Compositions

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OPEN INSTRUMENTATION

  • Mandala (2023) [variable duration] Open multimedia work for soloist and live audio-visual electronics (one player + A/V technician). Commissioned by percussionist Victoria Sparks (Winnipeg) with support from the Winnipeg Arts Council. Premiered by Victoria Sparks at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on January 30, 2023. 

  • data_scape (2022) [16’30] For soloist or ensemble on any instrument(s), with variable electronics and video (video by Myriam Boucher). Commissioned by Duo d’Entre-Deux (Montreal/Chicago) with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered by Duo d’Entre-Deux at Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre on November 29, 2022. 

  • Lotus Mudra (2020) [variable duration] A sonic meditation for improvising musician(s), with optional live electronics. Funded through an Official Language Minority Grant, Canada Council for the Arts for Revolution Ensemble (Montreal/Winnipeg). Premiere recording by Tommy Davis, saxophone and Gordon Fitzell, electronics. Recorded in Montreal in 2022; to be released in 2023. 

  • Clocks (2013) [10’00] Open multi-surface projected video score (any number of players). Commissioned by Jean-François Laporte and Productions Totem (Montreal) with the support of the Winnipeg Arts Council. Premiered in Montreal by Jean-François Laporte and Productions Totem on June 1, 2013. 

  • Watermelon Soup (2007) [variable duration] Open multimedia score (paper and magnets; any number of players). Premiered by the Pazzia Contemporary Performing Collective (UK) at the Montreal Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland) in summer 2007.

  • airports (2007) [variable duration] Semi-open score for acoustic instrument or voice, live electronics, and projected images (two players, or three if separate video artist). Commissioned by François Houle (Vancouver) with the support of the British Columbia Arts Council. Premiered in Winnipeg by François Houle, clarinet and Giorgio Magnanensi, electronics on November 10, 2007. 

  • Cartographia (2007) [variable duration] Open score for improvising chamber ensemble and projection artist (any number of players). Premiered by edgeffect and Butoh-a-Go-Go (Vancouver) at The Celler and at Circus Maximus in Vancouver on February 19 and 24, 2007. 

  • LUCID (2005) [see entry under Sextet]


SOLO

  • Mandala (2023) [for soloist and live audio-visual electronics—see entry under Open Instrumentation]

  • data_scape (2022) [soloist option—see entry under Open Instrumentation]

  • Lotus Mudra (2020) [soloist option—see entry under Open Instrumentation]

  • Ai Weiwei: On Poetry (2016) [14’00] Piano, toy piano, handheld electronics and voice (one player, ideally amplified). Commissioned by Megumi Masaki (Brandon, MB) with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council. Premiered at the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival in Italy in July 2018. 

  • r/evolution (2015) [13’00] Solo saxophone and optional electronics. Commissioned by Tommy Davis (Montreal) with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council. Premiered at the 2015 World Saxophone Congress and Festival in Strasbourg, France on July 12, 2015; with-electronics version premiered at the 2016 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK). 

  • Clocks (2013) [soloist option—see entry under Open Instrumentation]

  • kamelyin (2007) [15’00] Solo piano. Double commission by Roger Admiral (Edmonton) and Corey Hamm (Vancouver) with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council. Independent premieres by Roger Admiral in 2007 and Corey Hamm in 2008. 

  • Metanoia Nervosa (2006) [13’00] Solo percussion. Commissioned by GroundSwell and Matthew Gold (New York) with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council. Premiered by Matthew Gold in Winnipeg, and at the Mannes Institute and Festival for Contemporary Performance (New York), the Bloomingdale School of Music (New York), the Tenri Cultural Institute (New York), and Vox/in Camera series (Williamstown, MA) in 2006–2007. 

  • The Z Scherzo (2000) [11'00] Electric guitar and live multitrack recording (one guitarist + audio technician). Premiered by the composer and Gregory Newsome (audio) at the Vancouver International New Music Festival on May 28, 2000.

  • Orb of the Sun (1999) [8’30] Tenor saxophone. Premiered by David Ghazi (Vancouver) at Vancouver’s 1067 on February 7, 2004.


DUO

  • Han Kang: Lost in Translation (2019) [8’20] Voice, piano and electronics. Commissioned by the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition with support from the Manitoba Arts Council. The work was performed by all participants of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition and toured across Canada and the United States by the winning participant (virtually, due to COVID-19). Premiered in Brandon, MB via livestreaming in April and September 2020. 

  • Bliss Point (2014) [variable duration] Clarinet or alto saxophone and e-bow piano (two players). Commissioned by Sea and Sky (Vancouver). Bliss Point appears on Sea and Sky’s Western Canadian Music Awards-nominated 2014 album SASSICAIA (Redshift Records). Premiered by Sea and Sky in Vancouver on May 21, 2014. 

  • Metropolis (2007) [8’00] Saxophone, piano and optional live electronics (separate player). Commissioned by the Harrington/Loewen Duo (Winnipeg) with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council. Premiered by the Harrington/Loewen Duo on a Western Canadian tour in November/December 2007. Metropolis appears on the Harrington/Loewen Duo’s 2014 album Metropolis (Parma Records).

  • airports (2007) [soloist option—see entry under Open Instrumentation]

  • Art (1999) [9’20] Violin and piano. Commissioned by the William Glesby Performing Arts Theatre with support from the Manitoba Arts Council. Premiered in Portage la Prairie by Gwen Hoebig and David Moroz (Winnipeg) on April 17, 1999.


TRIO

  • Elea (2011/2016) [8'30] Violin, cello and piano. Commissioned by Trio Fibonacci (Montreal) with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered by Trio Fibonacci in Winnipeg on April 17, 2011; revised version premiered by ensemble mosaic (Berlin) in February 2017.


QUARTET

  • Bomb Crater Garden (2016) [variable duration] Electric guitar quartet. Commissioned by Instruments of Happiness (Montreal) with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Montreal premiere and Canadian tour March–April 2017. 

  • Electric Lime (2011) [11’00] Soprano voice, baritone voice, bassoon, harpsichord, with interactive lighting/video (video technician required). Commissioned by Emerado (Winnipeg) with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council and the Winnipeg Arts Council. Premiered in Winnipeg by Emerado on January 24, 2012. 

  • Rat Bastard (1999) [6'30] Amplified quartet: drum set, piano, electric guitar, cello. Commissioned by Ensemble Symposium (Vancouver). Premiered by Ensemble Symposium at Sonic Boom in Vancouver on June 22, 1999.


QUINTET

  • Entropy (2010) [10’00] Piano ten hands (optional amplification). Commissioned by PianOrquestra (Brazil) with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by PianOrquestra on May 21, 2013. 

  • :spin (2007/2012) [five players—see entry under Installations]

  • Six Bagatelles (1998) [7'00] Woodwind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon). Premiered at the 1998 Canadian Music Centre Professional Reading Session in Vancouver on May 13, 2002. 


SEXTET

  • Deus ex Machina: The Nine Lives of Schrödinger’s Cat (2019) [15’00] Amplified instrumental sextet with electronics (alto flute, bass clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello + audio technician). Commissioned by Standing Ensemble (Vancouver) with support from Dr. Mark Halpern. Premiered in Vancouver by Standing Wave Ensemble on May 13, 2019. 

  • Pangaea Ultima (2010/2014) [11’00] Instrumental sextet (bass clarinet, percussion, piano, electric guitar, violin, bass). Commissioned by the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (ECM+) with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council. Premiered simultaneously across Canada on May 15, 2010 by six separate ensembles: Motion Ensemble (Fredericton), Bradyworks (Montréal), Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (Montreal), CONTACT Contemporary Music (Toronto), St. Crispin’s Chamber Ensemble (Edmonton) and Negative Zed (Vancouver); Montreal concert recorded by CBC Radio. Pangaea Ultima appears on the ECM+’s JUNO-nominated 2014 album Magister Ludi : Musique de / Music of Gordon Fitzell (Centrediscs).

  • evanescence (2006/2014) [11’30] Amplified instrumental sextet with live electronics (flute/piccolo/crystal glass, clarinet/bass clarinet/ceramic bowl, percussion, piano/crystal glass, violin, cello + audio technician). Premiered by eighth blackbird (USA) at The Kitchen in New York on January 11 and 12, 2007. Together with its sister work violence, evanescence has received over 100 performances by various different ensembles, most notably eighth blackbird. evanescence appears on three recordings: (1) eighth blackbird’s multiple GRAMMY-winning 2006 album strange imaginary animals (Cedille Records); (2) the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (ECM+)’s JUNO-Award-nominated 2014 album Magister Ludi: Musique de / Music of Gordon Fitzell (Centrediscs); and (3) Aventa Ensemble’s 2021 album Northern Lights (Redshift Records).

  • LUCID (2005) [10’00] Semi-open score for instrumental sextet (flute, single-reed instrument, bowed string instrument, musical saw [often played by a cellist], percussion, piano). Commissioned by eighth blackbird (USA) with the support of the Harry Santan Foundation. Premiered by eighth blackbird at the 92nd Street Y in New York on December 10, 2005.

  • violence (2001) [10’00] Instrumental sextet (flute/piccolo/crystal glass, clarinet/bass clarinet/ceramic bowl, percussion, piano/crystal glass, violin, cello). Commissioned by eighth blackbird (USA) with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered by eighth blackbird (USA) at the University of California, Riverside on April 11, 2003. Together with its sister work evanescence, violence has received over 100 performances by various different ensembles, most notably eighth blackbird. violence appears on two recordings: (1) eighth blackbird’s multiple GRAMMY-winning 2006 album strange imaginary animals (Cedille Records); and (2) the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (ECM+)’s JUNO-nominated 2014 album Magister Ludi: Musique de / Music of Gordon Fitzell (Centrediscs).


LARGE CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

  • Techno Messiah: Zoom | Richter | Langsam | Pop (2018) [18’00] Flute concerto with large ensemble and live audio-visual electronics: Solo alto flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, percussion, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass + A/V technician. Commissioned by the Aventa Ensemble (Victoria) and Mark Takeshi McGregor (Vancouver) with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered in Victoria, BC by Mark Takeshi McGregor and Aventa Ensemble on March 4, 2018. Techno Messiah appears on Aventa Ensemble’s 2021 album Northern Lights (Redshift Records).

  • A New Year’s Tale (2017) [13’00] Large chamber ensemble with narrator and projected images (piccolo/flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, C trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano/celesta, narrator/auxiliary percussion, violin, cello, bass + A/V technician). Story by Kavsar Turzieva (Uzbekistan); illustrations by Jung Jin-ho (South Korea). Commissioned by Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain (Lyon, France) and directed by Daniel Kawka, with the support of the Asia Cultural Center (ACC). Premiered at the Asia Culture Center’s Symphony of Asia Festival in Gwangju, South Korea on September 23, 2017. 

  • Magister Ludi (2010/2014) [12’00] Flute octet and solo cello (2 piccolos, 2 alto flutes, 2 flutes, 2 bass flutes, solo cello). Commissioned by the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (ECM+) with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered in Montreal by the ECM+; subsequently performed in Vancouver by the Tempest Flute Ensemble. Nominated for Classical Composition of the Year at the 2015 JUNO Awards. Magister Ludi appears on the ECM+’s 2014 album Magister Ludi: Musique de / Music of Gordon Fitzell (Centrediscs). 

  • clatter (2003) [variable duration] Assembly of works for simultaneous subsets of a large chamber ensemble. [Comprises the following works: Bird's Nest Pudding [4'30] for large chamber ensemble; Blood on the Saddle [1'40] for double bass and percussion; rattlebox [2'10] for string quartet; and wormhole [5'00] for two singers and live electronics. Commissioned by Vancouver New Music with the support of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Premiered by Vancouver New Music at the Roundhouse on January 25, 2004. 

  • Flux (2000/2013) [12’45] Large chamber ensemble (flute/piccolo, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trombone, piano, violin, cello, bass). Commissioned by the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (ECM+) with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Premiered by the ECM+ at the Massey Hall New Music Festival on November 11, 2000, the beginning of a six-city Canadian tour. The revised version was premiered by the ECM+ with special guest soloist François Houle at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal on January 23, 2014. Flux appears on the ECM+’s JUNO-nominated 2014 album Magister Ludi: Musique de / Music of Gordon Fitzell (Centrediscs).


ELECTROACOUSTIC (no instrumentalists)

  • acrobat (2005) [12’00] Electroacoustic composition (stereo). Premiered at the Winnipeg New Music Festival Community Performance Series (Millennium Centre) on February 4, 2005. 

  • The Garden Electric (1998) [7’26] Electroacoustic composition (8-channel). Premiered at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver) on September 12, 1998.

  • !Zip (1998) [7’21] Electroacoustic composition (stereo). Premiered on March 10, 1999, at the CBC Radio National Competition for Young Composers in Montreal, where it was awarded First Prize in the Electroacoustic Music category. An earlier version of !Zip, entitled Zipper Music II, appears on the 2000 2-CD set Présence II (CEC). 


INSTALLATIONS

  • Organum + Gabrielassus (2022) [27’00, looping] Augmented Reality digital installation for #TouchGrass at Cluster Festival (Winnipeg); curated by Amy Brandon. Commissioned by Polycoro. Site: Leo Mol Sculpture Garden in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park. June 2022. 

  • Aeolian Mobile 1: Paper Box Kite (2008) [variable duration] Outdoor sound installation. Commissioned by and first installed at the Museum of Clear Ideas (Winnipeg) for the serial project Ecotopia: Air. July 2008. 

  • :spin (2007/2012) [variable duration] Mobile performative multimedia installation for five sonic orbs (5 players). Premiered at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale (Portugal); revised version performed at the Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival in Winnipeg, the Winnipeg New Music Festival, and the ISCM World Music Days in Bruges, Belgium in 2012.