Music

To a Village Called Emmaus, American Festival Chorus and Orchestra recording

Picasso (2020)

Concert scene for baritone and piano composed by Francisco Estévez

Picasso, alone in his studio, takes a piece of charcoal, connects scars, marks, and moles on his upper torso into a constellation as he imagines his matador-like life and flirtation with death

“Anthony and Wells” (2020)

Concert vocal work for composer Lansing McLoskey, undeveloped

Proposal for a 10-minute work to commemorate the 19th Amendment, the 150th anniversary of the first American woman to vote, and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, told through the friendship of Susan B. Anthony and Emmeline Wells

The Captivity of Hannah Duston (2020)

Chamber opera libretto, composed by Lansing McLoskey, based on American captivity narratives of Cotton Mather, John Greenleaf Whittier, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Sarah Josepha Hale, and contemporary text by the librettist

Commissioned by Guerilla Opera, with additional grant support from The Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University, from the Bogliasco Foundation, and from the National Endowment for the Arts

Excerpts premiered May 30, 2019, Haverhill, MA. Premiere postponed because of the pandemic

From Mountain to Forest to River (2019)

Texts for two movements of the choral work, composed by Daniel McDavitt

“Let’s Go” and “Music of the River,” texts are specifically about the landscape and history in Delaware

Commissioned by the Deer Creek Chorale, premiered 2022

“That They All May Be One” (2019)

Hymn text, Ethan Wickman, composer

Hymn submitted for consideration for new LDS hymnal. Recorded by the Wickman family during the pandemic and posted on YouTube as a four-paneled video

To a Village Called Emmaus (2019)

Oratorio libretto, composed by Ethan Wickman with original poetry and texts for soloists, large chorus, and orchestra

Commissioned and premiered by Craig Jessop and the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra at Utah State University, April 20, 2019; studio recording issued 2023

“Poem for D. Fletcher” (2019)

Text for song

Written as a gift for D. on the occasion of a concert of his music at the Center Festival 2019

The Bridge (2018)

Dance work conceived by Glen Nelson, music and lyrics by Andrew Maxfield and Stuart Maxfield, adapted from the Ambrose Bierce story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”

Dance performance commissioned by Utah Presents for SALT Contemporary Dance, choreography by Brendan Duggan and premiered November 8-10, 2018, Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah and a later performances at Lincoln Center Jazz in New York, New York

“Hail to Spring” (2014)

Poem for choral work requested by composer Nathan Bowen, uncomposed

Text about Persephone, goddess of spring, and seasonal allergies and children

The Bridge (2015)

Rock opera conceived by Glen Nelson, music and lyrics by Andrew Maxfield and Stuart Maxfield, adapted from the Ambrose Bierce story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”

Premiered at the de Jong Concert Hall, BYU, November 23, 2015

“Maladies” (2011)

Poems for a song cycle for composer David Sargent, uncomposed “Toothache,” “Cold,” “Narcissism and Paranoia,” “Boils”

“Lullaby of the Animals” (2006)

Text for song, composed by Royce Twitchell

Originally commissioned by Manhattan First Ward for a Christmas party, sheet music later published by Mormon Arts and Letters and since sung on a few continents, children sing like animals at the manger to try to get the Holy Infant to sleep

The Book of Gold (2005)

Two-act opera libretto, composed by Murray Boren

Commissioned by BYU for the bicentennial of Joseph Smith’s birth, starring Darrell Babidge, Jennifer Welch-Babidge, Ariel Bybee and students. Full production premiered at the de Jong Concert Hall and broadcast on BYU-TV, DVD issued by BYU

The opera is set around the publication of the Book of Mormon with a flashback to the First Vision in the final scene

“New York, We Love Thee” (2004)

Song lyrics based on the hymn, “Utah, We Love Thee,” sung at the 70th anniversary celebration of the founding of the LDS stake in New York. In praise of the I.R.T., Zabars, Sondheim, the Yankees, and other non- mountainous things

“Trust in the Lord” (2003)

Text arranged for sacred song, composed by Royce Campbell Twitchell

The Quilting Bee (2002)

Song cycle (unfinished) for Murray Boren, uncomposed

“Don’t You Love Starting a Quilt?,” “My Husband Never Liked Them Much,” “Have You Seen Those Races?,” “Are There Quilts in Heaven Do You Think?,” “Don’t You Love Starting a Quilt?”

Multi-voice cycle sung as women gather and quilt together

New Opera (2002)

Untitled opera treatment, about a husband and wife (vocalist and accompanist); the blind pianist regains her sight with unhappy consequences, undeveloped

Joseph Smith’s Letters from Prison (2001)

Text (edited letters by Joseph Smith) for a song cycle, composed by David Fletcher

Premiered at gala fundraiser for Handcart Ensemble (New York City theater company) at rehearsal rooms of City Center, sung by Darrell Babidge, baritone, and David Skousen, pianist.

“When I Think of Christmas” (c. 2001)

Song lyrics adaptation of “In the Bleak Midwinter”

Contemporary musings on urban Christmas

My Children (2000)

Poems for song cycle (soprano and chamber ensemble, also a version for soprano and piano), composed by Murray Boren

“First – Levi”, “Middle – Emma”, and “Last – Noah”

Chamber ensemble version premiered the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. Each song is based on a photo of a child in the Boren family

Afterwards (2000)

Poems for song cycle (soprano and chamber ensemble, also a version for soprano and piano), composed by Murray Boren

“After St. Luke 7:38,” “After St. Luke 13:13,” “After St. John 8:11”

Premiere at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT

Each song imagines what might have happened next in the scriptural story

Seven Sisters (2000)

Poems for song cycle (soprano and piano, also a version for soprano and chamber ensemble), composed by Murray Boren

Chamber ensemble version premiered at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT

“Elaine,” “Ana Maria,” “Luisa,” “Christina and Suki,” “Retta,” “Carolee,” “Three Elizabeths”

Each of these sections, except the final song, describes a woman in Nelson’s life

“Testimonies” (2000)

Song cycle for David Fletcher, unfinished

Versifications of personal testimonies of D’s singer-friends

On Zion’s Mount (c. 1999)

Musical, book and lyrics (composer: Murray Boren), unfinished

Script sample and a completed song, “The Towers of Zion Soon Shall Rise” Arrangement of “The Towers of Zion Soon Shall Rise” by David Fletcher completed and performed in New York LDS congregations

Story of the pioneers arriving in the Salt Lake Valley through the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple

Nutcracker (1999)

Two-act opera based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann story, Murray Boren, composer

Libretto for first act completed, synopsis completed for second act, uncomposed

Picasso (1999)

Four-act opera libretto

Part 1: “In Which He Is Born, Matures and Dies, Part 2: “In Which Picasso(s) at Different Ages Find Love, Fame, and Wealth,” Part 3: “In Which Picasso and Braque Re-invent Seeing,” Part 4: “In Which Picasso, During WWII Is Alone in Paris and Paints a Mural”

(all acts sketched out; Part 2 of the libretto completed)

Written as a potential project for Murray Boren, uncomposed; Act 2 aria composed by Francisco Estévez

The Little Drummer Boy (1998)

Musical book and lyrics (composer: Murray Boren)

Script completed and sample songs finished: “Who Will Ever Love Me?,” “Cast Your Net Wide,” “Watch Out for Men Like Me,” “Blessed Is He,” “One Peaceful Night” Written for Promised Valley Playhouse, unproduced

The Singer’s Romance (1998)

Three-act opera libretto based on short stories by Willa Cather, composed by Murray Boren

Concert performance (and live recording) at Brigham Young University Each act is composed in a different musical style, used by Boren for his DMA dissertation composition

Sousa (1998)

Two-act opera treatment for composer Murray Boren, undeveloped

Boren considered writing an opera for concert band to be performed at national band conferences, and I responded with a treatment for a bio-opera on John Philip Sousa

Jesus, Lay Your Sleeping Head: A Cantata for the Christmas Season (1995)

Text (original poems and adapted scripture) for Christmas cantata (for large chorus, baritone and soprano soloists, organ and small orchestra), composed by Murray Boren

Commissioned and premiered by Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, Duchesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, Brady Allred, conductor

The original art songs from the cantata were excepted and recorded as “Mary Miniatures,” Partial View, Tantara records: “Jesus, Lay Your Sleeping Head,” “Desire,” “Remedies,” “Mary Miniatures,” “Vocalise”

Pop Art Songs (1995)

Poems for song cycle (for baritone and piano), composed by Murray Boren “Meatloaf,” “Mr. Bubble,” “TV,” “Barbie Love”

Song cycle premiered at Madsen Recital Hall, BYU by David Barrus (baritone) and Robin Hancock (piano)

Coney Island Hymn (1994)

Poems for song cycle (high voice and piano), composed by Murray Boren

Commissioned by Susan Alexander Boren and premiered by her in New York City

“Carousel,” “Cyclone,” “Shore”

Recorded by Ruth Ellis (soprano) and Scott Holden (piano), Out of Obscurity: Mormon American Art Song

The Dead (1993)

One-act opera libretto, composed by Murray Boren, based on the short story by James Joyce

Commissioned by Hell’s Kitchen Opera with premiere performance at Vineyard Theater, New York (live video recording)

The opera also had a concert performance (and live recording) at Brigham Young University

Cantata No. 14 (Easter) (1991)

Text for cantata (poems by John Donne, adapted scriptures from the New Testament) composed by Murray Boren

Performed at Manhattan Second Ward LDS Church Easter services with Ariel Bybee, Kay Welch, and Cynthia Pannell, soloists

Retelling of the Easter story interspersed with metaphysical poems of John Donne

“A Hymn” (1987)

Text for a hymn, composed by D. Kim Croft

Hymn based on the road to Emmaus, the stained-glass window formerly in the Brooklyn LDS chapel

A copy of the hymn is deposited in the time capsule of the Manhattan New York Temple