Official site of composer Andrea Clearfield. Biography, list of works with audio, score samples, reviews and program notes, photographs, upcoming performances.
Commissioned and premiered by Orchestra 2001, James Freeman, artistic director. Recorded by the Russian Philharmonic, Moscow, Gloria Justen, violin, Ovidiu Marinscu, conductor
Commissioned by Music from Angelfire, Ida Kavafian, Artistic Director
Flute, percussion, piano, string quintet. Emma Resmini, Flute; Ida Kavafian and Theodore Arm, Violins; Steven Tenenbom, Viola; Peter Wiley, Cello; Peter Lloyd, Double Bass; Anne-Marie McDermott, Piano; Gregory Zuber, Percussion, Jonathan Coopersmith, conductor
Commissioned by Diller Quaile School of Music.
Flute, Mimi Stillman, guitar, Gideon Whitehead. World premiere performance, DSE Presents, Philadelphia 2016 Dolce Suono Ensemble
Commissioned by The Mendelssohn Club, Alan Harler, artistic director, libretto by Ellen Frankel. Premiered by Sanford Sylvan, baritone, the Mendelssohn Club and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (augmented), Alan Harler, conductor
Commissioned by David Wolman, poetry by David Wolman. Premiered by Hila Plitmann, soprano, The Temple University Music Prep Children’s Choir and Orchestra 2001, James Freeman, artistic director
Commissioned and premiered by The Handel Society of Dartmouth College on the occasion of their 200 year anniversary, Robert Duff, music director, poetry by Robert Frost. Elizabeth Keutsch and David Arnold, soloists, The Hanover Chamber Orchestra (augmented)
Commissioned by The American Guild of Organists. Premiered by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Chamber Singers, Jeffrey Brillhart, music director and organist, at the inauguration of the new organ
Commissioned and premiered by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Noreen Green, artistic director. Hila Plitmann, soprano, Gail Dubinbaum, mezzo-soprano, Valerie Harper, narrator
“The music's broadly drawn strokes touched emotional bases as only music can. It was bound to make the audience jump up and cheer at the end. And it did.”
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Orchestra premiere of Kabo Omowale)
“Clearfield's world premiere easily dominated the afternoon. For all its Romantic climaxes and affirmations of tonality, the work's scoring is not at all heavy, even glistening. The lavishly whirling dance of Miriam was the chief crowd-pleaser.”
Los Angeles Times
“... Consistently convincing and hugely effective... a Clearfield triumph... elucidating text meaning in deeply vivid ways within well-weighted, singable phrases that reflect mastery with large choral and instrumental forces.”
Philadelphia Inquirer
“Clearfield's Double Play put keyboard and percussion through a seamless, no less taut, conversation... a vibrant work.”
The Baltimore Sun
“This is a jewel. Clearfield's exploitation of the timbres and techniques - bends, glissandi, stopping and flutter - lays the souls of the instruments bare...”
The Horn Player (Published by the British Horn Society)
Audio Excerpts
More information on each piece can be found by clicking on the titles
Romanza for Violin and Chamber Orchestra (2007)
Commissioned and premiered by Orchestra 2001, James Freeman, artistic director. Recorded by the Russian Philharmonic, Moscow, Gloria Justen, violin, Ovidiu Marinscu, conductor
Tse Go La (At the threshold of this life) (2012)
Co-commissioned by The Mendelssohn Club and Commonwealth Youthchoirs, Alan Harler, conductor.
Earth Door/Sky Door (2018)
Commissioned by Music from Angelfire, Ida Kavafian, Artistic Director
Flute, percussion, piano, string quintet. Emma Resmini, Flute; Ida Kavafian and Theodore Arm, Violins; Steven Tenenbom, Viola; Peter Wiley, Cello; Peter Lloyd, Double Bass; Anne-Marie McDermott, Piano; Gregory Zuber, Percussion, Jonathan Coopersmith, conductor
Rabsong Shar (Eastern room of the palace) (2016-17)
Commissioned by the University of Arkansas New Music Ensemble.
Hvati (2017)
Commissioned by Froydis Ree Wekre for Oystein Baadsvik.
Convergence (2008)
Commissioned by Barbara Westphal, violist. Premiered by Ms. Westphal and Christian Ruvolo.
Sagitta (2013 – rev. 2016)
Commissioned by Diller Quaile School of Music.
Flute, Mimi Stillman, guitar, Gideon Whitehead. World premiere performance, DSE Presents, Philadelphia 2016
Dolce Suono Ensemble
Rhapsodie for flute, harp and string trio (2008)
Commissioned by Wally Loeb for the Dolce Suono Ensemble, Mimi Stillman, artistic director.
Lung-Ta (The Windhorse) (2009)
Commissioned and premiered by Network for New Music, Linda Reichert, artistic director, Jan Krzywicki, conductor.
The Golem Psalms (2006)
Commissioned by The Mendelssohn Club, Alan Harler, artistic director, libretto by Ellen Frankel. Premiered by Sanford Sylvan, baritone, the Mendelssohn Club and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (augmented), Alan Harler, conductor
The Long Bright (2004)
Commissioned by David Wolman, poetry by David Wolman. Premiered by Hila Plitmann, soprano, The Temple University Music Prep Children’s Choir and Orchestra 2001, James Freeman, artistic director
Into the Blue (2009)
Commissioned by the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware.
Three Songs for Violin and Bass after poems by Neruda (1998)
Commissioned by Robert Kesselman (oboe and bass). Violin and Bass arrangement premiered by Heide Sibley, violin, Edgar Meyer, bass
Fire and Ice (2007)
Commissioned and premiered by The Handel Society of Dartmouth College on the occasion of their 200 year anniversary, Robert Duff, music director, poetry by Robert Frost. Elizabeth Keutsch and David Arnold, soloists, The Hanover Chamber Orchestra (augmented)
Poet of the Body and the Soul (2011)
Commissioned by The College of New Jersey Chorale, John Leonard, Artistic Director
The Rim of Love (2005)
Commissioned by Astral. Premiered by Symphony in C, Rossen Milanov, artistic director, Disella Larusdottir, soprano
Concertino for marimba and string orchestra (2004)
Commissioned and premiered by The Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Karl Middleman, artistic director, Angela Zator-Nelson, marimba
Schwarzer Tod (2011)
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company. Premiered with Group Motion Dance Company and filmmaker Quintan Ana Wikswo
River of God (2003)
Commissioned by The American Guild of Organists. Premiered by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Chamber Singers, Jeffrey Brillhart, music director and organist, at the inauguration of the new organ
Double Play (1999)
Commissioned and premiered by the Hoffman/Goldstein Duo, Paul Hoffman, piano, Tom Goldstein, percussion
Women of Valor (2000)
Commissioned and premiered by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Noreen Green, artistic director. Hila Plitmann, soprano, Gail Dubinbaum, mezzo-soprano, Valerie Harper, narrator
Into the Falcon’s Eye (2003)
Commissioned and premiered by Froydis Ree Wekre. Recorded by Froydis Ree Wekre and Lisa Ford, horns, Andrea Clearfield, piano, 2L label
Unremembered Wings (2001)
Commissioned and premiered by Andrea Gullickson. Karen Enns, piano. Crystal Records.
Trax (1998)
Premiered by the Relâche Ensemble
Sax Trax (1997)
Premiered by the Diastema Quartet.
Songs of the Wolf (1994)
Commissioned and premiered by Froydis Ree Wekre. Recorded by Froydis Ree Wekre, Andrea Clearfield, piano, Crystal Records.
Photo by Sanny Leviste
Reviews
“The music's broadly drawn strokes touched emotional bases as only music can. It was bound to make the audience jump up and cheer at the end. And it did.”
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Orchestra premiere of Kabo Omowale)
“Clearfield's world premiere easily dominated the afternoon. For all its Romantic climaxes and affirmations of tonality, the work's scoring is not at all heavy, even glistening. The lavishly whirling dance of Miriam was the chief crowd-pleaser.”
Los Angeles Times
“... Consistently convincing and hugely effective... a Clearfield triumph... elucidating text meaning in deeply vivid ways within well-weighted, singable phrases that reflect mastery with large choral and instrumental forces.”
Philadelphia Inquirer
“Clearfield's Double Play put keyboard and percussion through a seamless, no less taut, conversation... a vibrant work.”
The Baltimore Sun
“This is a jewel. Clearfield's exploitation of the timbres and techniques - bends, glissandi, stopping and flutter - lays the souls of the instruments bare...”
The Horn Player
(Published by the British Horn Society)