Programs for Concerts
Suggested Programming for AN ALL WILDER Concert
It is recommended an All Alec Wilder concert include: Art Songs; Octets (for winds, harpsichord, string bass, drums); chamber music, popular songs, and jazz. This programming makes for a true representation of Wilder’s oeuvre rather than placing him in a single category as a composer.
SAMPLE PROGRAM ONE
Three Art Songs
Chick Lormer (1953)
Did You Ever Cross Over to Sneden’s? (1947)
The Olive Tree (1946)
( voice & piano )
Three Octets
Remember Me To Youth (1947)
Such A Tender Night (1939)
Neurotic Goldfish (1939)
( woodwinds, harpsichord, bass, drums )
Sonata for Alto Sax and Piano (1964)
OR
Five Lovesongs for Horn and Piano (1979)
OR
Suite No.1 for Horn, Tuba, and Piano (1961)
INTERMISSION
From the “Popular Songs”**
(note: choose 3-5)
It’s So Peaceful in the Country (1941)
Where Do You Go When It Starts To Rain (1948)
Blackberry Winter (1976)
While We’re Young (1943)
The Sounds Aound the House (1976)
Mimosa and Me (1964)
A Child Is Born (Wilder lyric; music by Thad Jones (1969)
The Lady Sings the Blues (1956)
Remember My Child (1964)
If Someday Comes Ever Again (1976)
I See It Now (1962)
Photographs (1968)
A Long Night (1980)
I’ll Be Around (1942)
( voice/piano or with rhythm section of piano or guitar, bass, drums )
Woodwind or Brass Quintet of choice
OR
Nonet for Horns and Tuba (1969)
OR
Saxophone Quartet (1963)
Jazz Combo
Moon and Sand (1941)
Baggage Room Blues (1954)
(note: choose from the above list** of titles not performed vocally}
( Jazz combo – instrumentation of choice)
**************************
SAMPLE PROGRAM TWO
Three Art Songs
Songs for Patricia (undated)
Did You Ever Cross Over to Sneden’s? (1947)
Songs from Alice In Wonderland (1958)
( voice & piano )
Three Octets
The Amorous Poltergeist (1947)
Untitled No. 21
House Detective Registers (1941)
( woodwinds, harpsichord, bass, drums )
Choice of Sonatas No. 1-3 for Horn and Piano (1954,1957,1970)
OR
Sonata for Tuba and Piano (1959)
OR
Footnote to a Summer Love (clarinet and piano) (1947)
INTERMISSION
From the “Popular Songs”**
(note: choose 3-5)
It’s So Peaceful in the Country (1941)
Where Do You Go When It Starts To Rain (1948)
Blackberry Winter (1976)
While We’re Young (1943)
The Sounds Aound the House (1976)
Mimosa and Me (1964)
A Child Is Born (Wilder lyric; music by Thad Jones (1969)
The Lady Sings the Blues (1956)
Remember My Child (1964)
If Someday Comes Ever Again (1976)
I See It Now (1962)
Photographs (1968)
A Long Night (1980)
I’ll Be Around (1942)
( voice/piano or with rhythm section of piano or guitar, bass, drums )
Woodwind or Brass Quintet of choice
OR
Nonet for Horns and Tuba (1969)
OR
Saxophone Quartet (1963)
Jazz Combo
Moon and Sand (1941)
Baggage Room Blues (1954)
(note: choose from the above list** of titles not performed vocally}
( Jazz combo – instrumentation of choice)
**************************
The following compositions have also been selected as possible works for programming. Included are links to publishers and the discography pages for this website.
ART SONGS
Recordings
(1) Valerie Errante/Robert Wason: Songs of Alec Wilder (Albany)
CHICK LORIMER (Carl Sandburg)
COLLEEN, THE (1) (James Stephens)
DEFINITION (1) (William Engvick)
DID YOU EVER CROSS OVER TO SNEDEN’S? (Alec Wilder)
Roberta Alexander: With You (Etcetera)
Andrea Marcovicci: Some Other Time/Sings Mabel Mercer (Cabaret)
Mabel Mercer: The Art of Mabel Mercer (Collectables)
Janet Planet/Bob Levy: Did You Ever Cross Over to SnedenÂ’s (Stellar)
EASTER 1916 (1) (Patrick Pearse)
FIVE VOCALISES for Soprano and Winds
IF YOU ARE HAPPY (Covenant) (1) (Tennessee Williams)
IN THE MORNING (1) (William Engvick)
LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE, THE (1) (William Butler Yeats)
MARGARET (1) (Gerard Manley Hopkins)
OLIVE TREE, THE (1) (Edmund Anderson)
PLOWMAN, THE (1) (traditional text)
RIVER RUN (1) (Marshall Barer)
ROSE ON THE WIND, THE (1) (James Stephens)
SONGS FOR PATRICIA – Song Cycle (Norman Rosten)
Manhattan Chamber Ensemble with Margaret Astrup: Such a Tender Night (Newport Classics)
SPRING (1) (Gerard Manley Hopkins)
WHEN I AM DEAD, MY DEAREST (1) (Christina Rossetti)
SELECTED CHILDREN’S SONGS (* Ludlow Music)
CHURKENDOOSE, THE (Ben Ross Berenberg)
CLOSE YOUR EYES (William Engvick)
Shawn Colvin: Holiday Songs and Lullabies (Columbia)
Priscilla Herdman: Stardreamer/Nightsongs and Lullabies (Stardreamer)
CROCODILE SONG (Lewis Carroll)
Jan De Gaetani: Lullabies and Night Songs (Caedmon)
DOUGLAS MOUNTAIN (Arnold Sundgaard)
Raffi: Raffi’s Christmas Album (Rounder)
ELEPHANT PRESENT, THE (William Engvick)
Jan De Gaetani: Lullabies and Night Songs (Caedmon)
EVENING IS A LITTLE BOY (Frances Frost)
Shawn Colvin: Holiday Songs and Lullabies (Columbia)
HOW LOVELY IS CHRISTMAS (Arnold Sundgaard)
Bing Crosby: How Lovely Is Christmas (Golden Drive)
NIGHT WILL NEVER STAY, THE (Eleanor Farjeon)
Shawn Colvin: Holiday Songs and Lullabies (Columbia)
SEAL LULLABY (Rudyard Kipling)
Shawn Colvin: Holiday Songs and Lullabies (Columbia)
STARLIGHTER, THE (Arthur Guiterman)
Heidi Grant Murphy: Dreamscape (Koch)
WHERE DO YOU SLEEP? (William Engvick)
Heidi Grant Murphy: Dreamscape (Koch)
WINDY NIGHTS (Robert Louis Stevenson)
Shawn Colvin: Holiday Songs and Lullabies (Columbia)
POPULAR SONGS
All Wilder Song Collections – Recordings
(1) Jackie Cain/Roy Kral :An Alec Wilder Collection (Audiophile)
(2) Meredith D’Ambrosio: Another Time (Sunnyside)
(3) Valerie Errante/Robert Wason: Songs of Alec Wilder (Troy)
(4) Eileen Farrell: Eileen Farrell Sings Alec Wilder (Reference)
(5) Roland Hanna: Roland Hanna Plays the Music of Alec Wilder (Tokuma Japan)
(6) Vic Juris: Music of Alec Wilder (Double Time)
(7) Bob Levy: Blackberry Winter/Songs by Alec Wilder (Mark)
(8) David Liebman: Lieb Plays Wilder (Daybreak)
(9) Marian McPartland: Plays the Music of Alec Wilder (Jazz Alliance)
(10) Bob Rockwell 5: Bob’s Wilder (Stunt)
(11) Ben Sidran/Bob Rockwell: Walk Pretty/The Songs of Alec Wilder (Go Jazz)
(12) Marlene VerPlanck: Marlene VerPlanck Sings Alec Wilder (Audiophile)
Note: In the following list, the parenthesized numbers next to the song title indicate in which “All Wilder Collection” recording the song is included.
APRIL AGE, THE BAGGAGE ROOM BLUES (7)
BE A CHILD (4, 12)
BLACKBERRY WINTER (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12)
A CHILD IS BORN (2, 3)
CRAZY IN THE HEART (12)
DON’T DENY (3)
DOUGLAS MOUNTAIN
ECHOES OF MY LIFE, THE (1, 3)
EVERYWHERE I LOOK
GIVE ME TIME (12)
GOOD-BYE, JOHN (6)
HOW LOVELY IS CHRISTMAS
I LIKE IT HERE (11, 12)
I SEE IT NOW (1)
I WISH I HAD THE BLUES AGAIN (12)
IF SOMEDAY COMES EVER AGAIN (4, 11)
I’LL BE AROUND (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9)
IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR
IS IT ALWAYS LIKE THIS?
IT’S A FINE DAY FOR WALKING COUNTRY STYLE (3, 4)
IT’S SO PEACEFUL IN THE COUNTRY (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
JUST AN OLD STONE HOUSE
LADY SINGS THE BLUES, THE (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12)
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART (3)
LONG NIGHT, A (6, 8, 11)
LOVE IS WHEN (1)
LOVERS AND LOSERS (11, 12)
MIMOSA AND ME (1, 5, 7)
MOON AND SAND (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11)
NIGHT TALK
PHOTOGRAPHS (Me In Love With You)
RAIN, RAIN (Don’t Go ‘Way) (2)
REMEMBER MY CHILD (1, 3, 5, 12)
(So You’ve Had A) CHANGE OF HEART (12)
SOFT AS SPRING
THE SOUNDS AROUND THE HOUSE (5, 7)
SOUTH TO A WARMER PLACE (11, 12)
SUCH A LONELY GIRL AM I (2, 6)
SUMMER IS A-COMINÂ’ IN
THAT’S MY GIRL (5, 6, 11, 12)
TROUBLE IS A MAN (4, 8, 9)
UNBELIEVABLE (1)
WHERE DO YOU GO (3, 4, 7)
WHERE IS THE ONE (6, 8, 12)
WHILE WE’RE YOUNG (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
WHO CAN I TURN TO (2, 4)
WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT, THE (3, 6, 8, 11)
WRONG BLUES, THE (3, 8, 12)
THEATRE PIECES and MUSICAL NARRATIVES*
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1958) Ludlow 20 min.
Text by Lewis Carroll
Narr, soli, ww qnt
Woodwind quintet available
CHILDREN’S PLEA FOR PEACE(1968) Margun 14 min.
Text by Alec Wilder
Narr, SSAA wind ensemble: 2-1-4-1, 3-3-3-1, perc (piano accompaniment available)
KITTIWAKE ISLAND (1953) Ludlow/Schirmer 105 min.
Musical comedy in two acts
Libretto by Arnold Sundgaard
Soli, chorus, orch: 1-0-3-0-4, 0-2-2-0, perc, pf, str (piano accompaniment available)
MISS CHICKEN LITTLE (1953) Ludlow 27 min.
Musical Fable in one act
Libretto by William Engvick
Soli, chorus, orch: 1-1 (E hn)-2 (bcl)-1, 2-1-0-0, timp, perc, pf, str (piano accompaniment available)
OPERA*
CUMBERLAND FAIR (1953) Ludlow 25 min.
Libretto by Arnold Sundgaard
Soli, chorus, 1-0-4-0, 0-2-0-0, cb, gtr, perc, pf
ELLEN (The Long Way) (1955, rev. 1964) Margun 50 min.
Libretto by William Engvick
Soli, chorus, 1-1-1-1, 1-0-0-0, 1 perc, str
THE LOWLAND SEA (1952) Schirmer 55 min.
Libretto by Arnold Sundgaard
Soli, chorus, 1-1-2-1, 2-2-2-0, timp, perc, hp, pf, str
THE OPENING (1972) Margun 35 min.
Libretto by Arnold Sundgaard
Soli, 1-1-3 (bcl)1, 2-1-1-0, perc, cb
SUNDAY EXCURSION (1953) Ludlow/Schirmer 25 min.
Libretto by Arnold Sundgaard
Soli, chorus, 1-1-2-1, 1-1-0-0, perc, pf, str
THE TRUTH ABOUT WINDMILLS (1975) Margun 60 min.
Libretto by Arnold Sundgaard
Soli, 1-1(E hn)-1-1, 1-0-0-0, perc, str
FILM SCORES*
ALBERT SCHWEITZER (1957)
Academy award winning Jerome Hill documentary
GRANDMA MOSES (1950)
Developed and orchestrated from music by Hugh Martin
OPEN THE DOOR AND SEE ALL THE PEOPLE (1963)
Jerome Hill feature film
THE SAND CASTLE (1959)
Jerome Hill feature film.
CHAMBER MUSIC – ENSEMBLE – WOODWINDS*
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1958) Ludlow* 20 min.
woodwind quintet, songbook
SAXOPHONE QUARTET (1963) AW179 (POD) Margun 12 min.
SOLO SUITE FOR WOODWIND QUINTET (1956) Ludlow* 9 min.
TRIO FOR FLUTE, CLARINET AND BASSOON (1979) AW PT0239 (POD) Margun 13 min.
WOODWIND QUINTET No. 1 (1954) Ludlow* 12 min.
WOODWIND QUINTET No. 2 (1956) Ludlow* 14 min.
WOODWIND QUINTET No. 3 (1958) Ludlow* 12 min.
WOODWIND QUIMTET No.4 (1959) AW PT0152 (POD) Margun 11 min.
WOODWIND QUINTET No. 6 (1960) AW154 (POD) Margun 12 min.
WOODWIND QUINTET No. 10 (1968) AW158 Margun 13 min.
WOODWIND QUINTET No. 11 (1971) Ludlow* 17 min.
CHAMBER MUSIC – ENSEMBLE – BRASS*
BRASS QUINTET No. 1 (1959) MM035 Margun 11 min.
BRASS QUINTET No. 4 (1973) AW PT212 (POD) Margun 19 min.
BRASS QUINTET No. 5 (1975) AW PT213 (POD) Margun 17 min.
JAZZ SUITE FOR BRASS QUINTET (collected Suite from movements 1959-1980)
MM0118 (POD) Margun 15 min.
JAZZ SUITE FOR FOUR HORNS (1951) Ludlow 10 min.
4 hn, hpd, gtr, cb, dr
NONET (1969), 8 hn, tu AW0176 (POD) Margun 9 min.
SUITE FOR 19 TROMBONES (1967) AW228 rental Margun 14 min.
SUITE No. 1 FOR HORN, TUBA AND PIANO (1962) MM071 Margun 14 min.
CHAMBER MUSIC – ENSEMBLE – MIXED*
THE OCTETS: Fl/cl, ob/E hn, cl, bcl, bsn, hpd, dr, cb
The Amorous Poltergeist (1947) Ludlow* 3 min. each
Bull Fiddle in a China Shop (1941)
The Children Met the Train (1940)
Dance Man Buys a Farm (1941)
A Debutante’s Diary (1939)
Footnote to a Summer Love (1947)
Her Old Man Was Suspicious (1941)
House Detective Registers (1941)
It’s Silk, Feel It (1939)
Jack, This Is My Husband (1947)
Kindergarten Flower Pageant (1941)
Little Girl Grows Up (1939)
Little White Samba (1947)
Neurotic Goldfish (1939)
Pieces of Eight (1941)
Please Do Not Disturb (1941)
Remember Me To Youth (1947)
Sea Fugue, Mama (1939)
Seldom the Sun (1940)
She’ll Be Seven in May (1939)
Such a Tender Night (1939)
Untitled (Octet No. 17)
Untitled (Octet No. 21)
Untitled (Octet No. 27)
Walking Home in Spring (1939)
Suite for Clarinet, Horn and Piano (1964) AW143 Margun 12 min.
Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano (1975) AW217 (POD) Margun 11 min.
CHAMBER MUSIC – SOLOS*
FLUTE
Sonata No. 1 for Flute and Piano (1962) AW198 (POD) Margun 13 min.
(doubles pic, al fl)
Sonata No. 2 for Flute and Piano (1965) MM 0085 (POD) Margun 13 min.
Suite for Unaccompanied Flute (1975) AW 243 (POD) Margun 19 min.
OBOE
Sonata for Oboe and Piano (1969) AW107 Margun 13 min.
CLARINET
Footnote to a Summer Love (1947), cl & pf Ludlow* 3 min.
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1963) MM055 Margun 14 min.
BASSOON
Sonata No. 2 for Bassoon and Piano (1968) MM093 (POD) Margun 14 min.
Sonata No. 3 for Bassoon and Piano (1974) AW202 (POD) Margun 15 min.
SAXOPHONE
Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1960) MM053 Margun 9 min.
HORN
Sonata No. 1 for Horn and Piano (1954) AW300 Margun 13 min.
Sonata No. 2 for Horn and Piano (1957) AW301 Margun 15 min.
Sonata No. 3 for Horn and Piano (1970) MM011 Margun 16 min.
TRUMPET
Suite for Trumpet and Piano (1967) AW132 (POD) Margun 9 min.
TUBA
Sonata No. 1 for Tuba and Piano (1959) Ludlow 12 min.
Suite No. 1 for Tuba and Piano (Effie Suite) (1960) MM0054 Margun 11 min.
CONTRABASS
Small Suite for Bass and Piano (1968) AW172A (POD) Margun 10 min.
(also solo editions for Bassoon, Bass Clarinet and Tuba)
Sonata for Bass and Piano (1961) AW164 (POD) Margun 10 min.
MARIMBA
Suite for Solo Guitar (1972)
(transcribed for Marimba by Gordon Stout) Margun
PIANO
Sonata-Fantasy (undated) Margun* 8 min.
