Omar Daniel
Dr. Omar Daniel has composed extensively in solo, chamber, electronic and orchestral idioms, and was the 1997 recipient of the Jules Lèger Award for New Chamber Music. Other composition awards include the SOCAN National Competition for Young Composers and the CBC National Radio Competition for Young Composers.
Dr. Daniel's music is characterized by a strong sense of drama. His style is firmly rooted in the European concert-music tradition, and exhibits a broad palette of instrumental colour, intricate harmonic language, a strong rhythmic profile and rigorous architectural design.
He has an ongoing desire to work in a collaborative way with other artists, and in 2000 commissioned lyrics from Canadian author Anne Michaels (Fugitive Pieces) to create All Night I Travel You, which he conducted in Spring 2000.
Anne Michaels and Dr. Daniel recently collaborated on a 50-minute oratorio, The Passion of Lavinia Andronicus, written for the Hilliard Ensemble and the Tafelmusik Choir.
In 2004, he collaborated with Booker prize-winning author Yann Martel to create a song cycle You Are Where You Are. The Artists of the Royal Conservatory Ensemble (ARC) commissioned this chamber work for bass voice and piano quintet from Mr. Martel and Dr. Daniel, and it received it's premiere during ARC's European tour in November 2004.
Building on his ongoing relationship with Tapestry New Opera, he is currently composing a full evening chamber opera The Shadow.
His research extends to electro-acoustic music as well. His innovative work The Flaying of Marsyas has been performed many times since its creation in 2000, and recently he composed Annunciation for string quartet and live electronic processing. Written on commission from CBC Radio Two, the Penderecki String Quartet gave this work its premiere in the spring of 2005 in Canada and the Unitede States.
Dr. Daniel has been guest composer at numerous festivals, including the Winnipeg Symphony du Maurier New Music Festival, the Canada Capital Sao Paulo Festival and the Vancouver Chamber Music Festival.
He holds the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Music Theory and Composition at The University of Western Ontario. He is co-director of the Composition, Electroacoustic Research and Performance Facility (CEARP) at Western. In addition, he is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, on the executive of the Canadian League of Composers.
Works/Premieres
ORCHESTRA/CHAMBER ORCHESTRA/CONCERTO
- TROPE (2000)
2(picc).2.1.bcl.1.cbn-2.2.0.0-2perc-pno-str
Duration: 13' - CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA (2000)
3(pic).2.Ehn.2.bcl.2.cbn-6.4.3.1-timp.3perc-pno-hp-str
Duration: 26' - THE MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (1998) concerto for percussion and orchestra
2(pic).2.1.bcl.1.cbn-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-pno-str
Duration: 19’ - DOUBLE CONCERTO (1997) for violin, cello and orchestra
2(pic).2.1.bcl.1.cbn-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-hp-str
Duration: 26' - MURDER BALLADS concerto for accordion and orchestra (1996-97)
1.pic.2.1.bcl.1.cbn-2.2.0.0-timp.2perc-hp-str
Duration: 25'. Movements may be performed individually (I: 14’; II: 11’) - STRATEGIES AGAINST ARCHITECTURE (BOOK III) (1996)
large version: 3(pic).2.ca.2(Ebcl).bcl.2.cbn-4.3.3.1-timp.3perc-pno.hp-str
small version: 2(pic).1.ca.1(Ebcl).bcl.1.cbn-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-pno.hp-str
Duration: 13’ - LACRYMOSA (1995)
2(pic).2.2(Ebcl).2-2.2.0.0-2perc-pno-str
Duration: 14' - FOR R.,A., AND P.J. (1995) concerto for guitar and orchestra
2.2.2.2-2.2.0.0-str
Duration: 7' - GLAUBEN SIE, ES WIRD SICH AUFKLÄREN ? (1993)
2.2.2.2(cbn)-2.2.0.0-2perc-pno-str
Duration: 11' - BLACK DOGS (1993)
3(pic).2.ca.2.bcl.2.cbn-4.3.3.1-timp.3perc-pno.hp-str
Duration: 14'
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (including with soloist)
- LOVE- GOD- MURDER (2000)
Rattler (7’); ain’t no grave... (5’); Henry Lee (6’)
2(picc).2.1.bcl.1.cbn-1.1.0.0-2perc-pno-str(1.1.1.1.1)-mezzo soprano
Traditional texts.
Duration: 18' (total). Songs may be performed individually. - ELEGIES concerto for guitar and chamber orchestra (1998)
1(pic).1.bcl.1-1.1.1.0-timp.1perc-hp-str
Duration: 18’
- MURDER BALLADS concerto for accordion and chamber orchestra (1996-97, 2000)
1(pic).1.1(bcl).cbn-1.1.0.0-timp.1perc-hp-str(1.1.1.1.1)
Duration: 25'. Movements may be performed individually (I: 14’; II: 11’)
STRING ORCHESTRA (including with soloist)
- MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1989) for string orchestra and violin obbligato
4.4.4.4.2 minimum
Duration: 17' - ONLY THE EAGLE FLIES THE STORM (1991-1999) for guitar and string orchestra
4.3.3.2.1 minimum
Duration: 21'
BRASS BAND OR BRASS ENSEMBLE
- THE MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (1996) concerto for percussionist and brass band (standard brass band scoring)
Duration: 19' - STRATEGIES AGAINST ARCHITECTURE (BOOK I) (1995) for brass and percussion 4hn.3tpt.2ttbn.btbn.tuba-timp.2perc
Duration: 9'
CHOIR (see also Oratorio)
- LOVE SONGS
Siempre (8’); Liebeslied (7’); Arde il mio cor...(4’)
for mixed choir, string quartet, clarinet
Texts by Puablo Neruda, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Carlo Gesualdo.
Duration: 19' (total). Songs may be performed individually.
OPERA/ORATORIO/MUSIC THEATRE
- THE PASSION OF LAVINIA ANDRONICUS (2004-05)
an oratorio for choir, soloists, organ and instruments.
Text by Anne Michaels
Duration: 40' - THE SHADOW (2003-2005)
an opera in 15 scenes.
Text by Alex Poch-Goldin
Duration: 65' - LISA (2001-2002). An opera in one act.
for mezzo-soprano, tenor and chamber ensemble.
Text by Alex Poch-Goldin.
Duration: 15'
LARGE ENSEMBLE (five musicians or more)
- QUINTET (2004)
for string quartet and contrabass.
Duration: 19’ - ...WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN HEAVEN... (2003)
for six pianos and two percussionists
Duration: 13’ - LONTANO (1999-2002)
for flute, string quartet and piano
Duration: 21' - EL CORAZON Y EL TIGRE (2001)
for percussion, harp and string quartet
Duration: 16' - SEXTET (1998-99)
for two accordions, harp, bass, percussion (two players)
Duration: 22’ - GOOD MACHINE (1992)
for piano and 4 percussionists.
Duration: 14' - ONLY THE EAGLE FLIES THE STORM (1991)
for string quartet and guitar
Duration: 21’
LARGE ENSEMBLE with VOICE
- YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE (2004)
At the Yoga Class (3'); At the Office (3'); At the Supermarket (5'); At the Travel Agent (3'); At the Church (5')
Text by Yann Martel
Duration: 18' - DAS BUCH DER BILDER (1999)
Initiale (2’); Klage (6’);Vorgefühl (5’); Schlußstuck (6’)
for soprano, violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, 2 percussion, piano
Text by Rainer Maria Rilke.
Duration: 18' (total). Songs may be performed individually. - ALL NIGHT I TRAVEL YOU (2000)
for soprano, string quartet, bass clarinet, trumpet, piano, percussion, Hammond B3 organ.
Text by Anne Michaels.
Duration: 19' - ZWEI LIEDER NACH RILKE (1996)
Die Engel (10’); Aus einer Sturmnacht (4’)
for violin, viola, cello, alto flute, English horn, bass clarinet, 2 percussion, piano and soprano.
Text by Rainer Maria Rilke.
Duration: 15' (total). Songs may be performed individually.
SMALL ENSEMBLE (four musicians or less)
- ANNUNCIATION (2005)
for string quartet and live electronics
Duration: 17' - A MUSICAL OFFERING (2004)
for piano trio.
Duration: 13’ - THE FLAYING OF MARSYAS (2001-2002)
for violin and live electronics
Duration: 12' - WILD HONEY (2000)
for violin and piano.
Duration: 18' - TRIO FOR VIOLIN, CELLO AND PIANO (1999)
for violin, cello and piano.
Duration: 18' - DIX ETUDES SUR LA PASSION DE JEAN D'ARC (1998)
for English horn and bass clarinet.
Duration: 13' - STRATEGIES AGAINST ARCHITECTURE (BOOK II) (1994-1997)
for two pianos and two percussionists.
Duration: 19' - NOCTURNE (1994)
for guitar, viola and cello
Duration: 7' - DREAMS OF THE PANTHER (1991)
for flute, clarinet and cello.
Duration: 17' - THREE CHAMBERS (1991)
for clarinet and piano
Duration: 14' - CHANGES (1987)
for percussion (one player) and piano
Duration: 16'
SMALL ENSEMBLE/DUO with VOICE
- VIA CRUXIS (2004)
for soprano and keyboard instruments.
Text taken form Franz Liszt’s ‘Via Cruxis’ (Latin and German)
Duration: 20’ - RILKE LIEDER (1996; 1999; 2003)
Initiale(2’); Vorgefühl(5’); Aus einer Sturmnacht(4’); Die Engel(10’); Klage(6’); Schlußstuck(6’)
for soprano and piano
Text by Rainer Maria Rilke (arrangements based on Das Buch der Bilder and Zwei Lieder nach Rilke)
Duration: 30’ (total). Songs may be performed individually. - THE GROWTH OF MUSIC AND THE INVENTION OF STORYTELLING (2002)
for narrator and piano trio
Text by Michael Redhill.
Duration: 19' - TWO CABARET SONGS (2002)
SUV-ival of the fittest (4’); secret.life (4’)
for tenor, violin, clarinet in B flat, accordion, double bass, drum set.
Text by Anne Fenn.
Duration: 8’. Songs may be performed individually. - MY ANGEL (1991)
for soprano and guitar
Text by Omar Daniel.
Duration: 11' - FOUR ELECTRONIC ARIAS FROM SHADOWS OF ANGELS (1991)
Blue Moon (7’); The Mouse and the Mouser (4’); Jacob’s Ladder (4’); The Jeniper Tree (4’)
for soprano, piano, electric guitar, amplified flute.
Various texts.
Duration: 19' (total). Songs may be performed individually. - THREE ARIAS FROM SHADOWS OF ANGELS (1990)
The Mouse and the Mouser (4’); Jacob’s Ladder (4’); The Jeniper Tree (4’)
for soprano, cello, piano.
Duration: 12' (total). Songs may be performed individually. - ...THE STARS WOULD HAVE ME WEEP (1987)
for baritone and piano
Text by Tim Hazell.
Duration: 22'
SOLO
- AFTER THE PANORAMA (1995)
for guitar
Duration: 15' - TIENTOS (1994)
for guitar
Duration: 16' - PIANGIAMO QUEL CRUDEL BASCIARE (1992)
for guitar
Duration: 12' - SURFACING (1988 rev. 1991)
for piano
Duration: 13' - DESERT HEAVEN (1989)
for guitar with optional electronics and tape
Duration: 16' - MOMENTUM (1986)
for guitar
Duration: 10'
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