Orchestra
If he died, what then (2012)20'
Commissioned by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra 
Soprano (Dawn Upshaw) and Orchestra (SPCO) 

To a text by Asenath Nicholson

 
Crane (2009)c. 25'
Commissioned by RTE 
orchestra 

Recommended by the International Rostrum of Composers 2010. Hear it here or here

 
HIVE (2005)c. 17'
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and the National Chamber Choir for the Ulster Orchestra and National Chamber Choir 
Voices and Orchestra (satb 2230 4221 timp 3 perc hrp pf str) 
 
Elastic Harmonic (2005)c. 13'
Commissioned by RTE for the National Symphony Orchestra and Ioana-Petcu Colan. Premiere on TV, 5 September 2005. First public concert performance given on 30 January 2007 by Darragh Morgan and the National Symphony Orchestra. 
Violin and Orchestra (vn-solo, 2431 4321 hrp pf 3 perc str) 

Another - longer - excerpt here

Full recording available on NMC portrait CD 'Elastic Harmonic", downloadable here

 
O (2002)11'
commissioned by Trinity College, premiered by NSOI 
4042 2 sax 4440 4 perc 2 hrp str  

>DOWNLOAD<
 
The Vandal (2000)11'
commissioned by RTE for NSOI 
3330 3331 pf str [16.14.12.10.8] 
 
Swift's Epitaph (2008)3'
Written for the NMC Songbook 
Countertenor and Percussion 
 
Vocal
If he died, what then (2012)20'
Commissioned by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra 
Soprano (Dawn Upshaw) and Orchestra (SPCO) 

To a text by Asenath Nicholson

 
That the Night Come (2010)c. 32'
Commissioned by Dawn Upshaw 
soprano, fl, cl, trombone, accordion, guitar, piano, percussion, 2 vlns, vla, cello, bass 

Song cycle (of 6 songs) to texts by W.B. Yeats. On Nonesuch album, Gra Agus Bas, released 3 May 2011, available (with audio samples) here.

1. He Wishes His Beloved were Dead

2. The Old Men Admiring Themselves in the Water

3. The White Birds

4. These are the Clouds

5. Her Anxiety

6. That the Night Come

 

To order a score, email scores@donnachadennehy.com

 
Grá agus Bás (2007)26'
Crash Ensemble + Iarla O'Lionaird (voice + fl/picc, cl/b-cl, trb, elec guit, perc (vibes+kick drum), samples (max patch), vln, vla, cello, bass) 

>DOWNLOAD<

On Nonesuch album, Gra Agus Bas (May 2011), available here.

A video clip of a live performance (conducted by Alan Pierson) is available here (April 2009).

 
Aisling Gheal (A Spectral Sean Nós Setting) (2007)9'
Written for Iarla O'Lionáird and Crash Ensemble 
voice, fl, cl, vibes, elec guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass + electronics (MSP patch) 

Video of live performance here

 
HIVE (2005)c. 17'
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and the National Chamber Choir for the Ulster Orchestra and National Chamber Choir 
Voices and Orchestra (satb 2230 4221 timp 3 perc hrp pf str) 
 
The Weathering (2004)14'
premiered by Electra at Lincoln Center, NY 
soprano, recorder, perc, vln (elec. or ord) and video [video by Mark Linnane, Colm Tobin and Aki Aro] 

�Hear/see it here

Hear an extract here: http://electranewmusic.com/audio.html

 
[H]interlands (2002)35'`
commissioned by Shobana Jeyasingh 
2 female vocalists and soundtrack 

See/hear an extract here: www.braunarts.com

 
To Herbert Brun (2002)20'
commissioned by Daghda Dance 
voice, sax, trb, db, live electronics 

>DOWNLOAD<

4th part can be done on its own 6'

 
Junk Box Fraud (1997)12'30
premiered by Crash Ensemble 
cl, trb, 2 pf, 2 speakers, tape, video [video by Hugh Reynolds and Gerry O'Brien] 

Full recording available on NMC portrait CD 'Elastic Harmonic', downloadable here

Video of live performance here

 
Two Yeats Songs (1993)10'
S-solo, fl  

Text: W. B. Yeats

 
Smaller Ensemble (2-5 Players)
One Hundred Goodbyes (Céad Slán) (2011)24'30"
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet with funding provided by the Arts Council of Ireland 
string quartet & soundtrack  

In three movements, connected attaca.

 
STAMP (2008)8'-10'
Commissioned by Music Network (with funds from Arts Council of Ireland) for Smith Quartet 
String Quartet 

You can see excerpts from a Smith Quartet performance of it here:

http://www.smithquartet.com/sq-video.shtml

Available now on the Smith Quartet's Dance Album

 
Fold (2008)c. 12'
Commissioned by New Noise with funds provided by the Arts Council of Ireland 
oboe, bass clarinet, percussion (vibes, bass drum), piano and electronics 
 
Pushpulling (2007)6'
Commissioned by the Printing House Festival for the Con Tempo Quartet 
String Quartet 
 
Bulb (2006)12-14'
Commissioned by the Fidelio Trio (with funds provided by the Irish Arts Council) 
piano trio (vln, vlc, piano) 

Hear an excerpt here:

http://www.nmcrec.co.uk/recording/bulb#1

 
Tilt (2006)8'
4 electric guitars 

>DOWNLOAD<
 
Mild, Medium-Lasting, Artificial Happiness (2004)2'
A present for Prism Sax Quartet 
Saxophone Qt or any quartet of similar sounding instruments 

On Prism's CD, Dedication

 
Table Manners (2004)15' - 30'
commissioned by Percussion Group of the Hague 
4 percussionists 
Go here to see an excerpt
 
The Blotting (2004)c. 14'
commissioned by the Bath Festival with funding by the Arts Council England for the Tate Ensemble 
b cl, vln, cello, piano 

>DOWNLOAD<
 
The Weathering (2004)14'
premiered by Electra at Lincoln Center, NY 
soprano, recorder, perc, vln (elec. or ord) and video [video by Mark Linnane, Colm Tobin and Aki Aro] 

�Hear/see it here

Hear an extract here: http://electranewmusic.com/audio.html

 
Glamour Sleeper II (2003)10'
version of I made for Ensemble Integrales 
sax, perc, prep. piano, vn, soundtrack 
Full recording available on NMC CD 'Elastic Harmonic', downloadable here
 
Glamour Sleeper (2002)10'
commissioned by Up North Festival 
cl, perc, vn, db, soundtrack 
 
To Herbert Brun (2002)20'
commissioned by Daghda Dance 
voice, sax, trb, db, live electronics 

>DOWNLOAD<

4th part can be done on its own 6'

 
Counting (2000)12'
commisioned by Music Network 
string qt + soundtrack [4-channel or 2-channel] 
 
Ecstasis, full stop (1999)5'
commissioned by RTE 
string qt, soundtrack 
 
A Game for Gentlemen Played by Thugs (1999)5'
premiered 2003 by London Sinfonietta 
oboe, trumpet, harpsichord or for alternative instrumentation of picc, trumpet or trombone, and piano 
 
Pluck, Stroke and Hammer (1997)6'
commissioned by Music Network for RTE Vanbrugh Quartet and Hugh Tinney 
string quartet and piano 
 
Larger Ensemble (6+ Players)
That the Night Come (2010)c. 32'
Commissioned by Dawn Upshaw 
soprano, fl, cl, trombone, accordion, guitar, piano, percussion, 2 vlns, vla, cello, bass 

Song cycle (of 6 songs) to texts by W.B. Yeats. On Nonesuch album, Gra Agus Bas, released 3 May 2011, available (with audio samples) here.

1. He Wishes His Beloved were Dead

2. The Old Men Admiring Themselves in the Water

3. The White Birds

4. These are the Clouds

5. Her Anxiety

6. That the Night Come

 

To order a score, email scores@donnachadennehy.com

 
As An Nós (2009)15'
Commissioned by San Francisco Contemporary Music Players (with funding by the Arts Council of Ireland) 
flute, clarinet, guitar, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello 

 
An Irish Process (2009)12'
Commissioned by Orkest de Ereprijs 
2 fl/picc, cl, 2 sax, hn, trp, 2 trb, piano, perc, elec guit, bass 
 
Grá agus Bás (2007)26'
Crash Ensemble + Iarla O'Lionaird (voice + fl/picc, cl/b-cl, trb, elec guit, perc (vibes+kick drum), samples (max patch), vln, vla, cello, bass) 

>DOWNLOAD<

On Nonesuch album, Gra Agus Bas (May 2011), available here.

A video clip of a live performance (conducted by Alan Pierson) is available here (April 2009).

 
Aisling Gheal (A Spectral Sean Nós Setting) (2007)9'
Written for Iarla O'Lionáird and Crash Ensemble 
voice, fl, cl, vibes, elec guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass + electronics (MSP patch) 

Video of live performance here

 
Streetwalker (2003)12'
commissioned by WNYC for Bang On A Can 
cl/b cl, elec. guit, pno, perc, cello, bass 
Full recording available on NMC portrait CD 'Elastic Harmonic', downloadable here
 
The Pale (2003)11'
Saxophone Quartet + Percussion Sextet 
Premiered by Percussion Group of the Hague and Aurelia Saxophone Quartet
 
Composition for percussion, loops, blips and flesh (2002)14'
commissioned by Amsterdam Fonds Voor der Kunst for Slagwerkgroep Den Haag 
6 marimbas (bowed and struck), electronics, video 
Go here to hear an excerpt
 
derailed (2000)14'
commisioned by Project Theatre, Dublin 
fl cl vn vc db hpd soundtrack 
 
Severance (1999)14'
commissioned by Orkest de Volharding 
fl+picc, 3 sax, 3 tpt, 3 trb, pf, db, [all amplified] tape 
 
The Traces of a Revolutionary Song (1998)11'
commissioned by Music Network for London Brass 
4 tpt, hn, 3 trb, btrb, tuba 
 
Junk Box Fraud (1997)12'30
premiered by Crash Ensemble 
cl, trb, 2 pf, 2 speakers, tape, video [video by Hugh Reynolds and Gerry O'Brien] 

Full recording available on NMC portrait CD 'Elastic Harmonic', downloadable here

Video of live performance here

 
Solo / Electroacoustic
Misterman (2011)hour
Commissioned by Landmark Productions for Enda Walsh's play, Misterman 
soundtrack 
 
Overstrung (2010)7'
Part of the Overtone Series (pieces for solo and multitracked retuned solos based on overtone series) 
Violin and Soundtrack (of multiple retuned violins) 
Written for Monica Germino
 
Stainless Staining (2007)14'
commissioned by Lisa Moore (with funds by the Arts Council of Ireland) 
piano and soundtrack 

>DOWNLOAD<
You can hear the full premiere performance by Lisa Moore online at WNYC
 
Reservoir (2007)10'
Commissioned by Isabelle O'Connell. Premiered by her at Weill, Carnegie Hall, November 2007. 
piano 

Hear excerpts of Isabelle playing it here

 
North Circular (2007)1'
Written for Guy Livingston's One Minute More Project 
piano 
Here's a link to a video promo featuring the piece (available on a new recording by Guy Livingston)
 
North Strand (2007)1'
piano 
 
BRAT (2000/5) (2005)6'
Recorder and Tape (A version of FAT made for recorder in collaboration with the recorder player Susanna Borsch) 
Hear a very short excerpt here
 
PADDY (2003)8'
premiered by Tatiana Koleva 
percussion (2 kick drums, 2 wooden boxes, junk metal) 
Recording available on NMC portrait CD 'Elastic Harmonic', downloadable here
 
[H]interlands (2002)35'`
commissioned by Shobana Jeyasingh 
2 female vocalists and soundtrack 

See/hear an extract here: www.braunarts.com

 
pAt (2001)11'
commissioned by Music Network for Joanna Mac Gregror 
pf, tape  
 
Mad, Avid, Sad (2000)3'
org 
 
FAT (2000)6'
Flute and Tape 
 
Swerve (1998)8'
fl, soundtrack 
 
Curves (1997)7'
commissioned by Irish Arts Council for Maria Cleary 
hrp [amplified], tape 
 
Voitures (1996)6'
ob, tape 
 
Metropolis Mutabilis (1995)6'
tape and optional video [video by Hugh Reynolds] 
 
Begobs I-IV (1995)18'
pf 
 
GUBU (1995)7'
tape 
 
Work for Organ (1992)3'
commissioned by Joseph O'Gorman 
org 
 
String Quartet
One Hundred Goodbyes (Céad Slán) (2011)24'30"
Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet with funding provided by the Arts Council of Ireland 
string quartet & soundtrack  

In three movements, connected attaca.

 
STAMP (2008)8'-10'
Commissioned by Music Network (with funds from Arts Council of Ireland) for Smith Quartet 
String Quartet 

You can see excerpts from a Smith Quartet performance of it here:

http://www.smithquartet.com/sq-video.shtml

Available now on the Smith Quartet's Dance Album

 
Pushpulling (2007)6'
Commissioned by the Printing House Festival for the Con Tempo Quartet 
String Quartet 
 
Counting (2000)12'
commisioned by Music Network 
string qt + soundtrack [4-channel or 2-channel] 
 
Ecstasis, full stop (1999)5'
commissioned by RTE 
string qt, soundtrack 
 
Open Ensemble
A Fatal Optimist (2008)4'
Commissioned by COMA UK. 
An open score (in 4 parts) for any instrumentation 
 
flashbulb (2006)1'30
3 melody instruments and 1 struck instrument 
 
Mild, Medium-Lasting, Artificial Happiness (2004)2'
A present for Prism Sax Quartet 
Saxophone Qt or any quartet of similar sounding instruments 

On Prism's CD, Dedication

 
Blips and Static (2002)6'
Multiple ghetto blasters (boomboxes)  
 
Film Soundtrack
ALARM (2008)100 mins
Venus Films 
ensemble + electronics  
Original Soundtrack for Gerard Stembridge's psychological thriller, ALARM (2008)
 
Overtone Series
Overstrung (2010)7'
Part of the Overtone Series (pieces for solo and multitracked retuned solos based on overtone series) 
Violin and Soundtrack (of multiple retuned violins) 
Written for Monica Germino
 
Stainless Staining (2007)14'
commissioned by Lisa Moore (with funds by the Arts Council of Ireland) 
piano and soundtrack 

>DOWNLOAD<
You can hear the full premiere performance by Lisa Moore online at WNYC