THE LIVING COMPOSERS PROJECT  

Henry Kucharzyk

(b. 1953, Toronto, Ontario).

Canadian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and electroacoustic works that have been performed in Europe and North America.

Mr. Kucharzyk initially studied with John Beckwith and John Weinzweig at the University of Toronto. He then studied with Earle Brown, Jacob Druckman and Morton Subotnick at Yale University, where he received his MMus. He also studied computer music with John Chowning and Leland Smith at Stanford University.

His music has been performed in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Greece, the UK, and the USA.

He is also active in other positions. He founded the label Artifact Music in 1985. He served as artistic director and later as conductor of the ensemble Arraymusic in Toronto. As a performer, he is active with Peter Hannan in the electronic duo PHH!K.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: henrykis@rogers.com

SELECT LIST OF WORKS

STAGE:

Personal History (stage work in 3 acts, text by Patrick Kennedy), actor, mixed chorus, 8 dancers, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), double bass (+ bass guitar), piano/synthesizer, theremin, percussion, fixed media, live electronics, slide projections (by Robert Mulder), 1983–85 (its three acts may be performed separately as stage works: Popular Science, 1983; Pushing Buttons, 1984; First Generation, 1985)

Venus Ascending (dance music, choreography by Karen Jamieson), MIDI-keyboard (+ sampler), 1995 (also shorter concert version as Venus, 2 MIDI-keyboards [both + sampler])

ORCHESTRAL:

Walk the Line, percussion, string orchestra, 1982

Chromatics, small orchestra, 1986

Collisions, 1986

Second Generation, sampler, gamelan, 1987

Figure in a Landscape, violin, orchestra, 1991

Noli me tangere, 1991

Prosthetic, Part 1 (concerto), MIDI-keyboard, orchestra, 1995

Satu suara, gamelan, 1996

Some Assembly Required, symphonic band, 1998

Prosthetic, Part 3 (concerto), MIDI-keyboard, large orchestra, 1998

Overture (after Monteverdi), orchestra (around hall), 2000

Entrance (after Satie), 2000

Music for an Atrium, small orchestra (8 winds, 6 brass), 2000

Companion Work to 'Overture', 2000

Corral (for Michael J. Baker), violin, brass band, 2000

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Lacroceande, violin, piano, 1975

Eyemusic, oboe, piano, 2 percussion, 1977

Phase Variations, 2 marimbas, 2 percussion, 1977, revised 1979

Soledad, cello, 1978

The Walls (Have Ears), flute, trombone, viola, cello, percussion, 1978

The Whole, the Parts, flute/alto flute, bassoon/trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, drone ad libitum, 1979

One for the Underdog, tenor saxophone, trumpet, double bass, piano, drum kit, 1981

Co-opposition, amplified ensemble (alto saxophone, trumpet, viola, cello, double bass, piano [+ electronic organ], 2 percussion), 1982

Imagination (Yes), trombone, fixed media, 1982

Impulse, guitar, 1983

Seventh Wind, accordion, 1983, revised 1985

Quartet: for Missing Persons, clarinet, cello, piano/organ/synthesizer, percussion, 1984 (also expanded version as Quintet: for Missing Persons, clarinet, viola, double bass, synthesizer, percussion, 1985)

Beating, percussion (+ synthesizers, sampler), fixed media, 1986

Off the Floor, trumpet, 2 synthesizers, 2 percussion, 1987

Attactics, 4 saxophones, 2 synthesizers, 2 percussion, 1988

Us and Them, bass clarinet, trumpet, bass guitar (+ double bass), MIDI-keyboard, 2 percussion, live electronics, 1990

Song in Five Colours, 4 percussion, 1990

All Thumbs, bass clarinet (+ clarinet), trumpet, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1991 (version of work for piano)

Rose, Baroque flute, harpsichord, 1992 (also versions for flute, piano, 1992; recorder, synthesizer, live electronics, 1992)

Third Generation, 8 percussion, 1992

Amnesia, flute (+ alto flute), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, 1993

Chrome Chaser, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), 3 saxophones, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, violin, cello, double bass, piano, drum kit, percussion, 1993

Gemini Variations, 2 MIDI-keyboards, 1993 (collaboration with Peter Hannan)

heard, MIDI-keyboard, percussion, any 4 players, 1994

Room, clarinet, trumpet, violin, double bass, 2 percussion, 1994

Nomad, string quartet, 1996

Music of Veena, veena (plucked instrument from South Asia), mridangam (double-headed drum from southern India), ensemble (clarinet, cello, piano), 1996

Prosthetic, Part 2, MIDI-keyboard, sampler, 1997

Venus, 2 MIDI-keyboards (both + sampler), 1997 (shorter concert version of Venus Ascending)

Dexter Sinister, theremin (+ sampler), sampler, 1999

Intervals 14, clarinet, trumpet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1999 (section of Chemin de Ronde, a collaboration with Michael J. Baker, composers from GRAME, Linda Catlin Smith; may be performed separately)

Flock, spatial ensemble (clarinet, trumpet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 percussion), 2001

CHORAL:

Mis-o-nay-ism, mixed chorus, percussion, 1979–81

Aquapella, 3 female voices, fixed media, water, 1992

supercoolrainbowspecial, children's chorus, piano, 2002

VOCAL:

A Letter to Walt (text by Walt Whitman), soprano, flute (+ voice), clarinet (+ voice), violin (+ voice), viola (+ voice), cello (+ voice), prepared piano, percussion (+ voice), 1980

Terror and Erebus (oratorio, text by Gwendolyn MacEwen), baritone, flute, 2 clarinets, French horn, harp, 5 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, double bass, MIDI-keyboard, percussion, 1997

PIANO:

Non coupable, prepared piano, fixed media, 1983

Seven Ways, 2 pianos, 1990

All Thumbs, 1991 (also version for bass clarinet [+ clarinet], trumpet, double bass, piano, 2 percussion)

Valsø, 1993

Also Heard, 6 pianos, 1998

ELECTROACOUSTIC:

Yes, fixed media, 1979

Play Dot Sam, computer, 1981

Targeting, fixed media (4 tracks), 1981

Art of Mix, fixed media (8 tracks), 1985

Hybrid Intersection, live electronics, 1997 (collaboration with Peter Hannan)

Music for Fireworks, live electronics, 1998 (collaboration with Peter Hannan)