WINGS OF THE GRASSHOPPER SOUND LOUDER IN DARKNESS
A collection of piano works composed between 2023 and 2025. These works play with the perception of consonance - how a sound may be made lighter by the presence of immense density. Performed by Brian Buch and recorded in Boston at Futura Studios, May 2025.
SHIFTING SPHERES
Geometrical shapes and designs inspire the handling and constructs of thematic material of works on this CD. Often composed as a multi-faceted unit in itself – a horizontal component written together with one or more vertical and or other horizontal structures. Geometrical shapes such as the Möbius Strip and the Penrose triangle as well as the impossible geometry in M.C. Escher’s works provide inspiration for the large and small scale design of these works. Available for purchase at Centaur Records
MAZE OF INFINITE FORMS
Featuring music composed 2018-2019, this album debuts 3 piano trios, a violin and cello duet, and solo piano piece. Inspired by the writings of Rabindranath Tagore, these works aim to reflect the intensity of simplicity. Recorded in New York and Boston and streaming on all platforms February 2025. Available for purchase at Centaur Records.
FROM THE RIVER FLOW THE STARS
Composed between March 2015 - February 2017 From the River Flow the Stars is a collection of string quartets performed by the Daedalus Quartet. Many of the works on this CD are inspired by ancient Japanese poetry. Available for purchase through MSR Music
POEMS TO SING AT NIGHT
STONE OF TRAVELING WINDS
A collection of original works of romantic lyricism and uncompromising intensity inspired by Georgian folk music and contemporary composers of the 20th century. Released in July of 2014. Stone of Traveling Winds is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.
I OFTEN COMPOSE MUSIC IN COLLECTIONS. THE WORKS CONTAINED IN EACH COLLECTION SHARE SIMILAR PROGRAMATIC AND MUSICAL NARRATIVES. EACH COLLECTION I HAVE COMPOSED IS LISTED BELOW. CLICK FOR SONGS TO SEE THE RESPECTIVELY CONTAINED WORKS FOR EACH COLLECTION.
-
Wings of the Grasshopper Sound Louder in Darkness No.3 (string orchestra) 2023
Wings of the Grasshopper Sound Louder in Darkness No.2 (full orchestra) 2022
Beneath the Flames (chorus and orchestra) 2022
Shifting Spheres No.3 (full orchestra) 2019
Shifting Spheres No.2 (full orchestra) 2019
Shifting Spheres No.1 (chamber orchestra) 2018
Maze of Infinite Forms No. 6 (chamber orchestra) 2017
Poems to Sing at Night No. 4 (chamber orchestra) 2017
Life and Opinions No. 2 in 2 movements (piano concerto) 12 minutes, 2012
Acanthus Leaves No. 1 in 4 movements (chamber orchestra) 10 minutes, 2012
Acanthus Leaves No. 3 in 4 movements (full orchestra) 16 minutes, 2012
Songs of Transcendence and Metamorphosis in 4 movements (full orchestra) 16 minutes, 2011
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 2 in 3 movements (violin concerto) 15 minutes, 2011
Whirlpool Clouds in 3 movements (bass concerto) 12 minutes, 2010
Flashed the Crystals of Air in 2 movements (large chamber ensemble) 14 minutes, 2010
Fortress of the Fallen in 2 movements (octet) 15 minutes, 2009
commissioned by the ALEA III New Music Ensemble
Bells Bourne of a Cedar Tree (Bassoon Concerto) in 4 movements, 15 minutes, 2009
Twilight of Crystals and Fire (piano concerto) 9 minutes, 2009
Avalanche of Light (violin concerto) 12 minutes, 2008
Lantern of Eternal Flame (chamber orchestra), 2008
Prayer for an Unnamed Grave (piano concerto) 12 minutes, 2007
*finalist in the 2007 Queen Elisabeth Composition Competition in Brussels
Arrows from a Bow of Burning Gold (flute and string orchestra) 10 minutes, 2007
*finalist in the 2007 International Haifa Composition Competition
Tombs of Sandici (orchestra) 12 minutes, 2007
*Winner of the 2008 Boston University Soloist Composition Competition
Shadows from an Underwater Forest (orchestra) 10 minutes, 2006
*finalist in the II International Lepo Sumera Composition Competition in Tallinn, Estonia
*2nd Prize in the 2006 MTNA Composition Competition
-
Life and Opinions No.12 (pierrot ensemble) 2022
Life and Opinions No.10 (string quartet) 2021
Shifting Spheres No.2 (clarinet choir) 2019
Poems to Sing at Night No.5 (Winds and Percussion) 2018
Poems to Sing at Night in 3 movements (chamber orchestra) 2017
Acanthus Leaves No.6 (string quartet) 2015
From the River Flow the Stars No.6 (string quartet) 2015
Landscapes No.1 (string quartet) 2015
Life and Opinions No.7 (string quartet) 2015
Maze of Infinite Forms No.1 (string quartet) 2015
From the River Flow the Stars No.5 in 3 movements (flute, Oboe, Cl, string quartet) 2015
Acanthus Leaves No. 4 in 4 movements (string quartet) 12 minutes, 2013
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 6 in 4 movements (flute, string trio, vibes, piano) 12 minutes, 2013
Acanthus Leaves No. 1 in 4 movements (chamber orchestra) 10 minutes, 2012
Acanthus Leaves No. 2 in 3 movements (string quartet) 16 minutes, 2012
Romance and Descent No. 5 in 5 movements (chamber ensemble) 10 minutes, 2012
Life and Opinions No. 3 in 4 movements (string quartet) 10 minutes, 2012
Impossible Encounters in 4 movements (string quartet) 16 minutes, 2011
*finalist in the 2nd International N.Y. Mydskovsky Competition in Moscow
The Red Helm and Silver Sea in 3 movements (string quartet) 12 minutes, 2010
From Wind to Light (Clarinet in Bb and String Quartet) 10 minutes, 2009
Dedication Radiance in 3 movements (sextet) 12 minutes, 2009
Icy Silence of the Salamander Fire (2 pianos and percussion) 8 minutes, 2006
*finalist in the 2007 Robert Helps Competition
*1st place in the 2007 MTNA Composition Competition
-
Bagatelles No.1 (violin and piano) 2020
Dream-Land (bassoon duet) 2020
Life and Opinions No.9 (bassoon and piano) 2020
Life and Opinions No.8 (violin and cello) 2019
Landscapes No.2 (vibraphone and piano) 2019
Maze of Infinite Forms No.7 (flute, cello, piano) 2018
Maze of Infinite Forms No.4 in 3 movements (piano trio) 2017
Maze of Infinite Forms No.5 in 3 movements (piano trio) 2017
Maze of Infinite Forms No.2 in 3 movements (flute and harp) 2016
Maze of Infinite Forms No.3 in 3 movements (piano trio) 2016
From the River Flow the Stars No.7 in 3 movements (cello and piano) 2016
From the River Flow the Stars No.8 in 3 movements (piano trio) 2016
Life and Opinions No. 4 in 3 movements (violin and piano) 12 minutes, 2013
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 8 in 4 movements (bass and piano) 12 minutes, 2013
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 7 in 5 movements (harp trio) 12 minutes, 2013
From the River Flow the Stars No. 1 in 4 movements (cello and percussion) 7 minutes, 2013
From the River Flow the Stars No. 4 in 4 movements (viola and percussion) 8 minutes, 2013
Life and Opinions No. 1 in 4 movements (cello and piano) 12 minutes, 2012
Romance and Descent No. 3 in 6 movements (string trio) 10 minutes, 2012
Romance and Descent No. 4 in 4 movements (oboe and piano) 10 minutes, 2012
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 4 in 4 movements (viola and harpsichord) 10 minutes, 2012
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 5 in 5 movements (flute and piano) 12 minutes, 2012
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 1 in 4 movements (violin and piano) 16 minutes, 2011
Stone of Traveling Winds No. 3 in 5 movements (violin and marimba) 10 minutes, 2011
Winds and Tide of the Eclipse in 3 movements (piano trio) 12 minutes, 2010
Crystal Mirrors in 4 movements (flute and vibraphone) 10 minutes, 2010
Vase of Shimmering Echoes in 3 movements (violin and cello) 10 minutes, 2010
Masts in the Winds of Time in 4 movements (cello and piano) 15 minutes, 2010
Table Games in 4 movements (clarinet and piano) 12 minutes, 2010
Ode to a Soundless Light in 3 movements (Violin and Piano) 12 minutes, 2009
Golden Leaves of a Silver Tree in 5 movements (piano trio) 15 minutes, 2008
Garden of Fire (piano trio) 10 minutes, 2006
*finalist in the 2006 International Robert Helps Composition Competition
-
Wings of the Grasshopper No.1 (solo piano) 2024
Shifting Spheres No.4 (solo piano) 2024
Life and Opinions No.11 (solo piano) 2023
Maze of Infinite Forms No.9 (solo piano) 2020
Shifting Spheres No.2 (solo piano) 2018
Stone of Traveling Winds No.9 in 3 movements (solo piano) 8 minutes, 2015
Beyond the Mountains, Beneath the Clouds in 3 movements (solo piano) 8 minutes, 2015
Life and Opinions No. 5 in 3 movements (solo piano) 10 minutes, 2014
Poems to Sing at Night No.1 in 4 movements (solo piano) 8 minutes, 2014
Poems to Sing at Night No.2 in 4 movements (solo piano) 10 minutes, 2014
From the River Flow the Stars No. 2 in 3 movements (solo viola) 8 minutes, 2013
From the River Flow the Stars No. 3 in 3 movements (solo piano) 6 minutes, 2013
Sky and the Endless Sun in 3 movements (solo piano) 8 minutes, 2010
Voices of Water in 4 movements (solo piano) 10 minutes, 2009
Realms of Gold (solo bass) 7 minutes, 2006
-
Fantasy of Temptation in 4 movements (soprano, viola, piano) 10 minutes, 2013
Heavens Blue and Shining in 4 movements (tenor and piano) 10 minutes, 2009
Land of Beauty in 5 movements (tenor and piano) 10 minutes, 2011
-
Life and Opinions is another book of compositions inspired by the protagonist of E.T.A. Hoffman’s novel Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr. Each work of this book consists of a musical dialogue between contrasting ideas. The moods of these dialogues blend the contrasts of peace and chaos, vigor and lethargy, elation and despair, with an overall tinge of wonder and curiosity.
No.12 Pierrot Ensemble, 12 minutes, 2023
No.11 Solo Piano, 8 minutes, 2023
No.10 String Quartet 12 minutes, 2021
No.9 Bassoon and Piano duo 10 minutes, 2020
No.8 Violin and Cello duo 10 minutes, 2019
No. 7 in 5 movements (string quartet), 10 minutes 2016
No. 5 in 3 movements (solo piano) 10 minutes, 2014
No. 4 in 3 movements (violin and piano) 12 minutes, 2013
No. 3 in 4 movements (string quartet) 10 minutes, 2012
No. 2 in 2 movements (piano concerto) 12 minutes, 2012
No. 1 in 4 movements (cello and piano) 12 minutes, 2012
-
In E.T.A Hoffman’s novel The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr, the tomcat Murr creates a collection of his most profound thoughts, of which he himself could not understand, under the title of Acanthus Leaves. My attempts to reflect Murr’s wonderful and ineffable thoughts are reflected in the organically developed themes and motives of these pieces. The treatment of motivic development my pieces in this book is specific to each instrument, register, and location of occurrence. My goal in treating musical material as such is to create a sense of disorder within cohesion. These works often combine the serene and sublime with the insatiable volatility of fire.
No. 6 in 3 movements (string quartet), 12 minutes, 2015
No. 5 in 3 movements (piano quartet), 12 minutes 2013
No. 4 in 4 movements (string quartet) 12 minutes, 2013
No. 3 in 4 movements (full orchestra) 16 minutes, 2012
No. 2 in 3 movements (string quartet) 16 minutes, 2012
No. 1 in 4 movements (chamber orchestra) 10 minutes, 2012
-
The book of Romance and Descent contains compositions inspired by the philosophic ideology of Thomas Mann and the growth and progression of life from a bottomless past. The thematic material of these works is often recycled in many different forms throughout the different movements. The “recycling” of ideas is representative of the affect the past has on the present and present’s foundation for the future. The works contained in this book are somber, but hopeful, a buoyantdark light, grasping for a better future.
No. 4 in 4 movements (viola and percussion) 8 minutes, 2013
No. 3 in 3 movements (solo piano) 6 minutes, 2013
No. 2 in 3 movements (solo viola) 8 minutes, 2013
No. 1 in 4 movements (cello and percussion) 7 minutes, 2013
-
Drawing inspiration from ancient Japanese poetry, From the River Flow the Stars is a book of short compositions exploring the mysteries of nature, the hypnotic trance of solitude, and the inward contemplation of one’s existence. The compositions in this book contain short poems to be read following respective movements.
No. 8 in 3 movements (piano trio), 10 minutes, 2016
No. 7 in 3 movements (cello and piano), 10 minutes, 2016
No. 6 in 3 movements (string quartet), 12 minutes, 2015
No. 5 in 3 movements (chamber orchestra), 12 minutes, 2014
No. 4 in 4 movements (viola and percussion), 8 minutes, 2013
No. 3 in 3 movements (solo piano) 6 minutes, 2013
No. 2 in 3 movements (solo viola) 8 minutes, 2013
No. 1 in 4 movements (cello and percussion), 7 minutes, 2013
-
The compositions contained in the book of Stone of Traveling Winds explore musical developments involving a thematic element weathered by surrounding subject material. The imagery and music is representative of the title, a stone changed over time by its surrounding environment. Most of the works in this book feature a soloist with accompaniment and are composed in a somber and contemplative mood.
No. 9 in 3 movements (solo piano) 8 minutes, 2015
No. 8 in 4 movements (bass and piano) 12 minutes, 2013
No. 7 in 5 movements (harp trio) 12 minutes, 2013
No. 6 in 4 movements (flute, string trio, vibes, piano) 12 minutes, 2013
No. 5 in 5 movements (flute and piano) 12 minutes, 2012
No. 4 in 4 movements (viola and harpsichord) 10 minutes, 2012
No. 3 in 5 movements (violin and marimba) 10 minutes, 2011
No. 2 in 3 movements (violin concerto) 15 minutes, 2011
No. 1 in 4 movements (violin and piano) 16 minutes, 2011
-
Maze of Infinite Forms is a book of compositions based around the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore. The music in this collection reflects the spontaneous surrender of discovery and the vivid yet beautifully simplistic imagery in the poet’s works. Through large and small-scale developmental variation, a maze of thematic material is explored to provide a cohesive story of ever-changing direction. The music should be played in a romantic and intense style.
No.9 Solo Piano, 7 minutes, 2020
No. 7 Flute, Cello, Piano 10 minutes, 2018
No. 6 Chamber Orchestra 12 minutes, 2017
No. 5 in 3 movements (piano trio) 12 minutes, 2017
No. 4 in 5 movements (piano trio) 12 minutes, 2017
No. 3 in 3 movements (piano trio) 9 minutes, 2016
No. 2 in 6 movements (flute and harp) 10 minutes, 2016
No. 1 in 2 movements (string quartet) 10 minutes, 2015
-
Poems to Sing at Night is a collection of compositions inspired by original poetry. The influence of the poems is heard in the cadence, rhythmic and melodic flow, and shape of the music. Much of the music of this set contains folk-song elements and is composed in reverence to the simplistic beauty of isolation and meditation.
No. 4 in 3 movements (chamber orchestra) 15 minutes, 2017
No. 3 in 4 movements (violin and piano) 12 minutes, 2015
No. 2 in 4 movements (piano solo) 8 minutes, 2014
No. 1 in 4 movements (piano solo) 8 minutes, 2014
-
Shifting Spheres is a book of compositions in which geometrical shapes and designs inspire the handling and constructs of thematic material. Often the thematic material is composed as a multi-faceted unit in itself – a horizontal component composed simultaneously with one or more vertical and or other horizontal structures. Geometrical shapes such as the Möbius Strip and the Penrose triangle as well as the impossible geometry in M.C. Escher’s works provide inspiration for the large and small scale design of these works.
No.6 Full Orchestra 20 minutes, 2019
No.5 Full Orchestra 20 minutes, 2019
No.4 Solo Piano, 2024
No.3 Solo Piano 7 minutes, 2019
No.2 Clarinet Choir 5 minutes, 2019
No.1 Chamber Orchestra 15 minutes, 2018