Dr. Francine Trester, List of Works and Their Performances

(scores and recordings available upon request)

 

2024 Neshot Hayil – for voice, violin, sax and piano - commissioned by Kenneth Radnofsky; Nov. 24, 2024 premiere at Jordan Hall with Carrie Cheron, voice, Francine Trester, violin, Kenneth Radnofsky, sax, and Ziang Yin, piano – 15 min.

2024 Three Maybes...– four songs for soprano and piano - words and music by Francine Trester – 5 min.

2024 Shir Hashirim – for soprano, mezzo, tenor and baritone; commissioned by Temple Beth Shalom of Needham, MA– 15 min.

2024 Portraits of a Lady – for flute, viola and piano – 9 min.

2024 Of the Essence – 8 songs for mezzo, alto sax and piano - words and music by Francine Trester; dedicated to Dr. Scott Plugge, Sam Houston State University School of Music; Commissioned by World-Wide Concurrent Premieres and Commissioning Fund, Inc. – 15 min.

2024 In Her Element – for orchestra; poetry and music by Francine Trester, recipient of a Berklee Faculty Fellowship - premiered at Sanders Theatre by the Kendall Square Orchestra as part of International Women's Day. With soloists Carrie Cheron and Erin Merceruio Nelson– 15 min.

2023 Tiger Eye – for string quartet; commissioned by Shelter Music Boston as part of SMB's "Songs of Life" project – 5 min.

2023 The Azure World for reed quintet and voice – seven songs based on the poetry of Tennyson; arrangement for reed quintet commissioned by the Kalliope Reed Quintet – 15 min

2023 Best Laid Plans – for solo cello – 8 min.

2023 All Points – for alto sax and piano quintet; commissioned by saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky; words and music by Francine Trester - 20 min.


2023 Moulin Ruse – for cello and piano – 4 min.


2022 Parentheticals – for two violins; written for the Five College New Music Festival – 5 min.

2022 The Azure World – seven songs based on the poetry of Tennyson; written for mezzo-soprano Carrie Cheron – 15 min.

2022 Iceberg Sonnets – for solo piano; written for pianist Lois Shapiro – 5 min.


2021 Her Lines – for saxophone septet (SSATTBB); commissioned by Megan Dillon for the 2022 "New England Symposium for Female-Identifying + Saxophonists" – 8 min.

2021 The Violists in My Life – for solo viola; written for violists Michael Hall, Melissa Howe, David Wallace, Consuelo Sherba, Mahoko Eguchi, Scott Woolwearver and Judith Insell – 15 min.


2021 Voices from the Boston Women’s Memorial – premiered by singers Carrie Cheron and Brianna Robinson, and Francine Trester, violin. Sponsored by the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail – 8 min.


2020 Companion Tales – pictures, words and music by Francine Trester; to be premiered by Kristen Watson, soprano, Francine Trester, violin, Eric Sawyer, piano at Boston Conservatory, August, 2022 - 9 min.


2020 Globe Fragments – for violin, flute, oboe and bassoon; commissioned by Stephen Symchych; to be performed by members of Boston Landmarks Orchestra – 5 min.

2020 Drawn to Scale – for piano; commissioned by Tobé Malawista; to be performed by pianist Margaret Kampmeier – 8 min.

2020 This – for reed quintet; commissioned by the Boston Woodwind Society; to be premiered by the Kalliope Reed Quintet – 12 min.

2020 Lullaby For Our Time – poetry and music by Francine Trester; premiered and recorded on his album Nights Transfigured by guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan – 2 min.

2020 Outer Islands – three piano pieces based on the paintings of Richard Lalli; to be performed by pianist Max Hammond – 10 min.

2020 Leaves and Stubble – for solo cello – 2 min.

2020 Prohodna (for violin and french horn) and Baikushev's Pine (for violin solo) – Commissioned by Elmira Darvarova and Howard Wall;  recorded on Darvarova and Wall's CDs Music by Women and American Music for Violin and Horn and premiered worldwide – 10 mins.

 

2020 Treasury Notes – ten reflections on Johannes Brahms’ “The Little Treasure Chest of the Young Kreisler,” for violin and piano; to be premiered by the composer and pianist Lois Shapiro - 10 min.

 

2020 Cave Dwellers – for soprano and double bass; commissioned by Russ Lenth, written for LIGAMENT - 8 min.

 

2020 Three Burnham Poems – for viola and piano; to be premiered by violist Michael Hall – 15 min.


2019 A Fable for Tomorrow – commissioned by the Mirror Visions Ensemble; for mezzo, tenor and baritone; to be premiered at Merkin Hall, NYC in April, 2021 – 4 min.


2019 A Walk In Her Shoes – Commissioned by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra; recipient of a Berklee Faculty Fellowship; commemorating the centennial anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment, A Walk In Her Shoes will be premiered by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra at the Hatch Shell on Boston’s Esplanade in August, 2020 – 15 min.

 

2019 Mineral Spirits – for baritone and guitar, words and music by the composer; commissioned and premiered by Aaron Larget-Caplan and Matthew Hoch; September 2019– 3 min.

 

2019 Reminiscence – Dedicated to the Memory of Darryl Malone; Commissioned by World-Wide Concurrent Premieres and Commissioning Fund, Inc.; for alto sax and piano; words and music by the composer – 10 min.


2018 Sekelela – for SATB choir and piano trio; commissioned by Communities Without Borders and First Unitarian Society in Newton; premiere with Triple Helix Piano Trio in April, 2019 – 10 min.

2018 Borrowed Blue – for viola and guitar, words and music by the composer; commissioned and premiered by Aaron Larget-Caplan and Michael Hall; Boston premiere in April, 2019 – 8 min.


2018 Florence Comes Home – 
libretto and music by Francine Trester; commissioned by Shelter Music Boston; a chamber opera for soprano, alto, baritone and string quartet; to be premiered in 2019 – 15 min.

 

2018 Artsonia – words and music by Francine Trester; for voice, violin and piano; artwork by Chloe Carrano; premiered by the composer, Kristen Watson, soprano and Eric Sawyer, piano at Boston Conservatory and Amherst College, August, 2018 - 10 min.

 

2018 Israfel – for violin and piano; premiered by the composer and Eric Sawyer, piano at Boston Conservatory and Amherst College, August, 2018 - 14 min.


2018 In Our Own Words - commissioned by Shelter Music Boston; premiered in August 2018 with Julie Leven, violin and Jennie Doris, marimba – 5 min.

 

2018 Keepers of the Light – libretto and music by Francine Trester; commissioned by the Nahant Music Festival; a chamber opera for eight voices, violin, bassoon and piano; to be premiered in 2019 – 20 min.


2017 Street Views– commissioned by Kenneth Radnofsky for the Amram Ensemble (violin, alto sax and piano); with accompanying poetry by the composer; premiered by the Amram Ensemble at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, September 30, 2018 -  15 min.


2017 Dualities– duets for two violins written for Sharan Leventhal; with accompanying poetry by the composer. Premiere on February 28th, 2018, 8 pm at Boston Conservatory- 5 min.

2017 2nd Partita for Solo Violin– recipient of a Berklee Faculty Recording Grant; recorded by the composer in August 2017- 20 min.

2017 Walkers with the Dawn– commissioned by the Rivers School; for baritone solo, chorus, and orchestra; premiered at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, May 14, 2017- 15 min.

2017 An Oman Odyssey– words and music by Francine Trester; commissioned by the Mirror Visions Ensemble; to be premiered at Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center February 3, 2018 - 15 min.

2017 Nahant Calling and Blackburnian Warbler– commissioned by the Nahant Music Festival, premiered June 3, 2017; Nahant Calling (words and music by the composer) recipient of a Nahant Cultural Council Grant- 20 min.

2016 A Robert Lowry Reader– cycle of four settings of texts by Robert Lowry; commissioned by soprano Jayne West;  performed by soprano Leanne Estabrook, April 9, 2016 at the Longy School of music- 10 min.

2015 Elemental Emily– cycle of five settings of poems by Emily Dickinson; commissioned by pianist Lois Shapiro and soprano Sarah Pelletier; performed April 4, 2016 as part of Berklee Words and Music Festival- 10 min.


2015 At the River– Commissioned by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra; to be premiered at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell; Jayne West soprano soloist- 5 min.


2014 Sleeping Beauty– A chamber opera in three acts; libretto and score by the composer; commissioned by the Nahant Music Fesitval (nahantmusicfestival.org)

2014 An Agrigento Suite– for violin and harp- first movement premiered by the composer and harpist Felice Pomeranz in 2013- 15 min.

2013 A View From Heartbreak Hill– For contralto, piano and violin; original words and music; performed by contralto Elizabeth Anker, violists Scott Woolweaver and Melissa Howe, pianists Lois Shapiro and John McDonald; performances at Berklee College of Music, Newton Free Library, Harvard Business School- 12 min.


2013 Many Miles Away… – Commissioned by the Scottish Clarinet Quartet; premiered by the SCQ at the July 2013 ClarinetFest in Assisi, Italy- 12 min.


2012 Five Spring Haiku– For narrator, violin, clarinet, and piano; original words and music; to be paired with Five Summer Haiku (Edinburgh Festival performance by the Zodiac Trio, August, 2012)- 12 min.

 

2012 Three Summeresques– For contralto, piano and violin; original words and music; premiered by Elizabeth Anker and the composer, October 9, 2012- 5 min.

 

2011 String Quartet No. 3­– Recipient of a Berklee Faculty Recording Grant; recorded at WGBH, performed at Berklee, Cambridge School of Weston, Westford Parish Center for the Arts- 20 min.

 

2011 Dialogues– For oboe and violin; premiered by the composer and oboist Barbara LaFitte, October 3, 2011- 10 min.

 

2011 Song for Daddy– For guitarist Aaron Larget-Kaplan as part of his “New Lullaby” project; performances at Studio 99, Nashua, Old South Church, Boston, New School of Music, Cambridge- 2 min.

 

2010 Three Dedications– Quintet for strings and English horn; premiered by the composer and Berklee Faculty- Berklee College, February 2011- 10 min.

 

2010 334 Bunnies– A chamber opera in one act; libretto and score by the composer; performed at Longy, St. John’s in Jamaica Plain, and the Shirley Meetinghouse- 45 min.

 

2009 Six Portraits for Clarinet Choir– Written for Peter Cokkinias’ Clarinet Choir at Berklee College of Music; additional performances by CalTech, University of Anchorage, Los Angeles, and University of Rhode Island Clarinet Choirs- 15 min.

 

2008 Backyard Birds–Song cycle of original words and music written for contralto Elizabeth Anker, pianist John McDonald and violist Scott Woolweaver; performances at Tufts University, Newton Free Library, Berklee College of Music, Longy School of Music- 20 min.

 

2008 My Darling’s Slumber– Commissioned by guitarist Aaron Larget-Kaplan; multiple performances both live and on television and radio broadcast; recorded on the CD “New Lullaby”- 3 min.

 

2008 Salleyvary­– A variation on “Down by the salley gardens” written for the Triple Helix Piano Trio- 2 mins.

 

2008 Domestic Affairs– Song cycle of original words and music; recipient of Newton Massachusetts Cultural Council Grants and Weston Massachusetts Cultural Council Grants; written for contralto Elizabeth Anker, pianist John McDonald and violist Scott Woolweaver; performances in Newton, Weston, and Shirley MA, and at Berklee College of Music- 20 min.

 

2008 3rd Sonata for Violin and Piano–15 min.

 

2007 Mythos– Commissioned by the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra; premiere on April 27th, 2008; performed by Shasta Symphony, in 2010- 10 min.

 

2007 Springsong– Commissioned and premiered by the Concert Handbell Ringers of the Wheeler School, Providence, RI- 5 min.

 

2007 Four little pieces for violin quartet- Written for my chamber music students at Berklee College of Music- 8 min.

 

2006 Cold Mountain Songs– Commissioned and premiered by the guitar duo of Mark and Beverly Davis; performances throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and in Spain- approx. 15 min.

 

2006 Three Movements for Mandolin Orchestra– Commissioned by Robert Margo; dedicated to and premiered by the Providence Mandolin Orchestra; performances throughout Rhode Island, the Netherlands, international premiere in France in summer, 2008- 15 min.

 

2006 Four Thoreau Songs– Commissioned by John Holt, faculty at the University of North Texas; written for John Holt and mezzo-soprano Sophie Creech; recorded on Crystal Records’ Facets III- approx. 6 min.

 

2006 Echoes…Of the Past…Return– For violin and viola; multiple performances with Berklee String Department Chair Melissa Howe; performed as part of the Mark O’Connor String Fest- 9 min.

 

2005 Red Sox Blue Sax– Funded by the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University; written for and premiered by the Radnofsky Saxophone Quartet; performances at Bowdoin College, Eastern Nazarene College, and First and Second Church, Boston- 10 min.

 

2005 Bus #66– Song cycle of original words and music performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on May 8 and 15, 2005.

 

Bus #66 is written for Richard Lalli, vocal professor at Yale University; premiered at Wesleyan University, 2002. Performed at Yale University and Unitarian Society of New Haven, Sept. and Dec. 2003. Selections performed at Joe’s Pub, New York Public Theater as part of Sequitur concert series, 2003- 40 min. (additional songs in progress)

 

2005 Moose in the Morning– Written at the request of contralto Elizabeth Anker (faculty, Longy School of Music); performed by Ms. Anker and pianist John McDonald at Pickman Hall, Longy School of Music- 3 min.

 

2005 Three Dances for Violin and Piano– Premiered by Francine Trester (violin) and Eric Sawyer (pianist) as part of a Composers in Red Sneakers concert (Pickman Hall, Longy School of Music)- 9 min.

 

2005 Sonata for Trumpet– Commissioned by John Holt, faculty at the University of North Texas; performances at North Texas and the Buckingham Summer Festival, England; recorded on Crystal Records’ Facets III- approx. 20 min.

 

2005 Song Without Words– For cello and piano- 3 min.

 

2004 But I Have Known the Warm South Breez­e– For soprano and chamber orchestra; premiered by soprano Kathryn Wright on the occasion of the inauguration of Roger Brown, President of Berklee College of Music- approx. 3 min.

 

2004 5 Summer Haiku– For narrator, violin, clarinet, and piano; original words and music; premiered by Kathryn Wright (narrator), Francine Trester (violin), Peter Cokkinias (clarinet), and Louis Stewart (piano); performances at Longy School of Music, Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music; 2012 performances by the Zodiac Trio at the Edinburgh Festival (Canongate Kirk), City Halls, Glasgow, Scotland, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, and the Firehouse Space, Brooklyn, NY- 12 min.

 

2004 Patricia’s Aria– Commissioned by John Holt, trumpet faculty at the University of North Texas; recorded on Crystal Records’ Facets II; numerous radio broadcasts- 3 min.

 

2003 First Rain of Spring and Not in Our Time­– Commissioned by the Yale Camerata and Yale Collegium Musicum; performed at Yale University, September 2003– 7 min.

 

2003 Nobody Sees a Flower– Written at the request of contralto Elizabeth Anker (faculty, Longy School of Music); performed by Ms. Anker and pianist John McDonald in June, 2004; multiple radio broadcasts including WGBH Boston- 3 min.

 

2003 Woodwind Quintet– Performed by Solar Winds, 2004; recipient of a Berklee Recording Grant for 2006-07 academic year- 20 min.

 

2003 Psalm 63– Premiered by the Seraphim Singers as part of Composers in Red Sneakers 2nd Annual Choral Fest, Boston, MA- 3 min

 

2002 It Tossed and Tossed– A setting of the poem by Emily Dickinson; second song in a set of Three Songs for Soprano; performed by soprano Jayne West at Pickman Hall, Longy School of Music, 2003– 10 min.

 

2002 Guitar Concerto– Performed by guitar soloist Robert Ward; Eric Sawyer, conductor, with nine accompanying orchestral instrumentalists; performed at Pickman Hall as part of Composers in Red Sneakers concert series, 2003- 20 min.

 

2002 Sonata for Violin and Guitar– Performed by Robert Ward and Francine Trester at Longy School of Music and Berklee College of Music, 2003– 15 min.

 

2002 Song of Songs– For SATB choir; performed by Musica Sacra at Saint Paul’s Church, Harvard Square, Cambridge, May 14, 2003– 5 min.

 

2002 Quodlibet– Written for Yale Collegium Musicum (choir and mixed ensemble) performed at Yale University, Beinecke Library, May 1, 2002- 5 min.

 

2001 Piano Trio– Premiered with violinist Francine Trester (composer of the Trio), pianist Eric Sawyer and cellist Michael Bonner in Boston as part of the New Gallery Concert Series, February 7, 2002- 20 min.

 

2001 Close, Close All Night– First in a series of songs commissioned by mezzo-soprano Mary Ann Hart- 3 min.

 

2000 Suite for Guitar and Violin– Premiered at Northeastern University, March 2000 (also performed as part of the Boston Classical Guitar Society’s recital series)- 15 min.

 

2000 Flying– First in a series of songs commissioned by soprano Patricia Prunty- 6 min.

 

2000 Summer Serenade (for orchestra)– Commissioned and performed by Music on the Hill Summer Festival Orchestra- 5 min.

 

1999 Live With Me and Be My Love– Commissioned by the Mirror Visions Ensemble; premiered in New York at the Florence Gould Hall and the Kosciusko Foundation, Oct. 15 and Nov. 14, 1999- 3 min.

 

1999 The Ticket– Commissioned by baritone Richard Lalli; premiered at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, Feb. 3-5, 2000 as part of the Sequitur concert series- 3 min.

 

1999 Brief Observation for Piano– Written for John McDonald, Professor of Composition at Tufts University; performed in September, 1999 by John McDonald for the New England Piano Teachers Association- 2 min.

 

1999 Three Songs of Ascension– Commissioned by baritone Richard Lalli; performed at the Florence Gould Hall; also performed at the Kosciusko Foundation and Yale University- 10 min.

 

1999 Second Sonata for Violin and Piano– Performed by the composer with composer/pianists John McDonald at 1st and 2nd Church, Boston, Extension

Works series, September 2000; and Eric Sawyer (Associate Professor, Amherst College) at Tufts University, Longy, and Yale University- 20 min.

 

1999 Suite for Flute, Violin, and Clarinet– Performed at the Longy School of Music, February 27, 2001; premiered by faculty at Austin College- 15 min.

 

1999 In Der Ferne– Collection of German songs for tenor and piano; written for vocal professor Dr. Wayne Crannell; performed at Austin College by Dr. Crannell in 2004- 15 min.

 

1999 For Guitar Solo– Collection of short works- 10 min.

 

1998 Two Moods for Cello and Piano– Commissioned by Emmanuel Lopez, cellist with the Harrington String Quartet; performed at Yale University by Mr. Lopez and the composer- 10 min.

 

1998 Partita– For solo violin; performed by the composer at Yale University; performed by violinist Roger Zahab, November 7, 1998, St. Peter’s Church, Chelsea, N.Y.C.- 20 min.

 

1997 String Quartet No. 2– Commissioned and performed by the Arianna String Quartet, Quartet–in–Residence at Eastern Michigan University; premiered in November 1997- 15 min.

 

1997 Three “Just So” Poems– For orchestra and narrator, this multimedia work combines original illustrations, poetry and music- 15 - 20 min. 

 

1997 Commissioned to write new Alma Mater for Austin College as part of the College’s 150th anniversary celebration

 

1996 La Belle Dame Sans Merci– For tenor, violin, and piano; premiere and second performance by faculty at Austin College in February 1998- 9 min.

 

1996 Trio for Piano, Violin and Clarinet– Performed by the faculty trio at the University of Akron (included violinist Roger Zahab) in April 1997- 15 min.

 

1995 In Memoriam– For girls’ choir; scheduled performances at the Queenswood School and Austin College- 5 min.

 

1995 Composed incidental music for educational workshop at the English National Opera

 

1995 Two arrangements for string orchestra performed at the Queenswood School, Hertfordshire, England

 

1995 Three Songs for Soprano, Violin and Piano- 9 min.

 

1995 Woodwind Octet- 12 min.

 

1995 Duet For two cellos; to be performed by faculty at West Texas A&M University- 7 min.

 

1994 Orchestral excerpt from the musical Jane Eyre (see below)– Commissioned and performed by the Wallingford Symphony- 6 min.

 

1994 For Unaccompanied Violin- 2 min.

 

1994 The Gods of Winter– Song cycle for baritone and chamber orchestra; text and premiere attended by former NEA chairman Dana Gioia; performed by Professor Richard Lalli, Yale University- 15 min.

 

1994 Trio– For three clarinets; performed at Yale University- 10 min.

 

1993 String Quartet– Performed at Yale University and used in the scoring of Liability Crisis, an independent film released nationally in 1995- 20 min.

 

1993 Music for Goldilocks and Bob– A short musical comedy showcased by the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop- 10 min.

 

1993 Two Moods for Violin and Piano– Performed at Yale University, 1993, in England (Fulbright performance), 1995, and Austin College, 1996- 7 min.

 

1992 Music for Amnestia, a play by Kerry Kennedy– included in the Yale School of Drama’s 1991-2 Season– full-length production (approx. 1 hr.)

 

1992 Orchestra Overture to Jane Eyre– Orchestral reading by Yale Philharmonia- 5 min.

 

1991 Trio– For piano, clarinet and double bass- 7 min.

 

1991 Score, lyrics and book to Jane Eyre, an original musical based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë– full length production (approx. 2 hours)

 

1991 Piano Interlude- 3 min.


1990 Sonata for Violin and Piano– Performed at Yale University by the composer (violin) and Mina Chung (piano)- 13 min.

 

1990 Lied– For soprano and piano- 3 min.

 

For an abridged bio of the composer please see:

http://www.berklee.edu/faculty/detail/francine-trester     

Additional information at: www.francinetrester.com

Selections from the chamber opera 334 Bunnies coming soon at:

www.334bunnies.com

Selections from Bus #66 may be heard at:

www.bus66.com

 
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