Composition Catalogue of Dr. William Banfield

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13 Symphonies 

8 Operas

7 Concerti

2 Ballet

17 Choral Works

30+ Big Band Scores

25 Chamber Concert Works

40 +Original Popular/Jazz Songs

60 Opera Arias

225 ORIGINAL WORKS

Symphonies

  • Symphony no. 1 (1990) Brevities Of Experience

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Savannah Symphony Orchestra, Utah Philharmonia

  • Symphony no. 2 (1992) Dream Realized Nightmare Resolved

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Utah Symphony, University of Utah Symphony

  • Symphony no. 3 (1992) Jobs Song

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Plymouth Music Series, Minneapolis

  • Symphony no. 4 (1994) Streams of Consciousness

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Minnesota Symphonia,

    Atlanta Symphony, Sacramento Symphony

  • Symphony no. 5 (1995) Five Shades Of A Woman Dressed in Black

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by University of Michigan Orchestra

  • Symphony no. 6 (1996) Four Songs For Five American Voices

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Akron Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Dallas Symphony, National Symphony, Toledo Symphony,,University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, Vocal Essence Orchestra (Minneapolis), Indiana University Symphony Orchestra

  • Symphony no. 7 (1997) Reveries, Summers Circle

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Plymouth Music Series, Minnesota

  • Symphony no. 8 (1999) Triumph and Trial

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by New England Conservatory

  • Symphony no. 9 (2004) Hope

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana

  • Symphony no. 10 (2011) Affirmations

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by National Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Sphinx Orchestra

  • Symphony no. 11 (2013) Songs, Stories (Suite of Songs For Brass Symphony and Voices)

    William Banfield, poetry Mari Evans, Yusef Komanyaaka

    Yolanda Williams, soprano soloist

    Commissioned, performed by Peace Symphony, commissioned by Kenny Burrell, performed/recorded by UCLA symphony (2014)

  • Symphony no. 12 I Trust Harlem (Choral Symphony)

    Commissioned by Philip Brunelle

    Premiered Feb. 2018

  • Symphony no. 13 SHINE (Vocal symphony for choir, soloists and chamber symphony)

    Text by Abria Smith, W.Banfield

    Commission by NANM, premiered Chicago, 2019

Orchestral Essays

  • Essay For Orchestra (1994)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Detroit Symphony, Chicago Symphonia, University of Michigan Symphony, UCLA Symphony Orchestra

  • The Seed Fanfare For Wind Symphony (1998)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by University of St. Thomas Wind Orchestra

  • St. Paul Crossing (1998) For Marching Band

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by University of Minnesota Marching and Wind Bands

  • Revolution For Orchestra (1992)

  • Baraka Chamber Symphony (1994)

  • It's All Good My Brother (2006)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Hamilton College

  • All We Need Is Peace(2011) Orchestra

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Kenny Burrel and University of Los Angeles Symphony

  • Mahalia for Wind Symphony

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by University of St. Thomas Wind Symphony

Symphonic Concerti

  • 96/66 Concerto For Guitar 1 (1983)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Detroit Metropolitan Orchestra

  • Jenny Guitar Concerto 2 (1988)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Detroit Metropolitan Orchestra

  • Moods and Colors (1991)Trombone Concerto

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by;) University f Michigan Chamber

  • Primal Instincts (1995) Percussion Concerto

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Butler University Symphony, Roanoke Symphony, Tufts University Symphony Orchestra

  • Delancey Street Tuba Concerto (1994)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Eastern Music Festival Orchestra

  • Structures in Soul and Sound (2003) Concerto For Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Mobile Symphony, Berklee College Orchestra

  • No More Mirrors in My Nanas House (1999) Piano Concerto

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Grand Rapids Symphony, New York Virtuoso Orchestra

Operas

  1. Momma Why (1988)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by University of Michigan

  2. Fishermans Dock (1995)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by;) University of St. Thomas

    Eyes (1995) A Musical

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Indianapolis

  3. The Cat Who Walked By Himself (1999)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Minnesota Opera

  4. Luyala (2000)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Duke University, Triangle Opera

  5. Soul Gone Home (2001)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Mallarme Chamber Players

  6. Edmonia (2002)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Toni Morrison, Princeton University

  7. Gertrude Invents A Jump (2004)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Encompass Opera Theater, New York

  8. Edmonia (2024, 25, 26)

Choir

  • You Can Tell The World (1995)

  • Visions Sacred Cantata (1986)

  • A Prayer (Song For Our Time) (1999)

  • A Dease Tea (1998)

  • Let My People Go (1994)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Indianapolis Symphony

For Choir and Orchestra

  • Amazing Grace

  • Spiritual Anthem (1985) Choir and Piano

  • Lord Guide Us Through The Years (1985)

  • Steadfast Love (1986) for Piano, Male Choir, piano, Strings

  • Did You Say for piano/voice

  • Brotherhood (1991) for voices

  • 3 Short Prayers (1993) For Choir and Piano

  • Life Suite: Cantata For Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble( 1996)

  • Deep Rivers (2003) For Choir, Flute

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Dale Warland Singers (Minneapolis), Plymouth Music Series

  • Joy Always Joy (2006)

  • If You're Out There (2010)

  • Love Says (2010)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Boston Childrens Choirs


Art Songs

  • The Prophetess (1988)

  • All I Gotta Do (1988) for voice and piano

  • Harp Song (1989)

  • Spirit Songs for cello and tenor (1990)

  • The Prophetess (1992) for voice and piano

  • A Question Mark And A Word Attached How (1995)

  • Suitcase Song (2001)

  • It's All Good My Brother (2005)

  • Soul Crawl (2013)

  • Stand By Me (arr. spiritual)

  • When The Notes Come

  • Sentirenla

Jazz Chamber Works

  • Marsheila (1980)

  • Brooke (1985)

  • Gibb it! (1981)

  • Free Blues Suite (2004) for chamber jazz ensemble

  • Losing Absolom (2001) for strings, piano

  • Last Night She Had a Real Good Dream (1990)

  • Amazing Love (1995) for chamber and voices


Concert Chamber Works

  • Four Persons (1989) for piano, oboe, bassoon, clarinet

  • Suite For Richard Piano Trumpet (1990)

  • Dance Like Wind (1995) for woodwind quintet

  • Two Tall Tales (1992) for solo bassoon

  • Six Pulses (1995) for soprano and clarinet

  • WaggusyDuke for solo piano

  • Mead 28 (1989) for solo piano

  • Zola Chamber Suite (1988)

  • Derwin E Six Minutes (1982) for string quartet (#1)

  • El Dia De Deber String Quartet 2 (1984)

  • Cone Tone String Quartet 3 (1987)

  • ARBRD lament For A Lost Love (1987) for solo harp

  • Suite For Susan String Quartet 4 (1988)

  • Summer Lies (1989) piano / violin duet

  • Can We All Get Along (1992)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Thamyris Chamber, Atlanta, University of Texas, Austin

  • Reflections On William Grant Stills Deserted Plantation (1994)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Detroit Civic Brass Quintet

    for piano, flute, clarinet, sac, percussion

  • It's All Good My Brother (2005)

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Hamilton College

  • Re-do for piano and violin

  • We Think Therefore We Are (2000) for brass ensemble

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by University of St. Thomas

  • People Stories (2000) for double brass choirs

    Work commissioned, performed, recorded by Minnesota Orchestra

  • Peace Symphony (2011)

    Work commissioned by Kenny Burrell

    Ballet, commissioned by Gaspard Louis

    Premiered, Raleigh Durham, 2016

  • Tota Pulchra


Original Big Band Works

  • Bill’s Blue

  • Losing Absolom

  • And What Would You Like To Hear Little Lady (1994)

  • I Remember, Then...

  • Joe Chose Slow Woes Blues

  • My Thanks To George

  • Wife's Comment

  • Soul Gone Home

  • Edmonia

  • Reflecting Spiritual

  • Her Embrace

  • Leo's Lament

  • Just A Note From Sam

  • Dead Loch Blues

  • A Prayer

  • Bobby's Mood

  • Lisa

  • Free Me

  • Money Funny

  • Joes Blues

Jazz Urbane Recorded Songs

  • Solider of Love

  • Unmistakeable You

  • I'm Ready 

  • Baby You

  • Are You Thinking Bout Me ?

  • Review the Evidence

  • When She's Gone

  • Your Love For Me

  • Pleasing thought

  • Love Forever

  • Your Heart and Mine

  • Voice Inside My Head

  • Happy

  • Words Linger

  • Swine house Blues

  • Perfume in Her Mind

  • Are You Thinking’ bout Me

  • When She’s Gone 

  • Sleeping Beauty

  • Baby Why Not Me?

  • With A Blues Note In Our Heads

  • We Always Love What We Can't Have

  • Blues Meditation In A Swine Yard

  • Perfume In Her Mind

  • Unmistakably You

Recorded Cd's

Symphony, chamber:

  • Extensions of the Tradiotion (Innova)

  • Symphony 6 (TelArc) 1996

  • Dance like the wind (Clarion) 2004

  • Essay for orchestra (Cedelle) 2006

  • Soul Gone Home (Albany) 2010

Jazz:

  • Jazz chamber (Innova) 1996

  • Striking Balance (Innova) 2004

  • AB2 (Albany) 2005

  • Spring Forward (Innova) 2009

  • Playing With Other People's Heads

  • JU2 Bluesnotes in Our Heads

  • Imagine That

  • SUGO music group/Jazz Urbane 2014

  • Composering: Symphonic and Chorale Works of William Banfield, JazzUrbane/ SUGO music group (2015)

Books Published by Banfield

  1. Musical Landscapes in Color: Conversations with Black American Composers (2000), Scarecrow Press

  2. Black Notes: Essays of a Musician Writing in a Post-Album Age (2004)

  3. Cultural Codes: Makings of a Black Music Philosophy (African American Cultural Theory and Heritage) (2010)

  4. Representing Black Music Culture: Then, Now, and When Again? (African American Cultural Theory and Heritage) (2011)

  5. Ethnomusicologizing: Essays on Music in the New Paradigms (African American Cultural Theory and Heritage) (2015)

  6. Pat Patrick: American Musician and Cultural Visionary (African American Cultural Theory and Heritage) (2016)

  7. Ernie Isley (2017)

  8. Critical Dialogues Ornette, Gunther, Ysaye, Lalah, Grace, Kenny Burrell, Fred Taylor, Bob Blumenthal, Tuck and Patty, Eric Jackson, Charles Wilson, .. (2017)

  9. Cedric, The Novel (2022)

  10. Musical Landscapes in Color: Conversations with Black American Composers (2022), Illinois Press

  11. Cultural Throughlines (2022), Smithsonian Press