sound files 
scores and texts| SOLOS | |||||||||
| top solos duos ensemble orchestra stage vocal writing | |||||||||
| Alap (1996) | contrabass | ||||||||
| Sleep and Waking (1994) * in collaboration with Ron George |
percussion | ||||||||
| Progression (1993) | contrabass | ||||||||
| Ponder Nothing (1989) | clarinet or alto saxaophone | ||||||||
| Palindromes (1987) | snare drum | ||||||||
| Toccata (1984) | cello | ||||||||
| Suite for Microtonal Piano (1978) | piano | ||||||||
| One Man (1967/72) | piano | ||||||||
| Sonata for Microtonal Piano / Grindlemusic (1962) | piano | ||||||||
| St. Joan (1958) * | piano | ||||||||
| Celebration (1953) | piano | ||||||||
| Toccata for piano (1953) | piano | ||||||||
| DUOS | |||||||||
| top solos duos ensemble orchestra stage vocal writing | |||||||||
| Pursuit (1992) | bassoon, tuba | ||||||||
| Legacy (1991) | soprano, violin | ||||||||
| Ma Mie Qui Danse (1991) texts by Mie Cecile Inouye, Emily Dickenson adapted by Ben Johnston |
soprano, microtonal piano | ||||||||
| The Demon Lover’s Doubles (1985) | trumpet, microtonal piano | ||||||||
| Twelve Partials (1980) | flute, microtonal piano | ||||||||
| Duo for Two Violins (1978) | |||||||||
| Duo for Flute and String Bass (1963) | |||||||||
| Knocking Piece (1962) | 2 percussionists, playing on piano interior and exterior |
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| Sonata for Two (1961) | violin and cello | ||||||||
| ENSEMBLE | |||||||||
| top solos duos ensemble orchestra stage vocal writing | |||||||||
| Octet (2000) | fl, cl, bsn, 2 vlns, vla, vlc, cb | ||||||||
| Nightreach (1999) | 4 saxophones | ||||||||
| O Waly, Waly Variations (1999) * | 4 saxophones | ||||||||
| String Quartet No. 10 (1995) | |||||||||
| Two Studies on Ancient Scales (1994) by Harry Partch, arr. Johnston |
string quartet | ||||||||
| Fugue for Viols (1991) | treble, 2 tenor, bass | ||||||||
| Sextet (1990) | flute and strings | ||||||||
| String Quartet No. 9 (1987) | |||||||||
| String Quartet No. 8 (1984) | |||||||||
| String Quartet No. 7 (1984) | |||||||||
| Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Cello (1982) | |||||||||
| String Quartet No. 6 (1980) | |||||||||
| Diversion (for eleven instruments) (1979) |
fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn, tp, tb, vln, vla, vlc, cb |
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| String Quartet No. 5 (1979) | |||||||||
| String Quartet No. 4 (1973) (The Ascent, “Amazing Grace”) |
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| String Quartet No. 3 (1966/73) (Verging) |
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| Four Do-It-Yourself Pieces (1969) | open instrumentation | ||||||||
| Number One: Casta * | |||||||||
| Number Two: Recipe for a * | |||||||||
| Number Three: Conference - A Telephone Happening | |||||||||
| Number Four: Knocking Piece II | |||||||||
| Lament (1966) * | fl, tp, tb, vla, vlc, cb | ||||||||
| String Quartet No. 2 (1964) | |||||||||
| Motet (1963) | 3 recorders | ||||||||
| Non Piu (1963) | 3 recorders | ||||||||
| Diversion for Four (1959) | vibr, pf, cb, perc | ||||||||
| String Quartet No. 1 (1959) “Nine Variations” |
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| Gambit (1958) for Merce Cunningham |
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| Septet (1957) | fl/picc, ob/eng hn, cl/bass cl, bsn, hn, vlc, cb |
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| ORCHESTRA | |||||||||
| top solos duos ensemble orchestra stage vocal writing | |||||||||
| Chamber Symphony (1990) | |||||||||
| Journeys (1988) | |||||||||
| Symphony in A (1988) | |||||||||
| Quintet for Groups (1966) | |
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| Ivesberg Revisited (1960) | jazz band | ||||||||
| Newcastle Troppo (1960) | jazz band | ||||||||
| Passacaglia and Epilogue (1960) from St. Joan |
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| STAGE | |||||||||
| top solos duos ensemble orchestra stage vocal writing | |||||||||
| Carmilla (1970) libretto: Wilford Leach |
music theater | ||||||||
| The Wooden Bird (1951) * jointly composed with Harry Partch play by Wilford Leach |
Partch instruments | ||||||||
| VOCAL | |||||||||
| top solos duos ensemble orchestra stage vocal writing | |||||||||
| Parable (2000) text: Jala ad-Din ar-Rumi translated by Coleman Barks with John Moyne |
soprano, clarinet, violin | ||||||||
| The Tavern (1999) text: Jala ad-Din ar-Rumi translated by Coleman Barks |
voice, microtonal guitar | ||||||||
| Quietness (1998) text: Jala ad-Din ar-Rumi translated by Coleman Barks |
voice and string quartet | ||||||||
| Invocation (1997) text by Farid al-Din Attar translated by C.S. Nott |
soprano and chamber ensemble | ||||||||
| U.S. Highball (1997) * by Harry Partch, arr. Johnston |
voice, string quartet | ||||||||
| Barstow (1994) by Harry Partch, arr. Johnston |
voice, string quartet | ||||||||
| Secret (1994) text by Robert Bly |
mixed chorus | ||||||||
| A Man and a Woman Sit Near Each Other (1993) text by Robert Bly |
baritone voice, cl, hn | ||||||||
| Mantram (1993) | SATB chorus | ||||||||
| Calamity Jane to her Daughter (1989) | soprano voice, vln, kbd, org, drum set | ||||||||
| Songs of Loss (1987) text by John Donne |
tenor voice, 2 vln, vla, vlc, cb | ||||||||
| On Love (1986) | mixed chorus | ||||||||
| Sonnets of Desolation (1980) text by Gerard Manley Hopkins |
eight singers (SSAATTBB) | ||||||||
| Two Sonnets of Shakespeare (1978) | bass voice, fl, ob, cl, tp, tb, tba, vla, cb |
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| Visions and Spels (1976) text translated from native American sources by Jerome Rothenberg |
improvising speaking group | ||||||||
| Songs of Innocence (1975) * text by William Blake |
soprano and ensemble | ||||||||
| I’m goin’ away (1973) text based on an Appalachian folk song |
SATB chorus | ||||||||
| Mass (1972) | SATB chorus, 8 tb, perc | ||||||||
| Rose (1971) text by Sibyl Johnston |
SATB chorus | ||||||||
| Prayer (1966) text: “Now I lay me down to sleep” |
SSA boys’ chorus | ||||||||
| Ci-Gît Satie (1966) text: scat syllables |
SATB (four or more), bass, drum set | ||||||||
| Of Vanity (1964) text: Ecclesiastes |
SATB chorus | ||||||||
| A Sea Dirge (1962) text by William Shakespeare |
mezzo-soprano, fl, ob, vln | ||||||||
| Five Fragments (1960) text by Henry David Thoreau |
voice, ob, bsn, vlc | ||||||||
| Three Chinese Lyrics (1955) * text by Li Po (Rihaku) translated by Ezra Pound |
soprano and 2 violins | ||||||||
| Night (1955) text by Robinson Jeffers |
cantata for baritone, female chorus, cl, hn, tp, tb, perc, vlc, cb |
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| WRITING | |||||||||
| top solos duos ensemble orchestra stage vocal writing |