Arthur  Jarvinen:  Selected Musical Compositions The music of Arthur Jarvinen is published exclusively by Leisure Planet Music This list is by category. You may also see works listed in reverse chronology.

large ensembles     chamber ensembles      solos      percussion      keyboard      vocal/text      unspecified 

LARGE ENSEMBLES

BREAKING THE CHINK (1993) sop sax, bari sax, b.cl, tbn, kbd, 2 perc, vln, vla, 2 elec gtrs, elec bass. 13 minutes

ELECTRIC JESUS (1985) large ensemble and juvenile piano soloist: b.fl, ob, 2 b.cls, bsn/cbsn, tpt, hn, tbn, b.tbn, tba, 3 perc, pno, vln, vla, 2 vc, elec bass. 35 minutes

MASS DEATH OF A SCHOOL OF SMALL HERRING (The Natural History of "Deductible Rooms") (1986) chamber orchestra: picc, b.fl, e flat cl/b flat cl, b.cl, bsn/cbsn, hn, tbn, tba, 2 perc, stgs (4/4/3/3/2). 11 minutes

PHILIFOR HONEYCOMBED WITH CHILDISHNESS (1991) oboe (solo) and chamber ensemble: picc, b.cl, pno, 3 perc, vln, vc, cb. 20 minutes

SOLVING for X(tet) (1995) fl, b.cl, bsn, pno, perc, hp, vln, vla, vc, cb. 2 minutes

WHITE LIGHTS LEAD TO RED (1996, re-arranged 2005)  2 picc. (doubling pan pipes), sop. sax, bari sax, b.cl, 2 pno, perc, vln, vc, e.gtr, e.bass.  10 min.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

100 CADENCES, WITH FOUR MELODIES, A CHORALE AND CODA (“with bells on!”)  (2007) String quartet. 40 minutes

THE ATEN (1995) vln (or clarinet), pno, bass (acoustic or elec), drum set/gongs. 8 - 20 minutes
(Through-composed version is 8 minutes. Improvisation optional in some sections)

BE GOOD TO YOUR FINGERS AND THEY WON'T KILL YOU (1994) cl, bsn, vla, cb, perc. 8 minutes

BLUE TANGO/OPEN WATER (2005)  dobro (with slide) and string quartet.  4 minutes

A BOOK OF FIVE RINGS (1986) pno, prepared pno, perc (1 or 2 players). 14 minutes

BROKEN OSTINATO (1996) 2 guitars (electric, acoustic, or classical). 8 minutes

CHASING THE DEVIL (1995) 4 melody instruments, perc, low instrument, bass instrument. 12 minutes

CLEAN YOUR GUN (1991) elec vln, chromatic harmonica, cello (or elec gtr), bari sax. 6 minutes

CLEAN YOUR GUN (1992) string quartet. 6 minutes

A CONSPIRACY OF CROWS  (2000)  3 oboes. 20 minutes

DEFRAG 1 - in memoriam Earle Brown (2006) graphic score for realization by mixed ensemble, medium to orchestra. Variable duration, 98 seconds to 98 minutes

DREAM CRUSH MUSIC: RAW (1999)
2 Hammond organs, electric violin, percussion. 12 minutes

EDIBLE BLACK INK (1989) 3 duets: elec gtr, elec bass; OR mba, elec bass. 4 minutes

EGYPTIAN TWO-STEP (1986) picc (b.fl), chrom. harm, bari sax, pno, mba, 2 spray cans, elec bass. 6 minutes

ENDLESS BUMMER, Parts III, IV & V (2003) 2 guitars.  10 minutes

GOLDBEATER'S SKIN (1987) bsn (or b.cl), ratchet, glock, synth, vln, vc. 8½ minutes

GUN DANCE (2004) 2 electric guitars, electric bass, accordion, piano, glockenspiel, chimes, timpani, drum set.
2 minutes

ISOLUMINARIES (1995) fl, b.cl, perc, pno, vln, vc. 12 minutes

THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (1992) viola (solo) and chamber ensemble: vln, krummhorn (or ob), perc, b.cl, bsn, vc. 16 minutes

MURPHY-NIGHTS (a coda to "Johnny Sprays") (1989) bari sax, perc, synth, elec vln, elec bass, optional solo instrument. 12 minutes

OH, REBECCA (fifty is not so...)  (2006)  a tango for flute and cello.  1 1/2 minutes

THE OUIJA BOARD (2004)  music for the 1920 Max Fleischer cartoon, to be played as a live score.
Piccolo, oboe, clarinet, contrabassoon, piano, percussion, viola, contrabass. 5 minutes.

PERCY GRAINGER FANS THE MUSE (2007) Three soprano recorders. 14 minutes.

THE QUEEN OF SPAIN (1988-90) 2 electronic hpschds (midi kybds), 2 perc (bass drums, crotales). 3 movements. 13 minutes. 1st mvmt may be performed alone (2 kbds, 1 perc). 6 minutes

SGT. PEKKER, the Complete Scores (2001)  30 humorous songs in the manner of the Beatles. 56 minutes

SRUTI  (2007)  Sruti box and polyphonic tone generator. 14 minutes.

SUMO, I -VII (2002)  very short pieces for tenor saxophone, piano, electric bass, and drumset. 2 1/2 minutes

SYMPHONY FOR BROKEN STRINGS (2002) 3 (or multiples of 3) electric guitars.  10 minutes

TANGO INCOGNITO (2005) cello quartet.  3 minutes

THREE GYMNOPÉDIES (1999)
Violin or viola, piano, percussion.  12 minutes

THREE TANGOS (2003) string quartet, or string quartet and percussion.  14 minutes

TOYS DO NOT WALK AND TALK (1992) bs cl, tbn, vln, elec bs. 7 minutes
(Also available in a version for vln, el gtr, tbn, el bs.)

TRIBAL SONGS OF THE ANDROMEDA (2007) sextet for bird whistles and various noise-makers. 12 - 14 minutes

VISCOUS LININGS (1981) clste, vla, b.cl, perc. 13 minutes

THE VULTURE'S GARDEN (1990) fl/picc, cl/bs cl, pno, 2 perc, vln, vc. Some re-orchestration possible. 13 minutes

WHITE LIGHTS LEAD TO RED (1996) fl, b.cl, pno, 2 perc, vln, vc. 10 minutes

SOLOS

BENCH ADS WORK (1990) slide guitar. 1 minute

CARBON (1982) bass clarinet. 11 minutes

THE FIFTEEN FINGERS OF DOCTOR WU (1987) oboe. 6 minutes

FOUR MELODIES AND A CODA (2007)  Cello solo. 12 minutes.

GOLDBEATER'S SKIN (1988) violin. 8½ minutes

GOLDBEATER'S SKIN (1987) clarinet or bass clarinet. 8½ minutes

NO BLUES  (1997)
chromatic harmonica solo with digital delay.  7 minutes.

PIZZICATO (1996) cello solo. 6 minutes

PERCUSSION

BOARDPLAY (2007)  solo for simantron and bell plate. 7 minutes

BONG'S GARBO (1993) trio for hand-held gongs. 4 minutes

BONG'S OTHER GARBO (from Ghatam) (1993) percussion trio. 6 minutes

DEDUCTIBLE ROOMS (1982) marimba. 7 minutes

JALTARONG (from Ghatam) (1992) percussion trio for 26 porcelain bowls. ca. 12 minutes
(Can be played on less specialized instruments, such as flower pots.)

OUT OF THE BLUE (1996) solo for 8 tuned steel bell plates, or chimes. 3 minutes

THE PACES OF YU (1990) berimbau and homemade percussion instruments. 5 players. 19 minutes

RAISON D'ETRE (1981) marimba and vibraphone (1 player). 6½ minutes

THROUGH BIRDS, THROUGH FIRE, BUT NOT THROUGH GLASS (1979) percussion quartet (including piano). 12 minutes

TRIBAL SONGS OF THE ANDROMEDA (2006) bird whistles, duck calls, and various noise-makers. 6 players. 12 minutes

TRIO WITH TIME MACHINES (1990) 3 glocks, 3 ratchets, 3 kitchen timers (3 players). 12minutes

TUACA - outdoor ritual music for 3 percussionists  (2000)  3 simantrons. 10-12 minutes

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE (1979) trio for amplified triangles. 8 minutes

KEYBOARD

APARTING, for Piano (2000)  performance installation for piano and technician, ca. 12 hours

BROKEN OSTINATO (1996) 2 pianos, left hand. 8 minutes

FOUR ROSICRUCIAN PRELUDES (1999)  piano solo. 8 minutes

LITTLE HUMILIATIONS (1999)  selected variations from Serious Immobilities
2 speaking and singing pianists. 20 minutes

THE MEANING OF THE TREAT (1995) piano solo. 8 minutes

MERCURY AT RIGHT ANGLES (1980) celeste solo. 6 minutes

SERIOUS IMMOBILITIES, complete (1997) 840 variations on Satie's Vexations. Piano solo. 24 hours

SERIOUS IMMOBILITIES, part one (1997) 210 variations on Satie's Vexations. Piano solo. 6 hours

SERIOUS IMMOBILITIES, Petit (1999) 84 variations on Satie's Vexations. Piano solo. 75 minutes

THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES (1987) 2 pianos. 9 minutes

SOLUBLE FURNITURE (1980) piano. 6½ minutes

WORKING NOTES (2008) Structured improvisation for piano. Indeterminate duration.

VOCAL/TEXT

25 LINES FOR 25 QUIRES - Set One: Nos. 2, 5, 14, 20 & 22  (2005)
male chorus: falsettist (or countertenor), tenor, baritone, baritone, bass - a cappella, one to a part (ensemble may be augmented). 18 minutes

AM SAYING IT (2004) spoken word piece on quotations from John Cage, Marcel Duchamp, and Jasper Johns.
3 performers. 8 minutes.

GOD B's LULLABY (1994) voice (S or A or T), piano. 4 minutes

I WORDS (2003)  Instructions for realization of a text piece for specific occasions. 3 minutes.

LITTLE DEATHS (1991) three readers and television set. 7 minutes

LITTLE HUMILIATIONS (1999)  selected variations from Serious Immobilities
2 speaking and singing pianists. 20 minutes.
MICROSCOPERAS (1995) electric chord organ, recitation. 8minutes

NIGHTHAWKS - A staged song cycle on paintings by Edward Hopper (2002)
keyboards, guitars, acoustic bass doubling euphonium and trombone, male and female voices (sung and spoken).
45 minutes.


UNSPECIFIED INSTRUMENTATION

PERSONAL MUSIC (2004) instructions for guided improvisation based on other composers' works.
3 or more performers, any instruments. 15 minutes

PROSTHESIS  (1981)  "false piece" for anything or nothing.  no duration to infinity.

TIMEPEACE - a piece for a time for peace (2003)  amplified analog timepieces and assorted small sounds.
30 minutes or more