CMS Commissions

List of CMS Commissions

1969-70 Season

Carlos Chávez Variations for Violin with Piano

Michael Colgrass New People Seven songs for Mezzo-soprano, Viola and Piano

Darius Milhaud Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano

 

1970-71 Season

Larry Austin Walter, A Film Composition and Theater Piece for Walter Trampler

Luciano Berio Memory for Electronic Piano and Electronic Harpsichord

John Corigliano Poem in October for Tenor, Winds, Strings and Harpsichord

Haruna Miyake-Shibata Six Voices in June for Wind Sextet

William Sydeman Malediction for Tenor, Tape, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello

 

1971-72 Season

Frank Martin Poèmes de la mort for Tenor, Baritone, Bass and Three Electric Guitars

 

1972-73 Season

Pierre Boulez “. . .explosante/fixe. . .” for Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Violin, Viola, Cello, Vibraphone, and Harp

Friedrich Cerha Curriculum for Thirteen Winds

Barbara Kolb Soundings for Chamber Ensemble and Tape

Gian Carlo Menotti Suite for Two Cellos and Piano

 

1973-74 Season

Samuel Barber Three Songs, Op. 45

Alberto Ginastera Serenata on Love Poems of Neruda for Baritone and Chamber Ensemble, Op. 42

Karel Husa Sonata for Violin and Piano

 

1974-75 Season

Earl Kim Earthlight, Romanza for High Soprano, Violin, Piano and Lights

Oliver Knussen Ophelia Dances, Book I, for Winds, Strings, Piano and Celesta, Op. 13

Tiberiu Olah The Time of Memory, for Winds, Strings and Two Pianos

Stanley Silverman Crepuscule in Homage to Django Reinhardt, for Clarinet, Violin, Two Guitars and Bass

 

 

1975-76 Season

Lennox Berkeley Quintet for Winds and Piano, Op. 90

Peter Mennin Voices for Mezzo-soprano, harp, harpsichord, piano and percussion

Lester Trimble Serenade (Panels VII) for Chamber Ensemble

  

1976-77 Season

Alvin Brehm Quarks (up, down and charmed); Baryons; Charmonium and Fugue (a Divertimento) for Flute, Bassoon, Strings and Piano

Betsy Jolas O Wall for Woodwind Quintet

Fred Lerdahl Eros, Variations for Mezzo-soprano and Chamber Ensemble

Gian Carlo Menotti Quintet for Strings and Harp, “Cantilena e Scherzo”

Stanley Silverman Charleston Concerto for Winds, Strings and Piano

 

1977-78 Season 

Harrison Birtwistle Silbury Air for Chamber Orchestra

William Bolcom Quartet for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano

Frank Lewin Variations of Greek Themes for Voice, Flute, Viola, Harp and Piano

  

1978-79 Season 

William Schuman In Sweet Music, Serenade on a Setting of Shakespeare for Voice, Flute, Viola and Harp

  

1979-80 Season

George Crumb Celestial Mechanics (Makrokosmos IV) Cosmic Dances for amplified piano, four hands

George Rochberg Octet, A Grand Fantasia for Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass and Piano

Gunther Schuller Octet for Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Two Violins, Viola, Cello and Bass

 

1980-81 Season

William Bergsma The Voice of the Coelacanth, Rhapsodic Variations for Horn, Violin and Piano 

Paul Alan Levi Elegy and Recreations for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano

Joseph Schwantner Through Interior Worlds for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano

 

1981-82 Season

Chick Corea Septet for Winds, Strings and Piano

Lukas Foss Solo Observed for Piano Solo, Cello, Electric Organ and Vibraphone

Morton Gould Suite for Cello and Piano

Ned Rorem Winter Pages for Clarinet, Bassoon, Violin, Cello, and Piano

  

1982-83 Season

William Bland Quartet for Flute, Clarinet, Violin and Piano

Gian Carlo Menotti Nocturne for Soprano, String Quartet and Harp

 

1983-84 Season

George Tsontakis Quartet for Strings, “Emerson”

 

1984-85 Season

John Harbison Twilight Music for Horn, Violin and Piano

John McCabe Rainforest for Chamber Ensemble

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Double Quartet for Strings

 

1985-86 Season

Keith Jarrett Sacred Ground (for the American Indian) for Flute, Clarinet, Cello and Piano

William Thomas McKinley Sonata for Viola and Piano

David Del Tredici Haddocks' Eyes for soprano-narrator and ten instruments

 

1986-87 Season

Carla Bley Coppertone for Winds, Strings, Piano and Percussion

Tobias Picker Keys to the City, Chamber Version for Winds, String Quartet and Piano

William Schuman Dances, Divertimento for Wind Quintet and Percussion

  

1987-88 Season

Tobias Picker Quartet for Strings with Bass

Shulamit Ran Concerto da Camera II for Clarinet, String Quartet and Piano

Gunther Schuller Chimeric Images for Chamber Ensemble

 

1988-89 Season

Christine Berl Dark Summer for Mezzo-soprano, String Trio and Piano

Richard Danielpour Quintet for Strings and Piano

George Perle Sextet for Winds and Piano

Ned Rorem Fanfare and Flourish for Organ and Brass

Peter Schickele Serenade for Six for Bassoon, Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass and Piano

Charles Wuorinen Sextet for Strings

  

1989-90 Season

Stephen Albert Distant Hills Coming Nigh, Two Arias from James Joyce for Soprano, Tenor and Chamber Ensemble

Gunther Schuller Impromptus and Cadenzas for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Violin and Cello

 

1990-91 Season

Ronald Caltabiano Quilt Panels for Clarinet, Horn, String Trio, and Piano

Joseph Turrin Riffs and Fanfares for Violin, Viola, Cello, Clarinet, Horn, and Piano

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet

  

1991-92 Season

Bruce Adolphe At the Still Point, There the Dance Is for clarinet and string quartet

Oliver Knussen Songs without Voices four pieces for eight instrumentalists, Op. 26

Henri Lazarof Divertimento II for Clarinet, Horn, String Trio and Piano

 

1992-93 Season

Richard Danielpour Sonnets to Orpheus for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble

Dan Coleman Prelude Five Flights Up for Clarinet Quintet 

Eun-Kyung Kim Prelude for String Quartet

Eric Samuelson Prelude Taipei Tango, for Wind Sextet

David Schiff Solus Rex for Bass Trombone and Chamber Ensemble

Gian Andrea Tabacchi Sprintvorspiel for Brass Quintet

Naoyuki Takano Prelude for String Quartet

 

1993-94 Season

John Corigliano Fanfares to Music for Brass Ensemble

Bright Sheng Concertino for Clarinet and String Quartet

Charles Wuorinen A Winter's Tale for Soprano, Clarinet, Horn, String Trio and Piano 

 

1994-95 Season

Bruce Adolphe Marita and Her Heart's Desire, A Chamber Music Fairy Tale (CMS Co-Commission)

Wynton Marsalis At the Octoroon Balls for String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission)

Ned Rorem Songs of Sadness for Baritone, Guitar, Clarinet and Cello (CMS Co-Commission)

Joan Tower Turning Points for clarinet and string quartet (CMS Co-Commission)

 

1995-96 Season

John Corigliano Soliloquy for Clarinet and String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission)

Kenneth Frazelle Quintet for Flute, Guitar, and String Trio

Edgar Meyer Trout Variations for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass (CMS Co-Commission)

Alvin Singleton Sing to the Sun for Narrator, Choir, Oboe, Clarinet, Viola, Piano and Percussion (CMS Co-Commission)

 

1996-97 Season

Bruce Adolphe Grace Notes for soprano, clarinet, cello, piano and percussion

Jacob Druckman Counterpoise for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble

Stephen Paulus Dramatic Suite for Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano

George Perle Duos for Horn and String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission)

Christopher Rouse Compline for Flute, Clarinet, Harp, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission)

  

1997-98 Season

Stephen Hartke The Horse with the Lavender Eye Episodes for Clarinet, Violin and Piano 

Henri Lazarof Quintet for Strings

Wynton Marsalis A Fiddler's Tale for Narrator and Chamber Ensemble

Peter Schickele Suite from The Rivals for Mezzo-soprano, Baritone and Six (CMS Co-Commission)

Judith Weir Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano

 

1998-99 Season

Elliott Carter Quintet for piano and string quartet

Tobias Picker Suite for Cello and Piano 

George Rochberg Eden Out of Time and Out of Space, Chamber Concerto for Guitar and Ensemble (CMS Co-Commission)

  

1999-00 Season

Derek Bermel Soul Garden for Solo Viola and String Quintet (CMS Co-Commission)

Jake Heggie Songs to the Moon

 

2000-01 Season

Bruce Adolphe A Thousand Years of Love, song cycle for soprano and piano

Paul Lansky Ride

Aaron Jay Kernis Trio in Red for Clarinet in A, Cello, and Piano (CMS Co-Commission)

Steven Mackey Ars Moriendi (The Art of Dying Well) 

Edgar Meyer Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Contrabass (CMS Co-Commission)

Carman Moore The Mystery of Tao for Violin, Viola, Cello and Synthesizer

 

2001-02 Season

Bruce Adolphe Tough Turkey in the Big City

Lucia Dlugoszewski Excerpt from Duende Quidditas for Bass Trombone and Piano

Lukas Foss String Quartet No. 5

Bill T. Jones VERBUM

Bill T. Jones WORLDWITHOUT/IN

Bill T. Jones BLACK SUZANNE (CMS Co-Commission)

Bill T. Jones D-MAN IN THE WATERS 

Bill T. Jones WORLD II

Ned Rorem Another Sleep for Baritone and Piano

  

2002-03 Season

Bruce Adolphe Memories of a Possible Future for piano and string quartet (CMS Co-Commission)

Lee Hyla At Suma Beach

Libby Larsen A word from your Jenny...

John Tavener Iero Oniro

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Clarinet Concerto 

 

2003-04 Season

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh Sabah (CMS Co-Commission)

Yi Chen Chinese Ancient Dance Suite for Clarinet and Piano (CMS Co-Commission) 

Yi Chen Night Thoughts (CMS Co-Commission)

Philip Glass Music from The Sound of a Voice in five movements

Joan Panetti Quintet for Strings and Piano “In a Dark Time, the Eye Begins to See” (CMS Co-Commission)

 

2004-05 Season

Lalo Schifrin Letters from Argentina (CMS Co-Commission)

Melinda Wagner Four Settings for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Bass, and Piano

 

2005-06 Season

Michael Daugherty Ladder to the Moon for Solo Violin, Wind Octet, Double Bass, and Percussion

 

2006-07 Season 

Leon Kirchner Quartet No. 4 for Strings (CMS Co-Commission)

Bright Sheng My Other Song for Solo Piano 

 

2007-08 Season

Bruce Adolphe Crossing Broadway for Chamber Ensemble (Co-Commission)

Mario Davidovsky Septet for Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass

Edgar Meyer Serenade for Double Bass and Wind Octet

Roberto Sierra Songs from the Diaspora for Soprano, Piano, and String Quartet

Alan Smith Vignettes Covered Wagon Woman (from the Daily Journal of Margaret Ann Alsip Frink, 1850) for Mezzo-Soprano, Piano, Violin, and Cello

Joan Tower Simply Purple for Viola Solo

Joan Tower Trio Cavany for Piano, Violin, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission) 

 

2008-09 Season

William Bolcom Octet for Strings 

William Bolcom Shakyamuni for Flute, Clarinet, String Quintet, Piano, and Percussion (CMS Co-Commission)

George Tsontakis AnTHem 

 

2009-10 Season

David Bruce The North Wind was a Woman for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble (CMS Co-Commission)

Paul Schoenfield Sonata for Violin and Piano (CMS Co-Commission)

Jukka Tiensuu Nous for Piano, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission)

David Del Tredici Magyar Madness for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello

 

2010-11 Season

Lera Auerbach Seraphim Canticles, Sextet for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Two Cellos

Steven Stucky Allegretto quasi Andantino (Schubert Dream) for Piano, Four Hands

 

2011-12 Season

John Harbison Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano

Pierre Jalbert Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (CMS Co-Commission)

André Previn Trio No. 2 for Piano, Violin, and Cello

 

2012-13 Season

Mark Adamo Aristotle for Voice and String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission) 

Sebastian Currier Parallel Worlds for Flute, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello

Shulamit Ran Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory, Quartet No. 3 for Strings (CMS Co-Commission)

Einojuhani Rautavaara Variations for Five, Quintet No. 2 for Two Violins, Viola, and Two Cellos (CMS Co-Commission)

Huw Watkins Blue Shadows Fall for Cello and Piano (CMS Co-Commission) 

Long Zhou Tales from the Nine Bells for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, and Piano (CMS Co-Commission)

  

2014-15 Season

Derek Bermel Death with Interruptions for Piano, Violin, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission)

Perry Goldstein “...shreds and patches...” for Piano

Helen Grime Aviary Sketches (after Joseph Cornell) for Violin, Viola, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission) 

David Philip Hefti Monumentum—Music for String Sextet (CMS Co-Commission)

Lowell Liebermann Quartet No. 5 for Strings, Op. 126 (CMS Co-Commission)

Sheila Silver Nocturne, Based on Raga Jog for Piano

 

2015-16 Season

Paul Lansky The Long and Short of It for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn (CMS Co-Commission)

Wolfgang Rihm Sextet for Clarinet, Horn, and Strings (CMS Co-Commission)

Joan Tower Purple Rush for Viola

 

2016-17 Season 

Jonathan Berger Rime Sparse for Soprano, Violin, Cello, and Piano (CMS Co-Commission)

Joseph Hallman short stories for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano

Mark-Anthony Turnage Shroud for String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission)

 

2017-18 Season

John Luther Adams there is no one, not even the wind for Two Flutes, Two Percussionists, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass

Vivian Fung Clarinet Quintet Frenetic Memories for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission)

Sebastian Currier Etude 1 Dynamics and Lullaby 5 Lulling from Etudes and Lullabies for String Quartet 

Huw Watkins Quintet for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission)

 

2018-19 Season

Anthony Cheung All Roads for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello

George Crumb KRONOS-KRYPTOS for Percussion Quintet

Brett Dean Seven Signals for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (CMS Co-Commission)

James MacMillan New Work for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello (CMS Co-Commission)

Mark-Anthony Turnage Massarosa for Bassoon, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello

  

2019-20 Season 

Bruce Adolphe Are There Not a Thousand Forms of Sorrow for Two Violins, Viola, and Two Cellos

Anna Clyne Breathing Statues for String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission)

Alexandra du Bois Heron. Rain. Blossom. for Flute, Clarinet, Viola, and Cello

John Harbison IF for Soprano and Ensemble (CMS Co-Commission)

Lowell Liebermann Sonata No. 5 for Cello and Piano, Op. 136

 

2022-23 Season

Julia Adolphe Etched in Smoke and Light for Piano, Violin, and Cello

Zosha Di Castri Hypha 5 Miniatures for Suzanne Simard for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano

Eric Nathan My Grandfather Played the Piano for Piano

 

2023-24 Season 

Wang Jie Blame the Obituary for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano, and Narrator

David Ludwig Trio No. 4 for Piano, Violin, and Cello, “Hashkiveinu” (CMS Co-Commission)

Jessie Montgomery Musings for Two Violins (CMS Co-Commission)

  

2024-25 Season

Elise Arancio Rookery for Flute, Piano, Percussion, and Electronics

Sebastian Currier Ongoingness for Harp and String Quartet

Stephen Hough Piano Quintet (Les Noces Rouges)

Pierre Jalbert Equilibrium for Clarinet and String Quartet