The following songs are adaptable for different band combinations:
359 Each Time
All The Things
Ambitioning
Ashley Nelson (from Katrina Ballads)
Barbara Bush: 9.5.05 (from Katrina Ballads)
Body Moving
Burning TV Song
Dennis Hastert: 8.31.05 (from Katrina Ballads)
Everything You Do
I Mean Well
I Want Never
Is It Dirty
Kanye West: 9.2.05 (from Katrina Ballads)
Make it Out
My Favorite Ride
Never Said Nothing
Protection
Shame Campaign
This Time
We Didn't Know
Is It Dirty (2010, 8 min.)
2 singers with chamber ensemble:
flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, alto sax, bari sax, horn, trumpet, trombone, electric keyboard, electric bass guitar, drums, 2 violins, viola, cello
commission:
Albany Symphony Orchestra
(with support from Meet The Composer Commissioning Music/USA)
premiere:
Albany, New York, May 2010
David Alan Miller, conductor
two alternate versions:
- 2 singers with 14 musicians:
fl, ob, cl, bcl, hn, tpt, tbn, kbd, e. guit, e.bs, dr, 2 vln, vla, vc
additional performances: 21c Liederabend
The Kitchen, New York City, April 2011
performed by Ted Hearne and Mellissa Hughes, with Christa van Alstine, Eric Lamb, James Ilgenfritz, Taylor Levine and ACME
jazzy: "Is It Dirty evoked urban roil with jazzy motifs in raucous collision." - Steve Smith, The New York Times (April 7, 2011)
listen:
text: Song (Is it dirty)
by Frank O'Hara
Is it dirty
does it look dirty
that's what you think of in the city
does it just seem dirty
that's what you think of in the city
you don't refuse to breathe do you
someone comes along with a very bad character
he seems attractive. is he really. yes very
he's attractive as his character is bad. is it. yes
that's what you think of in the city
run your finger along your no-moss mind
that's not a thought that's soot
and you take a lot of dirt off someone
is the character less bad. no. it improves constantly
you don't refuse to breathe do you