Music
The majority of Vanessa Lann’s compositions include aspects of ritual, ceremony or contemplation. She is interested in breaking with the conventional concert-hall approach to the performance and programming of music, and she frequently experiments with alternative ways of sharing sound, other media and time with audiences, often hoping to blur the boundary between art and daily experience.
In her music Lann uses the repetition of recognizable figures, as well as layers of structures based on number ratios, to create a world in which each subtle element has a distinct meaning. In many works she explores the listener’s perception of continuity, infinity and silence, as well as the shifting psychological relationship between foreground and background material, or between performer and audience.
Lann is intrigued by the boundaries of what is audible: how long or how quietly a note can be appreciated, how a performer’s changing physical experience of a musical gesture changes its nature, why an altered context of a recognizable element can render it absurd or divine. She embraces the sensuality of the rawest of sounds, as well as the riskiness inherent in the seemingly endless recurrence of the most basic, even childlike, patterns. She searches for extremes within limited means and asks the listener to enter the time and sound world of the music in as simple a manner as possible: as the essence of the music gradually becomes apparent, she hopes that the listener continuously reevaluates his relationship to the music and to the meaning of listening, itself.
Vanessa Lann’s works are almost entirely written on commission from leading festivals, halls and performers. Please find below a chronological list of Lann’s compositions by instrumental category. For questions about her pieces, or about ordering her music, please contact the composer directly.
Music Catalogue
Titles marked with * are published by Donemus
1983
Moods of the Seasons
piano solo
9′
1985
Nocturne
piano solo
5’05”
1990
Prayer, Torture and Ecstasy*
cello solo
10’05”
Donemus: Prayer, Torture and Ecstasy : for violoncello solo, 1990
1991
Entranced by the Beckoning Light*
piano solo
10’15”
for sound sample go to Spotify
Donemus: Entranced by the beckoning light : for piano solo, 1991
1992
Helen’s Song
harp solo
4′
1994
Inner Piece*
piano solo
8′
for sound sample go to Spotify
Donemus: Inner piece : for piano solo, 1994
1996
DD (Double D)
piano solo
1′
for sound sample go to Spotify
1998
Recalling Chimes*
piano solo
10’15”
for sound sample go to Spotify
Donemus: Recalling chimes : for piano, 1998
1999
The Key to the Fourteenth Vision*
violin solo
3′
for sound sample go to Spotify
Donemus: The Key to the Fourteenth Vision
2001
Leaps of Faith*
piano solo and tape
5’30”
Donemus: Leaps of Faith
2001
The Stone
flute solo / sound environment
18′
2001
The Book*
clarinet solo (B-flat or bass) / sound environment
16’30”
Donemus: Book : for (bass) clarinet
2001
The Mask
violin solo
6′
2001
The Bowl
cello solo
10’15”
2001
The Candle
piano solo / sound environment
7’45”
2004
Is a bell… a bell?*
two toy pianos (one performer)
5’05”
for sound sample go to Spotify
Donemus: Is a bell … a bell? : for 2 toy pianos (1 performer), 2004
2015
Happy Birthday 234!
bassoon solo
40″
for sound sample go to TV PROGRAMME (start from 0’54)
2015 (orig. 1991; arr. Lann)
Beyond “Is” and “Is not”*
version for solo piccolo and 3-track tape (or three live players)
4′
Donemus: Beyond “Is” and “Is not”
2019
Saskia on the Beach
piano solo
2’15”
For video go to MEDIA
2020
Claire’s Candle
vibraphone solo
10’05”
SCORE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL FIRST PERFORMANCE
2021
Heaven’s Gait
carillon solo
7′
2021
Loopstation Lazarus (from ‘Stap Verder’)
text: Emma Lazarus
saxophones/clarinets (soloist), loopstation
11′
For video go to MEDIA
SCORE NOT AVAILABLE
2022
Sugar Sugar
celesta solo
7′
2023
Laura’s Light: II
solo for marimba and glockenspiel
6′
2023
Floating Sky
solo for vibraphone and crotales
5’05”
2024
Laura’s Light
three pieces for percussion solo:
1) solo for bass drum with foot pedal (2′)
2) solo for marimba and glockenspiel (6′)
3) solo for marimba, bass drum with foot pedal, and voice (13′)
21′
1985
Forest Patterns
flute, clarinet, bassoon
8′
1987
Fantasia for String Trio
string trio
6′
1989
Two Ukrainian Folk Sketches
Bb clarinet and piano
11′
1989
Daybreak
flute duo
10’10”
for sound sample / video go to YouTube
1990
Journey to…
horn and double bass
8′
1990
Piece… of Pizza*
percussion quintet
6′
Donemus page: Piece… of Pizza
1990
Lullabye For A Young Girl Dreaming
string quartet
16′
Donemus: Lullabye For A Young Girl Dreaming
1991
Beyond “Is” and “Is not”
piccolo quartet
4′
1993
Embracing the Currents of Avalon
brass quintet
7′
1993
In the Circumference of My Solitude*
viola and double bass
16′
Donemus: In the Circumference of My Solitude
1994
Herman’s Song*
text: Richard Lann
countertenor and piano
11’20”
Donemus: Herman’s Song
1995
American Accents*
percussion duo
10’15”
for sound sample go to Soundcloud
Donemus: American Accents
1995
Bambino Sonoro
oboe, piano, percussion, harp, double bass (other versions possible, eg: violin, piano, percussion, harp, bass clarinet)
12′
1995
Dan Neem Ik Een Bloemkool*
bass clarinet, cello, piano
11′
for sound sample go to Soundcloud
Donemus: Dan Neem Ik Een Bloemkool
1996
The Owl and the Pussycat*
text: Edward Lear
mezzo soprano and piano
10’10”
Donemus: The Owl and the Pussycat
1996
Towards the Center of Indigo*
saxophone quartet
11′
Donemus: Towards the Center of Indigo
1997
In the Moment*
recorder quartet (4 Renaissance recorders: G Alto, Tenor, Bass in F, C Bass)
12′
Donemus: In the Moment
1998
My Dove, My Beautiful One
text: James Joyce
mezzo soprano and piano
4′
for sound sample go to Soundcloud
2000
Second Nature*
piano, 4 hands
12′
Donemus: Second Nature
2001
Lucifer’s Sun*
bass clarinet and harpsichord
11′
Donemus: Lucifer’s Sun
2001
Objects of Ritual*
flute, Bb clarinet, violin, cello, piano
22′
Donemus: Objects of Ritual
2003
Valse Ancienne (or Thirteen Ways of Looking Out a Window)*
cello and piano
16′
Donemus: Valse Ancienne (or Thirteen Ways of Looking Out a Window)
2003
Sleep, Sleep Gypsy*
flute, bass clarinet, piano
16′
Donemus: Sleep, Sleep Gypsy
2004
Micro-fohn (or Witches, Words and the Wind)
text: Gertrude Stein
soprano, recorder, violin, percussion
12′
2005
Memory Demands So Much*
text: Denise Levertov
soprano and piano
15’15”
for sound sample go to Soundcloud
Donemus: Memory Demands So Much
2006
Landscape of a Soul’s Remembering*
string quartet
21′
Donemus: Landscape of a Soul’s Remembering
2007
Springs Eternal*
violin and piano
8’30”
Practice violin parts and performance violin part (different)
Donemus: Springs Eternal
2009
Knowing Rose*
text: W. B. Yeats
female voice, violin, piano
17′
Donemus: Knowing Rose
2009
American, Woman
texts: Anne Bradstreet, Emma Lazarus, Sara Teasdale
soprano and flute
11′
2011
Piano Quintet
2 violins, viola, cello, piano
41′
2014
Ad ‘s-Gravesande
oboe quartet
3′
2014
Arlecchino Unmasked
blockflute, panflute, viola, accordion, percussion
10’05”
for sound sample go to Spotify
2014
moonshadow sunshadow
violin duo
10’05”
for sound sample go to Spotify
2014
Present Tense
oboe quartet
8′
2015
ZEMTSOV’S FIVE*
viola quartet plus fifth part for student(s)
23′
Donemus: ZEMTSOV’S FIVE
2015
Big Picture
piano trio
20’15”
2015
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
bass clarinet quartet
7′
for sound sample / video go to Youtube
2016
US
piano, four hands
4′
2017
naked, I
piano duo
26′
2018
One/Life*
piano quintet
16’30”
for video go to Media
Donemus: One/Life
2019
#lovethispiece
violin and piano
5’05”
2020
Dark Familiar (after Brahms)
four pianists
30’05”
for video go to Media
2021
Legs Larry / Tear
text: Bas Kwakman
cello, speaker
5’05”
2021
World Lieder (from musical comedy Rabbits at WORK)
soprano, piano
15’05”
SCORE AVAILABLE AS LIEDER (VOICE AND PIANO)
2022
Geluiden van Lucht
text: Cees Nooteboom
whisper violin, soprano, electric piano, electric guitar
piece alone: 9′ / film: 16′
SCORE AVAILABLE AS QUARTET
2023
Sea Glass
flute and piano
11’
2023
And These Hands
violin and viola (plus optional overtone singing)
10’05″
1991
Beneath the Veils
large ensemble [flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, bass clarinet,bassoon, alto sax, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, percussion, harp]
3′
1991
Madness and the Moonwoman, for Ensemble
violin, 2 violas, double bass, Bb clarinet, accordion
16′
1993
Dancing to an Orange Drummer
large ensemble [2 flutes (1: also piccolo), clarinet (Bb/bass), soprano sax, alto sax, trumpet, horn, 2 trombones, tuba, percussion, piano, elec. guitar, elec. bass]
5’35”
For sound sample go to Spotify
Donemus: Dancing to an Orange Drummer
1994
Madness and the Moonwoman
version for large ensemble [flute (C/alt), soprano sax, double bassoon, trumpet, cello, accordion, piano] – original 1991
16′
SCORE NOT AVAILABLE
1994
Coming Home*
text: Richard Lann
improvising ensemble [mezzo soprano, clarinet (Bb/bass), recorder (sopr/ten/bass), trombone, violin, double bass, elec. guitar, piano/synthesizer, percussion]
16′
Donemus: Coming Home
1997
The Way of the Ram*
large ensemble [flute (C/picc/alt), 3 saxophones (all sizes), horn in F, 3 trumpets in C, 3 trombones (2 ten, 1 bass),piano, double bass]
13′
Donemus: The Way of the Ram
1997
Masquerade in Ribbons
string quintet plus saxophone quintet
11′
2009
Down to the Sea in Ships*
large wind ensemble
12
Donemus: Down to the Sea in Ships
2016
Stap Verder*
text: Emma Lazarus
26-piece big band (including soprano and tap dancer)
20’30”
Donemus: Stap Verder
2017
Past Tense
shawm, recorder, sackbut, dulcian, organ, percussion
10’05”
SCORE NOT AVAILABLE
2019
I’m Migration
percussion sextet
10’+
2022
Anybody Out There
sextet (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, piano)
16′
2023
Distant Trinity
large ensemble [2 alto flutes (2: also bass flute), clarinet (Bb/bass), soprano sax, alto sax, trumpet, horn, 2 trombones, tuba, percussion, piano, elec. guitar, elec. bass]
7’
2005
Illuminating Aleph
text: Chaim N. Bialik
cantor (tenor), chamber choir, instrumental ensemble [guitar, ud, harp, percussion, piano, violin, cello, double bass]
17′
2010
Tree Of Life So Green
texts: anon – “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”, and Christopher Nolan
8-part women’s choir: SSSSAAAA
3′
2010
O Whispering Suns*
text: Walt Whitman
Large mixed choir, Medium mixed choir, violin, cymbalom
60′-68′
for sound sample / video go to YOUTUBE
Donemus: O Whispering Suns
2011 (orig. 2010; arr. Lann)
Tree Of Life So Green
version for 8-part men’s choir: (TTTTBBBB)
3′
2013
The Many Men So Beautiful
text: David Jones, from “In Parenthesis”
Chamber Choir, SSSSAAAATTTTBBBB
6’30”
2016
The Duck and the Kangaroo
text: Edward Lear
4-part children’s choir: SSAA
4′
2016
The bird that was trapped has flown
text: James Robertson
solo soprano, female vocal ensemble (SSSSAAAA), nyckelharpa, kokle
5’05”
for sound sample go to Soundcloud
2019
We May
text: Anne Bradstreet
five male voices, a cappella
5’05”
2021
Shining Still
text: Matthew Arnold
Mixed Choir a cappella (SSAATTBB)
5’30”
Published by E.C. Schirmer
For sound sample go to Spotify
1991
Views
electronic music
4′
NO SCORE AVAILABLE
2000
The Mind Traveller
electronic tape (trombone, voices) / dance, video
43′
NO SCORE AVAILABLE
2012
De Stilte van Saar*
libretto: Erik-Ward Geerlings
opera for 9 singers and instrumental ensemble: two saxophones, trombone, percussion, guitars, toy piano
74′
For sound/VIDEO sample go to Youtube
Donemus: De Stilte van Saar
2019
9×13 Orange Drummer Beat!
for production “Les Fauves”
fanfare band / wind ensemble
6′
NO SCORE AVAILABLE
2020
FAR CRIES | Distance No Object
soprano, piano, violin, winds, speakers
60’05”
NO SCORE AVAILABLE
2021
World Lieder (Rabbits at WORK)
soprano, piano
15’05”
SCORE AVAILABLE AS LIEDER (VOICE AND PIANO)
2022
Geluiden van Lucht
text: Cees Nooteboom
whisper violin, soprano, electric piano, electric guitar
piece alone: 9′ / film: 16′
SCORE AVAILABLE AS QUARTET
Madness and the Moonwoman*
version for orchestra – original 1991
16′
Donemus: Madness and the Moonwoman
2002
Gardener of the Stream*
symphony orchestra
13′
Donemus: Gardener of the Stream
2006
The Flames of Quietude*
symphony orchestra
21′
Donemus: The Flames of Quietude
2011 (orig. 1990; arr. Kelly, Lann)
Lullabye for a Young Girl Dreaming for String Orchestra
version for string orchestra
17′
2015 (orig. 1993; arr. Lann)
Dancing to an Orange Drummer*
version for symphony orchestra
5’35”
Donemus: Dancing to an Orange Drummer
2016
In a Heartbeat, Interludes for Orchestra
symphony orchestra
16′
NO SCORE AVAILABLE
2018
Future Perfect*
orchestra
10’15”
for sound sample go to Soundcloud
Donemus: Future Perect
1999
Resurrecting Persephone*
flute and orchestra
25’05”
for sound sample go to Spotify
Donemus: Resurrecting Persephone
2005
Illuminating Aleph
text: Chaim N. Bialik
cantor (tenor), chamber choir, instrumental ensemble [guitar, ud, harp, percussion, piano, violin, cello, double bass]
17′
2008
Divining Apollo*
violoncello and ensemble/orchestra (cello concerto)
21′
Donemus: Divining Apollo
2010
O Whispering Suns*
text: Walt Whitman
Large mixed choir, Medium mixed choir, violin, cymbalom
60′-68′
for sound sample / video go to Youtube
Donemus: O Whispering Suns
2013
Double|Reed*
bassoon and orchestra (bassoon concerto)
26′
for sound sample / video go to Youtube
Donemus: Double|Reed
2017
Rise*
concerto for two bassoons and (amateur) chamber orchestra
21′
Donemus: Rise
2019
Rise Again*
concerto for two bassoons and (amateur) symphony orchestra
21′
Donemus: Rise Again
2019
Tree of Life so Green for Baritone and Large Ensemble
texts: Anonymous / Christopher Nolan
baritone solo, Bb clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, horn, trombone, violin, cello, double bass
6’05”
for sound sample go to Spotify