Brian Kane -- Compositions

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Brian Kane -- Compositions Below is a list of recent works with a brief description of each piece. I have also attached MP3s of the pieces that have been recorded. The excerpts are about a minute long and are only moderate in sound quality, but the complete pieces are high quality. Scores are available if you are interested in performing, or premiering, any of these works -- just send me an email. Download and enjoy! Nota bene: I've added some related soundfiles and goodies at the bottom of the page.
neither super-idealized guidance nor caprice (2005) This is an semi-improvised piece for piano, guitar, accordion, violin, cello and live electronics, conducted by stopwatch. The players follow a score which determines playing technique, general duration, and manner of entering/exiting. The electronics are mixed live, and were programmed in Max/MSP. The Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players Jason Levis, piano Marie Abe, accordion Brian Kane, guitar Leighton Fong, cello Graeme Jennings, violin John MacCallum, live electronics Recorded live at Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley, April 3, 2006.
Listen to the complete piece	Read the program note	Listen to an excerpt
On the Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (2005-) An ongoing cycle of electro-acoustic pieces and sound installations of various lengths, characters, and formats. Much of the source material is borrowed, derived, or based on animal and human sounds. This archive of material is then re-configured and transformed into various projects. Two such projects are: 1. A series of short tape pieces. Excerpts of this work were first performed in May, 2005, at CCRMA, Stanford University. 2. A sound installation designed to be incorporated ino the collaborative Sound Garden project by various composers working out of CNMAT. The installation will run on the UC Berkeley campus on April 23, 2006.
Listen to a Streaming Sample		Read a description of the installation
Note: If I can get a web-based version of the installation running, I'm hoping to post it sometime in early May. The "tape music" pieces will be posted shortly. --BK 4/06
Figura (2004) This is a new piece for solo piano, approx. 10 minutes in length. Three kinds of musical material are developing simultaneously, and begin to interact in surprising ways. It is my first foray into computer aided composition; much of the material was generated with OpenMusic, and developed intuitively. Michael Seth Orland, Piano Recorded live at Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley, April 25, 2005
Listen to the complete piece	Read the program note	Listen to an excerpt
Anaphora (2005-6) A large composition for string orchestra, harp and piano, approx. 25 minutes. It is included as part of my doctoral dissertation. Excerpts of this work will be performed by the Berkeley Symphony on December 10th.
Measure is the Heaven of Desire (2002-3) This work for solo violin was inspired by the work of artist David Rabinowitch and is fondly dedicated to him. David Ryther, Violin Recorded live at the Berkeley Arts Center, Nov. 9th, 2003
Listen to the complete piece	Read the program note	Listen to an excerpt
Clarinet Quintet (2002-2003) Winner, De Lorenzo Prize in Music Composition. This is a three movement work for clarinet and string quartet, approx. 22 minutes in length. The piece is based on the writings of three Greek philosophers: Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Epicurus. The Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players Peter Josheff, clarinet Karen Shinozaki, Cary Koh, violins Darcy Rindt, viola Leighton Fong, cello David Milnes, conductor Recorded Live at the International House, Nov. 22nd, 2003.
Complete 1st movement		1st movement excerpt
Complete 2nd movement		2nd movement excerpt
Complete 3rd movement	Read the program note	3rd movement excerpt
Melodrama, nach Beethoven (2003) This is an electronic work based on Beethoven's Melodram for Glass Harmonica and Reciter. The piece uses a wide variety of electronic music techniques to create an unusual musical narrative. The piece was realized on my home computer in Berkeley, using MAX/MSP, Audio Sculpt, Open Music and ProTools.
Listen to the complete piece	Read a short descriptive essay	Listen to an excerpt
Three Sonnets of George Santayana (2001) Winner, De Lorenzo Prize in Music Composition A short song cycle for soprano, piano, clarinet and cello. The songs are composed on three ecphrastic sonnets: the first a description of a tapestry, the second a cathedral, and the third a statue of Achilles. The settings attempt to embody Santayana's startling naturalism. Karen Hall, soprano Marika Hughes, cello Matt Ingalls, clarinet Hadley McCarroll, piano Recorded live at Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley, May 2nd, 2001.
Complete 1st movement		1st movement excerpt
Complete 2nd movement		2nd movement excerpt
Complete 3rd movement	Read the program note	3rd movement excerpt
Thirteen Ways of Composing a Woodpecker (2004) This is a short piece for woodwind quintet, approx. 3 minutes in length. The basic material comes from a recording of woodpeckers, which was found on an old 45 rpm record called Akustische Kuriosa, distributed by the Experimentalstudio Gravesano. This piece has yet to be performed.
Nocturne (2002) This is an electronic work in which all the sounds are computer generated. It is tightly constructed using a limited repertoire of sounds, all of which are modeled on inharmonic spectra. This piece was realized on my home computer in Berkeley, using MAX/MSP, AudioSculpt and ProTools.
Listen to the complete piece		Listen to an excerpt
Duo for Oboe and Piano (2001) A short rhythm study, approx. 5 min. An early version of this piece was performed at Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley, in 2001. No recording is available.
Piano Sonata (1999) A three movement sonata for piano. The piece integrates a series of compositional techniques into a large multi-movement work. Hadley McCarroll, piano Recorded live at Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley, Dec. 6th, 2000.
Complete 1st movement		1st movement excerpt
Complete 2nd movement		2nd movement excerpt
Complete 3rd movement	Read the program note	3rd movement excerpt
For Sextet (1999) A chamber piece for clarinet, bassoon, french horn, violin, viola, and cello. The piece is constructed in five short movements, which surround a series of polyrhythmic duos and trios, exploiting the unusual instrumentation. Duration: approx. 15 minutes. This piece has yet to be performed.
Three Pieces for Clarinet (1998) An integrated set of pieces for solo clarinet, based on a five note motive, and exploring a diverse musical rhetoric. Matt Ingalls, clarinet Recorded live at The Capp Street Community Music Center, San Francisco, Jan. 27th, 2001.
Listen to the complete piece		Listen to an excerpt
Six Trios (1998) A short work for clarinet, viola and contrabass. Each piece utilizes a different compositional technique. Duration: approx. 20 minutes. First performed by: Peter Josheff, clarinet Ellen Ruth Rose, viola Michael Taddei, bass No recording is available.
Laocoon's Ennui (1998) Commissioned by the Snooty Chamber Orchestra. The instrumentation is violin, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, tenor saxophone, and bassoon, plus conductor. Between movements the conductor directs the ensemble in partially notated improvisations. Duration: variable, 10-20 minutes. Premiered by the Snooty Chamber Orchestra, at Bruno's, San Francisco. No recording is available.
Vellications (1997) for four violas. This is a short piece that explores extended techniques on the viola. Duration: approx. 8 minutes. This piece has yet to be performed.
Music for Strings and Percussion in Six Parts (1996) For two string quartets, bass, and three percussionists. This piece integrates notation and improvisation to create broad, monolithic textures. The ensemble is co-ordinated by stopwatch, rather than conductor. Duration: 32 minutes. Premiered at the Crucible Steel Gallery, San Francisco, 1996. No recording is available.
An Improvisation: Here is an improvisation by Matt Ingalls (clarinet) and myself (on alto saxophone) performed live at KZSU on March 28, 1996, for the Day of Noise. Sorry for the poor sound quality of this recording -- it came right off the board and onto a cassette tape.
Listen to the complete piece		Sorry, no excerpt available
Copyright 2006 Brian Kane. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.