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Louis Rosen - COMPOSER, Lyricist, Performer, Author

Contents

1) Albums  2) Books  3) Musical Theater  4) Concert Music - Instrumental & Vocal  5) Selected Awards 6) Music for Plays - Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional  7) Music for Film  8) Recent Performance Highlights

 

I. Albums

12 Albums, including five solo albums:

  • LOVE AND ASHES (2023, Di-tone Records™), 11 songs, music, lyrics and arrangements by Louis Rosen.
  • MUSIC FOR GUITAR (2022, Di-tone Records™), 12 songs without words for solo guitar composed and performed by Louis Rosen (including one duet with David Mansfield.)
  • I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING: An Album in Three Acts (2020, Di-tone Records™), 14 songs, music, lyrics and arrangements by Louis Rosen (2 songs co-written with Arthur Perlman) and two Songs Without Words.

  • DUST TO DUST BLUES (2017, Di-tone Records™), 14 songs, music, lyrics and arrangements by Louis Rosen (3 songs co-written with Thom Bishop).

  • TIME WAS (2013, Di-tone Records™), a cycle of 13 songs music, arrangements and lyric adaptations by Louis Rosen from poems by Edwin Arlington Robinson, John Erskine, William Butler Yeats, Langston Hughes, Sara Teasdale, Madison Cawein, Alice Cary, William Stanley Braithwaite and Lord Byron. One song, music and lyrics by Thom Bishop.

3 album/song cycles - THE BLACK LOOM TRILOGY - based on the poetry of three major African-American poets: 

  • DREAM SUITE: SONGS IN JAZZ AND BLUES — The Langston Hughes Songs (2016, Di-tone Records - Trilogy, Part One - 14 songs, music and arrangements by Louis Rosen on poems by Langston Hughes. Vocalists: Alton Fitzgerald White & Capathia Jenkins; Pianist: Joe Thalken) 
  • ONE OUNCE OF TRUTH: The Nikki Giovanni Songs (2008, PS Classics Label - Trilogy, Part Two - 13 songs, music and arrangements by Louis Rosen. Vocals: Capathia Jenkins & Louis Rosen) 
  • PHENOMENAL WOMAN: The Maya Angelou Songs and Songs Without Words (2018, Di-tone Records - Trilogy, Part Three - 11 songs and 4 songs without words, music and arrangements for Jazz Sextet by Louis Rosen. Vocals: Capathia Jenkins)

Two albums featuring various performers:

  • IT IS STILL DARK: THREE SUITES (2022, Di-tone Records™) by Louis Rosen, including "Winter Carols for piano, four-hands featuring Kimberly Grigsby and Charity Wicks; "Suite for Clarinet and Piano" featuring Andrew Sterman, clarinet and Kimberly Grigsby, piano; and "It Is Still Dark: Songs for Sondra - Songs of Exile" (for Latin Jazz Septet), music composed and conducted by Louis Rosen, lyrics by Celso Gonzalez-Falla. Vocalist: Darius de Haas.
  • ACT ONE: PIANO MUSIC FROM THE THEATER (2017, Di-tone Records™) featuring three instrumental suites ("Act One Suite"; "Into Night and On the Verge"; "Orchards") and individual movements for solo piano ("Pageant"; "Waltz for Steve"; "Waltz in 5/4"); and piano-four hands ("Cardinals' Waltz" from "Music for Galileo").

And two albums with vocalist Capathia Jenkins:

  • THE ACHE OF POSSIBILITY (Di-tone Records™, 2009), 12 songs, music, lyrics (for 8 songs) and arrangements, by Louis Rosen; 4 songs with poetry by Nikki Giovanni.
  • SOUTH SIDE STORIES (2006, Rosecap/Di-tone Records™), a 12-song cycle, music, lyrics, arrangements by Louis Rosen. Vocals by Capathia & Louis.

 

II. Books

  • THE SOUTH SIDE: THE RACIAL TRANSFORMATION OF AN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD, memoir and oral narrative history. Publisher: Ivan R. Dee, Inc., Chicago, cloth (1998) and paperback (1999).

            THE SOUTH SIDE (1999), a Spoken Cantata (based on the book). Premiere: Theater J, Washington, D.C.; 2nd Production: George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

  • BEYOND CATEGORY: MUSIC THEORY FROM BACH TO THE BEATLES for the Popular or Classical Musician (2015, self-published). 

 

III. Musical Theater 

  • A CHILD'S GARDEN (2000, Music, Lyrics Adaptation and Co-Libretto). Co-libretto by Arthur Perlman and Charlotte Maier, based on autobiographical writings of Robert Louis Stevenson. Premiere: Melting Pot Theater, Off-Broadway. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • BOOK OF THE NIGHT (1991, Music, Co-Lyrics/Libretto). Co-Lyrics/Libretto, Additional Music by Thom Bishop. Premiere: Goodman Theater, Chicago. (Recording in LR Archive.)

 

IV. Concert Music - Instrumental and Vocal

  • Crossing Lines · Six Movements for String Quartet (2023) 
  • The Pearl Octet · 12 Instrumental Scenes for an Imagined Theater (2022), for flute/alto flute, clarinet/bass clarinet/alto & tenor saxophones, trumpet, vibraphone/percussion, piano, violin, cello, double bass. 
  • Riversongs Nonet: Four Instrumental Portraits (2022), 4 movements for flute/alto flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, French horn, trumpet, piano, violin, viola, cello, bass.
  • RiverSongs Trio · Five Instrumental Portraits (2023), Prologue and 5 movements for flute, clarinet and piano.
  • Winter Carols · Music for A Christmas Carol (2021), 5 movements for piano, four-hands or 2 pianos. (Included on the 2022 album, "It Is Still Dark: Three Suites.") 
  • Music for Guitar (2019), 12 songs without words for solo guitar. (Included on the 2022 album, "Music for Guitar.")
  • Suite for Clarinet and Piano (2019), in 6 movements. (Included on the 2022 album, "It Is Still Dark: Three Suites.") 
  • The Black Loom Epilogue (2019), 5 Songs Without Words for Jazz Sextet: flute/clarinet/alto saxophone; trumpet/French horn; vibraphone; piano; acoustic bass; drums. (Four of the five movements included on the 2018 CD, "Phenomenal Woman; The Maya Angelou Songs and Songs Without Words.") 
  • Act One: a Suite in Six Parts (2015) for piano solo. (Included on the 2017 CD, "ACT ONE: Piano Music from the Theater.")
  • It Is Still Dark: Songs for Sondra - Songs of Exile (2003): a 5-song cycle on poems by Celso Gonzalez-Falla. Premiere: Great Hall at Cooper Union, June 2006. Vocalist: Darius de Haas. Pianist: James Sampliner. (Included on the 2022 album, "It Is Still Dark: Three Suites.") 
  • Suite: Peer Gynt (1998), 10 movements, including 4 songs, for 4 singers and 9 players. Words by Henrik Ibsen. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • As You Like It Songs (1997), 3 songs for 3 singers and guitar on words by William Shakespeare. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Mother Courage Song Suite (1993), 9 songs for 6 singers and 3 players. Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht. Translation by Hanif Kureishi. Additional Translation by Louis Rosen. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Into Night and On the Verge (1993), 2 movements for 2 pianos or piano four-hands. Premiere: 92nd Street Y. (Included on the 2017 CD, "ACT ONE: Piano Music from the Theater.")
  • A Child’s Garden Song Suite (1992), a 10-song cycle for voice and piano on poems by Robert Louis Stevenson from “A Child’s Garden of Verses." (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Twelfth Night Song Suite (1991), "Overture in Miniature" and 4 songs for baritone and 4 players. Words by William Shakespeare. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Music for The Tempest (1987), in 9 movements, including 4 songs for 4 singers and 8 players. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Music for Galileo (1986), 4 songs and one dance for 6 singers and 3 players. Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht. Translation by James Schevill and Adrian Hall. (Recording in LR Archive except "Cardinals' Waltz", included on the 2017 CD, ACT ONE: Piano Music from the Theater.) 
  • Orchards (1986), two movements for two pianos or piano, four-hands. Premiere: 92nd Street Y. (Included on the 2017 CD, "ACT ONE: Piano Music from the Theater".)
  • Five Riversongs (1985), a song cycle for 2 singers and 2 pianos, on poems by Edgar Lee Masters from “Spoon River Anthology;” Dual Premiere: Museum of the City of New York and the Bruno Walter Library at Lincoln Center. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Four Songs (1983), on words by Carl Sandburg, Layle Silbert and Alena Synkova. Premiere: American Society for Jewish Music concert at The 92nd Street Y. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Three Pieces (1982) for piano solo. Premiere: American Society for Jewish Music concert at The 92nd Street Y. (Included on the 2017 CD, "ACT ONE: Piano Music from the Theater.") 
  • Riversongs (1980, revised 1984), a choral song cycle in 6 movements, on poems by Edgar Lee Masters from “Spoon River Anthology.”
  • Three Choral Odes (1977) for women's chorus, piano and percussion. Words by Aristophanes. Translation by D. Nicholas Rudall. (Recording in LR Archive.) 

 

V. Selected Awards

Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in Music Composition, 2005

Semifinalist Prize - NYC Contemporary Music Symposium ("Act One Suite for Solo Piano"), 2021.

São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival ("Act One Suite for Solo Piano"), 2020/2022

Puffin Foundation Grant, 2006

Anna Sosenko Trust Award, 2006

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Galileo Prize, 2005

MAC Nomination, Song of the Year (“Seventeen on Mars"), 2004

Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Foundation Recording Grant ("Dream Suite"), 2002

New York Post Top Ten Off-Broadway ("A Child's Garden"), 2000

Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Foundation Production and Recording Grants (“A Child’s Garden”), 1998 and 2000

National Endowment of the Arts New American Works Grant ("The South Side"/"South Side Stories"), 1995

Annual ASCAP Awards, 1993-2023

2nd Annual Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Music Theater Award, 1992

Chicago's John W. Schmid Award, Best New Work ("Book of the Night"), 1991

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Five Fellowships, 1988-90/’92 & ‘94

Meet the Composer Grant via 92nd Street Y, 1985

 

VI. Music for Plays

 Broadway

  • Act One (2014), written and directed by James Lapine, based on the memoir by Moss Hart. Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center.
  • The Rainmaker (1998/2000), by N. Richard Nash, Williamstown Theater Festival and Broadway, directed by Scott Ellis. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Picnic (1994), by William Inge, Roundabout Theater, Broadway, directed by Scott Ellis. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Arms and the Man (1985), by George Bernard Shaw, Circle in the Square Theater, directed by John Malkovich.

Off-Broadway

  • Northeast Local (1995), by Tom Doneghy, Lincoln Center Mitzi Newhouse Theater, directed by Gerald Gutierrez. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Titus Andronicus (1989), by William Shakespeare, New York Shakespeare Festival, Central Park's Delacorte Theater, directed by Michael Maggio. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Orchards (1985-86), seven original one-act plays by Michael Weller, John Guare, Maria Irene Fornes, Spalding Gray, David Mamet, Wendy Wasserstein and Samm Art Williams based on short stories by Anton Chekhov. The Acting Company, Off-Broadway, Goodman Theater and National Tour, directed by Robert Falls. 
  • The Art of Self-Defense (1985), by Trish Johnson, MCC, directed by Steve Albrezzi.
  • Young Playwrights Festival (1982 & 1984), Circle Repertory and Public Theaters, 3 one-act plays directed by Elinor Renfield.

Regional (Selected Productions)

  • School For Husbands (2004), by Moliere; Translation by Richard Wilbur; Westport Country Playhouse, directed by Doug Hughes.
  • The Little Foxes (2003), by Lillian Hellman; Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C., directed by Doug Hughes.
  • Coriolanus (2000), by William Shakespeare; Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C., directed by Michael Kahn. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • The Bungler (2000), by Moliere; Translation (World-Premiere) by Richard Wilbur; Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT; directed by Doug Hughes. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Peer Gynt (1998), by Henrik Ibsen; Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C., directed by Michael Kahn. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • As You Like It (1997), by William Shakespeare; Shakespeare Theatre, directed by Lawrence Boswell. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Mother Courage and Her Children (1993), by Bertolt Brecht; Translation by Haniff Kureishi; Additional Lyrics Translations by Louis Rosen; Shakespeare Theatre, directed by Michael Kahn. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • The Winter's Tale (1992), by William Shakespeare; Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, directed by Doug Hughes. 
  • Twelfth Night (1991), by William Shakespeare; Seattle Repertory Theatre, directed by Doug Hughes. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • A Christmas Carol (1991-99), by Charles Dickens, adapted by David Thompson; McCarter Theatre, Princeton, directed by Scott Ellis. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • The Tempest (1987), by William Shakespeare; Goodman Theatre, Chicago, directed by Robert Falls. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Galileo (1986), by Bertolt Brecht; Translation by Adrian Hall and James Schevill; Goodman Theatre, directed by Robert Falls. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • On the Verge (1986), by Eric Overmyer; Huntington Theater Company, Boston, directed by Pam Berlin.
  • Doctor Faustus (1981), by Christopher Marlowe; Oak Park Festival Theater, Chicago, directed by Patrick O’Gara.
  • Nasty Rumors and Final Remarks (1981), by Susan Miller, St. Nicholas Theater Company, Chicago, directed by Ellie Renfield.
  • The Winter’s Tale (1978), by William Shakespeare; Court Theater, Chicago; directed by Michael Maggio. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Macbeth (1978), by William Shakespeare; Court Theater, Chicago; directed by Patrick O'Gara.
  • Thesmophoriasouzae (Ladies’ Day - 1977), by Aristophanes; Court Theater, Chicago; translated and directed by D. Nicholas Rudall. (Recording in LR Archive.)
  • Romeo and Juliet (1977), by William Shakespeare; Oak Park Festival Theater, Chicago; directed by Dennis Zacek.

 

VII. Music for Film

Act One (2015), written and directed by James Lapine for Live From Lincoln Center, PBS. Premiere: November 13, 2015.

Long Gone Charlie (1984), a film by David Davidson, film festivals and Arts & Entertainment Network. (Audio Recording in LR Archive.)

 

VIII. Performance Highlights 

Louis Rosen and His "Almost Large Band", featuring the premiere of "Suite for Clarinet and Piano", April 25, 2022, Birdland Theater,

"I Don't Know Anything", with Louis Rosen and His Large Band, January 26, 2020, Birdland Jazz Club

"Phenomenal Woman & More... with Capathia Jenkins and the Jenkins/Rosen Quartet, March 15 & 16, 2019 at The Cabaret in Indianapolis.

"Phenomenal Woman & Songs Without Words", with Capathia Jenkins and the Jenkins/Rosen Sextet, October 25-27, 2018 at Birdland.Jazz Club

Louis Rosen & Friends: Dust to Dust Blues and Act One, with David Mansfield and Kimberly Grigsby, June 3 &, 2018 at The Duplex

"Dream Suite" at Birdland, with Capathia Jenkins, Alton Fitzgerald White and Kimberly Grigsby, June 27, 2016.

"Karen Mason & Louis Rosen: Two Friends" at Davenport's in Chicago November 2015 - 4 shows, and The Duplex in NYC, December 2016 - 3 shows.

"Love of Song: The Music of Louis Rosen", a Retrospective. 92Y, NYC, June 15, 2015.  Vocalists: Capathia Jenkins, Darius de Haas and Karen Mason. Musicians: Kimberly Grigsby, Dave Phillips, David Mansfield, Charity Wicks. 

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, NYC (15 concerts over five multiple show runs)

Birdland Jazz Club, NYC (3 appearances)

The Great Hall at Cooper Union, NYC (2 appearances)

The Iridium Jazz Club, NYC (3 appearances)

WNYC's "Soundcheck," with host John Schaeffer (2 appearances, 2003 & 2009, performances & interviews)

The Metropolitan Room, NYC (5 appearances)

Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), Zimbabwe, Africa

Northwestern University's Lewis Theater, Evanston, IL (3 concerts)

Freight and Salvage, San Francisco, CA

The Steppenwolf Theater in Concert, Chicago, IL

The Eighth Step Concert Series at the Proctor Theater, Schenectady, NY (2 appearances)

The Gardenia Club, Los Angeles, CA

Davenport's, Chicago

Washington, D.C.'s 6th Street & I Historic Synagogue with Theater J

Brooklyn Public Library's Dweck Center (2 appearances)

Brooklyn's Old Stone House

Makor at the 92nd Street Y, NYC

 

Go to In the Classroom for information about Louis' work as an educator....