Garry Eister: Works

updated 12/28/10

GARRY EISTER- Works

All rights reserved. All works © Garry Eister. Please enjoy the music here,
and, if you want your friends to hear it, by all means send them here for a visit.
Any unauthorized commercial dissemination of these works is against the law.

Works index by genre:

Opera and Music Theater...... Orchestral...... Chamber
Glass...... Songs...... Choral...... Guitar
Voice & Electronics...... Video ...... Other

OPERA and MUSIC THEATER

SLEEP
-a surreal survey of the nightscape, in two parts
--for storyteller, dancers, guitar ensemble and videopuppet.

Peter Yates, musical director (the bearded man in the hat)
Gayle Fekete, choreographer (first person on the left, seated on bed)
The Cal Poly Pomona Institute Performance Ensemble (seated on bed)
soloists and The Cal Poly Pomona and UCLA guitar ensembles (standing)
--premier performances at LA's Microfest 2009
--May 27th at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA
-and June 5th at the Music Recital Hall at Cal Poly Pomona

THE GLASS ARMONICA
an Opera in Two Acts
--for two Soprani, Tenor, Baritone, and actor
--string quartet, piano, glass instrument (verrophone, armonica, table glasses; electronic samples may be substituted for a real glass instrument.)
--commissioned and premiered by the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, 8/1/97; Revised 2008 for the Sinfonia di Vetro.

John Duykers as Franklin; Hector Vasquez as Mesmer
--more info at The Glass Armonica (opera page)

MESMER, FRANKLIN, CONSTANZE: Argument Trio (excerpt from the full orchestra version.) mp3 (3mb)

ORCHESTRAL: Constanze's Waltz mp3 (1.2mb)
LIKE WRITING ON WATER
a one-act monodrama for mezzo soprano
-- accompanied by cello and piano
--composed for Jacalyn Kreitzer
--premiered by the Kreitzer, Davies, Nagano Trio
--at the Weill Recital Hall
--Carnegie Hall, NY; 4/14/01

Nancy Nagano, GE, Jacalyn Kreitzer, Susan Davies
MOBY DICK
an Opera in Two Acts
--principal singing roles for two tenors, baritone, and bass; four actors, two of the acting roles require minimal singing; chorus; horn, 2 trpts., piano, synthesizer, 2 perc. and double bass
--commissioned and premiered by The Cuesta Master Chorale, Thomas Davies, conductor, 1995
--Principal singers included Hector Vasquez as AHAB, Coke Morgan as ISHMAEL, Paul Linnes as FATHER MAPPLE and Paul Hondorp as STARBUCK

Neal Lavine as Fedallah; Hector Vasquez as Ahab

AHAB: We Are Boldly Launched mp3 (3.1mb)
THE FATHER OF LIES
a piece of Music Theater in Two Acts
--for Soprano, seven (or so) dancing Devilettes, Actor and Videosculpture
--part 1, THE FATHER OF LIES, was commissioned and premiered by The Coastal Access Musicians Alliance, Andrew Harp and Jennifer Sayers, co-directors, 1994
--Kathy Barata- an angel; Garry Eister- the Devil
--videosculpture by Mark Bryan
--part 2, THE LANDSCAPE OF HELL, was first performed with part 1 at Cuesta College Interact Theater, Anet Carlin, producer; Richard Jackson, designer; Kate Mc Hugh, choreograper

Kate Mc Hugh rehearsing The Landscape of Hell

--more info at IKONS from the Temple of the Hee Hee

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ORCHESTRAL

REGARDING EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066
Words and Music
about the internment
of 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry,
many of them American citizens,
by the United States Government during WWII,
for Mezzo Soprano, Narrator and Orchestra.
--premiered 6/18/05 by the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony
--at the San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center
--conducted by Kent Nagano
--Jackie Kreitzer, mezzo soprano
--Andy Harp, narrator

Kent Nagano and GE backstage before the premier.

I. Introduction
II. Smoke Rises
III. I Saw a Home Movie
IV. What We Could Not Carry
V.i What Do You Do When Your World is Taken Away
V.ii What Do Children Do in Jail?
VI. Beautiful Dreamer
VII. Lullaby from the Chugoku Region mp3 (2.4 mb)
VII. Afterword
AGAIN, LAST NIGHT, I DREAMT OF THE OCEAN
for Strings and Amplified Whistler
--premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Edwin London, conductor, 1984

Edwin London

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CHAMBER MUSIC

(not including music for instruments made of glass or solo guitar music)

MOVEMENT FOR STEEL DRUMS AND RESONATOR GUITAR
-premiered by GE and Patty Dee
-8/31/07
GE and Patty Dee
THREE MINIATURES FOR PAN AND CHARANGO
-premiered by GE and Patty Dee
-8/31/07
OCTOBER
-for Flute and Electronic Soundtrack
-premiered by flautist, Fred Lau, 1992

Fred Lau

October(complete) mp3 (4.3 mb)
SONATINA
-for Marimba, Electronic Reverb, and Soundtrack
-premiered by percussionist, Doug Ovens, 1995

Doug Ovens
AVILA
-for guitar, harp, percussion and electronic echoes
-for John Schneider and Just Strings
-premiered at Microfest 2000, LA

Just Strings
AFTERNOON MUSIC
for cello and piano
- for Nancy Nagano and Kiyomi Kato
-performed by them in LA, Kyoto, Japan and Atherton, CA
-Summer and Fall, '01.
Kyomi Kato and Nancy Nagano
Afternoon Music (excerpt) mp3 (3.6 mb)
QUARTET #1- CHASING LIGHT
for classical guitar quartet
--from The California Dreambook
--composed for and premiered by the San Francisco Guitar Quartet
--5/27/07 at the Old First Church, SF, CA

The San Francisco Guitar Quartet
QUARTET # 2 MEDITATIONS ON THE MOTIONS OF WATER
for mixed guitar quartet: mandolin, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
--from The California Dreambook
--composed for the San Francisco Guitar Quartet
--completed 12/27/10
THREE OBJECTS AND AN ANIMATION
-for Piano Solo
-1978
-for pianist Arlene Dunlap

Joann Christiansen, GE, Daniel Lentz, Arlene Dunlap
Berlin, 1978
TRAVELING IN RAIN
-for violin and guitar
-was composed for Marisa Martinez-Esparza and Jesus Saiz-Huedo
-and premiered by them at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid
-on December 3rd, 2008

Marisa Martinez-Esparza and Jesus Saiz-Huedo
SLOW MUSIC
-for zhongruan and guitar
-was composed for the Oliver Yu Duo
EL TIGRE
-for wooden-coned resonator guitar, accordion and percussion
-arranged, 7/08
MUSIC FOR FIDEL BRAVO
-for guitar, terserola and requinto
-composed Fall, '07
STRUM FURIOUSLY
--for guitar and mandolin
--was premiered on March 5, 2010
--by Peter Yates and Buzz Gravelle
-at the Cal Poly Pomona Music Recital Hall

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MUSIC FOR GLASS INSTRUMENTS

QUINTET FOR GLASS AND STRINGS
for Glass Armonica and String Quartet
-- for Dennis James
--commissioned by the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival
--first performance- Summer of '98 at the SLO Moz. Fest.
--recorded in Fall of '99 by Dennis James and the Emerson String Quartet for Sony Classical

Dennis James; Emerson String Quartet Session seated in front: David Finckel, cello; Dennis James, glass armonica
standing Garry Eister; Lawrence Dutton, viola; Eugene Drucker, violin; John Boylan, co-producer; Philip Setzer, violin

You can visit the Emerson String Quartet at The Emerson String Quartet

for sound samples of the quintet for Glass and Strings
visit Cristal at Amazon.com
VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY BEETHOVEN
-- for glass armonica solo
-- for Dennis James
-- first performed at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art
-- 3/7/99
PAVANE- Chamber version of Gabriel Faure's PAVANE
--arranged by GE
--for Soprano, Baschet Cristal, Female Chamber Chorus
-- fl., ob., cl. in A, 2 vln., vla., vlc., CB
--for the Dennis James/Linda Ronstadt Glass Album
--recorded at Capitol Records Studio A on 1/27/00
FOR SERAPHIM ALONE
--for solo glass instrument (verrophone, armonica, glass harp, seraphim or table glasses)
--was premiered by Phlipp-Alexander Marguerre
--at the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci 2010 in Potsdam, Germany
--on June 20th, 2010
DER LEIERMANN/WHAT THE LEIERMANN PLAYED
--an arrangement of Franz Schubert's "Der Leiermann" paired with
--GE's fantasia on what the Leiermann might have played
--for glass (verrophone, armonica, glass harp, seraphim or table glasses)
--and steel-string guitar, preferably a resonator.
--composed for Philipp Marguerre, 6/1/08

Philipp Marguerre- verrophone
DANCE FOR ANNA AND AREK
--for table glasses
--was composed for The Glass Duo
--Anna and Arek Szafraniec
--and premiered by them in Lodz, Poland on August 14th, 2009
FANTASIA ON A SONG BY CHOPIN: SORROW
--for table glasses, flute, oboe, viola and cello
--was premiered by Anna and Arek Szafraniec. The Glass Duo
--on Friday, June 11th at the Chopin Open Festival, in Warsaw, Poland

SORROW is available on THE GLASS DUO's CD choPINcode
click here to order

Anna and Arkadiusz Szafraniec
The Glass Duo
THIS IS NOT A BUDDHIST PRAYER
--for verrophone and Himalayan singing bowls
--was premiered by Philipp-Alexander Marguerre and Sascha Reckert
--at the Johanneshaus Oeschelbronn in Pforzheim, Germany
--on September 4th, 2010
GRAZIOSOAMENTE
--for verrophone and bassoon
--was composed for Mary Ann and Philipp-Alexander Marguerre
--on the occasion of their wedding, 12/23/10

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SOLO GUITAR MUSIC

EN LA TARDE
for solo guitar
--for Pat Lander
--completed 11/22/03
--premiered 3/14/05 by Jesus Saiz Huedo
-- at El Centro Asturiano de Madrid
IN DECEMBER, WE WAIT, DISTRACTED, ANXIOUS FOR THE SUN, FOR LIGHT AND LONGER DAYS
for solo resonator guitar
--for Larry Delinger
--premiered by GE- 1/13/07 at the Steynberg Gallery
FANTASIA ON A TRADITIONAL PERSIAN SONG (Morgh-eh-Sahar: Bird of Dawn)
for solo guitar
--for Lily Afshar
-- completed 7/18/04
--premiered by Ms. Afshar on 3/18/05
--at Wigmore Hall, London

Click here to visit Lily Afshar's website.

On 7/25/06, Lily was interviewed on NPR's All Things Considered.
Click here to hear Lily's interview and to hear her recording of GE's "Fantasia."

On 5/17/05, Lily played GE's "Fantasia" on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.
Click here to see and hear Lily's performance. (GE's "Fantasia" starts at about the 34 minute mark. )
ARIRANG AND SANJO
I. Arirang and Refrain
II. Small Sanjo in Songform
III. Arirang Dance

for solo resonator guitar, re-fretted to play in just intonation
--for John Schneider
--completed 8/6/04
--first movement, Arirang and Refrain,
--premiered by John Schneider on 9/24/05
--at La Guitarra California, classical guitar festival
--in San Luis Obispo, CA
--Movements II. and III. premiered by GE
--at the Steynberg Gallery; 8/31/07

John Schneider
I'LL NEVER PLAY LIKE MUNIR BASHIR
for solo mariachi-style vihuela
--completed 10/27/04
--premiered by GE
--7/15/06
--Steynberg Gallery; San Luis Obispo, CA
DOS CANCIONES SIN PALABRAS
for solo guitar
--for Fidel and Laura Bravo
--completed 11/22/04
--premiered 3/14/05 by Jesus Saiz Huedo
-- at El Centro Asturiano de Madrid
MORNING MUSIC
for solo requinto
--completed 4/16/05
--premiered by James Edwards on 9/23/05
--at La Guitarra California, classical guitar festival
--in San Luis Obispo, CA
FROM A SMALL ROOM, IN FADING SUNLIGHT
for solo requinto
--completed May, '05
--premiered by GE
--7/15/06
--Steynberg Gallery; San Luis Obispo, CA

Guitarerro, Fidel Bravo and GE, holding the requinto

that Bravo made for him.

For fine handmade guitars,
call luthier Fidel Bravo at (805) 474-1638

CORBETTA NON
I. Whose Brighter Sun
II. Penser de Jean baptiSte
III. Galloping from Versailles

for Baroque Guitar and Literary Accretions
--three scenes, not from the life of Francesco Corbetta
--nor having much of anything to do with his music
--completed 12/10/05
--first movement, Whose Brighter Sun
--premiered by James Edwards on 9/23/05
--at La Guitarra California, classical guitar festival
--in San Luis Obispo, CA

James Edwards
EL TIGRE
--for solo guitar
--for Peter Yates
--premiered by Mr. Yates
--2/16/07 at Cal Poly Pomona
Peter Yates
TOCCATA
--for solo electric guitar
--premiered 6/24/07
--Union Church of Cupertino
--at A Musical Tribute to Roger Letson

note: "Roger's influence on my choice to write music is inestimable.
His early guidance, encouragement and support set me on the road
to my career. TOCCATA is a small token of appreciation for Roger's
great gifts to me, when I was young." GE
Roger Letson and GE at Roger's retirement party 6/24/07

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SONGS

FOLK PEOPLE
--four songs for male voice and resonator guitar in just intonation
1. The Lark in the Morning (arranged)
2. The Railroad Man
3. The Hearty Bounty
4. The Prisoner
--premiered by GE on 1/19/08
--at the Steynberg Gallery, San Luis Obispo

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CHORAL

OMNES POPULI
Cantata for Soloists (SATB) Chorus, Female Chorus, Orchestra (minus winds)
--commissioned and premiered by The Cuesta Master Chorale, Tom Davies, conductor, 1996
--soloists: Mary Rawcliffe, soprano; Susan Davies, alto; Jonathon Mack, tenor; Kenneth Knight, bass

The Cuesta Master Chorale rehearses Omnes Populi -Thomas Davies, conducts; soloist Susan Azaret Davies stands and sings- -seated (to the right of Susan) soloists Jonathon Mack and Kenneth Knight-

I. Omnes Populi- Processional mp3 (3.1 mb)
II. Cantate Domino
III. I Hear Singing
IV. Aria and Hymn
MISSA BREVIS
Mass for unaccompanied chorus
--composed for the PolyPhonics of California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, Tom Davies, conductor, for their Spring Tour, 1998.

Tom Davies rehearses The PolyPhonics

Missa Brevis (complete)

Kyrie mp3 (2.8 mb)
Gloria mp3 (4.1 mb)
Sanctus mp3 (2.6 mb)
Agnus Dei mp3 (4.3 mb)

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MUSIC FOR VOICES and ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS

MESA/PACIFIC
for Soprano, Alto, Bass, Percussion, Electric Piano and Electronics
--commissioned by Kit Tremaine and performed by Daniel Lentz's ensemble, European Tour, 1976
THE SHORT MAN
a Cycle of Songs for Tenor and Magnetic Tape
--performed by Garry Eister at the Electric Mountain Music Festival in Riverton, WY, Linnea's Coffee Shop in San Luis Obispo, CA and broadcast on KCBX-SLO, KPFK-LA, KPFA-Berkeley
THREE SACRED SONGS
a studio song for Baritone and electronic instruments
--first recorded by Hector Vasquez for"The Pictures In My Head Radio Theater"
I. Quem Ad Modum mp3 (3 mb)
II. From Above, He has Sent a Fire
III. My Heart and my Flesh Waste Away
LULLABY
a studio song for Soprano and electronic instruments
--first recorded by Kathy Barata for "The Pictures In My Head Radio Theater"
...AND UPON HER HEAD A CROWN OF TWELVE STARS
four studio songs for Soprano and electronic instruments
-- recorded by Kathy Barata
I. Ave
II. Vidi Civitatem (excerpt) mp3 (2.9 mb)
III. Stabat Sancta Maria
IV. Signum Magnum

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VIDEO

All music videos available for viewing here.

AFTERNOON MUSIC, a video puppet drama,
-music performed by Nancy Nagano (cello) and Kiyomi Kato (piano)
MORNING MUSIC, springtime scenery on California's Central Coast
-music performed by GE (solo requinto)
REST IN PEACE, BRUCE JONES
-three memorial songs to texts by Emily Dickinson
-music performed by GE (voice and wooden-coned resonator guitar)

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DRAMATIC WORKS

(non-musical)

THE GOD GUY SPEAKS
a Dramatic Monologue
--performed by Bruce Jones in the secured waiting area of the San Luis Obispo County Airport
--performed by Robert Moore at the now defunct Theater of Many Windows in Seattle
--performed by Charles Legget at the Willows Theater, Concord, CA and the Lincoln Theater in Stockton, CA
--performed by Garry Eister at the Art Works Gallery in Los Osos, CA and Linnea's Cafe in San Luis Obispo, CA and on The Pictures In My Head Radio Theater
SANTA OVER AUSCHWITZ
a Dramatic Monologue
-- performed by Robert Moore at the Seattle Public Theater
--performed by Garry Eister on The Pictures In My Head Radio Theater
THE INSOMNIAC
Radio Theater
--performed by Garry Eister and Mary Lockwood on The Pictures In My Head Radio Theater
The INSOMNIAC II; Love Song, Baby
-- a "live" performance piece for videosculpture, and pre-recorded tapes based on the radio theater character, "The Insomniac."
THE SCREAMING BUNNY
a Performance Piece for Actor and Videosculpture
--part one performed by Garry Eister at Linnea's Cafe in San Luis Obispo, CA, Ed Claudio's Actor's Workshop in Sacramento, CA, and August Editions Gallery in SLO, CA.- Halloween, '99; part 2 premiered on Halloween, '00, part 3 premiered on June 23rd, '01 at the now defunct August Editions Gallery in SLO.
-- see IKONS from the Temple of the Hee Hee
ANONYMOUS X
Radio Theater
--with Garry Eister, Mary Lockwood, Laurie Foster, Mark Bryan, Sarah Weill, Myra Eister, Dave Cunnigham, Nancy Lockwood, Greg Barata, Bernie Doerman and Larry Delinger on The Pictures In My Head Radio Theater

POETIC

text for SLOW MOTION MIRROR
music by Daniel Lentz
-- recorded by The Daniel Lentz Group on AFTER IMAGES, Cold Blue Records
--re-released on CD as b.e.comings, Rhizome Sketch, RFZ 1008
text for VOX IN RAMA
for Double Chorus and Chamber Orchestra.
--Music by Donald Crockett. Serenissima Music. Freehold, New Jersey. 1983.
--Premier performance by the Pasadena Chamber Orchestra and Singers. Robert Duerr, Conductor. 10/23/83.

INCIDENTAL MUSIC

for theatrical productions of:

Waiting for Godot
--for the Drama Department of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
My Children, My Africa
Double Act
The Glass Managerie
The Eye of the Beholder
The Habitual Acceptance of the Near Enough
--for The Central Coast Repertory Theater
The Good Woman of Setzuan and The Voice of the Prairie
--for the Drama Department of Cuesta College
The Merchant of Venice
--for the Northwest Shakespeare Ensemble (Seattle)