STRINGS

Duration: c. 12'

1. Montana Morning
2. Dancing Under the Stars

COMMISSIONED by Hat Trick (April Clayton flute, David Wallace viola, Kristi Shade harp).
PREMIERE tour through the greater Salt Lake City region, September 2023. AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
RECORDING on Bridge Records, via YouTube:
1. Montana Morning
2. Dancing Under the Stars

WINNER, 2025 NFA Newly Published Music award for Mixed Ensemble category.

"Evoking the expansive landscape and natural wonder of Montana, Daniel Dorff's Big Sky is an American postcard of texture and curiosity. The first movement, "Montana Morning," paints a Copland-esque flat open landscape and mysterious sunrise. The second movement, "Dancing Under the Stars," is a sprightly and frantic dance under the bright stars of the expansive sky. An asset to the flute, viola, and harp trio repertoire, every voice is dynamic and expressive with wonderful interplay, making it a joy to play and experience. This creative and fun work will quickly become any flutist's favorite trio."
            – The Flutist Quarterly, Summer 2025
"At the center of the album is a commissioned work by American composer Daniel Dorff. With Dorff's characteristic Americana sense of hope and wide-open spaces, the two contrasting movements, "Montana Morning" and "Dancing Under the Stars," unfold with a nearly cinematic sweep. Delayed by the pandemic, this splendid addition to the repertoire is especially welcome."
            – Harp Column (Alison Young), January-February 2026
"Theodore Presser Company has published a trio for flute, viola, and harp by Daniel Dorff. Big Sky was inspired by the majesty of the Big Sky state, and it was commissioned and premiered by the Hat Trick Trio (April Clayton, flute, David Wallace, viola, and Kristi Shade, harp). There are two movements with a total performance time of 12 minutes.
The first movement, “Montana Morning,” delightfully depicts the awakening of the vast countryside. It is about three and a half minutes and concludes with gentle harmonics on the harp.
The second movement, “Dancing under the Stars,” is an energetic succession of dances. It incorporates special effects such as scale glisses, gushing chords, pedal slides, and harmonics. There are meter changes that become more frequent as the piece progresses. Page turns were thoughtfully considered, and several pedal charts are included throughout the harp part. The many pedals are written below the staff."
            – Harp Column (Jan Jennings), November-December 2025

Duration: c. 8'
Adaptation of the original English Horn & Clarinet duo, for Tim Haas clarinet & Mary Harrah viola
1. Sunsplash
2. On the Beach
3. The Bee and the Horseshoe Crab

It Takes Four to Tango for String Quartet, String Quintet, or String Orchestra

Duration: c. 2½'

PREMIERED by Mimi Stillman flute and Allen Krantz guitar, March 16, 2006, Philadelphia.
Available from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

PROGRAM NOTES

Duration: c. 5'

COMPOSED for the Santa Monica Civic Orchestra, Frank Fetta, Music Director.
PERFORMANCES include Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Marc Mostovoy conductor.
AVAILABLE on rental from Theodore Presser Company

PROGRAM NOTES
Online perusal score

"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.
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Duration: c. 7'

COMMISSIONED by a consortium led by the Astralis Chamber Ensemble.
PUBLICATION by Theodore Presser Company forthcoming in June 2024.

YOUTUBE of a live performance by Faith Wasson flute, Adam Brotnitsky viola, and Rebecca Simpson harp
PROGRAM NOTES

Duration: c. 8'

AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

PROGRAM NOTES

YOUTUBE of Yvonne Smith performing Spark
PROGRAM NOTES

Duration: c. 3'

COMMISSIONED and PREMIERED by the Colorado Symphony's Up Close and Musical series for 20-30 performances (1998-2000 seasons), to demonstrate sounds and colors of the violin.
PERFORMANCES include Nashville Symphony
AVAILABLE on rental from Theodore Presser Company.

Duration: c. 13'

PREMIERED by Terry Vermillion (perc) and Marion Judish (vn), St. Cloud, MN., February 2000.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.

 PROGRAM NOTES
AUDIO EXCERPTS from the premiere:
        from Mvt. 1
        from Mvt. 2
        from Mvt. 3