Music composition and arranging

My music runs the gamut from the very simple and lyrical to the highly experimental. My influences range from Gregorian chant and medieval troubadors to the post-Webern serialists and minimalists of the late 20th century, with everything in between.

I am as comfortable with jazz, rock, folk, blues, new age, ambient, and electronica as I am with classical forms, and the scores I've written for television and multimedia reflect that range. My specialty is creating authentic-sounding instrumental music with electronic instruments: "orchestral sound on a MIDI budget".

Feel free to contact me with any questions about music and sound design, and ask for a demo CD or (if you're in a hurry) download some samples:

Here are some projects I've done…

Film, Television, and Radio
Original scores except as noted
                 


• Ballet mécanique, 1924 film by Fernand Léger and Dudley Murphy. Editing and mixing new recording of original music by George Antheil to fit film. Anthology Film Archives, New York. Premiered May 5, 2001, at Brandeis University, as part of Boston Cyberarts Festival; and September 5, 2001, at Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City, as part of Unseen Cinema festival; subsequent world tour of 25 museums, 2001-2005.

• Bad Boy Made Good, documentary directed by Ron Frank about the history and revival of the Ballet mécanique. Premiered at the New Haven Film Fest, 2003, where it won first audience prize. Shown on PBS and released on DVD, 2006.

• How to Know God, documentary by Deepak Chopra based on his best-selling book, 2006

• Off the Chain, documentary about Pit Bulls by Bobby J. Brown and Troy Garity, 2005

Scene from the 1999 production of The Eternal Road

• The Eternal Road: An Encounter with the Past, Frank Productions/PBS, 2000. Television documentary about, and using the music from, Kurt Weill/Franz Werfel opera. Premiered at Brooklyn Academy of Music.

• The Port Chicago Mutiny, Frank Productions/Discovery Networks, 1999. Television documentary.

• Mars: Planet of Dreams, Set Productions/The Learning Channel, 1998. Television documentary.

• Jerusalem 3000, Set Productions/Jerusalem Foundation, 1997. Documentary film. Premiered at Avery Fisher Hall, New York, 1997.

• A Note To You, Northeastern University/National Public Radio, 1996. Closing theme.

• Blood & Iron: The Story of the German War Machine, Krossfire Productions/Arts & Entertainment Network/History Channel/Discovery Channel Europe/France 3, 1994. Television documentary.

• What’s the Score, WGBH-FM, Boston, 1992. Call-in musical quiz show.

• Terra X, The Discovery Channel, 1989-1996. Weekly series.

• Land and Life, The International Channel, 1989-90. Weekly series.

• The Eleventh Commandment, Set Productions/Connecticut Public TV, 1988. Television documentary.

• Night Music, WGBH-FM, Boston, 1984. Opening theme.

 
        

Lecturing before the world premiere of George Antheil's original Ballet mécanique, Lowell, Massachusetts, 1999

Record albums and library music

• The Celtic Macintosh, "the world’s first all-MIDI album", KPM Music Libraries, 1986.
• On Stream, KPM Music Libraries, 1988.
• All Stars and Power Spectacular, co-composer with Keith Mansfield, KPM Music Libraries, 1989.
• QuickTunes, multimedia music library on CD-ROM; Music Data Corp./Passport Designs, 1991.
• Ballet mécanique and other works for player pianos, percussion, and electronics, CDeMusic / EMF Media, 2000.

Concert works

• Ballet Mécanique, computerization of multiple pianola parts of first version (1923-4) of composition by George Antheil. Commission by G. Schirmer & Co., New York City. Published 2003.
Premiered at University of Massachusetts Lowell, November 18, 1999. Simultaneous Webcast on Radio Online. Also performed by American Composers Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, New York City, April 2, 2000; San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Davies Hall, June 11, 2000; Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Symphony Hall, May 3, 2001; London Sinfonietta, Royal Festival Hall, March 12, 2004. Click here for complete list of performances.
Also, creation of samples of siren and airplane propellors; design and construction of computer-controlled "bell box" for subsequent performances.
Edit of music to fit film Ballet mécanique by Fernand Léger and Dudley Murphy (published 2004).
Recording of Lowell performance available from Electronic Music Foundation/CDeMusic, CD 020.

• Saltarello, Presto, arrangement of Finale of Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 ("Italian") for 16 player pianos, 1999. Recording available from Electronic Music Foundation/CDeMusic, CD 020.

• King Frank, improvisation for 5 performers and computer, based on the works of Frank Zappa, 1997. Commission by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. (READ THIS ARTICLE)

• I Dig A Pygmy, tribute to John Lennon, 1990/1993. Commission by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. (READ THIS ARTICLE)

Preparing for a performance of SongSuite, for two computers, synthesizers, and multiple input devices. New York, 1987

• IRT ("In Real Time") for algorithmic composition program and MIDI instruments, 1988. Commission by the Boston Computer Society, NEWCOMP, and Association for Small Computers in the Arts.

• SongSuite, for two computers, voice processor, recorder, and MIDI instruments, 1987. Commission by the Audio Engineering Society.

• Five For Four, for percussion quartet and tape, 1976. Commission by the Purchase Percussion Ensemble.

• Electric Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, 1973. Commission by Columbia Composers.

Copyright © 2004 by Paul D. Lehrman. All rights reserved