composition as explanation (2020) 60'
flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello
eighth blackbird
Works
Percussion
anatomy theater (2016) 75'
Mezzo,Ten,Bar,Bass, fl(picc),cl(bcl),tpt,perc,pf(acc),vn,va,vc,db
simple song #3 – arr. chamber ensemble (2015) 6'
soprano, solo violin, 1.1.0.0/1.0.0.0/1 perc/1 timp/hp or pno/optional synth/1.1.1.1.1
Indigo Films
simple song #3 – arr. piano trio (2015) 6'
soprano, piano, violin, cello
Indigo Films
Cloud River Mountain (2015, rev. 2017) 32'
music by Michael Gordon, David Lang, Julia Wolfe and Lau Luo
soprano, cl, perc, egtr, piano, vc, db
commissioned by Maria and Robert A. Skirnick and Arts Brookfield
hammerspace (2014, rev. 2023) 3'
a collection of small pieces for cartoons
solo trumpet
Commissioned by Kunststiftung NRW, Philharmonie Essen, HELLERAU Europäisches Zentrum der Künste Dresden, and Ensemble Musikfabrik
just (after song of songs) (2014) 13'
SSA + perc, vla, vc
Louth Contemporary Music Society
man made (2013, rev. 2017) 22'
percussion quartet concerto 2(1pic).2.2(1bcl).2(1cbn)/4.3.2(1btbn).1/3perc.timp/hp.pno/str
Barbican Centre and Los Angeles Philharmonic
the whisper opera (2013) 60'
text by David Lang
soprano; flute, clarinet, percussion, cello
International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
man made (2013, rev. 2017) 22'
arr. chamber orchestra
percussion quartet concerto 1+picc.2.2.1+cbn/3.2.2.1/3perc.timp.hp.pno/strings
Barbican Centre and Los Angeles Philharmonic
love fail (2012) 60'
Text by David Lang (after Lydia Davis, Marie de France, Gottfried von Strassburg, Béroul, Thomas of Britain and Richard Wagner)
SSAA playing simple percussion instruments
love fail was co-commissioned by The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2012 Next Wave Festival, The International Festival of Arts & Ideas, The John F. Kennedy Center Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, The Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, The Secrest Artists Series at Wake Forest University, and Hancher Performances at the University of Iowa. Movement 4, 'the wood and the vine', was commissioned by The Newman Center for the Performing Arts at University of Denver, The University of California at Riverside, and the Santa Fe Concert Association in Santa FE, NM. Movement 10, 'I live in pain', in a different version, was originally written for “TheCrossing,” Donald Nally, conductor.
love fail – arr. female chorus (2012, rev. 2016) 60'
Text by David Lang (after Lydia Davis, Marie de France, Gottfried von Strassburg, Béroul, Thomas of Britain and Richard Wagner)
SSAA chorus (or 8 solo women singers) playing simple percussion instruments
The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2012 Next Wave Festival, The International Festival of Arts & Ideas, The John F. Kennedy Center Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, The Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, The Wake Forest University / Secrest Artists Series, and Hancher Performances at the University of Iowa
involuntary (2011) 4'
2 piccolos, 2 trumpets in C, 1 drummer
St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, for the opening of the DiMenna Center for Classical Music
stuttered chant (2011) 4'
cello and percussion, in unison
for Maya Beiser and Evelyn Glennie
the woodmans: music from the film (2011) 35'
Scott Willis, director
David Lang, composer
C. Scott Films
battle hymns (2009) 50'
Text by David Lang (after Sullivan Ballou, Stephen Foster and Abraham Lincoln)
large chorus, plus one snare drum
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and Leah Stein Dance Company
forced march (2008) 10'
fl, bcl, tbn, pno, perc, egtr, vln,va,vc,db; amp
the Crash Ensemble
these broken wings (2008) 16'
fl/pc,cl/bcl,pf,vn,vc,perc
Eighth Blackbird
table of contents (2008) 8'
percussion duo
a percussion consortium (The Meehan/Perkins Duo – Doug Perkins and Todd Meehan, The Coalescence Duo – Judy Moonert and Greg Scour, Matthew McClung and Lisa Nicol, and Greg Beyer, Michael Correa, Matthew Duvall, Hunter/Gatherer – Ian Antonio and Russell Greenberg, and Yu Chun Kuo)
lend/lease (2008) 3'
piccolo and percussion
London Sinfonietta
pierced (2007) 15'
solo cello, solo piano, solo percussion, strings
Real Quiet
the little match girl passion (2007) 35'
Text by David Lang (after H.C. Andersen, H.P. Paulli, Picander and Saint Matthew)
4 voices (SATB) each playing simple percussion
Carnegie Hall Corporation and The Perth Theater and Concert Hall for Paul Hillier and Theatre of Voices
string of pearls (2006) 9'
solo marimba
a marimba consortium (Thomas Burritt and the University of Texas Percussion Program, Michael Burritt, David Cossin, Joseph Gramley, Eduardo Leandro, Todd Meehan, William Moersch, Doug Perkins, Steven Schick, Adam Sliwinski, Robert Van Sice)
o isis and osiris (2005) 4'
2 hn, 2 tpt, 3 tbn, timp
Mannheim Opera
loud love songs (2004) 18'
percussion concerto 1,2,2,2/2111/timp,3perc,pf/str
the Eos Orchestra for Evelyn Glennie
the so-called laws of nature (2002) 32'
percussion quartet
So Percussion
how to pray – for chamber ensemble (2002) 9'
vc, pno, rock organ, e gtr, drums
Audrey Riley
child (2001) 42'
my very empty mouth, sweet air, short fall, stick figure, and little eye
fl(pic),cl(bcl),perc,vn,va,vc,pf
stick figure (2001) 10'
cl,pf,vc, perc and 1 or 2 non-percussionists
short fall (2000) 4'
picc,pf,vn,vc
Pearls Before Swine Experience
little eye (1999) 7'
cello and four non-percussionists
Nuova Consonanza for Alter Ego
miracle ear (1996) 4'
toy piano and metal pipes; for one player - who may be either a toy pianist or a percussionist
commissioned for recording by Margaret Leng Tan
Born to be Wild – arr. Lang (1994) 3'
percussion
my evil twin (1992) 11'
0.0.3.0/2.0.0.0/hp.eorg.eb.perc/2va.2vc
the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
dance/drop (1987, rev. 1997) 11'
bn,bar sax,pf,syn,perc (also available for fl,bcl,pf,vn,vc,perc)
Sound Pressure
spud (1986) 10'
fl,ob,cl(bcl),hn,timp,vn,va,vc,db
the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
hammer amour (1978, rev. 1989) 10'
pf solo, 2 fl, 2 cl, 2 hn, tpt, tbn, perc