TV, Film, and Videogame production companies worldwide may clear and license my music through Music Supervisor, Inc.

October Wind CD

 

Pray, Tell Me How: This beautiful sacred song is available as a CD single, as an MP3 download, as printed sheet music, and as PDF sheet music downloads. My friend and fellow composer Michael Hanian wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics. Pray, Tell Me How was professionally arranged, recorded, and produced. Click here to read what others are saying about Pray, Tell Me How.

    praytellmehow1     praytellmehow2

Click here to purchase the CD single. The CD single includes both a vocal and an instrumental version of the song. Both versions are also available as MP3 downloads from Apple iTunes.

To purchase printed copies of the music, send me an e-mail. Or, click here for FREE PDF DOWNLOADS of the sheet music! Leadsheets, easy piano, and piano/vocal versions are all available in English, French, Russian, Finnish, German, Swedish, and Hebrew, with more languages on the way!

Pray, Tell Me How CD cover

 

What A Perfect Day: Okay, this one's not for sale. But I'm including an audioclip from it because it's cute, and because it was commissioned by two friends of mine in honor their twins' (Leighton and Tiana) first birthday. I love a challenge! I had to write something that would appeal to one-year-olds. I was told that when they first heard their names in the song, their faces lit up and they danced!
     whataperfectday

I enjoy writing music in popular genres as well as concert works.

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A few words about commissioning music:
What's possible? and what's in it for you?

Music can be commissioned by anyone, in honor of anyone, for any occasion. Musical works can be long or short in duration; large or small in performing forces required; serious or humorous; sacred or secular; concert or popular in nature; with or without text, which can be sung and/or spoken; texts can be in any language or combination of languages; I can write original lyrics and/or narration; also there are many texts in the public domain; and copyrighted texts can be used if permission is secured in advance. Musical works can evoke a mood, paint a picture, tell a story, or stand alone. Non-musicians might have a performing musician friend(s) whom they'd like to hear premiere a newly-composed work. Individuals, groups of friends, famillies, musicians, performing ensembles, organizations, indeed anyone can commission music! Commissioning a new work can be a powerful, significant way to leave a legacy in the world through the performing arts.

I'm a composer who is able and willing to write just about anything. Here are some of the potential benefits to you if you commission a work from me:
     • you get to support a living composer (me) in creating a new work;
     • you could dialogue with me in naming the new work;
     • you could participate in choosing the instrumentation and/or text;

     • if not yourself or your ensemble, you could engage the performer or ensemble of your choice to premiere the piece;
     • the piece would honor the person, place, or event of your choosing;
     • this honor, as a dedication ("commissioned by X in honor of Z," for example), would appear on all copies of the printed music;
     • the dedication would be mentioned in concert program notes whenever the piece is performed live;
     • the dedication would be mentioned in future recording liner notes;
     • the dedication may be announced when the recording is broadcast;
     • the dedication would be mentioned in press releases related to the premiere performance and subsequent performances;
     • you, the commissioning party, would be acknowledged at the premiere
performance;
     • and we can hang out like celebrities before and after the premiere. It'll be fun.

It is through the patronage of others that I am able to continue composing.
Got an idea for a new piece? Write to me:
raoswald@aol.com

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