JOSEPH SWENSEN
SCORING & MATERIALS
HAFIZ Symphony (2026)
Instrumentation
Soprano Solo*
4 Flutes (2 doubling on Piccolos & Alto Flute)
2 Oboes
Cor Anglais
3 Clarinets (1 doubling on Bass Clarinet & E♭ Clarinet)
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
6 Horns — each player must also be equipped with 1 plastic slide whistle of varying colours
3 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Tuba
Percussion — 7 musicians
5 percussionists must additionally be equipped with 5 plastic slide whistles of varying colours — 11 in total including the horn players.
Anvil
2 Claves
Chinese Cymbal
Crotale (C)
Suspended Cymbals (1 Large & 1 Small)
Sizzle Cymbal
Glockenspiel
Large Bass Drum (Gran Cassa)
Drum Kit (Pedal Bass Drum, 4 Cowbells, Hi-hat, 4 differently pitched Tom-toms)
Guiro
Maracas (Small & Medium)
Slapstick
2 Steel Pans
Tambourine
3 Tam-tams (2 Medium, 1 Large)
Tubular Bells
2 Triangles (Small & Medium)
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Ratchet
Timpani
Deep Cathedral Bell**
Organ
Harp
Celeste
Violins I & II
Violas
Violoncelli
Contrabasses (some players must have a low-C extension)
*Although this work was originally intended to be sung by an operatic soprano, it is also possible for other types of singer to perform it, with amplification of course.
** A sample of this sound will be provided along with the rental materials.
(J.S. 2025)
PRIMORDIAL COSMOS
For Amplified 5-String Contrabass and 22 Solo Strings
Instrumentation
Amplified 5-String Contrabass
22 Solo Strings
Orchestral Layout & Lighting
The layout of the players and the lighting are integral to the performance of this work. Detailed staging and lighting instructions are provided with the performance materials.
SAGA
Instrumentation
3 Trumpets in B♭
5 Percussionists
3 Bongos
4 Cowbells
Crotales
Large Bass Drum
Very Small Maraca
Marimba
Opera Gong
Pedal Bass Drum
Side Drum Sticks (to be hit together)
Sizzle Cymbal
Small Triangle
Very Small Triangle
Slapstick
Standing Bass Drum with Cymbal Attached (one player)
Steel Pan (Caribbean, tuned to E♭, A, G)
Small, Medium and Large Tam-Tams
Tambourine
5 Temple Blocks
6 Tom-Toms
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone (3.5-octave range)
Wind Chime (highest possible)
Tuned Gongs (E♭, G)
Wood Blocks
Xylophone
Timpani
Electric Bass Guitar (Warwick Streamer or similar)
Accordion
Honky-Tonk Pianino
Celeste
Solo Violoncello
Violins I & II
Violas
Violoncellos
Contrabasses (minimum two players; one must have a low C-string)
Performance & Orchestral Layout
The work requires specific placement of several instrumental groups, including antiphonal violin sections, as well as special positioning and amplification requirements. Detailed orchestral layout and performance instructions are provided with the performance materials.
SONG OF INFINITY
Instrumentation
Solo Clarinet (in B♭, A and E♭) or Viola
Amplified Solo Contrabass
(must have a low C-string)
Celeste
Harp
Violins I & II
Violas
Violoncellos
Contrabasses (acoustic) — at least two players
(one player must have a low C-string)
Choir
(26 mixed voices minimum)
One Boy Soprano
SHIZUE
Fantasy for Shakuhachi and String Orchestra (1995)
Instrumentation
Shakuhachi Solo
String Orchestra
Chamber Orchestra Version
Minimum string strength: 6.6.4.4.2
Symphonic Orchestra Version
For orchestras employing 4 or more double basses, the Symphonic Orchestra version should be used.
(J.S., December 2016)
LANGELAND REVERIES
Instrumentation
Strings — Ideal String Strength
Violin I — 10
Violin II — 8
Viola — 6
Cello — 6
Bass — 4
At least one Bass must have a low C.
Keyboard
Roland RD-700 SX (or similar)
Vibraphone
Piano
Electric Piano
Keyboard
Roland RD-700 SX (or similar), providing Vibraphone, Piano and Electric Piano sounds
Percussion — 2 players
One player seated at the kit at the centre of the orchestra; the other at the back of the stage.
5 Cowbells
3 Tom-Toms
Hi-Hat
Side Drum
2 Suspended Cymbals
Pedal Bass Drum
Small Wind Chimes
5 Temple Blocks
Tubular Bell (A♭)
Medium Tam-Tam
Small Tam-Tam
Glockenspiel
Chinese Cymbal
5 Wood Blocks
Small Triangle
Very High Crotale
Bass Drum
Opera Gong
MAHLER IN MANHATTAN
Instrumentation
Solo Violin
Solo Horn in F
Percussion — 1 player
2 Timpani
Tubular Bells
14 Solo Strings
5 Violins
4 Violas
3 Violoncelli
2 Contrabasses (Contrabass II with C extension)
OBSESSION
for Viola and Piano
(after H. L. Hassler, b. 1564)
Instrumentation
Viola
Piano
MY NAME IS INFINITY
after Messiaen
Words and Music by Joseph Swensen
Summer 2020
Instrumentation
High Voice
Clarinet in A or Viola
Piano
Score in C
BRIDGE / SWENSEN — MEDITATION
For Saxophone and String Orchestra
Instrumentation
Solo Saxophone
String Orchestra
DEBUSSY — BEAU SOIR
Arranged by Joseph Swensen
Instrumentation
Solo Violin
String Orchestra
DEBUSY — LA FILLE AUX CHEVEUX DE LIN
Arranged by Joseph Swensen
Instrumentation
Solo Violin
String Orchestra
KREISLER / SWENSEN — THREE PIECES FOR VIOLIN AND STRINGS
Instrumentation
Solo Violin
String Orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY — MÉDITATION, OP. 42, NO. 1
Arranged by Joseph Swensen
Instrumentation
Solo Violin
String Orchestra
CARL NIELSEN — FOUR MOVEMENTS FOR ORCHESTRA
(1888)
Orchestrated by Joseph Swensen
Instrumentation
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B♭
2 Bassoons
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in B♭
Timpani
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Contrabass
At least one Contrabass must have an extension to low C.
Score in C
CLARA SCHUMANN / SWENSEN — ROMANCE IN A MINOR
For Wind Ensemble
Instrumentation
Flute
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B♭
2 Bassoons
2 Horns in F
Contrabass
CLARA SCHUMANN / SWENSEN — THREE ROMANCES
For Violin and Orchestra
Instrumentation
Solo Violin
Orchestra
WAGNER / SWENSEN — RING ODYSSEY
For Soprano, Tenor, Male Choir and Large Orchestra
An anthology of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen
Instrumentation
Soprano Solo
Tenor Solo
Male Voice Choir (12–16 members; bass solos to be sung by one member of the choir)
Woodwinds
4 Flutes (2 doubling Piccolo)
3 Oboes
Cor Anglais
3 Clarinets (in B♭ & A)
Bass Clarinet (in B♭ & A)
3 Bassoons
Brass
8 Horns
4 players alternate with 4 Tuba parts: 2 Tenor Tubas & 2 Bass Tubas
3 Trumpets
Bass Trumpet
3 Trombones
Contrabass Trombone
Contrabass Tuba
Percussion
Cymbals
Triangle
Hammerschlag
Side Drum
7 Anvils (played by 5 players)
Glockenspiel
Tam-tam
2 Sets of Timpani (2 players)
Harps
2 Harps
Strings
Violins I & II
Violas
Violoncelli
Contrabasses (must have a low-C extension)
Largest possible contingent of strings. Minimum string strength: 12.10.8.8.6.
(J.S.)