Music Composition, Performance, & Audio Production
Music Composition List
List of Major Music Compositions
- All compositions licensed through Broadcast Music, Inc. [BMI]
- Compositions listed in reverse chronological order, with more significant performances cited in chronological order.
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Conference/Festival abbreviations used:
CMS = College Music Society, National Conference
EMM = Electronic Music Midwest Festival
FEMF = Florida Electroacoustic Music Festival, Gainesville, FL
ICMC = International Computer Music Conference
KISS = Kyma International Sound Symposium
NYCEMF = New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival
SCI = Society of Composers, Inc. (national and regional conferences)
SEAMUS = Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States, National Conference
SJSU = San Jose State University
WAC = Web Audio (International) Conference
Fantasia: Nocturne
Fantasia: Nocturne, 2020
Composition for solo flugelhorn, solo violin, and string orchestra, composed for Stephen Ruppenthal, Patricia Strange, and Bridges, a string orchestra.
- Published on Inviting Worlds. Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, Jan Kučera, conductor. Navona Records (PARMA Recordings: NV 6435), 2022.
Stellar Nebulae
Stellar Nebulae, 2018
String Orchestra
I. Emergence
II. Contemplation
III. Expansion
- Published on Prisma, Vol. 4. Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, Michalis Economou, conductor. Navona Records (PARMA Recordings: NV6298), 2020.
- Score published (open access & free for viewing) by the UCLA Music Library (Contemporary Music Score Collection), 2020.
- World premiere: November 1, 2019
Bridges, Bainbridge Performing Arts Center, Bainbridge Island, WA. - SCI 2021 National Conference (virtual), May 2021.
Published Review:
Stellar Nebulae, by Brian Belet, a three-movement string orchestra piece, is an example of how the composer tends to seek formal abstraction. Belet’s melodies are like paths of hope that pour us into the deep valleys of our thoughts.
- Josep Bosch, Sonograma Magazine, September 29, 2020. ISSN 1989-193
Bridges performing Stellar Nebulae, Bainbridge Island, WA, Nov. 1, 2019. (Photo by S. Ruppenthal)
Loose Canon
Loose Canon, 2017
Any three performers and Kyma digital sound system.
Performances by the SPLICE Ensemble:
- SPLICE 2018 Festival, Kalamazoo, MI, January 27, 2018. (world premiere)
- BEAMS Festival, Waltham, MA, March 16, 2018.
- ICMC 2019, in conjunction with the NYCEMF 2019, New York, NY. June 17, 2019.
A Strange Diversion
A Strange Diversion, 2017 (co-composed with Stephen Ruppenthal)
Buchla analog synthesizer and Kyma digital sound system.
Performances by S. Ruppenthal and B. Belet:
- Premiere: Don Buchla Memorial Concert, Gray Area / Grand Theater, San Francisco, CA, April 23, 2017.
- VU 2 festival, Park City, Utah, July 18, 2017.
- EM | 3 concert, Muncie, IN, February 6, 2018.
- SEAMUS 2018, Eugene, OR, March 29, 2018.
- KISS 2018, Santa Cruz, CA, September 9, 2018.
--> Live performance YouTube video, KISS 2018. - EMS60 Festival, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, November 17, 2018.
Published Review:
“In A Strange Diversion, composed and performed by Brian Belet and Stephen Ruppenthal, cowboy ‘beat-bop’ complete with costumes in a compelling pairing between a Buchla system and KYMA spinning out tales between the two instruments.”
- Aurie Hsu, “Conference Review: SEAMUS Conference 2018.” Journal SEAMUS, Vol. 28, No. 1-2, Spring/Fall 2017, pp. 43-44.
B. Belet & Stephen Ruppenthal performing A Strange Diversion at KISS 2018, September 8, 2018.
2012 - 2016
Three by Five (brass quintet), 2016
Three by Five
I. Two Short Fugues
II. More Questions (Still Unanswered)
III. Fugal Reflections
- Published on Brass Tacks. Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava Brass Quintet. Navona Records (PARMA Recordings: NV 6428), 2022.
- Score published in SCI Journal of Scores, Vol. 62, October 2022.
- Brass Act Quintet, Hammer Theater, San Jose, CA, April 10, 2018. (world premiere)
Photo: Brass Act Quintet performing the premiere. (Photo by Belinda Carr)
Ion Trails (Cloud Chamber Storms), 2012
Percussion (large battery, one performer) and Kyma
- EMM 2012, Andrew Spencer,
percussion, Romeoville, IL, October 2012. - SJSU, Guest Artist concert, Andrew Spencer, percussion,
November 2015. - NYCEMF 2016, Daniel Pate, percussion, New York, NY,
June 2016.
Tessellation Rag (co-composed with Stephen Ruppenthal), 2012 (rev. 2017)
Two voices and Kyma
Performances by S. Ruppenthal & B. Belet:
- SoundProof repertoire (Fall 2012 concert tour).
- KISS 2012, St. Cloud State University, September 2012.
- NYCEMF 2017, June 2017.
Distant Dream of Chapada Diamantina 2012
Alto flute
Composed for Maria Carolina Cavalcanti (15 Minutes of Fame concert set).
Performances by M. C. Cavalcanti:
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 2012.
- Composers Voice concert, New York, NY, February 10, 2013.
--> Concert Video: Start at Time 5:44
Summer Phantoms
Summer Phantoms: Nocturne, 2011
Piano and electronics (Kyma processed piano sounds - fixed)
Commissioned by Jeri-Mae Astolfi.
-- Published on Astolfi's album Here (and there) - Innova 846, 2013.
-- Published on Kai Schumacher's album Insomnia - SWR Music/Hänssler Classic (093.334.000), 2015.
-- Published on Sufficient Trouble, Keith Kirchoff, piano. Ravello Records, 2017.
- SCI 2013 National Conference, Jeri-Mae Astolfi, piano, Columbus, OH, February 2013.
- Keith Kirchoff concert tours (UK and US), February & April 2013.
- SEAMUS 2013, St. Paul, MN, Keith Kirchoff, piano, April 2013.
- NYCEMF New York, NY, Andrea Lodge, piano, April 2013.
--> Live performance YouTube video, NYCEMF 2013. - EMM 2013, Kari Johnson, piano, Kansas City, KS, October 2013.
- Jeri-Mae Astolfi Midwest concert tours, January-February 2013 & April 2014.
- ICMC 2014, Christos Sakelaridis, piano, Athens, Greece, September 2014.
- Zeiss Planetarium, Bochum, Germany, Kai Schumacher, piano, February 20, 25, & 28, and March 3, & 6, 2016.
- The Electroacoustic Piano concert, Keith Kirchoff, piano, San Jose State University, CA, February 14, 2017.
Published reviews:
[RE: Jeri-Mae Astolfi's 2013 CD]
"Brian Belet’s Summer Phantoms: Nocturne is a refreshing change of pace on the album. A blend of heavily-processed and synthetic sounds create a dynamic, surprising environment that sounds fresh. The varieties of texture and timbre, and the structural design are highly successful and sonically arresting. The work fully orchestrates the space, the spectrum, and the piano, and Astolfi aggressively makes the work her own."
- Tom Dempster, "Recording Reviews" SEAMUS Newsletter, May/June 2013
"Summer Phantoms: Nocturne completely lives up to its name. The piece opens with deep, scary sounds, like the throwing of a knife in the dark or a large blade cutting through the air. Piano notes, often dissonant, add to the tenseness. The electronics here are particularly effective and atmospheric. The effects are genuinely chilling and not artificial or overly analytical. The piano weaves its line skillfully in and out between the electronics and the balance between the two sustains the tension."
- Paul Muller, November 2013, Sequenza 21
Insomnia, Kai Schumacher, 2015.
2008 - 2009
Sea Lion Mix, 2009
Computer processed sea lion & human sounds
- Published on Sufficient Trouble CD, Ravello Records, 2017.
- EMM 2010, Romeoville, IL .
- New Horizons Music Festival, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, October 2014.
- Earth Day Art Model telematic festival, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, April 2020.
- SEAMUS 2021 (virtual), April 2021.
Remembering Allen, 2008
Computer processed voice
Composed for the Vox Novus '60x60' project, included on the 'Crimson Mix' (360 degrees of 60x60).
- Published on Sufficient Trouble, B. Belet, voice. Ravello Records, 2017.
- SJSU, 2008.
- ICMC 2010, New York City and Stony Brook, NY.
- Grey Matter Books, Hadley, MA, 2010.
- Taipei Contemporary Art Center, Taipei, Taiwan, 2010.
- Contemporanea 2010 – Festival di Nuova Musica, Udine, Italy, 2010.
- EMM 2010, Romeoville, IL.
- Bits and Pieces of Electro-Acoustic Music from Everywhere concert, DeKalb, IL, 2010.
- Music Farmers performance space, Wollongong, Australia, 2010.
- The Music Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2010.
- Three Walls performance space, Chicago, IL, 2010.
- Interferencias Encuentro Internacional de Arte Performatico, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, 2010.
- Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 2011.
Name Droppings, 2008
Computer processed voices
Commissioned by the University of Illinois to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Electronic Music Studios at UIUC. Marianne Bickett, Gordon Haramaki, Janis Mercer, Erie Mills, Stephen Ruppenthal, Jeffrey Stolet, and B. Belet, voices.
-- Published on In Celebration of the University of Illinois Experimental Music Studios (1958-2008), 2008.
-- Published on Sufficient Trouble, Ravello Records, 2017.
- Delta State Juke Joint Festival, Cleveland, MS (premiere), 2008.
- SJSU, 2008.
- Santa Fe International Electroacoustic Music Festival (in conjunction with SCI 2009 National Conference), Santa Fe, NM, 2009.
- Stone Griffin Gallery, Campbell, CA, 2009.
- EMM 2009, Kansas City, KS.
- Channel Noise III: Electronic Music festival, Georgia Southern University, GA, 2010.
- SEAMUS 2010, St. Cloud, MN., 2010.
- Getting Nowhere festival, York, UK, 2012.
- Kaleidoscope concert, Hammer Theatre, San Jose, CA, 2016.
- EM | 3 concert, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 2021.
- NYCEMF 2021 (virtual), June 2021.
Published Review:
We had a healthily self-reflexive laugh as a result of Brian Belet’s Name Droppings, which incorporated text snippets from bios of various academic composers. Belet’s piece focused on the ubiquitous, easily-mocked phrases: “has been recognized by,” “studied with,” “commissioned by.” This was a clever choice, because it points out the short connecting units, leaving out that which, in reality, represents the vast majority of the word count in our bios: not these verbs, but the nouns that follow them. Too often, we’re guilty of ignoring the verbs – the work that we do – in favor of nouns – the people and organizations that have publicly approved of said work.
- Luke Gullickson, “Review of 2009 SCI National Conference,” SCI Newsletter, 39/3, May-June 2009.
System of Shadows
System of Shadows, 2007
Trumpet & Flugelhorn and Kyma processing.
I. Aurora Borealis
II. Andromeda's Dream
III. Zephyr Apparition
-- Published on Flamethrower, Stephen Ruppenthal, trumpet & flugelhorn. Ravello Records, 2017.
-- Published on Sufficient Trouble, S. Ruppenthal, trumpet & flugelhorn. Ravello Records, 2017.
Performances by S. Ruppenthal (unless otherwise indicated):
- Wired 4 Sound concert (premiere), Bainbridge Island, WA, 2008.
- SJSU, 2008.
- EMM 2008, Romeoville, Illinois.
- Innovation Festival, Alan Wenger, trumpet/flugelhorn, University of Central Missouri, 2009.
- SEAMUS 2009, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
- ICMC 2010, Stony Brook, New York.
- KISS 2010, Vienna, Austria.
- SoundProof concert tours (2011 & 2012).
- SCI 2014, Region VIII Conference, Tacoma, WA.
Stephen Ruppenthal recording System of Shadows.
Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim: Three Preludes, 2006
Piano
I. Zephyr
II. Beyond the Curtain
III. Earth Dance
-- Published on Jeffrey Jacob's album Contemporary Eclectic Music for the Piano, Vol. 15.
New Ariel Recording, 2019.
- Hong Kong Baptist University (world premiere, Gwen Mok, piano), Hong Kong, 2007.
Drei Kinderstücke
Drei Kinderstücke, 2004
Piano
I. Forest Path
II. Winter Stream Crossing
III. Unexpected Clearing
- Published on Chroma: New Music for Piano, Jeri-Mae Astolfi. Capstone Records (CPS-8810), 2008.
- Published on Anton Webern: Complete Piano Music and works inspired by them, Janis Mercer, piano. Centaur Records (CRC 3771), 2020.
- Almost All-Webern, Almost All-Piano, Janis Mercer, piano, Community Music Center, San Francisco, CA, 2005.
- SJSU, Janis Mercer, piano, 2005 & 2009.
- Mostly Webern concerts, Janis Mercer, piano, Spokane, WA, 2005.
- Henderson State University, Jeri-Mae Astolfi, piano, Henderson, AR, 2007.
- Vántus István Kortárszenei Napok festival, Maczelka Noémi, piano, Szeged, Hungary, 2007.
- SCI 2008 National Conference, Jeri-Mae Astolfi, piano, Atlanta, GA.
- J. Astolfi concert tour, 2008.
- SCI 2008 Region VIII Conference, Janis Mercer, piano, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA.
- J. Astolfi concert tour, 2009.
- Composer’s Voice concert, Jeri-Mae Astolfi, piano, New York, NY, 2009.
- San Francisco Center for New Music, Janis Mercer, piano, San Francisco, CA, 2020.
Published Review:
[RE: Janis Mercer 2020 CD]
The three movements of Brian Belet’s Klavierstücke each have a title from Nature, reflecting Webern’s love of the great outdoors. Belet’s writing is wonderfully rarefied, and Mercer is superb in finding just the right tone.
- Colin Clarke, Fanfare, November/December 2020
(Disturbed) Radiance
(Disturbed) Radiance, 2003
Piano and Kyma
- Published on Sufficient Trouble, Janis Mercer, piano. Ravello Records, 2017.
Performances by Janis Mercer (unless otherwise indicated):
- SJSU (premiere, 2003; 2010).
- Variations on Political and Other Themes, San Francisco Community Music Center, San Francisco, CA, 2003.
- New Music Circle, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 2003.
- SCI Region VII conference, CSU – Northridge, CA, 2004.
- Sound One (Open New Ears) Festival, UIUC, 2004.
- EMM 2005, Hyunjoo Jung, piano, Kansas City, KS; University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2005.
- SEAMUS 2006, Keith Kirchoff, piano, Eugene, OR.
- Mountain Computer Music Festival, Christopher Hahn, piano, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 2007.
- Convergence 2022, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK, 2022.
Convergence 2022, Leicester, UK
Janis Mercer performing (Disturbed) Radiance, September 2022.
Janis Mercer and B. Belet. Convergence 2022, Seeptember 2022.
Lyra
Lyra, 2002
Violin and Kyma
-- Published on Ghost Strings, Patricia Strange, violin. IMG Media, CD-02-01, 2006.
-- Published on Sufficient Trouble, P. Strange, violin. Ravello Records, 2017.
Performances by Patricia Strange (unless otherwise indicated):
- SJSU, 2002 & 2006.
- Kyma Concert, Justin Jones, violin, The City Gallery, Leicester, UK, 2002.
- 2002 Festival of New American Music, CSU-Sacramento, CA.
- Music for Violin and Electronics, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR, 2002.
- SCI Region V conference, Zack Kline, violin, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, 2003.
- SEAMUS 2003, Tempe, AZ.
- ICMC 2003, Chan Yoong Han, violin, Singapore.
- FEMF 2003.
- EMM 2003, Kansas City, KS.
- Vanessa Chipps, violin, Australia, 2004.
- John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium (in conjunction with SCI Region VII national conference), Carmelo de los Santos, violin, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 2006.
- SoundProof tours (2011 & 2012).
Earlier Compositions
Roundabout: Four Canons and Something Else, 2000
Percussion ensemble (9 performers)
-- Score published by Warner Brothers Publications / Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp., 2002.
- SJSU Percussion Ensemble, SJSU concerts, 2001 & 2012.
- OSU Percussion Ensemble, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 2010.
Still Harmless [BASS]ically, 2000
Electric bass and Kyma
-- Published on Sufficient Trouble, B. Belet, elec. bass. Ravello Records, 2017.
Performances by B. Belet:
- FEMF 2001.
- EMM 2002, Romeoville, IL.
- Now Music Festival, Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA, 2003.
- SJSU, 2005 & 2010.
- Mountain Computer Music Festival. University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 2007.
- Bay Area Computer Music Technology meeting, UC Berkeley, CA, 2007.
- Re-Imagine Media Conference, Modesto, CA, 2008.
- SoundProof ensemble 2011 tour.
- Electroacoustic Barn Dance festival, University of Mary Washington, Virginia, 2011.
difference (no doubt it queues) -and- an abstract (difference (queues)), 1997
Computer-processed voice
-- Published on The Frog Peak Collaborations Project, a double audio CD international compilation of 115 short compositions on a sound text by Australian sound poet Chris Mann, Frog Peak Music, FP007 (1998).
-- Published on Sufficient Trouble, Ravello Records, 2017.
- SJSU, 1996 & 2005.
- 2nd Annual Santa Fe International Festival of Electro-Acoustic Music, The College of Santa Fe, NM, 1998.
- Pulse Field International Exhibition of Sound Art, Georgia State Univ., Atlanta, GA, 2003.
- 3èmes Rencontres Musiques Nouvelles, Lunel, France, 2004.
- ...plus radio broadcasts in the US, Argentina, and Finland.
[MUTE]ation, 1993
Computer-processed trombone mute sounds
-- Published on Music from the Center for Research in Electro-Acoustic Music, Consortium to Distribute Computer Music CD series, Volume 26, Centaur Records, CRC 2404 (1998).
- Clark University, Worcester, MA, 1994.
- FEMF 1994.
- 2nd Bates Festival of New American Music, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, 1994.
- Technology and the Composer conference, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg & Univ. of Maryland, MD, 1994.
- Music From Hear and Thear, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 1995.
- SJSU, 1995 & 2005.
- SCI Region V conference, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 1995.
- Musica Electroacoustica… CREAM. Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1996.
- International New Music Festival, Dresden, Germany, 1996.
- ICMC 1996, Hong Kong.
- 2nd Annual Santa Fe International Festival of Electro-Acoustic Music, The College of Santa Fe, NM, 1998.
- SCI Region VIII conference, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 1998.
- 1999 New Music Festival, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL.
- FEMF 1999.
- Future Music Oregon, Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 2000.
- Pulse Field International Exhibition of Sound Art, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 2003.
- Electric Rainbow Coalition, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 2003.
- Beijing, China, 2005.
Refraction: Three Gestural Reflections, 1992
Trombone Quartet, 1992
I. Molten Convection
II. Temporal Proportions
III. Distant Memory
-- Score published by International Trombone Association Press (1997).
- New England Conservatory Honors Trombone Quartet, Boston, MA, 1992 (world premiere).
- New England Conservatory Honors Trombone Quartet, Clark University, Worcester, MA, 1993.
- CMS 1993, University of Minnesota Graduate Trombone Quartet, Minneapolis, MN.
- 2006 LaCrosse New Music Festival, The LaCrosse Trombone Quartet, University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse, WI.
- SJSU Trombone Quartet, SJSU, 2008 & 2015.
Four Proportional Preludes, 1991
Piano, 1991
I. Reflection
II. Metallica
III. Modulated Cosine
IV. Resonance
-- Published on SCI CD No. 11: Chamber Works, Janis Mercer, piano. Capstone Records, CPS-8651 (1998). Score published in SCI Journal of Music Scores, Vol. 24, European American Music/C.F. Peters, (1998).
- Clark University, Worcester, MA, 1991. (world premiere, Catherine Fuller, piano)
- Catherine Fuller, piano, French Library, Boston, MA, 1991.
- Janeen Larsen, piano, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD, 1991.
- Janeen Larsen, piano, Rapid City, SD, 1991.
- Fifth New Hampshire Music Festival Composers Conference, Sarah McNeeley-Kyder, piano, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH, 1992.
- Kobe International Modern Music Festival ’93, Kobe, Japan, 1993.
- Christina Eide, piano, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 1994.
- SCI Region VII conference, Christina Eide, piano, Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 1994.
- SCI Region III conference, Michael Sheadel, piano, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1994.
- GMTA 1996 Piano Festival, Janeen Larsen, piano, Gillette, WY, 1996.
- SCI Region VIII conference, Janis Mercer, piano, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, OR, 1999.
- Janis Mercer, piano, Holy Names College, Oakland, CA, 2000.
- Janis Mercer, piano, SJSU, 2001, 2003, 2007.
- Three Centuries of Piano Music, Janis Mercer, piano, Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco, CA, 2003.