notes Authority is a series of 10 movements.
This piece is played without pause. Some movements are overlaid on top of one another; at times different groups of instruments may be playing two movements simultaneously, and at times groups of musicians may be playing at different tempi.
The conductor may attempt to control the flow of activity by setting tempi and cueing entrances and other significant events, but some sections of music will need to be played without assistance from the conductor.
The control over how and from whom this music moves should be passed back and forth like a dance.
This music is inspired by:
- the impulse to strive for or achieve authority
- the impulse to conflate authority and power
- the belief in objectivity that would make the existence of authority possible
- any claim toward objectivity
- systems of control, or subjugation of viewpoints, that are founded on such claims, from the governmental to the pedagogical to the musical
- multiple viewpoints, multiple realities
Authority
ensemble 12 musicians including conductor: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, harp, piano, electric guitar, percussion, violin, viola, cello, keyboard synth (played by conductor)
duration 30 minutes
written for Ensemble Dal Niente; Michael Lewanski, conductor
commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University
premiered February 24, 2019 at the Frequency Festival, Constellation, Chicago IL
additional performances November 1, 2021 at Orchestra Hall, Chicago Symphony Orchestra: MusicNOW, conducted by Michael Lewanski
February 9, 2022 at Beinen School of Music; Alan Pierson, conductor
WORKS
LARGE WORKS WITH VOICES
Farming (2023/2025, 60 min.)
24 voices, 6 instruments
over and over vorbei nicht vorbei (2024, 60 min.)
3 solo voices, youth choir, 12 instruments
Place (2018/2020, 80 min.)
6 voices, 18 instruments
In Your Mouth/Farming (2023/2025, 60 min.)
24 voices, 6 instruments
over and over vorbei nicht vorbei (2024, 60 min.)
3 solo voices, youth choir, 12 instruments
Place (2018/2020, 80 min.)
6 voices, 18 instruments
In Your Mouth/Dorothea (2019)
voice and ensemble; voice and piano
Sound from the Bench (2014/2017, 40 min.)
mixed choir with 2 electric guitars and percussion
Coloring Book (2015, 30 min.)
vocal octet
The Source (2014, 65 min.)
7 instruments, 4 voices
Partition (2010, 20 min.)
mixed choir with full orchestra
Katrina Ballads (2007, 60 min.)
11 instruments, 5 voices
ORCHESTRA
Or Forevermore (2024, 30 min.)
large orchestra
In Thrall (2019, 15 min.)
wind ensemble with 2 solo percussionists
Brass Tacks (2018, 6 min.)
large orchestra
Miami in Movements (2017, 35 min.)
large orchestra with video
Dispatches (2015, 18 min.)
large orchestra
Respirator (2015, 13 min.)
chamber orchestra
Stem (2013, 25 min.)
large orchestra
Law of Mosaics (2012, 30 min.)
string orchestra
Erasure Scherzo (2012, 6 min.)
large orchestra
Word for Word (2011, 10 min.)
large orchestra
Shizz (2010/2017, 4 min.)
versions for large orchestra and chamber orchestra
Build a Room (2010, 20 min.)
concerto for trumpet and orchestra
Patriot (2007, 9 min.)
large orchestra
SOLO WORKS
Lobby Music (2021, 7 min.)
solo cello, with electronics
Inheritance (2021, 5 min.)
solo piano
Study Buddy (2021, 3 min.)
solo piano
The Luminous Road (2020, 2 min.)
solo piccolo
Distance Canon (2020, 4 min.)
solo violin
Another National Anthem (2019, 5 min.)
solo piano
DaVZ23BzMH0 (2016, 7 min.)
solo cello, with electronics
Tänze (with a sense of urgency) (2014, 3 min.)
solo piano
Parlor Diplomacy (2011, 20 min.)
solo piano
Nobody's (2010, 4 min.)
solo violin or viola
CHAMBER MUSIC
(2-5 instruments)
We Are Working Tirelessly For a Ceasefire (2025, 7-8 min.)
string quartet
Freefucked (2022)
voice and solo cello, with vocal processing and fixed electronics
Exposure (2017, 18 min.)
string quartet
The Answer to the Question That Wings Ask (2016, 11 min.)
string quartet and narrator
Furtive Movements (2013, 14 min.)
cello and percussion
Interlude for Fingers (2013, 4 min.)
two vibraphones
Candy (2011, 8 min.)
electric guitar quartet
Thaw (2009, 12 min.)
percussion quartet
Ghostspace (2009, 8 min.)
mixed quartet (accordion, electric guitar, piano, drums)
Vessels (2008, 10 min.)
trio (violin, viola, piano)
Crib Dweller (2007, 8 min.)
mixed quintet (bass clarinet, elec. guitar, trumpet, trombone, horn)
23 (2005, 8 min.)
mixed quintet (flute, horn, elec. guitar, piano, drums)
Warning Song (2006, 7 min.)
voice and cello, with electronics
One of Us, One of Them (2005, 8 min.)
piano and percussion
Forcefield (2004, 5 min.)
viola and vibraphone
MEDIUM TO LARGE ENSEMBLE MUSIC
(6-16 instruments)
To Be Whole Is To Be Part (2021, 7 min.)
14 musicians
Authority (2019, 30 min.)
12 musicians
Time is forever dividing itself toward innumerable futures [Speed is Pure] (2019, 40 min.)
for Pam Tanowitz Dance 4 horns, electric guitar, voice with live processing
One Like (2016, 7 min.)
14 musicians
For the Love of Charles Mingus (2016, 9 min.)
6 violins
Baby [an argument] (2016, 11 min.)
10 musicians
By-By Huey (2014, 10 min.)
sextet (fl, bcl, vln, vc, pno, perc)
"The Cage" Variations (2014, 20 min.)
6 instruments (fl, cl/bcl, vln, vc, pno, perc) with baritone solo
Crispy Gentlemen (2012, 15 min.)
7 instruments (fl/picc, cl/bcl, vln, vla, vc, pno, perc)
But I Voted for Shirley Chisholm (2012, 8 min.)
11 instruments+tape
Randos (2012, 8 min.)
7 instruments (L'Histoire septet)
Cutest Little Arbitrage (2011, 12 min.)
6 instruments (2 sax, trombone + rhythm section)
Is it Dirty (2010, 8 min.)
16 instruments with 2 singers
versions for 10 instruments and 6 instruments
Eyelid Margin (2009, 12 min.)
10 instruments (brass quintet + 5 double-reeds)
Snowball (2008, 6 min.)
8 instruments (bcl, tpt, tbn, vln, acc, egtr, pno, dr)
version for 7 instruments (bcl, bn, tpt, tbn, vln, db, perc)
Illuminating the Maze (2008/2016, 15 min.)
6 instruments (tpt, hn, tbn, egtr, pno, dr)
version for 11 instruments
Music from "Body Soldiers" (2008, 10 min.)
5 instruments + singer
Cordavi and Fig (2007, 8 min.)
13 instruments
Antiphon (2003, 8 min.)
9 instruments (3 cl, bcl, 3 tpt, tbn, pno)
CHORAL MUSIC
Elektra Choruses (2025)
In The Language of Truth (2022, 10 min.) SATB choir with string quartet
Texting With Your Dad in the Anthropocene (2019, 12 min.)
Animals (2018, 9 min.)
Fervor (2018, 3 min.)
What it might say (2016, 5 min.)
Coloring Book (2015, 30 min.)
Consent (2014, 7 min.)
Ripple (2012, 10 min.)
Privilege (2009, 14 min.)
Mass for St. Mary’s (2008, 10 min.)
Music for youth choir:
The Definition of Crisis (2020, 2-5 min.)
Room for Something (2011, 8 min.)
Away (2010, 6 min.)
Because (2006, 6 min.)
Murder on the Road in Alabama (2003, 6 min.)
SONG AND SOLO VOICE
Antihero Hero (2024, 8 min.)
voice and piano
Freefucked (2022, 17 min.)
voice and solo cello, with vocal processing and fixed electronics
Complainers (2021)
voice and piano (optional string trio)
Translation: Two Cigar Butts (2021, 5 min.)
two singers with electronics (optional piano or piano+bass)
In Your Mouth/Dorothea (2019, 65 min.)
versions for voice and ensemble; voice and piano
Everyone Keeps Me (2018)
Why Go In Cars (2018)
I Am Sick of Feeling (2018)
You Are Not Dead (2018)
Protection (2009 rev. 2017, 5-6 min.)
voice and piano (optional violin or cello)
Intimacy and Resistance (2010, 5 min.)
voice and piano
Charleston Songbook (2008, 20 min.)
voice and piano w/ lead sheets
I Remember (2007, 8 min.)
for three sopranos, or one soprano with electronics
I Carry Your Heart (2007, 5 min.)
voice and piano
Warning Song (2006, 7 min.)
voice and cello, with electronics
COLLABORATIVE WORKS
Elektra (w/ Daniel Fish) (2025)
Ligeia Mare (w/ Damon Davis) (2024-2025)
Or Forevermore (w/ Pam Tanowitz) (2024)
Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music [orchestral version] (2022)
Miami in Movements (2017)
The Answer to the Question That Wings Ask (2016)
Hand Eye (2015)
You're Causing Quite a Disturbance (2013)
R WE WHO R WE (2011-2017)
Histories (2012)