Roger Bourland (born December 13, 1952) is an American composer,[1][2][3] publisher,[4] blogger,[5] and Professor-Emeritus of Music at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.[6]

Roger Bourland in 2006

Biography edit

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Bourland received a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory and Composition (1976) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, studying with Leslie Thimmig[7] and Randall Snyder;[8] a Master of Music in Music Composition (1978) from the New England Conservatory of Music, studying with William Thomas McKinley and Donald Martino; and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Music Composition from Harvard University,[9] studying with Randall Thompson, Earl Kim and Leon Kirchner.

Bourland studied at Tanglewood with Gunther Schuller and was awarded the Koussevitzky Prize in Composition (1978). Other awards include the John Knowles Paine Fellowship (Harvard), two ASCAP Grants to Young Composers,[10] numerous Meet the Composers grants, and was a co-founder of the Boston-based consortium "Composers in Red Sneakers."[11] Bourland has composed over one hundred fifty works for all media: film, solo, instrumental, chamber, vocal and choral music, electro-acoustic music, and music for orchestra, wind ensemble, and other large ensembles.

From 1983 to 2013, Bourland taught composition, music theory, analysis, orchestration, electro-acoustic composition, and other classes and seminars in the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He was awarded the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award for 2005-6,[12] and served as Chair of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, Department of Music from 2007 to 2011.[13] Professor Bourland retired from UCLA in 2013 and moved to Northern California to devote his time to composition.

Selected compositions edit

OPERA edit

YEAR TITLE LIBRETTO PUBLISHER
2015-19;

in progress

Smoking Mirror[14] Mitchell Bryan Morris Yelton Rhodes Music
2014 The Dove and the Nightingale [La paloma y el ruiseñor][15] Mitchell Bryan Morris;

Spanish adaptation by Plácido Domingo Jr.

Yelton Rhodes Music
2007 Flight into Egypt Thornton Wilder[16] Yelton Rhodes Music


BALLET
YEAR TITLE STORY CHOREOGRAPHER
2018 Frida and the Smoking Mirror Based upon a story by Mitchell Morris Zoíla Fernandez
2017 La Paloma y el Ruiseñor Based up the libretto by Mitchell Morris Zoíla Fernandez
MUSICAL THEATER
YEAR TITLE STORY COMMISSIONER
2009 Homer in Cyberspace Book and lyrics by Mel Shapiro UCLA REMAP
  • Homer in Cyberspace (2009) Book and lyrics by Mel Shapiro (music theater)

Cantatas edit

  • The Crocodile's Christmas Ball and other odd tales (2002) for chorus, soloists and wind ensemble; lyrics by William MacDuff
  • Rosarium (1999) for soloists, chorus and orchestra; libretto by William MacDuff
  • Flashpoint/Stonewall (1994) for chorus, soloists, four synthesizers, bass and drums; libretto by John Hall
  • Letters to the Future (1993) for chorus, soloists, three synthesizers, bass and drums; poems by Francisco X. Alarcón, May Swenson, Adrienne Rich, Allen Ginsberg, James Merrill, J. D. McClatchy and Thom Gunn
  • Hidden Legacies (1992) for chorus, soloists, four synthesizers, bass and drums; libretto by John Hall

Orchestra, Chamber orchestra, Wind ensemble edit

  • El Ruisenor Mexicano (2016) for orchestra
  • Poem (2006) for piano and orchestra
  • The Night Train (2004) for marimba, tom-toms, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, flute and alto flute, harp, and strings
  • Trauermusik (2003) for wind ensemble (By W.A Mozart, orchestrated by Roger Bourland)
  • Ozma (1996) for orchestra; orchestration for wind ensemble (2003)
  • Mirabell Jam (1992) for orchestra
  • Rivers in the Sky (1988) for wind ensemble
  • Scenes from Gauguin (1987) for orchestra
  • Broken Arrows (1986) for EVI and EWI instruments designed by Nyle Steiner (EVI), four Yamaha DX7s, and jazz ensemble
  • Serenade No.1: Far in the Night (1983) for soprano saxophone, bassoon, harp, and strings
  • Cantilena (1983) for string orchestra
  • Scenes from Redon (1982) for orchestra
  • Sweet Alchemy (1980) for orchestra
  • Clarinet Rhapsody (1979) for clarinet and orchestra
  • Jackson Pollock in Memoriam (1978) for orchestra

Choral music edit

  • Healy Madrigals (2009) for SSAA; poems by Eloise Klein Healy
  • Alarcón Madrigals, Book 3 (2006) for SSAA; poems by Francisco X. Alarcón
  • A More Perfect Union (2005) for TTBB and piano; lyrics by Philip Littell
  • Alarcón Madrigals, Book 2 (2002) for SSAA; poems by Francisco X. Alarcón
  • Keeping the Ocean Free (2000) for SATB and piano; lyrics by William MacDuff
  • Spiritual Gifts (2000) for SATB and organ; lyrics by Roger Bourland
  • Fa La La (Blah, Blah, Blah) (1998) for TTBB, SATB, or SSAA and piano; lyrics by William MacDuff
  • Look Behind our Song (1996) for TTBB, and piano; lyrics by John Hall
  • The Acts of Love (1995) for men's chorus; poem by Michael J. Lafferty
  • Alarcón Madrigals, Book 1 (1993) for SSAA or SATB; poems by Francisco X. Alarcón
  • All there is is love (1993) for TTBB; text by Paul Monette
  • The Son of God Was Singing (1987) for SATB and organ or piano; lyrics by Roger Bourland
  • Christmas Introit (1987) for SATB and organ or piano; lyrics by Roger Bourland
  • Dickinson Madrigals, Book 3 (1985) for TTBB; poems by Emily Dickinson
  • Psalm 47, a setting of Psalm 47 (1983) for SATB
  • His Spirit Lives (1983) for SATB; poem by Amos Niven Wilder
  • Antiphon (1983) for SATB; poem by George Herbert
  • Dickinson Madrigals, Book 2 (1983) for SSAA; poems by Emily Dickinson
  • Dickinson Madrigals, Book 1 (1980) for SSAA; poems by Emily Dickinson
  • Twelve New Hymns (1980) for SATB; lyrics by Gary Bachlund
  • Garden Abstract (1976) for SSSAAA (2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, 2 altos); poem by Hart Crane
  • Three Clouds (1975) for mixed chorus; lyrics by Roger Bourland

(For large-scale choral works, see Cantatas below)

Chamber music edit

  • Four Poets (2005) for string quartet
  • Emily (2005) for string quartet, bass, and banjo
  • Four Painters (2001) for violin, viola, cello, piano
  • Stories We Tell (1998) for four cellos
  • American Baroque (1992) for violin, cello, piano
  • Three Arias (1989) for viola or cello and piano
  • Recent Dreams (1989) for horn, violin, piano
  • Aesop, the Peasant (1987) for speaker, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano; texts by V.A. Kolve
  • Serenade No.2: Paintings (1986) for violin, cello, piano, flute, clarinet in Bb
  • Saxophone Quintet (1984) for soprano saxophone, string quartet
  • Montana Suite (1984) for string quartet
  • Dances from the Sacred Harp (1983) for flute, alto fl. in G, piccolo, clarinet in Bb, piano, violin, viola, cello, percussion
  • Nostos (1982) for flute, alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
  • Stone Quartet (1982) for soprano sax, viola, cello, and piano
  • Cantilena (1981) for flute, soprano sax, or clarinet in Bb and organ
  • Three Dark Paintings (1981) for strings, soprano sax, viola and piano
  • The Death of Narcissus (1980) for piano, strings, and wind ensemble
  • Beowulf Trio (1979) for flute, violin, cello
  • Personae (1978) for cello, bass (in solo tuning)
  • Seven Pollock Paintings (1978) for flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, tam tam, violin, viola, cello, bass

Songs edit

YEAR TITLE INSTRUMENTATION TEXTS PUBLISHER
2006 Four Marian Songs voice, piano William MacDuff Yelton Rhodes Music
2005 Four Xmas Songs voice, piano William MacDuff Yelton Rhodes Music
2003 Four Apart-Songs voice, piano Roger Bourland, William MacDuff, Francisco X. Alarcón, and James Patrick Kelly Yelton Rhodes Music
2003 Four EndSongs voice, piano Emily Dickinson, Thom Gunn, Allen Ginsberg, and Francisco X. Alarcón Yelton Rhodes Music

Keyboard music edit

YEAR TITLE INSTRUMENTATION PUBLISHER
2009 Three Impromptus piano Yelton Rhodes Music
2001 Five Miniatures piano Yelton Rhodes Music
1998 Garlands carillon Yelton Rhodes Music
1990 St. Stephen Counterpoint organ Yelton Rhodes Music
1985 Morning Sonata organ ECS Publishing
1981 Cantilena flute, organ ECS Publishing
1977 Ides, Book 3 piano Yelton Rhodes Music
1975 Ides, Book 2 piano Yelton Rhodes Music
1974 Preludes, Book 1 piano Yelton Rhodes Music
1974 Ides, Book 1 piano Yelton Rhodes Music

Composer for Motion Pictures and TV[17] edit

YEAR TITLE PRODUCTION CO DIRECTOR WRITER DISTRIBUTION CO
2009 INFRARED Steakhaus Productions[18] Mel Shapiro[19] Mel Shapiro[19] Steakhaus Productions[18]
2007 POSSUM DEATH SPREE 3 Atomfilms Studio [20] Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith
2007 POSSUM DEATH SPREE 2 Atomfilms Studio [21] Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith
2007 POSSUM DEATH SPREE 1 Atomfilms Studio [22] Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith
2007 CAGES Imperative Pictures[23] Graham Streeter[24] Graham Streeter[24] Golden Village Entertainment[25]
2003 DOPPELGÄNGER Jason Moskovitz[26] | Jessica Rhoades[27] Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith Michael Horowitz[28]
2000 OUT OF TRUST Loyola Productions, Inc[29] Eddie Siebert[30] Eddie Siebert[30] Loyola Productions, Inc[29]
2000 LUCE, TEMPO, ROMA Cameron McNall[31] Cameron McNall[31] Cameron McNall[31] Cameron McNall[31]
1990 VOICES FROM SANDOVER Peter Hooten[32] Joan Darling[33] James Merrill[34] Washington University Film & Media Archive[35]
1987 NIGHT LIFE Creative Movie Marketing[36] David Acomba[37] Keith Critchlow[38] RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video[39]
1987 WOLF AT THE DOOR (OVIRI) Caméras Continentales[40] Henning Carlsen[41] Christopher Hampton[42] California Pictures[43]
1986 THE TROUBLE WITH DICK Frolix Gary Walkow[44] Gary Walkow[44] Gary Walkow[45]

References edit

  1. ^ ECS Publishing
  2. ^ Associated Music Publishers
  3. ^ Dorn Publications
  4. ^ Yelton Rhodes Music
  5. ^ Top classical music blogs (Blogrank)
  6. ^ UCLA
  7. ^ Leslie Thimmig's biography at the School of Music University of Wisconsin, Madison
  8. ^ Randall Snyder's biography at the School of Music, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
  9. ^ Harvard Dept. of Music
  10. ^ Past winners of ASCAP Foundation Awards to Young Composers
  11. ^ Holland, Bernard (13 October 1985). "MUSIC: COMPOSERS IN RED SNEAKERS (Published 1985)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2017-11-21.
  12. ^ Past winners of UCLA Distinguished Teaching Awards
  13. ^ UCLA Newsroom press release
  14. ^ "Bourland update: July 2019". rogerbourland.com. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  15. ^ ""La Paloma y el Ruiseñor" - Mazatlan's Premier Opera". www.mazatlanmycity.com. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  16. ^ "'Our Town' refashioned as opera". East Bay Times. 2007-08-05. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  17. ^ IMDB entries for Roger Bourland
  18. ^ a b "Steakhaus Productions award-winning independent film production company". www.steakhaus.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  19. ^ a b "Mel Shapiro", Wikipedia, 2019-03-29, retrieved 2019-08-10
  20. ^ TV.com. "Possum Death Spree: Episode 3". TV.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  21. ^ TV.com. "Possum Death Spree: Episode 2". TV.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  22. ^ TV.com. "Possum Death Spree: Episode 1". TV.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  23. ^ "Films". Imperative Pictures. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Graham Streeter", Wikipedia, 2018-10-27, retrieved 2019-08-10
  25. ^ "Golden Village". goldenvillage.com.sg. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  26. ^ "Jason Moskovitz - Contact Info, Agent, Manager | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  27. ^ "Jessica Horowitz". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  28. ^ "Michael Horowitz - StaffMeUp.com". Staff Me Up. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  29. ^ a b "Loyola Productions Inc. | Official Site". Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  30. ^ a b "Walsh Jesuit High School | Distinguished Alumni". walshjesuit.myschoolapp.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  31. ^ a b c d "CINE". Cameron McNall. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  32. ^ "Peter Hooten", Wikipedia, 2018-11-01, retrieved 2019-08-10
  33. ^ "Joan Darling", Wikipedia, 2019-04-30, retrieved 2019-08-10
  34. ^ "James Merrill", Wikipedia, 2019-01-29, retrieved 2019-08-10
  35. ^ "Film & Media Archive | Washington University in St. Louis". Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  36. ^ "Home Page | Sony Pictures Entertainment". www.sonypictures.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  37. ^ "David Acomba", Wikipedia, 2019-06-28, retrieved 2019-08-10
  38. ^ "Keith Critchlow", Wikipedia, 2019-03-17, retrieved 2019-08-10
  39. ^ "RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (Creator)". TV Tropes. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  40. ^ "Caméras Continentales". en.unifrance.org. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  41. ^ "Henning Carlsen", Wikipedia, 2019-06-25, retrieved 2019-08-10
  42. ^ "Christopher Hampton", Wikipedia, 2019-07-11, retrieved 2019-08-10
  43. ^ "California Pictures, Inc., Movie Production Company, Film Development, Distribution, Sales". www.californiapicturesinc.com. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  44. ^ a b "Gary Walkow", Wikipedia, 2019-02-20, retrieved 2019-08-10
  45. ^ "THE TROUBLE WITH DICK (watch online)". Gary Walkow. Retrieved 2019-08-10.

External links edit