Ken Benshoof

Composer

A Selected List of Works by Ken Benshoof

Compositions:

6 Diversions for Violin and Piano (2005)
Premiere: 2005 Karl-Ove Mannberg, Violin; Lisa Bergman, Piano  at Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle

Swing Low for string quartet (2004)
Commissioned by the Saint Helens String Quartet
Premiere: 2004, Saint Helens String Quartet at the Benaroya Recital Hall, Seattle, WA

24 PRELUDES for piano (2004) 

SANTA BARBARA MUSIC for string quartet, clarinet and piano (2003) 
Premiere: Resident Musicians at Santa Barbara Chamber Music Festival 

TIMELESS for piccolo and piano (1999) 
Commissioned by John Hunter 

RAMBLIN' for oboe, viola, tenor sax, french horn, piano, bass and drums (1999) 
 Premiere: 1999, Marc Seales and ensemble at Meany Theater, Seattle, WA

IN SHADOW, LIGHT for piccolo, violin, viola and 'cello (1997)
Commissioned by Zart Dombourian-Eby 
Premiere:  1997, Zart Dombourian-Eby and ensemble at The American Flute Society meeting Chicago, IL  


MARIO, DREAMING for string quartet (1997)
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet
Premiere:  1998, Kronos Quartet 25th Anniversary Tour at the Seattle Opera House, Seattle, WA

Untitled, 35 minute structured improvisation for amplified violin, 'cello, synthesizer and hand drums (1996)
Premiere:  1996, Ella Gray-violin, Walter Gray-'cello, Ken Benshoof-synth., Jarod Caplan-percussion 
as opening "act" for a "Chaotic Regime" concert at the Sit and Spin, Seattle, WA

SAINT FRANCIS CLIMBS MOUNT DIABLO for string quartet (1996)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet
Premiere:  1996, Kronos Quartet at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam

Transcription of SONG OF TWENTY SHADOWS for viola and piano (1995) 
Premiere:  1995, Hank Dutt-viola, Jeremy Dent-piano at a viola conference honoring Hanks late teacher

PATTI'S PARLOR PIECES for solo piano (1995-1999) 
Premiere:  1999, Ken Benshoof at Patti's birthday party, Seattle, WA

A WHIMSICAL SOLUTION for violin, clarinet and piano (1995) Commissioned by Alaska Pro Musica               
Premiere:  1996, Alaska Pro Musica at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK

SONG OF TWENTY SHADOWS for string quartet, featuring the viola (1994)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet 
Premiere:  1994, Kronos Quartet at Gilly's East, Oakland, CA

TRANSIENT GREENS AND GREYS for string quartet (1993)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, in memory of Maxine Cushing Gray  
Premiere:  1993, Kronos Quartet at Meany Theater, Seattle, WA

OUT AND BACK AGAIN a double concerto for violin and 'cello with 12 winds (1993)  
Commissioned by Rainier Chamber Winds  
Premiere:  1993, Ella Gray-violin, Walter Gray-'cello, Rainier Chamber Winds at Plymouth Congregational Church, Seattle, WA

CELLO QUARTET (revision of an earlier work) (1983-1993)  
Premiere:  1993, Walter Gray and ensemble as part of New Hampshire Music Festival Chamber Music Series at Silver Cultural Arts Center, Plymouth, NH

SPINDRIFT for piccolo and piano (1992)  
Commissioned by Alicia Suarez  
Premiere:  1992, Alicia Suarez-piccolo, Ken Benshoof-piano in a recital featuring Alicia Suarez at Calvary Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA

PLACES REMEMBERED for flute and 'cello (1989)  
Commissioned by John Keegan 
Premiere:  1990, Alicia Briggs-flute, Theresa Benshoof-'cello at Meany Theater, Seattle, WA

FLYING BLACKBIRDS for string quartet (1983)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet  
Premiere:  1983, Kronos Quartet at the San Francisco Performing Arts Center, San Francisco, CA

RAZZBERRY ICE-CREAM encore piece for string quartet (1983)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet

TRAVELING MUSIC NUMBER 5 for two pianos (1981)  
Premiere:  1981, Jerry Frank and Ken Benshoof at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA

REFRAINS for string quartet (1977)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet  
Premiere:  1977, Kronos Quartet as part of the Friends of Music Series at the Central Library, Philadelphia, PA

REMEMBER and WHEN two encore pieces for string quartet (1977)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet

BRASS QUINTET (1977)  
Commissioned by the Pacific Brass Quintet  
Premiere:  1977, Pacific Brass Quintet

TRANSITION #2 for community orchestra (1975)  
Commissioned by the Olympic Symphony Orchestra  
Premiere:  1975, Olympic Symphony Orchestra in Bremerton , WA

STRING QUARTET IN SEVEN PARTS (1975)  
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet  
Premiere:  1975, Kronos Quartet as part of Bumbershoot Arts Festival at the Seattle Center Playhouse, Seattle, WA

SUMMER WALTZES for flute, 'cello, piano and double bass (1975)  
Premiere:  1975, Jerilee Kechley-flute, Theresa Benshoof-'cello, Ken Benshoof-piano, David Kechley-bass at Poncho Theater, Seattle, WA

CONCERTO FOR 'CELLO AND STRING ORCHESTRA (1975)  
Premiere:  1975, Theresa Benshoof-'cello and Northwest Chamber Orchestra at the Seattle Center Playhouse, Seattle, WA

TRAVELING MUSIC NUMBER 4 for string quartet (1974)  
Premiere:  1974, Kronos Quartet at the University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA

TRAVELING MUSIC NUMBERS 1, 2, and 3 for english horn, trombone and piano (1974)  
Premiere:  1974, Robert Kechley-english horn, Alan Dorsey-trombone, Ken Benshoof-piano as part of a Seattle Chamber Singers concert at the University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA

SONATA for double bass and piano (1973)  
Premiere:  1973, Richard Frederickson-bass, Helen Taverniti-piano at Cornish Theater, Seattle, WA

LOVE SONG for one dancer, flute, violin, guitar and accordion (1970)  
Premiere:  1970, Gail Schaible and ensemble at the Moore Theater, Seattle, WA  

RONDO for viola and harpsichord (1969)  
Premiere:  1969, Donald McInnes-viola, Malcolm Hamilton-harpsichord at the University of Washington Hub Auditorium, Seattle, WA

FIVE MOVEMENTS FOR PIANO TRIO (1969)  
Premiere:  1969, Irwin Eisenberg-violin, Theresa Benshoof-'cello, Ken Benshoof-piano at the University of Washington Hub Auditorium, Seattle, WA

BRANDY LEAVE ME ALONE for 'cello and piano (1968)  
Premiere:  1969, Theresa Kilian-'cello, Ken Benshoof-piano at the University of Washington Hub Auditorium, Seattle, WA  

SUITE for double bass and harpsichord (1967)  
Premiere:  1967, Richard Frederickson-bass, Sylvia Kind-harpsichord at Western Washington State College, , WA

AGONY IN B-FLAT for elementary school orchestra (1967)  
Premiere:  1967, Seattle Public Schools

THE WAKING, DINKY, and THE COW three songs set to Roethke poems (1965)  
Premiere:  1968, Elizabeth Suderburg-voice, Ken Benshoof-piano at the University of Washington Hub Auditorium, Seattle, WA

SONATA for piano (1965) 
Premiere:  1966, Ken Benshoof at the University of Washington Music Auditorium, Seattle, WA

LINE AND DESIGN for piano (1965)  
Commissioned by The Martha Nishitani Modern Dance Group
Premiere:  1965, Ken Benshoof with Martha Nishitani Modern Dance Group at the University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA

PIANO QUINTET IN THREE MOVEMENTS (1964) 
Premiere:  1965, Jacovin Quartet and Ken Benshoof at the University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA

SUITE FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO (1964)
Premiere:  1964, Harrison Ryker-violin, Ken Benshoof-piano at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA

ODDS AND ENDS for string quartet (1963) 
Premiere:  1965, Jacovin Quartet at the University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA

7 SHORT FORMS FOR PIANO (1959) revised as Sweeter than Wine for piano solo (2001)

Miscellaneous SONGS IN FOLK SONG SETTINGS for voice and piano (1955-1970)

 

Incidental Music:

JOLSON SINGS AGAIN (1995) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Dan Sullivan, director

Radio drama adaptation of 16 Chekov short stories (1992) Commissioned by Globe Radio Repertory, broadcasts by National Public Radio

Radio drama adaptation of MADAME BOVARY (1990) Commissioned by Globe Radio Repertory, broadcasts by National Public Radio

AS YOU LIKE IT (1984) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Dan Sullivan, director

OUR TOWN (1984) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Dan Sullivan, director

ROMEO AND JULIET (1982) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Dan Sullivan, director

15-minute promotional film for Darigold (1982) Commissioned by Bear Creek Studio, Seattle, WA Two 30-second television commercials (1982) Commissioned by Bear Creek Studio, Seattle, WA

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (1981) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Dan Sullivan, director

GLASS MENAGERIE (1980) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA

JULIUS CAESAR (1980) Commissioned by Old Globe Theater, San Diego, CA TAMING OF THE SHREW (1980) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Dan Sullivan, director

TWELFTH NIGHT (1979) Commissioned by Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland, OH Dan Sullivan, director

JUMPERS (1975) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Bill Ross, director CHILDS PLAY (1972) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Bill Ross, director

RING AROUND THE MOON (1971) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Bill Ross, director

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1971) Commissioned by Old Globe Theater, San Diego, CA Eric Christmas, director

TAMING OF THE SHREW (1971) Commissioned by Old Globe Theater, San Diego, CA Nagle Jackson, director

VOLPONE (1970) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Pirie MacDonald, director

COUNTRY WIFE (1970) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Allen Fletcher, director

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1970) Commissioned by Old Globe Theater, San Diego, CA Pirie MacDonald, director

RICHARD II (1970) Commissioned by Old Globe Theater, San Diego, CA Stephen Porter, director

CYMBALINE (1970) Commissioned by Old Globe Theater, San Diego, CA Louis Criss, director

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1968) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Allen Fletcher, director

SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS (1968) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA

BROTHER TO DRAGONS (1968) Commissioned by the University of Washington Drama Department, Seattle, WA Aaron Frankel, director

THE RIVALS (1967) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA Allen Fletcher, director

IMAGINARY INVALID (1967) Commissioned by Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works List

Recordings and scores for many of these works are available.  Contact Ken Benshoof for more information.