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New Hampshire native Ty Alan Emerson began formal training in composition during his undergraduate years at Shenandoah Conservatory. Emerson went on to receive a master of music degree from Louisiana State University and a doctor of musical arts degree from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. His primary instructors have included Thomas Albert, Dinos Constantinides, Stephen David Beck and Morris Moshe Cotel. Emerson’s compositions have been featured on many programs in the U.S. and abroad. Regarding the performance of his Dedications at the Resolution 2000 Music Festival, music critic Andrew Adler wrote in the Louisville Courier-Journal that it “possessed surprising emotional resonance and was quite expertly wrought.” Other notable festival performances include Devotions at the Lasker Summer Music Festival (’04), Trombone Quartet at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (’98) in Huddersfield, England and Thera at the 50^th Annual Contemporary Music Festival (’95) at Louisiana State University. His music has been broadcast on WCLV’s “Musical Passions” and “Not the Dead White Male Composer Hour.” Works by Emerson have been performed by the Cleveland Chamber Collective, Gary Louie, Kirsten Taylor, John Sampen, the Peabody Wind Ensemble and the Quorum New Music Ensemble.

In 1999 Emerson won the Washington Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters composition competition. Also that year he received an ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer award. Other awards include two from the Louisiana Music Teachers Association, the Music Teachers National Association, the Southeastern Composers League as well as ASCAP standard awards. In January 2000 he was named the New Hampshire Committee’s fellow to the MacDowell Colony. Emerson is an active member of the Cleveland Composers’ Guild, currently serving as the organization’s president. In addition to his work as a freelance composer, conductor and clinician, Emerson has been on faculty at Shenandoah University, Cleveland State University and has been a guest lecturer of American Music at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Capstone records recently released Birch Whispers for flute and harp on a CD titled “Telling Tales” featuring music by the Cleveland Composers’ Guild. Selected works are available from HoneyRock Publishing and Ballerbach Music.

Conversations for Solo Horn (1992)
A monophonic work utilizing various modes to convey five distinct conversations ranging from lyrical to bombastic. Performed in 1993 at Shenandoah University.

Songs Without Words (1993)
A work for women's choir with an emphasis on color and line. First performed at Shenandoah University, 1994.

Trio for Trumpet, Alto Saxophone and Piano (1993)
This six-minute work is designed to display the virtuosic as well as the ensemble playing of the three instruments. First performed in 1993.

A Cut Flower (1993)
A serial work based on the poem by Karl Shapiro for soprano, oboe, cello, and piano. First performed in 1995.

Thera (1993)
This work for wind ensemble incorporates various styles including pop, jazz, and traditional western art music. It features the English horn, the trombone section, and the percussion section, as well as large ensemble passages. It was premiered at Shenandoah University in 1994, and was also a featured work at the 50th Annual Festival of Contemporary Music at LSU.

Variations on a Theme by Grieg (1994)
This work for string orchestra explores a variety of stylistic genres, from Bartok to Beethoven, to tango. Performed in 1994 by the LSU New Music Ensemble. Winner of the MTNA State and Regional Competition (1996).

Short Piece for Violin (1994)
An intense virtuosic work utilizing extended techniques with an aggressive character. Performed in 1995.

String Quartet (1994)
A 15-minute work making use of extended techniques. The first movement is ferocious and syncopated with a contrapuntal texture. The second resembles the Bagatelles of Webern. The third begins as a jazz waltz, and then moves into a hard bop style. The final movement begins with a canon, then returns to the ferocity of the first.

5 Pieces for Solo Trombone (1995)
These 5 character pieces explore the virtuosity of the solo trombone. The third of which, entitled 'Duet', makes extended use of multiphonics. First performed in April 1996.

In Us (1994, revised 1996)
This work for percussion sextet is an essay on the human condition. It employs instruments of indefinite pitch, and makes use of a wide variety of battery from finger cymbals to piano. Performed by the Peabody Percussion Ensemble, Johnathan Hass, Conductor, December, 1997.

Sonata (1994)
A major work for Bb clarinet and piano which ranges in character from a riotous jazz scherzo to a supple, lyrical adagio.

Quartet No. 2 (1995)
This work for flute, trumpet, cello, and percussion explores color, metric modulation, and the percussive aspects of the non-percussion instruments. It won second place in the Southeastern Composers Guild 1996 Competition.

Scena I, II, III (1995)
These three works, for piccolo, flute, alto flute, respectively, are programmatic and explore extended techniques. First performed in April, 1996

The Tale of Harry (1996)
A full-scale ballet based on Shakespeare's The Life of Henry V. The orchestral writing ranges from chamber to sound-mass. Available as a large tone poem with Narrator.

Entr'acte (1996)
Commissioned by Timothy J. Zifer and the Evansville University Wind Ensemble, this work is a grade 4+ featuring small solos for the clarinet, alto saxophone, oboe and percussion. There are 4 percussion parts, 3 of which are multiple percussion parts. It is approx. 5 minutes long.

The Way of the Tao (1996)
A cantata based on 18 poems from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu, this work utilizes a mixed choir, children's choir, soloists, piano and percussion (and all combinations thereof). The vocabulary is diverse but the essential idea is an organic approach to harmony (ie. voice-leading). The movements range from solo and piano to divisi choir sound mass. The movements may be extracted from the larger work should the performance require it.

Concerto for Alto Saxophone (1996)
This is a large work in three movementswith wind ensemble. The writing for the saxophone is powerful and effective. The piece travels through many characters and guises including an aggressive opening, a shuffle, a folk tune, and a fun waltz. This work will have its world premiere in March, 1999, Peabody Wind Ensemble, February 25, Harlan Parker, conductor, Jason McFeaters, soloist.

The Playwright's Muse (1997)
A chamber opera for soprano, baritone, and piano. This 10-minute work, on a text by Roger Brunyate, takes a look at a marriage made in the theatre. This work was performed at the Peabody Conservatory in April, 1997 with Ah Hong and Alok Kumar (singers) and Jeff Pollack (piano).

"Passer-by" (1997)
A song-cycle for mezzo soprano, baritone, and piano on text by Edgar Allen Poe. The work is a setting of 10 poems, most of which are solo songs. The subject matter is one close to Poe's heart: love. The emotional statements range in dynamic from pastoral happiness to insane guilt and despair. Included in the cycle are Annabel-Lee, Eulalie, Bridal Ballad, Serenade, and Silence. The songs are challenging for both the vocalists and pianist. The total cycle is approximately 35 minutes in length. Individual songs from the cycle are also available.

New Hampshire Symphony (1997)
This is a large work set in five movements. The first movement is The Shore (the Storm at North Hampton). It takes the shape and energy of a storm at the beach. The second movement, The Woods (A Fantasy in Sandown) is a freer work, which takes the idea of fantasy (musical and mental) as its starting point. This movement begins light in character and, throughout the course of the piece, becomes more and more violent. The third and fourth movements should be played attacca. The Rivers (Hiking Cold Brook) and The Lakes (On the Banks of Lake Chocurua) are both water images with very different characters. The Rivers is fast and light, joyful and playful, whereas The Lakes is more contemplative, meditative, patient. The finale, The Mountains (Mt. Washington) takes the fantasy as its starting point. Filled with anger, the movement rages through its opening. The piece settles into a slower tempo, and from this fanfares emerge. This movement is about losing one's fears and anxieties, the fanfares are about glory and joy.

Trombone Quartet (1998)
This piece was written for the Royal Academy Trombones in a joint project between the Academy and the Peabody Institute. Premiered in England, November, 1998.

Dedications (1998)
This is a five movement work for violin, violoncello and piano. Each movement is dedicated to someone special in my life. An eclectic piece which makes use of some extended techniques. Commissioned and premiered by Kirsten Taylor on October 19, 1998.

Night Music (1998)
This concerto with chamber orchestra was written for Gavin Farell, marimbist and Shawn Storer, conductor of the Mt. Vernon Chamber Orchestra. It is approximately 15 minutes, and incorporates materials from popular music.

Concerto for Harp (in progress)
This concerto is with a reduced wind ensemble. It is to be premiered next concert season at the Peabody Institute.

TY ALAN EMERSON Composer

TY ALAN EMERSON
Composer