Official site of composer Andrea Clearfield. Biography, list of works with audio, score samples, reviews and program notes, photographs, upcoming performances.
Scroll down to watch videos. Click on individual piece names for more information or email Andrea
Lung-Ta (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, percussion, violin, viola, cello, digital field recordings – 2009), 25 min.
Group Motion Dance Company performing Lung-Ta
The Tibetan Buddhist prayer flag is called Lung-Ta, “Windhorse” after the horse which carries the prayers of the faithful upward towards the heavens. In 2008, composer Clearfield and artist Maureen Drdak trekked to Lo Monthang, a remote region of northern Nepal, which is one of the world’s last remaining enclaves of old Tibetan culture, to research the music and art. Commissioned by Network for New Music, the collaboration with Maureen Drdak, painter and Group Motion Dance Company, Manfred Fischbeck, artistic director, was premiere at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, 2009. The concert version of Lung-Ta was premiered in 2011 by Network for New Music. The midwest premiere of Lung-Ta took place in May, 2012 at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel with the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble under the direction of Barbara Schubert. The complete multi-media work is, in essence, a 25-minute-long prayer celebrating the common themes of eastern and western philosophy. Lung-Ta was presented as a gift to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as an initiative for world peace in 2009. .“Stunning premiere” –Philadelphia City Paper, March, 2009
Califia is a collaborative installation performance work with filmmaker/poet Quintan Ana Wiksw, choreographer Manfred Fischbeck and violinist Gloria Justen. Created through a residency at Montalvo Arts Center. Winner of the 2014 International Alliance for Women in Music Annual Concert Award. More info here.
Schwarzer Tod (electronic score 2011), 11 min.- dance, film and poetry
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company with visual artist/poet Quintan Ana Wikswo. Premiere 11/5/11 at Meeting House Theater, Philadelphia. Watch entire work
“The featured piece of the evening was Schwarzer Tod and The Useless Eaters, an interrogation of violence, transcendence and liberation beautifully balanced with the use of dance, music, video and spoken word.” - Dena Scott, The Dance Journal, 11/11
Chinnamasta, electronic score, commissioned by Manfred Fischbeck, choreographer/direction, Group Motion Dance Company. Premiered in 2010 at the Mandell Theater, Philadelphia.
Big Lump (electronics, 2012) in collaboration with visual artist Itty Neuhaus for an art installation. Video, timelapse photography, performative action drawing iceberg and puncturing page by Itty Neuhaus. Glacier sounds recorded by Katie Paterson are used as source material for the short electronic composition.
A shorter version here:
White Lotus – 2015), 4 min. electronic work for visual artist Martha Boyden
Just as Mist on a Mirror Fades – 2013), 3 min. electronic work for visual artist Martha Boyden. Dhrupad vocals by Amelia Cuni
Sonic Circuits with visual imagry by Educated Guess Work
Remembrance (electronic recording – 2010), 12 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company for City Dances
Cal-3 (solo piano – 2009), 7:15 min.
Work created in collaboration with dancers Debby Kajiyama, José Navarrete and painter Heinder Riepl at the Djerassi Resident Artist Program, July 31, 2009.
Collaborative work created at Djerassi artist residency (bird song field recordings, toy piano, piano – 2009), 10 min. For Loren Schwerd
Mozart Reloaded, Andrea as curator and host of multimedia concert celebrating Mozart’s 250th birthday, Fresh Ink Series, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
Andrea with Tom Warner at Mozart Reloaded, Kimmel Center, 2006
Re-Turn (violin, piano, bass, drum set, synthesizer – 2001), 5:49 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company
Women of Cyprus (voice, piano, sampler, also for string quintet – 2001)
Collaboration with Group Motion Dance Company and the Mersinio Arts Centre in Cyprus
Legacy (sop., flute, piano – 1997), 10 min.
Collaboration with Group Motion Dance Company and paintings by Louise Clearfield
Diary of Justyna (SATB chorus, chamber chorus, soprano solo, saxophone, 2 synthesizers, percussion – 1988), 30 min.
For moving chorus, musicians, dancers and actors Collaboration with Manfred Fischbeck, artistic director, Group Motion Dance Company
Collaborations
Scroll down to watch videos. Click on individual piece names for more information or email Andrea
Lung-Ta (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, percussion, violin, viola, cello, digital field recordings – 2009), 25 min.
Group Motion Dance Company performing Lung-Ta
The Tibetan Buddhist prayer flag is called Lung-Ta, “Windhorse” after the horse which carries the prayers of the faithful upward towards the heavens. In 2008, composer Clearfield and artist Maureen Drdak trekked to Lo Monthang, a remote region of northern Nepal, which is one of the world’s last remaining enclaves of old Tibetan culture, to research the music and art. Commissioned by Network for New Music, the collaboration with Maureen Drdak, painter and Group Motion Dance Company, Manfred Fischbeck, artistic director, was premiere at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, 2009. The concert version of Lung-Ta was premiered in 2011 by Network for New Music. The midwest premiere of Lung-Ta took place in May, 2012 at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel with the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble under the direction of Barbara Schubert. The complete multi-media work is, in essence, a 25-minute-long prayer celebrating the common themes of eastern and western philosophy. Lung-Ta was presented as a gift to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as an initiative for world peace in 2009. .“Stunning premiere” –Philadelphia City Paper, March, 2009
Califia (electroacoustic score– 2013), 40 min.
Califia is a collaborative installation performance work with filmmaker/poet Quintan Ana Wiksw, choreographer Manfred Fischbeck and violinist Gloria Justen. Created through a residency at Montalvo Arts Center. Winner of the 2014 International Alliance for Women in Music Annual Concert Award. More info here.
Schwarzer Tod (electronic score 2011), 11 min.- dance, film and poetry
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company with visual artist/poet Quintan Ana Wikswo. Premiere 11/5/11 at Meeting House Theater, Philadelphia. Watch entire work
“The featured piece of the evening was Schwarzer Tod and The Useless Eaters, an interrogation of violence, transcendence and liberation beautifully balanced with the use of dance, music, video and spoken word.” - Dena Scott, The Dance Journal, 11/11
Chinnamasta, electronic score, commissioned by Manfred Fischbeck, choreographer/direction, Group Motion Dance Company. Premiered in 2010 at the Mandell Theater, Philadelphia.
Big Lump (electronics, 2012)
in collaboration with visual artist Itty Neuhaus for an art installation. Video, timelapse photography, performative action drawing iceberg and puncturing page by Itty Neuhaus. Glacier sounds recorded by Katie Paterson are used as source material for the short electronic composition.
A shorter version here:
White Lotus – 2015), 4 min. electronic work for visual artist Martha Boyden
Just as Mist on a Mirror Fades – 2013), 3 min. electronic work for visual artist Martha Boyden. Dhrupad vocals by Amelia Cuni
Sonic Circuits (cello and film with interactive technology by Educated Guess Work – 2007), 15 min.
Commissioned by Chamber Music Now
Sonic Circuits with visual imagry by Educated Guess Work
Remembrance (electronic recording – 2010), 12 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company for City Dances
Cal-3 (solo piano – 2009), 7:15 min.
Work created in collaboration with dancers Debby Kajiyama, José Navarrete and painter Heinder Riepl at the Djerassi Resident Artist Program, July 31, 2009.
Collaborative work created at Djerassi artist residency (bird song field recordings, toy piano, piano – 2009), 10 min. For Loren Schwerd
Mozart Reloaded, Andrea as curator and host of multimedia concert celebrating Mozart’s 250th birthday, Fresh Ink Series, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
Andrea with Tom Warner at Mozart Reloaded, Kimmel Center, 2006
“Andrea Clearfield is to be thanked for daring to disturb the universe.”
Mozart Reloaded: All About Jazz by Victor Schermer
Broad Street Review/Mozart Reloaded: A composer for all seasons by Lewis Whittington
City Paper: Mozart Reloaded
Re-Turn (violin, piano, bass, drum set, synthesizer – 2001), 5:49 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company
Women of Cyprus (voice, piano, sampler, also for string quintet – 2001)
Collaboration with Group Motion Dance Company and the Mersinio Arts Centre in Cyprus
Legacy (sop., flute, piano – 1997), 10 min.
Collaboration with Group Motion Dance Company and paintings by Louise Clearfield
Body (electronic tape – 1997), 5 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company
Turbulence (electronic tape – 1997), 6 min.
Commissioned by Karen Bamonte Dance Company in collaboration with Manfred Fischbeck
City (electronic tape, keyboards – 1996), 5 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company
Labyrinth (soprano, oboe,/E.H.,marimba, percussion, piano – 1994), 15 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company
Winter Universe (soprano, flute, clarinet synthesizer, piano, percussion, electronic tape – 1992), 25 min.
Collaboration with choreographer Myra Bazell
Redstone string quartet (1991), 25 min.
Commissioned by Group Motion Dance Company
Diary of Justyna (SATB chorus, chamber chorus, soprano solo, saxophone, 2 synthesizers, percussion – 1988), 30 min.
For moving chorus, musicians, dancers and actors Collaboration with Manfred Fischbeck, artistic director, Group Motion Dance Company
Theme music for “Flavors of America”
IEBA Communications
Theme music and score for “Wilderness Adventures Off the Beaten Path
IEBA Communications