BEHZAD RANJBARAN
BIOGRAPHY
He was born and raised in Iran. He entered the Tehran Conservatory at the age of 9. Ranjbaran continued his study of composition at Indiana University. He obtained a DMA from the Juilliard School. Ranjbaran’s music is strongly rooted in the Neo-Romantic movement of the late 20th Century, as well as showing the influence of Iranian and other non-Western music. He has written compositions for, among others, Joshua Bell, Renée Fleming, and Yo-Yo Ma, as well a piano concerto for Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Many of his works are inspired by Persian culture and literature. Persian Trilogy, a large orchestral cycle completed in 2000, was inspired by the Shahnameh of the 11th Century Persian poet Ferdowsi. He has been on the faculty of the Juilliard School since 1991.
LIST OF WORKS
Awakening for String Orchestra (2005)
Commissioned and premiered by Sejong International Soloists and the Great Mountains
Music Festival, August 2, 2005, South Korea
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Recorded by Sejong Soloists for Naxos Label
Ballade for Unaccompanied Contrabass (1999)
Commissioned by International Society of Bassists
Caprice No. 1 for Solo Violin (1995)
Published: #114-40904
Dance of Life for Violin and Contrabass (1990)
Published: #114-40980
Recorded by Cala Records Ltd. (UK) CACD0507: New York Legends,
Eugene Levinson, contrabass
Gary Levinson, violin
Elegy for Cello and Piano (2000)
Published: #114-41056
Elegy for Contrabass and Piano (2010)
for solo and standard orchestral tuning
Published: #114-41342
Elegy for Cello and Strings (2004)
Transcription of the second movement of Ranjbaran’s Cello Concerto
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Recorded by Sejong Soloists for Naxos Label
Elegy for Clarinet and Strings (2004)
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Elegy for Strings (1985)
2Vln., Vla., Vcl., Cb.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Recorded by Sejong Soloists for Naxos Label
Fountains of Fin for Flute, Violin and Cello (2008)
Commissioned and premiered by Barge Music
Available Separately:
Set of parts (11440902P)
Full Score – Large (11440902S)
Isfahan for Clarinet, Harp, Two Violins, Viola, Cello and Double Bass (2007)
Commissioned and premiered by Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble for their 30th anniversary season,
March 23, 2007, Philadelphia
Published: #114-41322
Moto Perpetuo for Flute and Piano (2004)
Published: #114-41155
Moto Perpetuo for Solo Violin and Strings (2001)
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Recorded by Sejong Soloists for Naxos
Moto Perpetuo for Violin and Piano (1998)
Published: #114-41086
Nocturne (A Night in a Persian Garden) for Piano (2002)
Published: #110-40753
Enchanted Garden for Piano, 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello (2005)
Commissioned and premiered by Saratoga Chamber Music Festival in Saratoga Springs, New York
Published: #114-41296
Shiraz for Violin, Cello, & Piano (2006)
Commissioned and premiered by Barge Music, August 31, 2006, New York
Published: #114-41321
Six Caprices for Violin Duo (1988)
Published: #114-40905
Recorded by Sejong Soloists for Naxos Label
String Quartet No. 1 (1988)
Published: #114-40902
Available Separately:
Set of parts (11440902P)
Full Score – Large (11440902S)
Recorded by Sejong Soloists for Naxos Label
3(Picc.)-3(E.H.)-2-2; 4-3-3(B.Tbn.)-1; Timp., Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library.
Recorded by London Symphony Orchestra for Delos International.
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1998)
Vcl. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2(E.H.)-2-2; 4-3-3(B.Tbn.)-1; Timp., Perc., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Paul Tobias, cello, Virginia Symphony, JoAnn Falletta, conductor; January 27, 2001.
Recorded by Albany Records.
Elegy for Cello and Orchestra (1998)
Vcl. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2-2-2; 4-3-3(B.Tbn.)-1; Timp., 2Perc., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Paul Tobias, cello, Virginia Symphony, JoAnn Falletta, conductor; September 11, 1998.
Recorded by Albany Records.
Concerto for English Horn and Strings (2015)
EH. Solo; Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Network for New Music
Premiere Information: Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia, English horn, Network for New Music, Jan Krzywicki, conductor; October 18, 2015
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (2013)
Fl. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2-2-2; 4-3-3-1; Timp., 3Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Philadelphia Orchestra
Premiere Information: Jeffrey Khaner, flute, Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; October 31, 2013
Available Separately:
Published: # 114-40903 (Flute/Piano Reduction)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (2008)
Pno. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2(E.H.)-2-2; 4-2-2-0; Timp., 3Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Premiere Information: Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano, conductor; June 4, 2008
Available Separately: Piano Reduction
Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (2014)
Va. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2-2-2; 4-3-3-1; Timp., 3Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Santa Rosa Symphony
Premiere Information: Paul Silverthorne, viola, Santa Rosa Symphony, Bruno Ferrandis, conductor; March 22, 2014
Available Separately: Piano Reduction
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1994)
Vln. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2(E.H.)-2-2; 4-2-2-0; Timp., Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Joshua Bell, violin, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Gerard Schwarz, conductor; January 9, 2003
Published: #416-41366 (Study Score)
Published: #114-40903 (Violin/Piano Reduction)
Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra (2009)
Vln. and Vla. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2-2-2; 4-2-1-1; Timp., 2 Perc., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Vahn Armstrong, violin, Beverly Baker, viola, JoAnn Falletta, conductor; October 22, 2009
Published: #114-41402 (Piano Reduction)
Esther for Orchestra (2015)
3-3-2-2; 4-4-3-1; Timp., 3 Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Dr. Akbari Trust & Binghamton Philharmonic
Premiere Information: Binghamton Philharmonic, José-Luis Novo, conductor; April 18, 2015, Binghamton, New York
Mithra for Orchestra (2010)
3-3-3-3; 4-4-3-1; Timp., 3Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Commissioned by Magnum Opus Project/Meet The Composer
Santa Rosa Symphony, Bruno Ferrandis, conductor, February 13, 2010
Saratoga for Orchestra (2005)
3-3-3-3; 4-4-3-1; Timp., 3 Perc., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Commissioned for 40th anniversary of SPAC. Philadelphia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit, conductor, August 10, 2005
Seemorgh (part of Persian Trilogy) for Orchestra (1991)
3 (Picc.)-3(E.H.)-3(B.Cl.)-3(Cbsn.); 4-3-2-1; Timp., 3Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library.
Recorded by London Symphony Orchestra for Delos International.
Seven Passages (part of Persian Trilogy) for Orchestra (2000)
3(Picc.)-3(E.H.)-3(B.Cl.)-3(Cbsn.); 4-3-3(B.Tbn.)-1; Timp., Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Long Beach, CA; March 25, 2000.
Recorded by London Symphony Orchestra for Delos International.
Published: 416-41305 (Study Score)
Symphony No. 1 (1992)
3(Picc.)-3(E.H.)-2-4; 4-2-2(B.Tbn.)-0; Timp., Perc., Cel., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Songs of Eternity for Soprano and Orchestra (1998)
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Renée Fleming, soprano, Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz, conductor; September 2002
Open Secret for Chorus and Chamber Ensemble (1999)
SATB Chorus; Fl., Ob., Cl., Perc., Hp., Vln., Vla., Vcl.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: New Amsterdam Singers, Clara Longstreth, conductor; Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY, June 8, 1999
Thomas Jefferson for Narrator, Solo Cello and Orchestra (1998)
Narrator; Vcl. Solo; 2(Picc.)-2-2-2; 4-3-3(B.Tbn.)-1; Timp., 2Perc., Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: New Heritage Music
Premiere Information: Virginia Symphony, Martin Goldsmith, narrator, Paul Tobias, cello, JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Charlottesville, VA; September 11, 1998
Three Persian Songs for Voice and Piano (1987)
Premiere Information: Renée Fleming, soprano, and Candace Bawcombe, piano; Alice Tully Hall, New York; January 27, 1988
Published: #111-40239
We Are One for Chorus (SATB) (2008)
Published: #312-41854
Commission Information: Ithaca Choir
Premiere Information: Ithaca Choir, Lawrence Doebler, conductor; November 15, 2008
Zweite Hälfte for tape (2009)
Folliage Manège Interactive Sound and Video Installation Sound Installation Interactive Open Air Sound Installation Etude tape (2008)