Robert Carl: The Time Keeper(2013)
Originally a student of history before he refocused his efforts into music, Robert Carl's interest in time, memory, and space are veins running through his compositions, his work more given to conjuring imagery than narrative plot. And whether inspiration is mined in the wake of a seascape or travelers on a speeding bullet train, the resulting music tends to carry a distinct organic beauty and rich, encompassing depth.
Harmony (2021)
Seagle Festival
Russell Banks, librettist
Edited from live performances of August 14 and 20, 2021.
A comic opera exploring issues of love and death triggered by the (true) meeting of Mark Twain and Charles Ives, on the eve of the latter’s engagement to Harmony Twichell.
Harmony Interview (2021)
Interview with Robert Carl and Russell Banks on the creation of Harmony,
Seagle Festival August 14, 2021
Symphony No.7, "Infinity Avenue" (2023) for laptop, singers and chamber orchestra.
Edited performance of April 20, 2023, Millard Auditorium, Hartt School, West Hartford, CT.
Robert Carl and Dan Minogue, laptop; Edward Cumming conducting Foot in the Door.
White Heron (2012) for orchestra
Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Gil Rose, conductor
White Heron (chamber orchestra version, 2024)
Premiere of May 23, 2024, Orchestra of the league of Composers; DiMenna Center NYC
Louis Karchin, conductor
Rocking Chair Serenade (2013) for string orchestra
Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Gil Rose, conductor
ClassicalNerd Interview with Robert Carl
String Quartet No.3 "Spatial-Temporal/Abstract-Visceral/Transcendent-Humane" (2020)
Premiere recording by Quartet ES (US/Iceland)
1. Point/Line/Plane
2. Echoes and Premonitions
3. The Guests at the Party
The first movement is a depiction of Kandinsky’s. theories of artistic construction. (opening sounds are vocal by quartet members). The second is a “floating world” of fragments from the preceding and following movements. The third Is a life cycle of four individuals, compressed from birth to a party where they meet in adulthood and move to new lives together.
String Quartet No.2, "Fear of Death/Love of Life" (2001)
Adaskin Trio with Annie Trepanier, violin
1. Fear of Death
2. In Growing Awareness of Beauty's Presence
3. Love of Life
String Trio, "Open" (1998)
Adaskin Trio
Growth Fugue (2020) for string quartet
QuartetES
Composed, rehearsed, recorded remotely in quarantine (performers from Hartford, San Antonio, Santa Barbara; composer from Kansas City), one of the first such works. Violist Rita Porfiris requested a piece based on the theme of Beethoven's Grosse Fugue Op.133. The result is a set of micro-variations that explores the source within a three-minute dash.
Aspen Tree Speaks (2023) for eight percussionists.
Premiere at the Crane School of Muisc, SUNY/Potsdam
Emma Gierszal, conductor
Inevitable Wave (B) (2012) for percussion ensemble and fixed media.
Premiere peformance by Crane Percussion Ensemble
James Peterczak, conductor
Inevitable Wave (C)(2013)
Premiere by Foot in the Door, The Hartt School
Edward Cumming, conductor
The Inevitable Wave(C) is the third work in a series. Its fixed media part consists of the sound of a single ocean wave breaking on a shore--about ten seconds long--that was ultimately stretched to be almost ten minutes long. This “wave” occurs in the third movement, after the dark and rolling first, followed by series of chimed warnings in the second (all without pause).
Symphony No.4 "The Ladder"(2008)
Hartt Symphony Orchestra Christopher Zimmerman, conductor
Symphony No.5 "Land"(2013)
Boston Modern Orchestra Project Gil Rose, conductor [Portrait of a trip across the Great Plains into the Rocky Mountains]
Symphony No.6 "Dome of Refuge"(2017)
March 30, 2018 Hartt Orchestra conducted by Edward Cumming Lincoln Theater, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
The World Turned Upside Downfor orchestra (2000)
Hartt Symphony Orchestra; Christopher Zimmerman, conductor
A Wide Open Fieldfor electric cello and orchestra
Jeffrey Krieger, electric cello Hartt Symphony Orchestra; Gene Young, conductor
Splectra for electric guitar with real time processing
Matt Sargent, guitar (co-composer) Robert Carl/Matt Sargent, electronics
Splectra for harp and live digital processing(2020)
Alison Bjorkedal, harp Robert Carl/Matt Sargent, electronics
Piano Quintet, "Just Listen"(2018)
Written in memory of David Macbride. Members of the Slee Sinfonietta, University at Buffalo. May 2, 2023
Jyun On(2017)
October 4, 2017 Elizabeth Brown and Ralph Samuelson (shakuhachis) Issui Minegishi (ichigenkin) Bliss Auditorium, The Hartt School, West Hartford, CT
Haiku from a Horrible Year(2020)for soprano and five instruments;
Gilda Lyons soprano; poetry by William Deatherage. From concert at Real Art Ways, Hartford, February 23, 2025.
Things As It Is(2023)for soprano, alto flute, and piano; poetry of Chase Twichell
Premiere of July 12, 2024 at XXX Festival International de Música de la Mancha, Quintanar, Spain, by Trio Zaniah (Maria Pilar Carreton, soprano; Pilar Fernandez Sacristan, flute; Santiago Sacristan, piano) [preceded by remarks by composer; music begins at 2:45]
Surge(1987) for contrabass and piano
Robert Black, contrabass; John McDonald, piano
Blues Box(2003) for piano
John McDonald, piano
From the Ground Up(2002) for piano
John McDonald, piano
What's Underfoot(2016) for piano
John McDonald, piano
A Gift...and an Invitation!(2018) for piano
John McDonald, piano
I. Prelude (Improvisation by John McDonald)
II. Fugue (Robert Carl)
Excavating the Perfect Farewell(2003) for viola and piano.
Scott Woolweaver, viola; John McDonald, piano
I. Digging
II. Leave-Taking
Sonatina for flute and piano(2006/08)
performed by Janet Arms, flute and Jesse Goldberg, piano
Birds and Flowers(1999) for flute and piano
Janet Arms (flute) Jesse Goldberg (piano)
Forms of Floating(1979) for solo flute
Janet Arms (flute)
Infinity Avenue,Open-form version
Robert Carl Christopher Beroes-Haigis Henry Birdsey Trevor Saint Matt Sargent Zach Roweden
Infinity Avenue(2017)
Infinity Avenue. February 5, 2017 Henry Birdsey (guitar) Adam Buffington (saxophone) Robert Carl (laptop and shakuhachi) Zach Rowden (bass) Trevor Saint (glockenspiel) Matt Sargent (guitar); Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Infinity Avenue(2018)
Excerpt from performance at Kansas City Art Institute. February 27, 2018 with KCAI SoundArt Collective (Dwight Frizzell, director)
and IMP ensemble of UMKC (Mike Miller, dirctor).
Refiner's Fire(2019)
October 27, 2019
Amaranth Duo - Ása Guðjónsdóttir, violin and Christopher Ladd, guitar
Based on a fragment of an aria by Handel from Messiah.
What's Underfoot(2016)
What's Underfoot. December 7, 2016 Foot in the Door, conducted by Edward Cumming; Lincoln Theater, West Hartford, CT
Sentient Serenade(2021)
for mixed quintet. A portrait of a single day's ambient sounds made by birds, frogs, and insects. October 21, 2021 Four Corners Ensemble Lincoln Theater, West Hartford, CT
Open/Empty(2023)
Open/Empty. April 14, 2023, Foot in the Door, conducted by Edward Cumming; Naxos Recording
Open/Empty(2016)
Open/Empty. February 28, 2020, Foot in the Door, conducted by Edward Cumming; introductory remarks by Robert Carl; Lincoln Theater, West Hartford, CT
A-...(2015)
Premiere of a-… for a cappella chorus (text by composer). November 7, 2015 Khorikos, conducted by Jesse Peckham; Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, New York, NY
Quantum Dances(2017)
May 13, 2017 ensemble counter)induction, Nimoy Thalia, Symphony Space
Fragile Farewell(2014)
for piano trio Entelechron: Roger Zahab, violin, David Russell, 'cello, Robert Frankenberry, piano'
Based on tradition song "The Parting Glass", commissioned by Gilda Lyons and the Phoenix Concerts
Death March(2017)
Premiere of "Death March" for wind ensemble. May 6, 2017 Hartt Wind Ensemble, conducted by Glen Adsit; Lincoln Theater, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT.
"A sincere offering to the National Leader and his circle, portraying their unique and exceptional qualities."
Duke Meets Mort(2015)
Corey Killian, Phillip Plott, Shane Rathburn, and Ian Robinson, saxophones.
November 20, 2015, The Dirt Salon, Hartford New Music Festival
ColdNightSnow(2015)
for two concert glockenspiels; Iktus: Sean Statser and Josh Perry;
June 4, 2016, The Firehouse, Brooklyn NY
Infinity Avenue(2015)
Robert Carl, laptop
Concert premiere of November 12, 2015. Open-form work for laptop; this version is an abbreviated “teaser” of a work that can be explored for much longer durations. Based on a MaxMSP patch that navigates vertical “ladders” made up of precisely tuned frequencies that follow the overtone series.
Piano Sonata No.3, "Clouds of Clarification"(2015)
Aron Kallay, microtonal piano
Concert from Los Angeles premiere series; Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA; Nov. 4, 2015
Work in four movements (played without pause) that explores harmonic regions based on the overtone series. Movements move through four "elements" : water, earth, air, and fire. System involves Pianoteq for tuning and MaxMSP for switching between tunings.
Piano Sonata No.3, "Clouds of Clarification"(2021)
Aron Kallay, microtonal piano
River's Bend(2012) for two flutes
performed by Janet Arms and John McMurtery
A Musical Enquiry into the Sublime and Beautiful(2014)
Peabody Camerata
Gene Young (conductor)
Garland(1991)
for electronic cello and video
Jeffrey Krieger (ecello)
Night Garden for 5 contrabasses(2014)
Robert Black with Large Furniture
A Clean Sweep(2013)
Robert Carl (Shakuhachi)
for shakuhachi and fixed media generated by Max/MSP
Wintergreen festival 7/3/13, Wintergreen VA (preceded by brief solo improvisation)
Changing My Spots(2016)
work for open instrumentation and duration, Ensemble mise-en members Sam Nester, Elizabeth Martignetti, and Mark Broschinksy (brass and electronics),
10/2/16, Brooklyn, NY
Changing My Spots(2013)
work for open instrumentation and duration, musicians of Wintergreen festival, directed by Robert Carl, 7/3/13, Wintergreen VA
Shake the Tree(2009)
Donald Berman and John McDonald (piano)
6/8/09, American Composers Alliance Festival, Symphony Space, New York City
A Clean Sweep(2005/2014)
From Robert Carl's 60th birthday recital, March 1, 2015, The Hartt School, University of Hartford.
Elizabeth Brown and Robert Carl (shakuhachi)
Gayl Teo, Jessie Snoke, Luciana Arres, Min-Jung Noh, Nam Srirojanun (violin)
Matt Norman (Viola)
Thirteen(2012): Bagatelles for Pianist/Narrator
(after Wallace Steven's Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird)
Pianist/Narrator - Robert Carl
Images from Wallace Stevens Poetry Walk, Hartford, Connecticut
Violin Sonata No. 2, "Angel-Skating"
Katie Lansdale, violin
John McDonald, piano
1. Rondo: Imitations
2. Variations: Vision
3. Chaconne-Berceuse: State of Grace
Sonatina, "The Dance of Time and Space"(2015)
March 1, 2015, Katie Lansdale, violin; Margreet Francis, piano
From Robert Carl's 60th birthday recital, March 1, 2015, The Hartt School, University of Hartford.
Movements:
1. Marking the Space
2. Filling the Space
3. Freeing the Space
Updraft(2010/14) for trombone and 9 pre-recorded trombones
Matthew Russo - trombone(s)
Sound and Shadow(2012)
Dedicated to the memory of T. Max Graham
mccoycarl* (Karen McCoy, artist and Robert Carl, composer) Musicians: Tom Aber, Pat Conway, Dwight Frizzell, Richard Johnson
2012, LaEsquina, Urban Culture Project Gallery, Kansas City, MO
excerpt from longer video
Trancendance(1988)
Dora Ohrestein (soprano
Kathy Supove (piano)
Robert Black (bass)
Video by Victor Velt. A monodrama using Shaker texts from the great spiritual revival of the sect in the early 19th century.
Wanderers(2023) for extended pianist
A memorial tribute to the composer Noah Creshevsky, with narration, improvisation, and fixed media of footsteps in snow and blended Schubert excerpts.
Robert Carl, performer, from concert at Real Art Ways, Hartford, February 23, 2025.
From the Ground Up(2002)
Robert Carl (piano)
Performance at Hacettepe University Conservatory, Ankara, Turkey, May 26, 2011
Bullet Cycle()
--for plucked/struck and sustaining instruments, with percussive timekeeper.
Katie Kennedy (cello)
Bill Solomon (vibraphone)
Sayun Chang (percussion)
Choreography: Pathless Journey, by Katie Stevinson-Nollet
Beginning My Studies(2014)
for piano and soprano
Patrice Michaels (soprano)
Elizabeth Buccheri (piano)
A Wide Open Field(2011)
for orchestra
Jeffrey Krieger (cello)
Gene Young (conductor)
Hartt Symphony Orchestra
Time/Memory/Shadow(1993)
for chamber ensemble
Extension Works
Roundabout(2003)
For contrabass and fixed media
Hartt Contemporary Players
El Canto de los Asesinados(2003)
For tenor, shaman, and ensemble
Hartt Contemporary Players
Bells Dance, Drums Ring(2003)
For percussion quartet
Hartt Contemporary Players
Lesgedowdaheah(2003)
For jazz-rock ensemble
1. Blind Side
2. Slam
Hartt Contemporary Players
Haiku for Buson(2003)
For narrator and fixed media
1. I
2. II
3. III
4. IV
5. V
6. VI
7. VII
8. VIII
9. IX
10. X
Hartt Contemporary Players
Der Berliner Hornisse(2003)
For alto saxophone and piano
1. Inside the Hive
2. Stinger Dance
Hartt Contemporary Players
Nel Miller, Op. 1(2003)
For fixed media
Hartt Contemporary Players
The Big Room(1995)
for solo piano
Robert Carl (piano)
Nach [t(raum)]ist Kommen(1995)
for solo piano
Robert Carl (piano)
Ritratto dei Giorni e delle Notti su Lago di Como(1995)
for solo piano
Kathleen Supove (piano)
Piano Sonata No. 1 "Spiral Dances"(1995)
for solo piano
Kathleen Supove (piano) I. Dance of Awakening II. Dance of Fire I. Dance of Growth
Swing Shift(1995)
for solo piano
Kathleen Supove (piano)
Warm Waxing Wail(1995)
for solo piano
Anthony De Mare (piano)
From Him to Me(1995)
for solo piano
Kathleen Supove (piano)
Shake the Tree(2013)
for solo piano
Donald Berman (piano)
Braided Bagatelles (2013)
for solo piano
Moritz Eggert (piano) I. Cadenza II. Marking the Field III. Stretching IV. Marching V. Floating VI. Flying
Piano Sonata No.2, "The Big Room" (2013)
for solo piano
Erberk Eryilmaz (piano) I. Clouds are Scattering II. The Big Room III. The World Turned Upside Down
Martello Mix(2009) for fixed electronic media (collaboration with artist Karen McCoy)