David Shapiro | Composer

Works for Choir

Sumptuous Planet: a Secular Mass

A Capella Choir | 16 Movements | 4 to 12 parts | 70 Min | Text by Richard Dawkins, Richard Feynman | Commissioned by The Crossing | Donald Nally, conductor | 2022 | Philadelphia | Recorded for New Focus Records | Excerpt from Death | Excerpt from Substance | Excerpt from Sin | Excerpt from Invisible

Sumptuous Planet (Motet)

A Capella Choir | SATB | 5 Min | Text by Richard Dawkins | Commissioned by The Crossing | Donald Nally, conductor, for Jeff Quartets | 2016 | Philadelphia | Subsequent Performances: The Crossing, Philadelphia, New York (2018) | Uncommon Music Festival, Alaska 2018 | Variant 6, Philadelphia (2019) | Northwestern Chamber Choir (2019) | Riga Project Choir, Latvia (2019) | Bucknell Camerata (2019) | Chicago Chamber Choir (2022) | Roots In The Sky, Montana (2022) | Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, Boston (2022) | The New Consort (2023) | Excerpt from Sumptuous Planet

It Is Time

A Capella Choir | SSATBB | 6 min | Text by Paul Celan | Commissioned by The Crossing | Donald Nally, conductor | 2009 | Philadelphia | Subsequent Performances: The Crossing (2018, 2022) | Variant 6 (2020) | Northwestern Chamber Choir | Volti, San Francisco (2012) | Recorded for Navona Records | Excerpt from It Is Time

Alchemy

A Capella Choir | SSATTB | Commissioned by Variant 6 | 2022 | Miami, Philadelphia | Excerpt from Alchemy

To My Past and Future Assassin

Accompanied Choir | SATB + Piano | Text by Terrance Hayes | 2021 | Masterman, Philadelphia

If A Stranger

A Capella Choir | SATB | Biblical Text | 2017 | Masterman, Philadelphia

When the Soul Lies Down

A Capella Choir | SATB | Text by Rumi | Commissioned by All Souls Unitarian Church, Washington, DC | Jen Hayman, director | 2016

Ozymandias

Accompanied Choir | SATB + Piano | Text by PB Shelley | 2015 | Masterman, Philadelphia

Metamorphoses

A Capella Choir | SSAATTBB | Text by Ovid | 2010 | commissioned by The Philadelphia Singers | David Hayes, director | 2010

The Years From You To Me

A Capella Choir | SSATBB | 7 Min | Text by Paul Celan | Commissioned by The Crossing | Donald Nally, conductor | 2010 | Recorded for Navona Records | Excerpt from The Years From You To Me

When I Have Seen

A Capella Choir | SSSSAAATTBBB | Text by Shakespeare | commissioned by the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati | Donald Nally, conductor | 2010 | Subsequent Performances: Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble, Northwestern University (2012) | The Bridge Ensemble, Baltimore (2015)

Et Incarnatus Est

Double A Capella Choir | SSAATTBB | 5 Min | Mass Text | Commissioned by The Crossing | Donald Nally, conductor | 2007 | Philadelphia | Subsequent Performances: Philadelphia Singers (2010)

On the Meeting of Garcia Lorca and Hart Crane

Orchestra, Baritone Soloist, SATB Choir | 15 Min | Text by Philip Levine | Commissioned by Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia | Donald Nally, conductor | 2000 | Philadelphia, West Chester

A Century of Aprils

Accompanied Choir | Piano, Trumpet, SATB | 22 Min | Text by Terry Kirts | Commissioned by Bridge Ensemble | Donald Nally, conductor | 1997 | Philadelphia | Subsequent Performances: The Crossing, Philadelphia (2015)

War Is Kind

Accompanied Choir | SATB + Piano | 3 Min | Text by Stephen Crane | 1985, choral arrangement 2022 | Masterman, Philadelphia


Instrumental

Punjabi Tanginitsa

Various Instrumental Configurations | Original Version for Violin, Alto Sax, Accordion & Piano, 2009, by Astral Artists | Concert Band, 2009•Finalist Pacific Symphony American Composer’s Competition | String Quartet, Flute & Clarinet, 2010, by Studio in Bloom | Orchestra, 2014, by Masterman Orchestra | Clarinet, Violin, Cello & Piano, 2019, by Network for New Music | Excerpt of original version

Piano Trio

commissioned by Max Brod Trio, Berlin (Germany)


Other

The April Witch

Fantasy opera in one act, after a short story by Ray Bradbury, 1995 | Winner National Opera Association Chamber Opera Competition (1998) | Premiere: 1995 | Subsequent Performances: Dallas (1997) | Rutgers (1997) | New York (1998) | Peabody Institute of Music (1999)

Sonata

Piano Solo | Premiere: 2010

Through A Child’s Eyes

Fantasie for Piano Solo | Commissioned by Mark Markham, 2001