Music Catalog - List of compositions by Rhys Chatham
1. ELECTRONIC MUSIC STUDY NO. 1 (1968) for audio tape.
Duration: 9 minutes
First Performance: NYU School of the Arts
2. ELECTRONIC MUSIC STUDY NO. 2 (1968) for audio tape.
Duration: 20 minutes
First Performance: WBAI.FM - NYC
3. FACTICITY (1969) for 2 flutes, 2 keyboards and tape.
A commissioned work for the "Music Under the Stars" Washington Square
Park Summer Concert Series.
Duration: 50 minutes
First performance: Washington Square Park
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Edmund Neiman, Tom Manoff, Manuel Vallejo.
4. GREENLINE POEM (1970) for audio tape.
Duration: 11 minutes
First Performance: The Kitchen (Mercer Street), NYC.
5. DR. DRONE IN CONCERT (1971) for audio tape and video image.
Duration: 70 minutes
First performance: The Kitchen
Text: Tony Conrad
Video: Shridar Bapat
6. TWO GONGS (1971) for two large Chinese gongs
Duration: 64 minutes
First performance: The Kitchen
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Yoshi Wada
7. HARPSICHORD (1972) for harpsichord in just intonation.
Duration: 3 minutes
First performance: Experimental Intermedia Foundation (EIF) (at
Centre Street in Manhattan unless otherwise noted)
Musician: Rhys Chatham
8. STILL SOUND IN MOTION (1973) for two trombones
Duration: 30 minutes
First Performance: Acme Productions - Soho, NY.
Musicians: Garrett List, unknown second player.
9. CLAP! (1974) for 3 tenor saxophones and tape.
Duration: 10 minutes
First Performance: EIF, NY.
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Peter Gordon, Keshavan Maslak
10. THE BLACK STAR PILGRIMAGE (1975) for solo amplified voice.
Inspired by an epic poem of Ed Friedman
Duration: 70 minutes
First Performance: The Kitchen (Wooster Street)
Musician: Rhys Chatham
11. SEVEN FAIRY TALES (1976) theater piece for 6 performers and
reptile.
Duration: 20 minutes
First Performance: EIF
Text: Melvyn Frieleiker
Reader: Rhys Chatham
Musicians: Scott Johnson, Jill Kroesen, Dick Miller, Pat O'Riley,
Eric Richards.
Reptile: Harry
12. FOUR WORDS (1975) for 4 performers.
Duration: 8 minutes
First Performance: St. Mark's Church - East Village, NYC
Musicians: Beth Anderson, Rhys Chatham, Michael Cooper and Jackson
Mac Low
13. EAR RINGING (1976) for sine wave generator and psycho acoustic
phenomenon.
Duration: 90 minutes
First Performance: Artist's Space, NYC
Musician: Rhys Chatham
14. TONE DEATH (1977) for tenor saxophone, two el. guitars and
drums.
Duration: 35 minutes
First Performance: Franklin Furnace, NYC
Musicians: Robert Appleton, Nina Canal, Rhys Chatham and Peter Gordon
15. GUITAR TRIO (1977) for three el. guitars, el. bass and drums
with: PICTURES FOR MUSIC (1980) 35mm projection by Robert Longo.
Duration: 25 minutes (1st version: 1977-79)
14 minutes (2nd version with slides by Robert Longo 1980-82)
8 minutes (3rd version: 1982-present)
First Performance: Max's Kansas City, NYC
Musicians: Glenn Branca, Nina Canal, Rhys Chatham, David Rosenblum,
Wharton Tiers.
16. THE OUT OF TUNE GUITAR, NO.1 (1978) for 3 el. guitars, el.
bass and drums.
Duration: 25 minutes
First Performance: Tier 3 - Soho, NY
Musicians: Jules Baptiste, Rhys Chatham, Robert Longo, Wharton Tiers.
17. VERTIGE (1979) Theater piece for solo el. guitar and
dancer.
Duration: 35 minutes
First Performance: Festival d'automne à Paris
Musician: Rhys Chatham
Choreographer and dancer: Karole Armitage
Lighting & costumes: Charles Atlas
18. ACOUSTIC TERROR (1979) for solo el. guitar and drums.
Duration: 12 minutes
First Performance: The American Center in Paris
Musicians: Rhys Chatham and David Linton
19. WILD ROMANCE (1980) for 4 el. guitars, el. bass and drums.
Duration: 15 minutes
First Performance: The Kitchen Center
Musicians: Craig Bromberg, Michael Brown, Rhys Chatham, Joe Dizney,
David Linton and Ned Sublette
20. 64 SHORT STORIES (1981) for 2 el. guitars, el. bass, drums and
35 mm slide projection.
Duration: 20 minutes
First performance: The Kitchen Center
Musicians: Michael Brown, Rhys Chatham, Joe Dizney and David Linton
21. DRASTIC CLASSICISM (1981) for 4 electric guitars, el. bass,
drums.
Duration: 16 minutes
First Performance: Dance Theater Workshop, NYC
First version: Theater piece with dancers
Second version: concert version w/o dancers
Musicians: Nina Canal, Rhys Chatham, Scott Johnson, Ned Sublette,
Michael Brown and David Linton.
Initially, performances of DRASTIC CLASSICISM were presented as a
theater piece with choreography by Karole Armitage. Lighting and
costumes were by Charles Atlas.
22. CADENZA (1981) for 4 el. guitars and drums
Duration: 10 minutes
First performance: Dance Theater Workshop
Musicians: Nina Canal, Rhys Chatham, Scott Johnson and David Linton
23. FOR BRASS (1982) for 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba and
percussion.
Duration: 17 minutes
Commissioned by the Groupe de Recherche chorégraphique de
l'Opéra de Paris
First Performance: Chateauvallon Festival, France
Musicians: Sinclair Acey, Ron Tooley, Olu Dara, Frank Gordon, George
Lewis, James Staley, Bob Stewart and Anton Fier.
24. THE FEAST (1982) for el. guitar, dancer and tape.
Duration: 50 minutes
First performance: P.S. 122, NYC
Choreography and dancer: Lisa Fox
Musician: Rhys Chatham
25. GUITAR RING (1982) for 4 guitars and drums
Duration: 15 minutes
First performance: Moers Music Festival, West Germany
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Karen Haglof, Craig Kafton, Susan Sprigfield
and James Lo.
26. THE OUT OF TUNE GUITAR, NO 2 (1983) for 4 guitars and
drums.
Duration: 5 minutes
First performance: Moers Music Festival, West Germany Musicians: Rhys
Chatham, Karen Haglof, Craig Kafton, Susan Springfield and James Lo.
27. LECTURE (1983) for reader two percussionists and electronics
(version 1)
Duration: 60 minutes
First Performance: The Mudd Club - NYC
Text: Rhys Chatham
Reader: Rhys Chatham
Percussionists: James Lo, David Wonsey
Electronics: Fast Forward
28. LECTURE (1983) for reader and electronics (version 2)
Duration: 60 minutes
First Performance: Roulette, NYC
Text: Rhys Chatham
Reader: Rhys Chatham
Electronics: Nicolas Collins
29. SECULAR MUSIC FOR BRASS AND BATTERY (1983) for 4 trumpets, two
trombones and percussion.
Duration: 80 minutes (version 1)
15 minutes (version 2)
First performance: Art on the Beach, NYC.
Musicians: Rik Albani, Butch Morris, James O'Connor, Pamela Fleming,
George Lewis, Peter Zummo, Jonathan Kane, James Lo and David Wonsey.
30. DIE DONNERGÖTTER (1984-85) for 6 el. guitars, el. bass
and drums
Duration: 20 minutes
First performance: 8 B.C.
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Karen Haglof, Robert Poss, Mitch Salmon,
Bill Brovold, Tim Schellenbaum, Tim Holmes, Tom Payne, Conrad Kinard
and J.P. on drums.
31. CHAMBER WORK (1984) for 4 trumpets and percussion.
A work commissioned by Joseph Nechvatal
Duration: 14 minutes
First performance: Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.
Musicians: Rhys Chatham (conductor), Pamela Fleming, Steven Haynes,
Ben Neill, James O'Connor, David Wonsey
32. JOURNEY I-III (1984) for 4 trumpets and percussion.
Duration: 15 minutes
First performance: S.E.M. Ensemble at the Whitney Museum of American
Art at Philip Morris
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Pamela Fleming, Stephen Haynes, James
O'Connor, David Wonsey
33. WATERLOO (1985) for solo percussionist, two flugelhorns and
dancer.
Commissioned by Elaine and Werner Dannheisser
Duration: 15 minutes
First performance: The Dannheisser Foundation, NYC
Choreography: Yves Musard
Dancer: Yves Musard
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, James O'Connor and David Wonsey.
34. RHYS' PIECES (1985) for 4 trumpets and percussion.
Duration: 13 minutes
First performance: The Performance Gallery, San Francisco
Musicians: Rhys Chatham (conductor), Pamela Fleming, Steven Haynes,
Ben Neill, James O'Connor, David Wonsey
35. XS (1985-86) for three soprano singers, 4 trumpets, six
electric guitars , el. bass, drums, 35 mm slide projection and
dance.
Duration: 90 minutes
First Performance: The Boston Shakespeare Theater
Choreography: Yves Musard
35 mm slides: Joseph Nechvatal
Musicians: Rhys Chatham (conductor), Pamela Fleming, Steven Haynes,
Ben Neill, James O'Connor, David Wonsey, Karen Haglof, Robert Poss,
Mitch Salmon, Bill Brovold, Tim Schellenbaum, Conrad Kinard, J.P.,
Peggy Ackerman, Jane Smith, Elly Spiegel.
36. THE LAST WORLD (1985) for soprano voice and tape.
A work commissioned by Joan La Barbara
Duration: 15 minutes
First performance: Symphony space, NYC
Text: Stephen Madoff
Voice: Joan La Barbara
37. FANTASIA (1985) for pianoforte.
Commissioned by Kurt Royston
Duration: 12 minutes
First Performance: The Whitney Museum of Art at Madison Avenue.
Musician: F. Erwin Smith
38. WATERLOO, NO 2 (1986) for solo percussionist, two trumpets,
two trombones, keyboard and (optional) piccolo.
Commissioned by the S.E.M. Ensemble
Duration: 8 minutes
First performance: Whitney Museum of American Art
Musicians: Don Yallech (featured soloist), Rob Bethea, Petr Kotik,
Pat McCarty, Ben Neill, Gwendolyn Toth.
39. MERCI, CHOPIN (1986) for 4 el. guitars, el. bass and
drums.
Duration: 11 minutes
First performance: 8 B.C.
Musicians: Karen Haglof, Robert Poss, Mitch Salmon, Evans Wohlforth,
Ernie Brooks, J.P.
40. UNTITLED (1986) for 4 el. guitars, el. bass and drums.
Duration: 15 minutes
First performance: 8 B.C.
Musicians: Karen Haglof, Robert Poss, Mitch Salmon, Evans Wohlforth,
Ernie Brooks, J.P.
41. MINIMAL CRIMINAL (1987) for trumpet, el. bass, drums and
tape.
Duration: 70 minutes
First performance: Real Art Ways; Hartford, CT
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Ernest Brooks, Jonathan Kane
42. HYPOTHERMIA (1987) theater piece for reader, trumpet and
electric bass. Made in collaboration with Leopold Zappler.
Duration: 40 minutes
Text: Leopold Zappler
Reader: Leopold Zappler
Musicians: Rhys Chatham and Ernest Brooks
43. MANIFESTE (1988) for solo trumpet and live electronics.
A commissioned work for Alain Sinturel
Duration: 70 minutes
First Performance: Traquan'Art - Montreal, Canada
Musician: Rhys Chatham
44. THE OUT OF TUNE GUITAR, NO 3 (1988) for 4 el. guitars and
electric bass.
A commissioned work for Serious Fun!
Duration: 5 minutes
First Performance: Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center
Musicians: Karen Haglof, Robert Poss, Susan Stenger, Mitch Salmen,
Jonathan Kane.
45. MINERVA (1988) for 6 el. guitars, el. bass, drums.
A commissioned work for the Serious Fun! Festival at Lincoln
Center
Duration: 20 minutes
First performance: Alice Tully Hall
Musicians: Karen Haglof, Robert Poss, Susan Stenger, Mitch Salmen,
Evans Wohlforth, Tim Hamilton, and Jonathan Kane.
46. MINERVA (1988) for 2 Eb trumpets and percussion.
A commissioned work for the Serious Fun! Festival at Lincoln
Center
Duration: 5 minutes
First performance: Alice Tully Hall
Musicians: Ben Neill, James O'Connor and Jonathan Kane
47. MY HOUSE (1988) for dancer and tape.
Duration: 10 minutes
First performance: P.S. 122
Choreography and dancer: Dennis O'Connor
Trumpet: Rhys Chatham
48. BATTLE OF THE NILE (1988-89) theater piece for two performers,
three dancers, live electronic image and sound.
Made possible by a grant from the National Endowment on the Arts
First Performance: Katherine Cornell Theater- Buffalo, NY
Concept and research: Tony Conrad
Text: Tony Conrad and Rhys Chatham
Music: Rhys Chatham
35 mm projection and electronic image: Tony Conrad
Choreography: Isabelle Marteau
Dancers: Eric Barsness, Isabelle Marteau, Noëlle Simonet
Lighting: Stan Pressner
Musician: Rhys Chatham
49. ECHO SOLO (1989) for amplified pianoforte or midi
keyboard.
Commissioned by the Robert Kovich Dance Company
Duration: 40 minutes
First performance: St. Mark's Church
Choreography: Robert Kovich
Dancers: The Robert Kovich Dance Company
Musician: Rhys Chatham
Released on the Table of Elements Records in 2003
50. ZEPHYR CHORUS (1989) for tape and text.
Commissioned by the Robert Kovich Dance Company
Duration: 20 minutes
First performance: St. Mark's Church
Choreography: Robert Kovich
Dancers: The Robert Kovich Dance Company
Reader: Rhys Chatham
51. JOURNEY TO THE END OF NIGHT (1989) for 6 el. guitars, el. bass
and drums.
First performance: Musique Action 90 - Vandoeuvre, France
Musicians: Claude Alvarez-Péreyre, Duncan Youngerman, Kent
Condon, Claude Samard, Jean-François Pauvros, Ernie Brooks,
Jonathan Kane
52. AN ANGEL MOVES TOO FAST TO SEE (1989) for 100 electric
guitars, electric bass and drums.
A work commissioned by l'aéronef and the city of Lille,
France.
Duration: 70 minutes
First performance: L'aéronef
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Claude Alvarez-Péreyre, Duncan
Youngerman, Kent Condon, Philippe Rey, Jean-François Pauvros,
Ernie Brooks, Jonathan Kane and 93 electric guitarists from the
region of Lille.
53. SOUVENIRS D'ENFANCE (1990) for two flutes.
Duration: 6 minutes
First Performances: The Kitchen
Musicians: Petr Kotik and an unknown musician
54. THE HEART CRIES WITH MANY VOICES (1990) for 6 el. guitars, el.
bass, drums, 2 trumpets.
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music NEXT WAVE Festival and
Harvestworks, Inc/Studio PASS.
First performance: BAM Carey Playhouse
Duration: 60 minutes
Musicians: Rhys Chatham (conductor), Jonathan Kane, Ron Spitzer,
Robert Poss, Karen Haglof, Susan Stenger, Mitch Salmon, Mark
Lonergan, Evans Wohlforth, Ben Neill, Mary Hastings
55. THE HEART CRIES WITH MANY VOICES (1990) for chorus.
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music NEXT WAVE Festival and
Harvestworks, Inc/Studio PASS. Made in collaboration with Leopold
Zappler.
First performance: BAM Carey Playhouse
Duration: 10 minutes
Text: Leoppold Zappler
Vocal direction by Gwendolyn Toth
56. WAREHOUSE OF SAINTS; SONGS FOR SPIES (1991) for 100 electric
guitars, electric bass, drums.
Commissioned by Musica Festival Internationale des musiques
d'aujourd'hui - Strasbourg, France
First performed: Entrepôts Kroenenbourg - Strasbourg
Duration: 75 minutes
Musicians: Rhys Chatham, Claude Alvarez-Péreyre, Duncan
Youngerman, Kent Condon, Philippe Rey, Jean-François Pauvros,
Ernie Brooks, Jonathan Kane and 93 electric guitarists from the
region of Strasbourg
57. QUATUOR A CORDES, NO. 1 (1991)
Duration: 10 minutes
58. LES VESPERS DE LA VIERGE (1992) for chorus, 2 trumpets, 2
saxophones, two trombones, tuba, drums
Arrangement of a piece by Monteverdi. Commissioned by the Lyon Opera
Ballet for a dance by Ralph Lemon.
Duration: 35 minutes
First performed: Transbordeur - Lyon, Francs
Musicians: The Sine Nomine Singers conducted by Harry Saltzman; Jon
Gibson, Lenny Pickett, Ben Neill, unknown trumpet player, Peter
Zummo, well known tuba player whose name I forgot, Jonathan Kane,
Jean-Pierre Arnoux.
59. Music to TAUROMAQUIA (1992-93) for 100 electric guitars, el.
bass and drums.
Commissioned by the Orbe Thêàtre, Paris.
Duration: 90 minutes
For a theater work untitled TAUROMAQUIA by Jean-Philippe Guerlais.
60. NEON (1993) trumpet and electronics.
Collaboration with Martin Wheeler.
Duration: 6'33"
Released on NTone Records in 1996.
61. RAMATEK (1993) trumpet and electronics
Collaboration with Martin Wheeler.
Duration: 5'52"
Released on NTone Records in 1996.
62. GODBOX (1993) trumpet and electronics
Collaboration with Martin Wheeler.
Duration: c. 2'30"
Projected CD release date: spring 1996
62. SYMPHONY NO. 4 (1994/95) for full orchestra.
Commissioned by Le Grand Théâtre de Genève
Duration: 35 minutes
First performance: Le Grand Théâtre de Genève
Conductor: Ermanno Florio
Musicians: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
64. HORNITHOLOGY (1995) trumpet and electronics
Collaboration with Martin Wheeler.
Duration: 4'28"
Released on NTone Records in 199
65. CHARM (1995) trumpet and electronics
Collaboration with Martin Wheeler.
Duration: 5'21"
Released on NTone Records in 1996.
66. TOUR A TOUR (1995) for trumpet and midi electronics (tape
piece)
Commissioned by Association Kim Kohn for a dance by Isabelle
Marteau.
Duration: 75 minutes
First performed: Gymnase Maurice Baquet - Bagnolet, France
67. UNTITLED (1996) for amplified trumpet, electric guitar and
interactive midi-electronics.
Duration: 30 minutes
First Performance: Maison de la Musique - Nanterre, FRANCE
68. MACRO DUB INFECTION (1996) trumpet and electronics.
Collaboration with Martin Wheeler. Released on Virgin Records in
fall/1996
69. SEPTILE (1997) for trumpet, drums, turntables and electronics.
90 minute collaborative set with Jonathan Kane and Danny Hamilton. First performance on 11 August 1997 at DI CENTA FESTIVAL in Palermo, Italy. CD of 4 of the compositions from Septile were released by Ntone in February of 1998.
70. BOOK 1 of 9, work-in-progress (1998) for re-tuned electric guitar.
Fully notated composition for electric guitar using micro-tonal intervals. Commissioned by Didier Aschour.
71. LA 5EME SAISON (1998) - bande sonore
40 minute electronic tape composition. Commissioned by Companie Isabelle Marteau for a 40 minute dance. First performance 2,3 October 1998 at Centre Culturel, La Courneuve, France.
72. THE WIRE EDITION CD - 1999
60 minute CD of collaborative compositions organized by The Wire Magazine with some of London's most fiery improvisers. Rhys Chatham on fuzz trumpet, Gary Smith on stereo electric guitar, keyboardist/sampler Pat Thomas, Gary Jeff on electric bass, Lou Ciccotelli on drums. Released in March 1999.
(the years 2000 - 2002 were spent on improvisatory music)
73. THREE ASPECTS OF THE NAME (2003) for 6 male voices
Released on Table of the elements Records in 2003
74. THE KINGS OF EDOM, WHOSE HEADS ARE NOT (2003)
Released on Auditorium Records in the spring of 2003.
75.MIRROR ZAKHOR (2004) for male chorus
76. ShDY AL ChY (2005) for male chorus (work-in-progress)
77. A CRIMSON GRAIL MOVES TOO FAST TO SEE (2005) for 400 electric guitars, eletric bass and drums.
Commissioned by Carat Culture for La Nuit Blanche in Paris. Perrformance date: 1 October 2005
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