MUSIC FOR ORCHESTRA by Daniel Dorff

Allegro Volante for Xylophone and Orchestra (1992) 5 min.
Mvt. 3 from Concerto for Solo Percussion and Orchestra, works separately as a xylophone showpiece.
Click here to see John Beck’s great review in Percussive Notes.
Here's an audio clip of xylophonist Dean Witten's premiere with the Haddonfield Symphony, conducted by Alan Gilbert (30 sec., 469K MP3) (used by permission)
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 2(Picc)222-4331 Timp 3Perc Hp Strings
Also published with Piano or Band accompaniment.

Concerto for Contrabassoon with Clarinet, Horn, and String Orchestra (1990-91) 12½ min.
Commissioned by the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia for contrabassoonist Norman Spielberg.
Premiered November 3, 1991; Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Norman Spielberg contrabassoon; James Freeman guest conductor.
Other performances include Louisville Orchestra (Roger Soren, cbn.), and many others
“Repertory for the contrabassoon has been significantly enhanced of late by the addition of concertos by Daniel Dorff...” — MLA Notes (Weait), December 1993.
“An excellent new concerto... in a very listenable and audience-appealing style. Dorff has written a number of fine compositions and has crafted here an excellent new work for the contrabassoonist.” — The Double Reed (Klimko), Spring 1993.
“(The concert) was jammed with people who were obviously pleased they were there. A local composer with a growing international reputation presented a world premiere that deserved the response the audience gave it.” — Philadelphia Welcomat (Purdom), November 13, 1991.
“This is a work that could effectively introduce the rarely heard solo contrabassoon to audiences of any age or experience. It has the happy chararacteristic of being easily understood. Performers will appreciate its professionaly clear notation and effective orchestration.” — MLA Notes (Weait), March 1995.
Study score and solo part published by MMB Music, Inc.; orchestral parts on rental; Piano reduction also available; Quartet version for Contrabassoon, Clarinet, Horn, and Piano also available.
Click here for program notes on this piece.

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (2006) 24 min.
Commissioned by the Etowah Youth Orchestras for pianist Jeffrey Biegel.
Full score and 2-piano version available for sale from Theodore Presser Company, parts available on rental.

Concerto for Solo Percussion and Orchestra (1991-1992) c. 20 min.
Commissioned by the Polish Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society for the International Music Workshops in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Premiered March 18, 1995 by Haddonfield (NJ) Symphony, Dean Witten, solo percussion, Alan Gilbert, conductor.
“impressive... highlighted the concert... It exploits the full range of sonorities and technical possibilities of a whole arsenal of percussion instruments... most arresting... a joyous finale... bold and extroverted but also filled with sensitive details.”— Camden Courier-Post (Baxter), March 22, 1995.
“it is only a truly inventive and inspired composer like Mr. Dorff who is able to go one step further [than just using many percussion instruments] and create unusual sounds, textures, and combinations that work for the listener.” — Maestro Alan Gilbert, Music Director of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic.
Here are some audio clips of Dean Witten's premiere with the Haddonfield Symphony, Alan Gilbert conducting:
Mvt. 1: (21 sec., 327K MP3)
Mvt. 2: (31 sec., 479K MP3)
Mvt. 3: (30 sec., 469K MP3) (used by permission)
Click here to see John Beck’s great review in Percussive Notes.
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 2(Picc)222-4331 Timp 3Perc Hp Strings
Complete solo part published by Theodore Presser Company. (114-40751, $15.75).
Complete piano reduction published by Theodore Presser Company (114-40751A).
Full score published (416-41193).
Click here for program notes on this piece.

Fanfare Overture for Orchestra (April 1983) 3 min.
Composed for and premiered by the 1983 Spoleto Festival USA Youth Orchestra for its inaugural concerts, Claude White, conductor.
On rental from MMB Music, Inc. - 2222 4331 3Perc (no Timp) Strings; full score available for sale.

Fast Walk for Orchestra (1989, orch. 1990) 2½ min.
Performances include the DC Youth Orchestra televised on over 300 PBS-TV stations to an audience over 8,000,000 on the MENC “World’s Largest Concert.”
Here's an audio clip of the Harmo Saxophone Quartet playing the sax version, from their Meister CD (29 sec., 447K MP3) (Used by permission)
Score published by MMB Music, Inc., parts on rental - 222(Bcl)2 4330 1or2Perc Strings; full score available for sale.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears c. 8 min
1) for Narrator with Flute, Clarinet, Bass Trombone, Harp, 1 Percussion, Violin, Cello, and Bass
Commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association for Kinder Konzerts for 51 performances in 2000-2001 season.
Score published by Presser; full set available on rental.
        Click the links below to download some mp3 samples from the CD!
        1) "Once upon a time, there were three bears." (40 sec.)
        2) The entrance of Goldilocks (21 sec.)
        3) The happy ending (24 sec.)
2) for Narrator and Orchestra (same music as the octet, with more instruments)
Premiered December 2001, Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sheldon Bair.
Click here for program notes.
Rental from Presser - 1111 111(Bass)0 1-2Perc Hp Strings. (Full score published)
"An absolute delight!" - Marvin Rosen, Classical Discoveries, WPRB-FM, February 20, 2008.

The Kiss (after the painting by Gustav Klimt) for Orchestra (2001) c. 13½ min.

Premiered February 16, 2002; Rossen Milanov conducting the Haddonfield Symphony.
Here are some audio clips of the premiere:
1) from the starry background (34 sec., 536K MP3)
2) from the scherzo of budding new love (32 sec., 498K MP3)
3) from the lust section (32 sec., 498K MP3)
4) from the kiss-climax (32 sec., 509K MP3) (Used by permission)
For a higher quality printing (248k) reproduction of the painting click here
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 3(Alto,Picc)3(EH)3(TSx)2 4331 Timp 3Perc Hp Strings
Full score available for sale (416-41329).
Click here for program notes on this piece.

Lamentations for String Orchestra (1977) 5 min.
Composed for the Santa Monica Civic Orchestra, Frank Fetta, Music Director.
Performances include Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Marc Mostovoy conductor.
“Worthy of the spotlight... the most interesting and sensitively performed on the concert... the composer should be heard from again.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer (Valdes), October 27, 1987.
On rental from Theodore Presser Company. (Full score available for sale, 416-41330.)

Pachelbel's Christmas for Orchestra (2005) 4½ min.
44 Christmas melodies in canon and quodlibet over the Pachelbel Canon. Perfect for Christmas Pops concerts!
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 2(Picc)222 2(or 4)221 2Perc Timp Strings, suitable for volunteer and student orchestras.

Philly Rhapsody for Orchestra (1997) 10 min.
1997 Commission from Philadelphia's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and Network for New Music. This is a rock-inspired work which pays homage to the R&B Sound of Philadelphia as well as the symphonic tradition.
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 3(Picc)23(Bcl)2 4331 Pno Hp DrumSet 3Perc (no Timp) Strings [Ob2, Bn2, Hn3&4 may be omitted].
Full score for sale, 416-41331.

Summer Solstice for Clarinet and Strings (1986 &1993) c. 18 min.
Premiere by Orchestra 2001, Arne Running, solo clarinet; James Freeman, conductor; March 30, 1994, Philadelphia.
Also performed by John Bruce Yeh (Haddonfield Symphony, Chicago String Ensemble, Lamont Symphony) and Bil Jackson (Colorado Symphony).
Here are some audio clips of John Bruce Yeh's performance with the Haddonfield Symphony conducted by Alan Gilbert
from Mvt. 1 (25 sec., 388K MP3)
from Mvt. 2 (29 sec., 460K MP3)
from Mvt. 3 (25 sec., 388K MP3) (Used by permission)
“Summer Solstice is very pleasant music — light without being insubstantial, melodic without being obvious. It has an invariably American sound.” — Philadelphia Inquirer (Dobrin), April 2, 1994.
“Summer Solstice opened with Arne Running's jazzy, dancing clarinet playing in front of the kind of American country fair music that makes you feel like someone should step out of the crowd and start dancing. The slow movement was easy and full. The finale was sweet and driving.” — Philadelphia Welcomat (Purdom), April 20, 1994.
“Notable events of 1994 included the impressive premiere of Daniel Dorff's Summer Solstice.” — Philadelphia Welcomat (Purdom), December 28, 1994.
On rental from MMB Music, Inc; Piano reduction also published.
Click here for program notes on this piece.

Sunburst for Violin and String Orchestra (1998) c. 3 min.
Commissioned by Colorado Symphony’s Up Close and Musical series for ongoing outreach concerts.
This brief work highlights the brilliance, lyricism, and warmth of the violin, as well as technical effects like harmonics and double stops, within a 3-minute dance.
On rental from Theodore Presser Company.

The Tortoise and the Hare for Narrator with Chamber Orchestra (1996) c. 5½ min.
A comical telling of the Aesop fable, featuring Contrabassoon and Clarinet as the Tortoise and the Hare. Themes are exaggeratedly low/slow and high/fast to illustrate contrasts in music. Re-scoring of Minnesota Orchestra octet commission.
World premiere narrated by Olympic track star Carl Lewis.
Here’s an audio clip of Carl Lewis’s premiere with the Haddonfield Symphony conducted by Daniel Hege (25 sec., 398K MP3) (Used by permission)
See below for more audio from the new CD!
Also performed by Baltimore Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and others.
Click here for program notes.
Rental from MMB - 1112(Cbn) 1110 1-2Perc Hp Strings.

Three Fun Fables (11')
1. The Fox and the Crow (features Trumpet and Bass)
2. The Dog and His Reflection (features Trombone and Violin/Harp/Percussion)
3. The Tortoise and the Hare (features Contrabassoon and Clarinet)
Each character is portrayed by an instrument, allowing for pre-concert illustrations to help instrument recognition, musical contrasts, and familiarity with the story and music.
1) Narrator with Chamber Orchestra
Orchestral version commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra; premiered April 29, 2000 with Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting, Susan Spafford narrating.
Here are audio clips of the Philadelphia Orchestra performance:
Mvt 1: (30 sec., 476K MP3)
Mvt 2: (29 sec., 446K MP3)
Mvt 3: (29 sec., 448K MP3) (Used by permission)
Rental from MMB 1112(Cbn) 1110 1-2Perc Hp Strings.
2) Narrator with Clarinet, Bassoon/Contrabassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Harp, 1 Percussion, Violin, Bass
Commissioned for Minnesota Orchestra's KinderKonzerts - 52 performances in 1996-97 season.
Click the links below to download some mp3 samples from the CD!
THE FOX AND THE CROW
1) The crow singing proudly (featuring Kurt Muroki on the amazing bass solo) (48 sec.)
2) The fox planning how to get the cheese from the crow (47 sec.)
THE DOG AND HIS REFLECTION
1) The dog... (20 sec.)
2) ... and his reflection (30 sec).
THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
1) Introducing the tortoise and the hare (26 sec.)
2) The hare falls asleep... (33 sec.)
Click here for program notes.
Rental from MMB.