Original Compositions (selected list)

As a composer of works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, soloists, and multimedia, my works are performed by distinguished artists internationally and nationally.  Where appropriate, I have indicated information about commissions, premieres, publishers, and awards

Unless listed otherwise, all music is published by:

RADNOR STREET MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP)
61 Andover RD.
Rockville Centre, NY  11570
Email: radnorstreetmusic@gmail.com
 

Ulysses' Sail (Carillon, 2014)
Commission: by Oakland University for the opening of the Elliott Carillon Tower
Premiere: September 19, 2014

Alma Mater (SATB Chorus and Orchestra, 2012) 
Original arrangement of the Miami University Alma Mater
Premiere: Carnegie Hall, NYC, by the Miami University Symphony Orchestra and combined choruses, October 7, 2012.  Stephen Lytle, conductor
Watch to the live premiere: James Lentini's “Alma Mater” at Carnegie Hall


Through Time and Place (Orchestra, 2010)
Commission:  By the Miami University Symphony Orchestra, Ricardo Averbach, conductor.  
Premiere at Miami University on February 26, 2010                                                                                                                                       Recorded by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra 
Release Date: March 13, 2020  
Catalog #: NV6273  Listen here:  James Lentini's "Through Time and Place"

 
Opposites Attract (Piano Trio, 2010)
Commission:  By The Rawlins Piano Trio of the University of South Dakota.
Premiere:  By the Rawlins Piano Trio, Vermillion, SD on January 28, 2010


The Trees of Miami (SATB Chorus and Wind Ensemble, 2009)
Commission:  By the Miami University Bicentennial Committee
Premiere:  By the Miami University Combined Choruses and Wind Ensemble,
Ethan Sperry and Gary Speck, conductors, October 23, 2009
Listen to the live premiere: Click Here for mp3


Big City Stomp (viola, baritone sax, and bayan)
Commission:   By Ada Gentile of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, Italy for the “Nuovi Spazi Musicali”  festival.  
Premiere: Hungarian Academy in Rome in October, 2006.


The Four Seasons (solo guitar, 2005-2006)
Commission:  by guitarist Charles Postlewate and published in the Contemporary Anthology of Solo Guitar Music for Five Fingers of the Right Hand, Mel Bay, 2009 (MB21290)
Link to publication:  Click Here
Listen to Movement 2, A Song for Spring:  Click Here for mp3


Pacific Sunrise (solo guitar, 2004)
Commission: for Italian guitarist Roberto Fabbri for publication in his solo guitar series by the international publisher Carisch.
Listen:

El Signo del Angel (viola and harp, 2004)
Commission:  by the noted Spanish duo of harpist Mickaele Granados and violist Julia Malkova.
Premiere: May 30, 2004 in Madrid, Spain on the festival of contemporary music series “Del Impresionismo al Siglo.”
Recording on Naxos American Classics.
Listen: Click Here for link to Naxos site.

 

A  Distant Place (fl, cl, bsn, vl, vla, vc, harp, guitar, 2003) 
Recorded by the Brno Contemporary Orchestra, Pavel Šnajdr, conductor.
Navona Records.Release Date: March 24, 2023
Release Date: March 24, 2023. Catalog #: NV6506 


East Coast Groove (tuba and piano, 2003
Commission: for Velvet Brown and Robert Arosio (“Duo Garda”).
Premiere: at the American Academy in Rome, Italy, October 10, 2003 at the Nuovi Spazi Musicali festival by the Duo Garda (Velvet Brown-tuba and Roberto Arosio-piano).
Recording on Naxos American Classics.
Listen: Click Here for link to Naxos site.


Riding with Warriors (wind symphony, 2003)
Commission:  the Wayne State University Wind Symphony, Douglas Bianchi, conductor.
Premiere:  January 16, 2003 at the Midwest In-Service Conference, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Michigan.


Dancing with Shadows (cello, accordion & computer disk, 2002)
Commission:   Nuovi Spazi Musicali, Rome, Italy.
Premiere:  at the American Academy in Rome, Italy, November 8, 2002 at the Nuovi Spazi Musicali festival  by Madeleine Shapiro (cello) and Mikko Luoma (accordion).


Shake, Rattle & Roll (percussion ensemble, 2001)
Commission:  Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony with a grant from "Meet the Composer.Premiere:   Birmingham, MI November 18, 2001 by the percussion section of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony at Temple Beth-El.


Mother Songs (soprano and guitar, 2001)
Commission: from Wayne State University.
Premiere: February 3, 2001 at Oakland University by Dana Lentini, soprano, and James Lentini, guitar.
Poems by Kathleen Fraser 


Three Sacred Meditations (orchestra, chorus and soprano soloist, 2000) Written with a Creative Artist Grant from ArtServe MichiganPremiere:  Detroit, MI November 21, 2000, performed at Old St. Mary’s Church in Greektown by the Michigan Chamber Symphony and the Wayne State University Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra with Dana Lentini, guest soprano, conducted by Norah Duncan IV.
Winner: First Prize in the Bluffton College Choral Composition Contest, 2004.
Winner:  Honors category in the "Waging Peace Through Singing" choral composition competition (for first movement, "Peace I leave with you").
 

Westward Voyage (Classical Guitar, 1999)
Commission: from guitarist William Kanengiser of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
Winner of the 2002 Segovia Composition Prize, Granada, Spain
Publisher:  EMEC, Madrid.


Axe Grinder (MIDI guitar controller, computer, samplers 1999
Premiere: Rochester, MIFebruary 13, 1999 on the “Pathway to Electronics” Concert at Oakland University
James Lentini-guitar


The Angel’s Journey (Symphonic Winds, 1998)
Commission: from the Wayne State University Symphony Band, Douglas Bianchi, conductor.             
Premiere:  Ann Arbor, MI January 22, 1999 at Hill auditorium at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra conference
by the Wayne State University Wind Symphony, conducted by Douglas Bianchi.


Sinfonia di Festa (orchestra, 1996) 
Commission:  by the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra in celebration of their 50th season (1945-1995).
Premiere: May 17, 1996 by the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Russell Reed at Pease Auditorium, Ypsilanti, MI


Scenes from Sedona (viola and violoncello 1996)
Publisher: European American Music, (Valley Forge, PA).
Commission: from Tom Flaherty of Pomona College, CA.
Premiere: November 19, 1996 at Wayne State University
Tom Flaherty, cello and Cynthia Fogg, viola.
Publisher:  SCI Journal of Music Scores vol. 25, through European American Music


Orchestra Hall Suite (vl, vla, vc, bsn, 1995)
Commission: from Detroit arts patron James Persons.
Premiere:  Community Arts Auditorium, Detroit on March 22,1995
Paul Ganson-bassoon, Geoffrey Applegate-violin, James VanValkenburg-viola, Marcy Chanteaux-cello.

 

Dreamscape (Chamber Orchestra, 1994)
Commission: University of South Carolina Conductors Institute.
Premiere:  July 20, 1994 at the University of South Carolina by the Conductors Institute Orchestra.

 

Concerto for Guitar and Strings (1994)
Premiere: February 19, 1993 by the Livonia (MI) Symphony,
James Lentini - guitar soloist, Francesco Di Blasi – Conductor


Fantasy for Guitar and Flute (1993)
Premiere: March 15, 1993 - Grosse Pointe War Memorial
Diane Littlefield-Kegler, flute, and John Hall, Guitar
Publisher: Acoma Editions (Toronto, Canada, 1996).

 

Montage (vl, vc, pno, 1992
Commission:  from Detroit arts patron James Persons.
Premiere: October 18, 1992 by the Essex Trio at Temple Beth El,                     
Birmingham, MI.


Life Matters (synthesizer score for documentary of the same title, 1992).
Aired 20 times on PBS from March - September, 1992.
 

Chautauqua (Electronic tape, 1989
Premiere: December 2, 1987 at the Schoenberg  Institute, Los Angeles.


Reflections (Guitar Quartet, 1987)
Commission: by the University of Southern California Guitar Quartet
Premiere: December 2, 1987 at the Schoenberg Institute, Los Angeles, by the USC Guitar Quartet.

 

Five Pieces for Cello and Piano (1986)
Premiere: December 2, 1987 at the Schoenberg  Institute,
Los Angeles by Tom Flaherty, cello, and Vicky Ray, piano.

 

Three Sandburg Songs (Soprano and Piano, 1985
Premiere: December 2, 1985 at the University of Southern California
Shirley Brumbaugh, Soprano, and Dean Perry, Piano


String Quartet no. 2 (1984)
Premiere: January 12, 1984 by the Xian (China) String Quartet
Michigan State University’s Festival for New Music


Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1983)
Premiere: March 10, at Michigan State University 1983 by Andrea                               
Splittberger- Rosen, Clarinet, and Sarah kolb, Piano


Music for Brass (large brass ensemble, 1983)
Premiere: April 23, 1983
Michigan State University’s Festival for New Music
MSU Brass Ensemble, Stanley DeRusha, Conductor. \
First Prize, Atwater-Kent Composition Contest (1985)

 

String Quartet no. 1 (1982)
Premiere: March 2, 1982
Wayne State University
WSU Graduate Student Quartet.

 

Woodwind Quintet (1981)
Premiere: March 10, 1981
Wayne State University
WSU Graduate Woodwind Quintet.