(b. 21 July 1950, Springfield, Massachusetts).
American composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and piano works that have been performed throughout in Asia, Europe and North America.
Mr. Schreiner studied composition with Philip Bezanson and Robert Stern at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received his BMus in 1976. He later had graduate studies in composition with Arthur Berger, Olga Pozzi Escot and Malcolm Peyton at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts and there earned his MMus in 1986.
Among his honours are the Bryant Fellowship from Harvard University (1989, enabling the copying and printing of Symphony No. 1, 'Symphonic Journey'), the Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Award (1997, for Symphony No. 1, 'Symphonic Journey'), Third Prize in the competition for chamber music of the New England Reed Trio/Frank Warren Music Publishing (1997, for Anatomy and Variations of the Sirens' Song), and a certificate of excellence from the 21st Century Music Project of the International Center for Japanese Culture in Yokohama (2015, for Firewalk). His music has been performed in Japan, Switzerland and the USA.
He is also active in other positions. He performed as clarinettist, flutist and saxophonist in the jazz ensemble Light in the Night in Amherst, Massachusetts from 1976–78 and served as a community artist with the Mayor's Office for Cultural Affairs in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1978–79, during which time he directed and organised concerts. He then founded the ensemble Arion in Boston in 1978 and served as its clarinettist and director from 1978–81. He served as director of the Morse Music & Media facility of Lamont Library at Harvard University from 1987–2010 and has served as Head of Maps, Media, Data, and Government Information at the Harvard College Library at Harvard University since 2010.
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL:
Wind Variations, symphonic band in 3 groups (2 piccolos, 4 flutes, 6 clarinets, 2 bass clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 baritone horns, tuba, percussion; 4 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 2 baritone saxophones, 4 French horns; 3 trumpets, 3 trombones), 1983
Music for Woodwinds, Strings and Percussion, small orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, 2 bassoons, French horn, piano, percussion, 22 strings), 1984
Symphony No. 1, 'Symphonic Journey', large orchestra (80 players), 1992 (its first two movements may be performed separately as one work, Prelude & Fantasy)
Sinfonia, large orchestra (70 players), 2001
Festive Overture, large orchestra (68 players), 2003
Concertino, trumpet, timpani, 44 strings, 2005
Red Dragonfly Variations, large orchestra (77 players), 2006
Concertino No. 1, 'Between the Lines of a Haiku', 13-string koto (zither from Japan), large orchestra (77 players), 2007
Concertino No. 2, 'Sunlight Dancing upon Mount Fuji Snow', 13-string koto, large orchestra (64 players), 2007
Autumn Vistas, piano, large orchestra (77 players), 2009
Concertino No. 3, 13-string koto, large orchestra (64 players), 2010
Tango at the Edge of Time, shakuhachi (bamboo flute from Japan), 13-string koto, large orchestra (61 players), 2012
Salute, electric guitar, military band, 2016
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Prelude and Fugue (vocalise), soprano, clarinet, guitar/lute, 1974
Three for Seven, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, bass trombone, 1975, revised 1981
Four Songs of Departure (text by Li Bai [translated by Ezra Pound]), soprano, flute, 1978
Collage, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1983
Sextet: a Place Where Mountains Meet the Sky, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1984
Jacob Wrestles Beings Divine and Human: Sonic Image II, viola, cello, 1991
Blossoms Descending, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 1994
Commentary on the Nature of Butterflies, shakuhachi, 21-string koto, 1995
4 Etudes and Fantasia, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 1996
Anatomy and Variations of the Sirens' Song, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1997
A Geometry in Time, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 17-string koto, 1998 (also version for violin, cello, piano, 1998)
A Chorus upon the Blue Guitar, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 1999
Fanfare, trumpet, organ, 2000
Sunlight among the Pines, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2001
Variations, clarinet, 2001
Landscapes, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2003
Seasons, string quartet, 2003
Water Music, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2005
Facing West from California's Shores (fantasia, text by Walt Whitman), alto, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2006
Bamboo and Silk Tango, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2008
An Aeolian Harp in the Garden ..., harp, 2008
Klezmerhapsody, clarinet, alto saxophone, cello, 2009
Nokomis Falling from the Moon, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2009
A Musical Bouquet, flute, clarinet, bassoon, piano, 2009
Su Song's Astronomical Clock, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2010
A Lullaby in Restless Times, guitar, 2011
Ballade, 13-string koto, 2011
Contrasts and Metamorphoses, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2011
Three Mediations, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2012
The Fox and the Grapes (ballade), violin, piano, 2012
Two Japanese Idylls, guitar, 2013
A Day in the Life of a Chough, clàrsach (harp from the UK), 2014
Bamboo and Silk Tango, Again: New Partner, 13-string koto, cello, 2014
Birds of Paradise, shakuhachi, 2014
Synchronicity in Dakota, shakuhachi, guitar, 2014
Firewalk, clarinet, 3 13-string koto, 17-string koto, 2015
Shards and Fragments, viola, 2016
CHORAL:
Psalm 150 (text from Psalm 150 [King James translation, with additions by the composer]), mixed chorus, organ, 1996
Psalm 84 (text from Psalm 84 [translated by Rabbi Boaz Heilman, the composer]), soprano, mixed chorus, French horn, piano, 1998
PIANO:
Sonata No. 1, 1979
Moments, 1983
Sonata No. 2, 1985
Nocturne, 1988
Three Japanese Images, 2003
Red Dragonfly Variations, 2003
Blues and Variations, 2004
From the Full Moon Fell Nokomis, 2016
ORGAN:
Prelude, 1994
Fantasia and Choral, 1997
ARRANGEMENTS:
Hanukkah Celebration (traditional melodies of Jewish origin), 2000
American Emblems (traditional, patriotic songs from the USA), 2002
DISCOGRAPHY
Symphony No. 1, 'Symphonic Journey'. Robert Black/Symfonický orchester Slovenského rozhlasu (MMC Recordings: 2002, 1993)
Two Japanese Idylls. Aaron Larget-Caplan, guitar (Stone Records: 5060192780567, 2015)