COMPOSITIONS LISTED IN DESCENDING ORDER OF CCOMPLETION
(newest first)
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(2014) CUMBIA SOMBRA for solo guitar commissioned by guitarist
Irene Gomez
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The Colossus of Rhodes depicts the first visitation to this wonder of the ancient world on the worst day possible: the day of its destruction in a powerful Earthquake. The first half of the piece imagines an initial sense of awe as the visitor approaches and then passes the colossus in a ship. After this initial swell of emotions the piece begins brooding and building until the final calamity arrives and shakes the city of Rhodes and collapses its mighty tribute to the god Helios.
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(free)
(2014) ITHNAAN MAQAMAT for solo guitar
Ithnaan Maqamat is comprised of two pieces that use Arabian Maqamat (modes). These short movements were written to be given out for free at festivals in 2014 and are named for the modes they utilize. "Zandjaran" is a short and simple piece that is playable by just about any beginner to intermediate guitarist. "Suzdil" is a bit more difficult and aggressive and in 7/8.
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(2014) NEWTON'S CRADLE for guitar duo commissioned by Duo Cortado
"Newton's Cradle" is a lively rondo (ABACABAcoda) that largely utilizes E phrygian with liberty taken on raising the third scale degree. The rondo (A) is a brief and challenging section that introduces several themes and ideas utilized throughout the piece. The B section is a neo-classical-esque wandering that moves to the major subdominant of the original key. The C section is a slow and lyrical aside that sees the guitars share lead and accompaniment duties. The recapitulation remains in the original E phrygian and pushes to a climactic coda that finishes the piece off with a bang. - Kevin J. Cope
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Computer playback for reference
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(2013) TWO LULLABIES for solo guitar
These are two short and simple lullabies that were written for the niece and nephew as Christmas gifts for 2013.
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(2013) ORIGIN UNKNOWN: A POLE WAS JOURNEYING for alto sax and guitar (2013) ORIGIN UNKNOWN: A POLE WAS JOURNEYING for flute and guitar (2013) ORIGIN UNKNOWN: A POLE WAS JOURNEYING for Bb clarinet and guitar commissioned by Duo Montagnard
Commissioned by Duo Montagnard, "Origin Unknown: A Pole Was Journeying" was written to reflect my lack of connection with my Polish heritage yet my desire to learn more. The piece includes two Polish folk melodies, "A Pole Was Journeying" and "Whirlwinds Raging in the Valley," which are used to tell a hypothetical version of my ancestor's journey to America in, presumably, the early twentieth century. The piece begins with a theme based upon "Whirlwinds Raging in the Valley" which is utilized to represent the common idea "wherever the winds take me." A last look at home follows that is both full of love and loss. The journey then begins across land and the tension builds until the longest leg of the journey is reached, across the Atlantic ocean. As the ship sets out, thoughts turn to the new home ahead and then drift back to Poland. Slowly, the loneliness builds and the guitar allows the saxophone to wander through thoughts of home. Upon reaching the shores of the USA, a reserved excitement takes over until comfort and joy are discovered.
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(2013) FIVE STUDIES for intermediate solo guitar
Dedicated to Daniel F. McGann Jr., Michael Sterling Smith, Mark Anthony Cruz, Anthony Sloan, Brian Bard, and Michael Markey.
I. Finger Independence II. 2nd String Tremolo III. Walking Bass IV. Right Hand Percussion V. Five & Six String Arpeggios
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(2013) THREE SEPHARDIC SONGS for soprano, guitar, riq, and darbuka (2013) THREE SEPHARDIC SONGS for flute, oboe, or violin, guitar, riq, and darbuka (2013) THREE SEPHARDIC SONGS for oboe, guitar, riq, and darbuka commissioned by soprano Rani Cohen
"Three Sephardic Songs" is a short set of Sephardic/Arabic/Hebrew songs utilizing texts by Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Amir Gilboa, and Tuvia Rubner (texts used by permission). The first song features a text by Solomon Ibn Gabirol titled "Ketav Setav (Winter Wrote)." The second song features text by Amir Gilboa "Aviv Baoloam (Spring in the World." Lastly, a joyous text by Tuvia Rubner, "Lu Mea Kovaim Leroshi (If I Had a Hundred Hats)," completes the set.
Alternate non-text versions have been arranged as well. Versions for flute, oboe, violin, and Bb clarinet are available for purchase.
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(2013) TWENTY-ONE for Bb clarinet, cello, and piano
"Twenty-One" is a one minute waltz written in 2013.
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information will be posted as it becomes available.
(free)
(2012) FIRST DANCE for solo guitar
This is a composition that I wrote for my wedding. It was intended to be fairly simple and beautiful.
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(free)
(2012) SOLSTICES for solo guitar
This is a composition that I wrote specifically to pass out for free. Please download a copy and let your friends know as well. Feel free to email me questions: kevin@kevinjcope.com
This piece should be playable by any early intermediate guitarist and above. It was written specifically to demonstrate my compositional style in its many facets. I aimed to include playability, a simple but beautiful melody, interesting harmony and rhythm, varying tonalities, and a slight arabian touch.
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(2012) SIROCCO for clarinet in A commissioned by clarinetist Arianna Tieghi
Commissioned by Italian clarinetist Arianna Tieghi for an ambitious project that included the performance of works by composers in all 50 states of the USA. "Sirocco" is an eclectic work that was inspired by American jazz as well as European aesthetics. The work shifts from a rhythmically varying and somewhat atonal "European" section to a boundlessly energetic "jazz" section. The two sections are padded with a very slow and rhythmically vague transitional section. The entire piece clocks in at about 4'30"
Premiered on September 5, 2012 in Italy by clarinetist Arianna Tieghi
Commissioned by the University of Delaware Community Music School and Gary Smith for their 2011 High School Choral Camp. Utilizing text by Walt Whitman, "To the garden the world," this piece creates lush harmony while exploring Whitman's themes of sexual equality and religion.
"To the Garden the World" was a finalist in the 2011 Simon Carrington Choral Competition.
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(2011) BEECH for tenor and piano commissioned by tenor Malcolm Cooper
Commissioned by tenor Malcolm Cooper, "Beech" is based upon text by poet Hannah Eagleson. The poem tells of the changes of the seasons through the eyes of a lonely beech tree.
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(2011) SUITE NO. 2 for solo guitar
This suite includes six pieces that were written from November to December in 2012. The composer wrote each piece for a member of his family. These pieces are mostly simple technically but are widely varied in style.
I. Bomba
II. . . .And a Hard Place
III. Lullaby
IV. Romp
V. A Beautiful Day
VI. A Beautiful Night
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(2011) SUITE NO. 1 for solo guitar movements commissioned by guitarists Kurt Smith, Charles Benson, and Gregory Cross
Comprised of four Latin dances that can be played separately or as a set:
I. Tango de la Tentadora (2006)
II. Sikah Baladi (son)(2010)
III. Medianoche Habanera (2010)
IV. Saba Baladi (tango)(2011)
"Having written Tango de la Tentadora in 2006 for guitarist and Philosophy professor at Bloomsburg University Kurt Smith, I always felt that it deserved to be grouped with more pieces in some kind of suite. I decided in 2009 when a student at the University of Delaware requested a guitar piece that I would write another Latin style piece. I wrote the piece as a son (which is basically a slow mambo) and it became Sikah Baladi. Shortly thereafter, another student asked for a piece as well. I decide to write a habanera and this became Medianoche Habanera. I then wrote an intense tango to round out the set." - Kevin J. Cope
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(2010) AMERICAN SABA for woodwind quintet commissioned by the University of Delaware Graduate Woodwind Quintet
Commissioned by the University of Delaware Graduate Woodwind Quintet, "American Saba" utilizes the Arabic mode saba zamzama while mimicking traditional Indian Raga structure, with a Western twist. The piece begins by introducing the mode via a freely notated and performed improvisatory display that introduces the themes and the tonality to the listener. The piece then evolves into a very rhythmic and contrupuntal section that eventually builds into an intentionally simplistic and non-Eastern choral style section. The piece then builds to a climax with the least Eastern genre possible, a fugue. All of this happens without changing mode as would be the case with a Raga.
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(2009) KUITRA for solo guitar commissioned by guitarist Brian Bard
Written for guitarist Brian Bard, Kuitra utilizes the modes of the Middle East ina unique manner. By creating a jazz influenced harmonic scheme, the piece begins by creating the illusion of a major tonality. This does not last for long, though, and it quickly becomes apparent that there is a darkness to it as well. While the first section drifts through luscious melodies, the second section contains a more frantic element. This section begins with a long melody sustained in the upper voice and an ostinato created with a succession of slurs to open string. this is broken up by tense moments of chordal strumming with a simulaneous rapidly moving bass line. With a return to the first section, the piece comes to a drifting and dark end.
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(2009) DAR DLA MOJEGO RODZINA for solo guitar
"This piece was written as a gift to my parents in 2009. The first movement is a Polish dance called a Kujawiak written to celebrate my mother's Polish heritage. The second movement is titled "Idyl" and celebrates my father's love of nature and beauty." - Kevin J. Cope
I. Kujawiak
II. Idyl
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Early recordings are available through the purchase link below to EditionBaraszewski.com
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(2009) SHARING SPACES for two speakers, guitar, and piano
by Kevin J. Cope and Alexis Ford
with text by Rachael Baitch and Michael Stadnycki
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(2009) HIJAZ NAHAWAND for solo piano
Hijaz Nahawand is a short piece that utilizes the modes of the East in a manner that emphasizes the harmonic possibilities that they possess while maintaining their unique intervallic qualities within the resulting melodies. By employing many of the West's key ideas, such as harmony and modulation, a melding of musical cultures occurs. This results in a unique soundscape that attempts to emphasize the oddity of the sounds to Western ears while exploiting the full breadth of harmonic richness that is possible with the piano.
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(2008) MODES OF EXPRESSION for string orchestra
"Modes of Expression" is a set of three movements that utilize Eastern modes.
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Sounds will be posted when they become available.
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(2008) FROM THE ARID DEPTHS for cello and piano
"From the Arid Depths" is a virtuosic cello and piano piece that explores several emotional pathways. The piece starts very lyrical and progresses into a frenzied panic. The panic eventually calms allowing the cello to perform a mediative solo. A recapitulation of the lyrical opening then rounds out the piece.
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(2008) KRIVO TANTSI for Bb clarinet, cello, and piano (2011) KRIVO TANTSI for Bb clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
"Krivo Tantsi" is a boisterous dance-like piece that may bring to mind a rowdy Esatern European pub or bar. Constantly changing meters and wondering counterpoint make this piece a fun workout for the musicians.
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(2007) HEDERA HELIX for guitar quartet/ensemble commissioned by Christiaan Taggart and the University of Delaware Guitar Ensemble
Written for Christiaan Taggart and the University of Delaware Guitar Ensemble, this piece was written in order to accomodate a wide range of playing abilities while maintained an aggressive and youthful spirit.
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(2007) PENUMBRA for flute and guitar for Bb clarinet and guitar commissioned by flutist Paula Frechette
Written for flutist Paula Frechette, Penumbra has a very interesting and challenging flute part, with a technique of "rasgueado" and "tambora" used in the guitar part which is a percussive effect that is achieved by rapidly strumming the strings with the right hand for the rasgueado effect, and intermittently striking the strings over the sound hole with a clenched fist in order to subdue all sound and create a percussive effect from the strings hitting the finger board.
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(2007) PHILOMELA for solo piano
"Philomela" is a short and very agressive solo piano piece.
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Sounds will be posted when they become available.
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(2006) QUATRE PIECES BREVES for solo guitar
"Quatre pieces breves" is a set of four atonal pieces that helped launch my love of composing. Each movement was written with a different compositional technique and each work has its own character due to this.
I. Prelude
II. Toccata
III. Waltz
IV. Fantasia
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Early recordings can be found through the purchase links below.
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(2006) ASTRONOMER for soprano, flute, cello, and piano
Utilizing text by Walt Whitman, "When I heard the learned astronomer," Astronomer paints an image of the night sky.
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