Edward Top composer
compositions
Edward’s music at Donemus
For soprano and chamber orchestra: 112[b.cl.]1/1000/1perc./hp/str (43221)
Four songs
text by Martinus Nijhoff, Hanny Michaelis, Edward Top
Duration: 19’
Year of composition: 2013
Commissioned by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during tenure as Composer-in-Residence
Premiere: Robyn Driedger Klassen, Vancouver Symphony, Bramwell Tovey; Orpheum Annex Vancouver, Canada; 23 February, 2014
Concerto for saxophone quartet and orchestra:
Saxophone quartet solo [sx sop., sx alt., sx tn., sx bar.]/ 3[3pic]3[3ca]3[3bcl]3[3cbn]/4331/T/2perc/hp/pno/str
Duration: 25’
Year of composition: 2013
Composed for the Rascher Saxophone Quartet and the Vancouver Symphony for the inaugural Vancouver Symphony New Music Festival 2014 during tenure as Composer-in-Residence.
Premiere: Rascher Saxophone Quartet, Vancouver Symphony, Bramwell Tovey; Orpheum Vancouver, Canada; 20 January, 2014
Violin Solo and orchestra: 3[3pic]3[3ca]3[3bcl]3[3cbn]/4231/T/3perc/hp/cel/str
Duration: 10’
Year of composition: 2011
Premiere: Duccio Ceccanti - violin, José Ramon Encinar – conductor, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna; Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy; 2 August, 2012
Prize: Third Prize, 2 Agosto Composition Competition, 2012
Witte Wieven - Concerto for Violin and Two Orchestras
Violin Solo/ Orchestra I: 2picc(doubl.fl), 2ob, bcl(doubl.cl), cbn(doubl.bn), 2tp, 3tbn,btb, perc-3pl., hp, pno (doubl.syn), str.(64434)/ Orchestra II: cl, bn, 4 hn, str. (44220)
Duration: 21’
Year of composition: 2007
Commissioned by Holland Symfonia
Written for my brother Tjeerd Top
Premiere: Tjeerd Top – violin, Fabrice Bollon – conductor, Holland Symfonia, Filharmonie Haarlem, Netherlands; 9 December 2007
Score available at donemus.nl
3[3pic] 3[3ca] 3[3bcl] 3[3cbn] 4331 timp+4perc[drmkit] hp cel str
Duration: 12’
Year of composition: 2012
Commissioned by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during tenure as Composer-in-Residence for a 2013 US tour
Premiere: Vancouver Symphony, Bramwell Tovey, Orpheum Vancouver, Canada, 19 January, 2013
Prize: Third Prize in the 2013 Val Tidone "Egidio Carella" Composition Competition, Italy
3[2fl,1pic]23[2cl,1bcl]3[2bn,1 cbn]/4231/T/3perc/hp/str
Duration: 9’
Year of composition: 2011
Commissioned by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during tenure as Composer-in-Residence
Premiere: Vancouver Symphony, Bramwell Tovey, Orpheum Vancouver, Canada, 3 December, 2011
2222 2sax 2110 1perc (drums) bass guit. strings (76543)
Duration: 7'
Year of composition: 2008
Commissioned by Ricciotti Ensemble
Premiere: Dutch tour autumn 2008
[withdrawn]
2222 2210 timp perc hp str (65432)
Duration: 10’
Year of composition: 2004
Premiere: Netherlands Kamerfilharmonie, Peter Eötvös, Nederlandse Muziekdagen, Vredenburg Utrecht, December, 2004
Prize: First Prize Henriëtte Bosmans Prize
[withdrawn]
2[pic]2[eh]22 2210 perc str
Duration: 8'
Year of composition: 2002
Premiere: Netherlands Kamerfilharmonie, Peter Eötvös, Nederlandse Muziekdagen, Vredenburg Utrecht, December, 2002
score available at donemus.nl
3333 4431 timp 3perc hp pf(cel) str(14121086)
Duration: 16'
Year of composition: 2000; rev. 2001
Premiere: Netherlands Ballet Orchestra, Peter Rundel; Beurs van Berlage Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 2002
score available at donemus.nl
Order CD Doelen Quartet Etcetera (KTC 1339)
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
orchestra
orchestra with soloist
For soprano and chamber orchestra: 112[b.cl.]1/1000/1perc./hp/str (43221)
Four songs
text by Martinus Nijhoff, Michael Ondaatje, Hanny Michaelis, Edward Top
Duration: 19’
Year of composition: 2013
Commissioned by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during tenure as Composer-in-Residence
Premiere: Robyn Driedger Klassen, Vancouver Symphony, Bramwell Tovey; Orpheum Annex Vancouver, Canada; 23 February, 2014
for soprano and orchestra: 2[1pic]011/1211/T/2perc/hp/str (43221)
In four movements
text by Tom Cone
Duration: 20’
Year of composition: 2012
Commissioned by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during tenure as Composer-in-Residence
Premiere: Stephanie Domingues, Vancouver Symphony, Bramwell Tovey; Orpheum Annex Vancouver, Canada; 21 April, 2012
a capella opera for four singers SMTB
libretto by Tom Cone
Duration: 10’
Year of composition: 2011
Premiere: Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada, 27 September 2011 (home concert Opera Project at Tom Cone’s residence, 28 May, 2011)
for vocal quartet and electronic tape
Year of composition: 2008
Duration: 9'
Commissioned by Romain Bischoff and Vocal LAB
Premiere: Gaudeamus Festival Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Netherlands, September 2008
Prize: Toonzetters 2008 Competition; Winner category 6 players or less Netherlands
Score available at donemus.nl
Hammer Cantate
for vocal quartet, choir and string trio
Text: Friedrich Nietzsche
Duration: 17'
Year of composition: 2006
Score available at donemus.nl
[withdrawn]
De Drie Gouden Haren van de Duivel (The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs)
for children's choir, narrator and ensemble: 0011 0110 1perc 10001
Duration: 14'
Year of composition: 2004
Commissioned by Doelen Ensemble
Premiere: Nederlandse Muziekdagen, Vredenburg Utrecht, December, 2004
Lied der Schwermuth: String Quartet no 2
for string quartet and bass-baritone
1 mvt
9 mvt
10 mvt
11 mvt
Text: Friedrich Nietzsche
Duration: 22'
Year of composition: 2003
Written for the Doelen String Quartet
Premiere: Doelen String Quartet and Martijn Sanders; Institut Néerlandais, Paris; 4 March 2004
score available at donemus.nl
Paradise Heaven
for baritone, mixed choir and ensemble
Text: G. Herbert (8')
Duration: 8’
Year of composition: 1996
[withdrawn]
The Overwhelming Blankness of the Ultimate Meaninglessness of Tragedy
for two ensembles 1111 1110 perc vibr hp pf 2vl vla vc cb, soprano and actor.
Text: Jorge Luis Borges, Octavio Paz, Amnesty International
Duration: 20'
Year of composition: 1996
score available at donemus.nl
vocal music
for soprano, tenor, oboe, bassoon, vibraphone, marimba, and violin
libretto: J-Gro & CC Love
Duration: 4’
Year of composition: 2013
Commissioned by Fast Opera Productions (FOP)
Premiere: Brava Television/Online, Netherlands; 5 July, 2013
for soprano, mezzosoprano, tenor, baritone, oboe, bassoon and violin
text: Marijke Schermer
Duration: 4’
Year of composition: 2013
Commissioned by Fast Opera Productions (FOP)
Premiere: Brava Television/Online, Netherlands; 5 April, 2013
for soprano and orchestra: 2[1pic]011/1211/T/2perc/hp/str (43221)
In four movements
Text: Tom Cone
Duration: 20’
Year of composition: 2012
Commissioned by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during tenure as Composer-in-Residence
Premiere: Stephanie Domingues, Vancouver Symphony, Bramwell Tovey; Orpheum Annex Vancouver, Canada; 21 April, 2012
a capella opera for four singers SMTB
libretto: Tom Cone
Duration: 10’
Year of composition: 2011
Premiere: Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada, 27 September 2011 (home concert Opera Project at Tom Cone’s residence, 28 May, 2011)
Children’s opera
for six wind instruments and four vocalists: flute, oboe, clarinet in B-flat, bass clarinet, bassoon, horn/ mezzo soprano, tenor, baritone, bass
Prologue:
Lied van Patrick:
Libretto: Edward van de Vendel
Duration: 60’
Year of composition: 2007
Commissioned by Wervelwind Ensemble
Premiere: Dutch Chamber Opera Festival Zwolle; 2007
Score available at donemus.nl
The Overwhelming Blankness of the Ultimate Meaninglessness of Tragedy
for two ensembles 1111 1110 perc vibr hp pf 2vl vla vc cb, soprano and actor.
Words: Jorge Luis Borges, Octavio Paz, Amnesty International
Duration: 20'
Year of composition: 1996
score available at donemus.nl
opera & music theatre
For wind ensemble, 13 players: 222*[+bcl.]2*[+cbn] 2111
Duration 9’
Year of composition: 2014
Commissioned by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during tenure as Composer-in-Residence
Premiere: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey conductor, Orpheum Annex, Vancouver, Canada, 27 April 2014
for six amplified instrumentalists and recorded child violinist
Duration: 14’
Year of composition: 2013
Commissioned by Acoustic Panel Vancouver and Standing Wave Ensemble
Premiere: The Cultch Vancouver, 21 April, 2013
for horn, 3 trombones, tuba, 3 percussion players, harp and piano
Duration: 13'
Year of composition: 1999-2013
Premiere of version II: Vancouver Symphony, Gordon Gerrard conductor, Orpheum Annex, Vancouver, Canada, 20 April 2013 (October 1999 version I)
for cello solo and 8 flutes
Duration: 13’
Year of composition: 2012
Commissioned by Red Shift Vancouver and Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal
Premiere: Ensemble de Flûtes Alizé (ECM+) Véronique Lacroix conductor, Salle de concert du Conservatoire, Montréal, Canada,12 February, 2013
for large ensemble
Duration: 14'
Year of composition: 2009
Commissioned by the Birmingham Conservatoire
Premiere: Birmingham Conservatoire, UK 2009
Prize: first prize 2007 New Millennium Composition Competition, UK
[withdrawn]
Most beautiful Bird of Paradise
for large ensemble
Duration: 10'
Year of composition: 2003
Commissioned by the Schoenberg Ensemble
Premiere: Paradiso Amsterdam, 2003
score available at donemus.nl
for ensemble
Duration: 16'
Year of composition: 2002
Commissioned by Ensemble Domestica Rotterdam
Premiere: Lantaarn/Venster Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2002
[withdrawn]
Wie hoger klimt (Who climbs higher)
for whistler and ensemble trp pf 2vl vla vc
Duration: 8'
Year of composition: 2002
Premiere: Het Hof, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 2002
for 5 trombones, 3 percussion players, harp and piano (13')
Duration: 13'
Year of composition: 1999
Premiere: Rotterdam Conservatory, Netherlands, October 1999
God liet toe dat ik lachte (God Allowed me to Smile)
for ensemble
Duration: 15'
Year of composition: 1997
Premiere: Hal 4, Rotterdam, Netherlands
[withdrawn]
Orange Car Crash Ten Times
for mixed ensemble fl cl-b h trp trb 2perc pf vl
Duration: 7'
Year of composition: 1993
Premiere: Willem Pijper Zaal, Rotterdam Conservatory, 1993
ensemble
for cello solo and 8 flutes
Duration: 13’
Year of composition: 2012
Commissioned by Red Shift Vancouver and Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal
Premiere: Ensemble de Flûtes Alizé (ECM+) Véronique Lacroix conductor, Salle de concert du Conservatoire, Montréal, Canada,12 February, 2013
34: Concerto for Electric Guitar and Wind Orchestra
fl sax-s 2sax-br h 3trp 2trb trb-b perc g-b pf el.g-solo
Duration: 15'
Year of composition: 2006
Written for Wiek Hijmans
Score available at donemus.nl
Wie hoger klimt (Who climbs higher)
for whistler and ensemble trp pf 2vl vla vc
Duration: 8'
Year of composition: 2002
Premiere: Het Hof, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 2002
The Overwhelming Blankness of the Ultimate Meaninglessness of Tragedy
fragment
for two ensembles 1111 1110 perc vibr hp pf 2vl vla vc cb, soprano and actor.
Words: Jorge Luis Borges, Octavio Paz, Amnesty International
Duration: 20'
Year of composition: 1996
score available at donemus.nl
ensemble with soloist
chamber music
for six amplified instrumentalists and recorded child violinist
Duration: 14’
Year of composition: 2013
Commissioned by Acoustic Panel Vancouver and Standing Wave Ensemble
Premiere: The Cultch Vancouver, 21 April, 2013
for vocal quartet and electronic tape
Year of composition: 2008
Duration: 9'
Commissioned by Romain Bischoff and Vocal LAB
Premiere: Gaudeamus Festival Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Netherlands, September 2008
Prize: Toonzetters 2008 Competition; Winner category 6 players or less Netherlands
Score available at donemus.nl
for electronic tape
In four movements
Duration: 7’
Year of composition: 2002
Premiere: King’s College London, UK, 2007
electronic music
solo
for percussion set-up
Year of composition: 2000
Duration: 7'
Premiere: Tromp Percussion Festival Eindhoven, Netherlands, 2000.
Score available at donemus.nl
for piano solo in four movements
Year of composition: 1997
Duration: 10'
Premiere: King’s College London, UK, 2007.
Score available at donemus.nl
2 players
for erhu and piano with recorded samples
Year of composition: 2014
Duration: 5'
Commissioned by Corey Hamm and Nicole Li for PEP (Piano & Erhu Project)
Premiere: Heritage Hall, Vancouver, Canada. Modulus Festival, Oct.27, 2014
for piccolo and harpsichord
Year of composition: 2012
Duration: 5’
Commissioned by Mark McGregor and Christopher Bagan
Premiere: Music on Main at The Cellar, Vancouver, Canada, March 2012
Sonata for Violin and Piano in four movements
1 mvt
4 mvt
Year of composition: 2001
Duration: 16'
Commissioned by Tjeerd Top
Premiere: Teatro Colón Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2003
Score available at donemus.nl
for two vibraphones
Year of composition: 1996
Duration: 14'
Commissioned by Eduardo Leandro
Premiere: Rotterdam Conservatory, Netherlands, 1996
Score available at donemus.nl
The Stillpoint for violin and vibraphone in four movements
2 mvt a
2 mvt b
Year of composition: 1995
Duration: 13'
Premiere: IJsbreker, Amsterdam, May 1995
Score available at donemus.nl
3 players
Wie dieper graaft (Who digs deeper)
for oboe, harp and percussion
Year of composition: 2000
Duration: 4'
Released on CD ‘Captured images’, Beta Imaginations, Rotterdam 2000
... and he wept bitterly pianotrio for violin, cello and piano
1 mvt
2 mvt fragment
3 mvt
Year of composition: 2001
Duration: 18'
Commissioned by the Doelen Ensemble
Premiere: De Doelen Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2001
Score available at donemus.nl
Clarinet Trio
for clarinet in B-flat, piano and violin
Year of composition: 1992
Duration: 6'
Premiere: Willem Pijper Zaal, Rotterdam Conservatory, Netherlands, 1992
4 players
for saxophone quartet
Year of composition: 2012
Duration: 15’
Commissioned by the Rascher Saxophone Quartet
Premiere: November Music Festival, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, 10 Nov. 2012
A Storm is Blowing from Utopia
for piccolo, vibraphone, piano and contrabass
In four movements
Year of composition: 2011
Duration: 21’
Commissioned by the Doelen Ensemble
Premiere: De Doelen Rotterdam, Netherlands, 17 March 2011
Score available at donemus.nl
for vocal quartet and electronic tape
Year of composition: 2008
Duration: 9'
Commissioned by Romain Bischoff and Vocal LAB
Premiere: Gaudeamus Festival Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Netherlands, September 2008
Prize: Toonzetters 2008 Competition; Winner category 6 players or less Netherlands
Score available at donemus.nl
for flute, piano, vibraphone, and cello
Year of composition: 2006
Duration: 5’
Premiere: Kokoro Ensemble, University of Bristol, UK, January 2007
for flute, piano, vibraphone, and guitar
Year of composition: 2006
Duration: 5’
Premiere: Ensemble NOISE, SoundOn Festival, Athenaeum Library La Jolla, CA, USA, June 2007.
for soprano sax, piano, viola, and guitar
Year of composition: 2006/14
Duration: 5’
Year of composition: 1996-98
Duration: 16’
Premiere: Doelen String Quartet, Amstelkerk Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1999
Prize: First prize Martirano Composition Award, University of Illinois, US
Score available at donemus.nl
5 players
for reed quintet
Duration: 9'
Year of composition: 2005
Commissioned by Calefax Reed Quintet
Premiere: Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1 May 2005
score available at donemus.nl
for piano quintet
Duration: 17’
Year of composition: 2003
Commissioned by Amardi Quintet
Premiere: Musis Sacrum, Arnhem, Netherlands, 2003
Score available at donemus.nl
[withdrawn]
Lied der Schwermuth String Quartet no 2
for string quartet and bass-baritone.
1 mvt
9 mvt
10 mvt
11 mvt
Text: Friedrich Nietzsche
Duration: 22'
Year of composition: 2002
Commissioned by Doelen String Quartet
Premiere: De Doelen Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2003
score available at donemus.nl
