| A Treeful of Monkeys
for Narrator and Orchestra (or Mixed Quintet)
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Duration: c. 7½'
Based on the African folk tale that inspired "Caps For Sale."
INSTRUMENTATION: Narrator, 1(=Picc)111 1110, Harp, 1-2 Perc, Strings
QUINTET SCORING: Narrator, Clarinet, Horn, Violin, Percussion, and Piano
COMMISSIONED (for Narrator and Mixed Quintet) by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its Sound All Around series, May 2015.
ORCHESTRAL VERSION is available for premiere.
YOUTUBE of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Sound All Around ensemble.
View the complete orchestral score
View the complete quintet score
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Billy and the Carnival: A Children's Guide to Musical Instruments
for Narrator and Orchestra
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Duration: c. 14'
Narrated guide to instruments based on an original story - a boy goes to his
local park and is surprised to meet musicians coming to a concert there. As he
meets musicians they play their instruments, so demonstrations of each
instrument fit the story.
INSTRUMENTATION: Narrator, 2(2nd dbl.Picc)222 2210 2-3Perc Strings
COMMISSIONED and PREMIERED by Sacramento Symphony (26 performances)
PERFORMANCES INCLUDE the Pittsburgh Symphony.
AVAILABLE on rental from Theodore Presser Company.
RECORDED on Bridge Records by Symphony In C conducted by Rossen Milanov, featuring Ukee Washington as narrator.
YOUTUBE of the Bridge Records CD
PROGRAM NOTES
View the complete orchestra score
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Blast Off!
for Narrator and Orchestra
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Duration: c. 9½'
Travelogue of a child's journey to outer space - episodes feature various
sections of the orchestra to add music educational value.
INSTRUMENTATION: 2(Picc)2(EH)22(Cbn)-4331 Timp 3Perc Hp Strings
COMMISSIONED by Lockheed Martin and the Haddonfield
Symphony for NASA Astronaut Kenneth Reightler, Jr. to narrate the PREMIERE,
Daniel Hege conducting.
PERFORMANCES also include Philadelphia Orchestra and many others.
SCORE LAUNCHED INTO SPACE on the 100th Space Shuttle!
TEACHING/CURRICULUM USE: Serves as a story-based introduction to the
characteristic sounds of each family of orchestra instruments. Also ties
in with interdisciplinary learning. Story is approved by NASA Astronauts!
FEATURED on League of American Orchestra's www.playmusic.org
educational website.
AVAILABLE on
rental from Theodore Presser Company.
RECORDED on Bridge Records by Symphony In C conducted by Rossen Milanov, featuring Ukee Washington as narrator.
YOUTUBE of the Bridge Records CD
PROGRAM NOTES
View the complete orchestra score
|
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Goldilocks and the Three Bears
for Narrator and Orchestra
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Duration: c. 8'
A
traditional telling that highlights small-medium-large contrasts and
varying repetitions in the story; at the end Goldilocks apologizes for her
actions and cooks the bears' first-ever pancake breakfast.
INSTRUMENTATION: Narrator, 1111 111(Bass)0 1-2Perc Hp Strings
ALSO AVAILABLE for Narrator and Octet: Flute, Clarinet, Bass Trombone, Harp, 1 Percussion, Violin, Cello, and Bass
COMMISSIONED (as an octet) by the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association.
OCTET PREMIERED by the Minnesota Orchestra's Kinder Konzerts with 51 performances in 2000-2001, encored for 50 performances in 2006-07.
ORCHESTRAL PREMIERE by the Susquehanna Symphony conducted by Sheldon Bair, December 2001.
Subsequent performances include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Parlance Chamber Concerts, and Rochester Philharmonic.
TEACHING/CURRICULUM USE: Serves as a story-based way to introduce
variations on recurring patterns, and to show the correlation between
small-medium-large and high-medium-low sounds.
AVAILABLE on rental from Theodore Presser Company; score available for sale.
RECORDED on Bridge Records (octet version) by Symphony In C conducted by Rossen Milanov, featuring
Ann Crumb as narrator.
YOUTUBE of the Bridge Records CD
PROGRAM NOTES
View the complete octet score
View the complete orchestra score
|
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Old
MacDonald Had an Orchestra
for Narrator with Oboe, Trombone,
Percussion, Cello, and Piano |
Duration: c. 6'
Old MacDonald enjoyed those sounds on his farm so much that he got himself an
orchestra. Using the familiar song, young listeners learn what each
instrument sounds like and also hear variations on the song.
COMMISSIONED by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its Sound All Around series,
May 2013.
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Take the Orchestra Out to the Ballgame
for Narrator with Orchestra (or Mixed Quintet)
|
Duration: c. 5'
Through musical and mood variations on "Take Me Out to the Ballgame,"
the narrator tells a story of your local orchestra's baseball team playing
against the nearest professional team.
QUINTET VERSION: English Horn, Trumpet, Percussion, Bass, and
Piano
COMMISSIONED by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its Sound All Around series, March 2003.
OTHER QUINTET PERFORMANCES include Aspen Music Festival.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
TEACHING/CURRICULUM USE: Introduces "variations" by using a
familiar theme transformed through various moods, and featuring
characteristic instrumental solos on the melody.
ORCHESTRA VERSION
INSTRUMENTATION: 1(Picc)111 1110 1Perc Strings.
AVAILABLE on rental from Theodore
Presser Company; score available for sale.
PREMIERE of orchestra version by Brazos Valley Symphony, January 23,
2012, Marcelo Bussiki conducting.
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The Adventures of
Mary's Little Lamb for Narrator and Mixed Quintet
|
Duration: c. 3½'
Through
musical and mood variations on "Mary Had a Little Lamb," the
narrator tells a story about Mary's little lamb, introducing the concept
of variations on a familiar theme to young listeners.
QUINTET VERSION A: Contrabassoon, Horn, Violin, Viola, and Piano
COMMISSIONED by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its Sound All Around series, May 2002.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
QUINTET VERSION B: Bassoon,
Trombone, Violin, Percussion, and Piano
COMMISSIONED by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its Sound All Around series, April 2006.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
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|
The Bear Went Under the Mountain
for Narrator
with Flute/Piccolo, Bass Trombone, Cello, Percussion, and Piano |
Duration: c. 5'
Through
musical and mood variations on "The Bear Went Over the Mountain," the
narrator tells a story with a twist on the familiar song, introducing the concept
of variations on a familiar theme to young listeners.
COMMISSIONED by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its Sound All Around series, April 2004.
PERFORMANCES also include the Aspen Music Festival.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
|
2010 performance at Aspen Music Festival
all-Dorff children's concert
|
| The Three Little Pigs
for Narrator, Violin, and Cello |
Duration: c. 10½'
The
familiar story is told with lots of special effects, and with leitmotives
identifying each of the pigs and the wolf, to illustrate variations on
recurring patterns. A perfect story for illustrating variations on a
theme.
COMMISSIONED by the American Composers Forum community partnerships for the Auricolae ensemble
and Strings in the Schools.
PERFORMANCES have included outreach programs of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or
direct from Presser.
RECORDED on New
Focus Recordings by the Auricolae ensemble.
PROGRAM NOTES
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The Tortoise and the Hare
for Narrator and Orchestra (or Mixed Octet)
|
Duration: c. 5½'
A comical telling of the Aesop fable, featuring Contrabassoon and Clarinet as the Tortoise and the Hare. Themes are exaggeratedly low/slow and high/fast to illustrate contrasts in music.
This is a stand-alone movement taken from Three Fun Fables (see below).
OCTET VERSION:
Clarinet, Contrabassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Bass, Percussion, Harp
COMMISSIONED by the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association for Kinder Konzerts.
PREMIERED with 52 performances in the 1996-97 season; encored for 50 performances
in the 2003-04 season, and another 48 in the 2010-11 season.
OCTET PERFORMANCES also include the Chicago Pro Musica, Aspen Music Festival, and Parlance
Chamber Concerts (members of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra).
AVAILABLE on rental from Lauren Keiser (Southern) Music.
TEACHING/CURRICULUM USE: A very clear illustration of "opposites" in music, making clear contrasts between the low and
slow tortoise (contrabassoon) and high, fast hare (clarinet). Frequently
used for this purpose in educational concerts.
RECORDED on Bridge Records by Symphony In C conducted by Rossen Milanov, featuring Ann
Crumb as narrator.
Instrumentation makes this a perfect companion for L'Histoire du
Soldat performances.
YOUTUBE of the Bridge CD (octet scoring)
PROGRAM NOTES
ORCHESTRA VERSION
INSTRUMENTATION: 1112(Cbn) 1110 Hp 1-2 Perc Strings
PREMIERED by Haddonfield Symphony featuring Olympic track star Carl Lewis as narrator,
conducted by Daniel Hege.
PERFORMANCES include Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony (over 30
performances), Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and many others.
AVAILABLE on rental from Lauren Keiser (Southern) Music.
AUDIO EXCERPT from Carl Lewis's premiere with the Haddonfield Symphony
PROGRAM NOTES
|
Daniel Dorff shaking hands
with Olympic
track star Carl Lewis, narrator for the
orchestral premiere of The Tortoise and the Hare
CD includes:
BILLY AND THE CARNIVAL
BLAST OFF!
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
THREE FUN FABLES
|
| Three Fun Fables
for Narrator and Orchestra (or Mixed Octet)
|
Duration: c. 11'
Each character is portrayed by an instrument, allowing for pre-concert illustrations to help instrument recognition, musical contrasts, and familiarity with the story and music.
1. The Fox and the Crow (features Trumpet and Bass)
2. The Dog and His Reflection (features Trombone and Violin/Harp/Percussion)
3. The Tortoise and the Hare (features Contrabassoon and Clarinet)
OCTET VERSION:
Clarinet, Contrabassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Bass, Percussion, Harp
COMMISSIONED by the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer
Association for Kinder Konzerts.
PREMIERED by the Minnesota Orchestra's Kinder Konzerts with 52 performances in the 1996-97 season; encored for 50 performances
in the 2003-04 season, and another 48 in the 2010-11 season.
OCTET PERFORMANCES also include the Chicago Pro Musica, Aspen Music
Festival, and Parlance
Chamber Concerts (members of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra).
AVAILABLE on rental from Lauren Keiser Music.
TEACHING/CURRICULUM USE: Three familiar stories use humor, irony, and
contrast, to illustrate "opposites" in music, and introduce
characteristic sounds and moods of the instruments.
RECORDED on Bridge Records by Symphony In C conducted by Rossen Milanov, featuring Ann
Crumb as narrator9.
Instrumentation makes this a perfect companion for L'Histoire du
Soldat performances.
YOUTUBE of The Fox and the Crow
YOUTUBE of The Dog and his Reflection
YOUTUBE of The Tortoise and the Hare
PROGRAM NOTES
"The
hit of the show... more fun for adults than children"
–
Donald Peck, principal flute Chicago Symphony, April 19, 2001
ORCHESTRA VERSION
INSTRUMENTATION: 1112(Cbn) 1110 Hp 1-2Perc Strings.
COMMISSIONED by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
PREMIERED by the Philadelphia Orchestra April 29, 2000 with Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting, Susan Spafford narrating.
AVAILABLE on rental from Lauren Keiser Music.
"I was very pleased to have the opportunity to conduct this work in a Philadelphia
Orchestra Family Concert in April of 2000. Mr. Dorff's work is exciting, engaging, and funny for the children, as well as containing some very good learning experiences from the wonderful
Aesop's fables. It is very skillfully written for the orchestra, and uses the instruments in a most effective way. I can recommend this work with great enthusiasm for a Family or Children's Concert."
– Wolfgang Sawallisch, Music Director, Philadelphia Orchestra
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Letter from Philadelphia
Orchestra's Music Director
Wolfgang Sawallisch following his premiere of
the orchestral version of Three Fun Fables
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| Trees (after the poem by Joyce
Kilmer) for
solo Flute with narration |
| Duration: c. 5'
COMPOSED for Tiffany Holmes
PREMIERED by Tiffany Holmes flute and Cindy Anne Broz narrator, February 2009, Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair, Reston VA.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
YOUTUBE
Performance by Bonnie Cochran, videography by Brian Terranova
PROGRAM NOTES
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| INSTRUMENTAL |
|
|
Philly Rhapsody
for Orchestra
|
Duration: c. 11'
Homage to The Sound of Philadelphia (Philly International Records' rhythm &
blues style) and "The Philadelphia Sound" of the Philadelphia
Orchestra, as a hybrid of these two traditions.
INSTRUMENTATION: 3(Picc)23(Bcl)2 4331 Pno Hp DrumSet
3Perc (no Timp) Strings
[Ob2, Bn2, Hns3-4 may be omitted].
COMMISSIONED by Network for New Music for Philadelphia's Creative and Performing Arts H.S.
View the complete score
| |
| Allegro Volante
for Solo Xylophone and
Orchestra (or with Band or Piano) |
Duration: c. 4½'
A dazzling showpiece in the style of a Russian galop, with
jazzy American harmonies; Movement 3 from Concerto for Solo Percussion and
Orchestra.
INSTRUMENTATION: 2(Picc)222 4331 Timp 3Perc Hp Strings
PREMIERED by Alan Gilbert conducting the
Haddonfield Symphony (now Symphony in C); Dean Witten solo xylophone.
Available on rental from Theodore Presser Company.
AUDIO
EXCERPT from the premiere
PROGRAM
NOTES
View the complete orchestra score (Mvt. 3 begins at page 66)
"An entertaining piece, exceptionally well
received by the audience."
– Penn Sounds (Sigal), Winter 1993.
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Concerto for Contrabassoon
with Clarinet, Horn, and Strings
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Duration: c. 13'
Excerpts have been used at youth concerts by the Louisville Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, and other ensembles.
COMMISSIONED by the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia for contrabassoonist Norman Spielberg.
PREMIERED November 3, 1991 by Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Norman Spielberg contrabassoon; James Freeman guest conductor.
PERFORMANCES include the 2010 IDRS Convention orchestra gala; Colorado Symphony; Louisville Orchestra, and many others.
Orchestral parts are available on rental from Presser.
AUDIO EXCERPTS: Roger Soren's performance with the Haddonfield Symphony, conducted by Daniel Hege:
from Mvt. 1
from Mvt. 2
from Mvt. 3
PROGRAM NOTES
View the complete orchestra score
"Repertory for the contrabassoon has been significantly enhanced of late by the addition of concertos by Daniel Dorff..."
–MLA Notes (Christopher Weait), December 1993.
"An excellent new concerto... in a very listenable and audience-appealing style. Dorff has written a number of fine compositions and has crafted here an excellent new work for the contrabassoonist."
–The Double Reed (Ron Klimko), Spring 1993.
"(The concert) was jammed with people who were obviously pleased they were there. A local composer with a growing international reputation presented a world premiere that deserved the response the audience gave it.
– Philadelphia Welcomat (Purdom), November 13, 1991.
"This is a work that could effectively introduce the rarely heard solo contrabassoon to audiences of any age or experience. It has the happy characteristic of being easily understood. Performers will appreciate its professionally clear notation and effective orchestration."
–MLA Notes (Christopher Weait), March 1995.
"I'm sure all contrabassoon players will treasure this addition to their ... repertoire."
–Sol Schoenbach, former principal Bassoon, Philadelphia Orchestra
|
Daniel Hege, Daniel Dorff, Roger Soren
following their Haddonfield Symphony performance.
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| Summer Solstice
for Clarinet and
String Orchestra, Movement 3 jazz waltz
|
Duration of Mvt. 3: c. 5'
This final movement stands on its own as a jazz waltz,
ideal for teen and youth concerts.
PERFORMANCES have also included the Chicago Symphony's John
Yeh, and Colorado
Symphony's Bil Jackson in Colorado's "Up Close and Musical" youth concerts.
AVAILABLE (clarinet with piano reduction) from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
(Orchestra score and parts on rental.)
AUDIO EXCERPT: John Yeh with the Haddonfield Symphony, conducted by Alan Gilbert
PROGRAM NOTES
|
John Yeh and Alan Gilbert applauding the composer
after their performance.
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| Sunburst
for Solo Violin with
String Orchestra
|
|
Duration: c. 3'
COMMISSIONED and PREMIERED by the Colorado Symphony's Up Close and
Musical series for 20-30 performances (1998-2000 seasons), to demonstrate sounds
and colors of the violin.
PERFORMANCES include Nashville Symphony
AVAILABLE on rental from Theodore Presser Company.
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OPERA
FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
|
Stone Soup: An Operatic Fable in One Act
for SATB Soloists, optional Chorus, and Piano (or Chamber Orchestra)
|
Duration: c. 35'
A light-hearted comical
interpretation of the fable, in which a Solider (T.) is hungry and lost, but
with the help of children and Mayor (A.), he convinces the Vegetable Lady (S.)
and Butcher (B.) to contribute food to his soup. The musical refrain "It Takes
All Kinds of People to Make Up a Happy Town" is echoed by the story's use of all kinds of food to make
the most delicious Stone Soup, and to celebrate community and diversity.
INSTRUMENTATION: 1111-1110 Pno Hp 1Perc Strings (may be solo or
section)
COMMISSIONED by Young Audiences' Philadelphia chapter for ongoing in-school visits — continuous run for 20 seasons, over 1000 performances.
ALSO PERFORMED by the Atlanta Opera 50 times, 2012-13 season.
AVAILABLE (piano-vocal score) from your favorite sheet music dealer or direct from Presser.
(Orchestral version on rental from Presser.)
PROGRAM
NOTES and SYNOPSIS
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Scenes
from The Atlanta Opera 2012-13 production
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last updated February 5, 2023
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