Marshall Bessières

Selected Works

• Air con frigid (2010)

  
  For piano and fixed electronics. A theatrical piece that explores how the excesses of over-air-conditioning affects the sonic environment. Commissioned by Luther College to be premiered in October 2010.

• R Stop Seven (2010)

  [listen]
  For vocal acrobatics, contrabass flute, alto recorder, trumpet, and piano. Inspired by frustration with the amount of time spent on the New York City subway system. Commissioned and premiered by Hexnut and The Walden School. June 2010.

• Treasured Pastime (2010)

  [listen]
  For wind quintet. A set of paramter studies. In each movement I chose parameters to fix, parameters to contrast, and a shape to use for the changing parameters. The first and fifth movements are performed standing around the audience (they're actually moving around in the fifth). Much of the work is structured improvisation with tightly controlled parameters and guidelines. Premiered by Aeros Quintet, May 2010.
      I. Spice Patch
      II. Rare Greetings
      III. Inept Contour
      IV. Casual Introit
      V. Some Potent Rove

• Memories of E=MC² (2009)

  [listen]
  For Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, and bass. In memory of my grandfather, Earle McKee Craig, Jr. A man of elegance and dignity. Premiered at the Walden New York Alumni Forum on November 15th, 2009 five days before the first anniversary of his death.

• From Childhood's Hour (2009)

  [listen]
  For soprano, flute, clarinet, tenor sax, and piano. Written for Wet Ink, commissioned by The Walden School in 2009.

• Motion 5 (2009)

  [listen]
  For fixed electronics. A study in movement within the stereo field based on looped piano and bowl samples. November 2009.

• Motion 20 (2008)

  [listen]
  For quadrophonic taped electronics. Created from a single sample of a finger sliding on a piano string in 2008.

• Songs of Searching (2007)

  
  For solo amplified cello. Commissioned by The Walden School in 2007.

• Give It Time (2006)

  [listen]
  Written in 2006 in an afternoon session with my brother, Stuart, an avid sax player.

• Turning Point (2003)

  [listen]
  For Bassoon, Violin, Guitar, and Percussion. Composed in 2003 for Clogs as part of the Walden Faculty Commissioning Project, Turning Point is a study in structured improvisation. The intsrumentation is for Bassoon with looping, Electric Guitar with looping and ebow, Percussion, and Violin.

• On Point (2003)

  [listen]
  Comissioned by Jessica Larson in 2003 for her senior dance recital, this piece was written with dancers in mind. I wish I had much better equipment in 2003, but alas, it wasn't really available to me. Some of the parts are recorded (the violin, cello and trumpet solos), but most of it is from lame midi samples. It was a really fun collaboration and I really enjoyed working with her.

• Double Star (2003)

  [listen]
  For Soprano and Piano. Commissioned by soprano Jennie Martin in 2003 for her senior recital, Double Star uses a text by Henry David Thoreau (which the singer speifically requested). Written at the same time as Turning Point, I had the opportunity to work in two very contrasting styles as Jennie specifically requested a "beautiful" piece.

• Leaves (2002)

  [listen]
  For solo piano. My second composition, a piano piece written in 2002 for my piano recital. It is full of modes, mathematics, additive development techniques, and a very difficult middle part that I was almost able to play.

• Stopping by woods on a snowy evening (2002)

  [listen]
  For SATB choir. My first composition, written in 2002. It's a shame I decided to use Robert Frost's text, as this piece will not be published for decades. Nevertheless, it was a great experiment and I learned a lot from my first experience composing.