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FRANK LA ROCCA - Composer
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FRANK LA ROCCA (born
1951 in New Jersey) was educated at Yale (B.A. 1973, cum laude) and the
University of California at Berkeley (M.A. 1976, Ph.D 1981 in Music). His
early experiences in music ranged from the study of classical piano to
playing electric keyboards in a variety of rock and blues bands. He began
composing at age 14 and first undertook formal studies in composition and
theory while at Yale. His teachers include Edwin Dugger, Andrew Imbrie,
Olly Wilson, Jonathan Kramer, Frank Lewin, and John Mauceri.
Recipient of an NEA Composer Fellowship, a California State Artist
Fellowship, ASCAP Young Composer's Award, Special Commendations in the
ASCAP/Nissim Orchestral Competition and Amherst Choral Competition, the
Nicolo de Lorenzo Prize, and awards in the 2004 Vanguard Premieres Choral
Composition Competition, the 2004 MACRO Composition Competition, and the
2005 Meistersingers Choral Composition Competition, La Rocca has been
recognized on three occasions for Outstanding Merit as a Professor of Music
at California State University, East Bay.
Notable recent
performances include Echo at the 7th World Symposium on Choral Music in
Kyoto, Japan by the San Francisco Girls Chorus; Expectavi Dominum in the Cathedral at
Aarschot, Belgium; In This Place at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and O
Magnum Mysterium by
the Grammy-Award winning Cathedral Choral Society at the National Cathedral
in Washington, D.C. Overseas premieres of O Magnum Mysterium and Magnificat in the UK, Exaudi in Brazil, Miserere in Portugal, Sicut
Cervus
in France and Cantate Domino in Prague have all recently been heard.
La Rocca's music has
been recorded by the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Vanguard Voices, Prague
Radio Orchestra and Chorus, the Alexander String Quartet, cellist Lawrence
Granger and the trio, Strata, among others. He is published by
Boosey&Hawkes and Walton Music. A founding member, past Executive
Director and current Artistic Director of COMPOSERS, INC., La Rocca teaches
at California State University, East Bay, where he is Chair of the Music
Department.
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CHORAL - VOCAL WORKS
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Hallelujah!
(2007) for SATB Choir, Organ and optional brass. 2 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
O
Eve! (2007) for SATB Choir. 4 min - also available in SSAA and SA with or
without piano accompaniment. Listen!
(for slower
connections click here)
O
Eve! (2007) version for SSAA a capella. 4 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Cantate
Domino (2006) for SATB choir and Orchestra. 6 min
Sicut
Cervus (2005) for SATB Choir. 5 min Listen!
(for slower
connections click here)
Birthday
Canons (2005) for any four voices. 1 min
Into
Your Hands (2005) for SATB choir plus optional keyboard accompaniment.
4 min
Resurrection
Prelude (2005) for SATB choir, Organ, Brass and Timpani. 2 min Listen! MIDI file (for slower connections click here)
O
Nata Lux (2005) for SATB choir and String Orchestra. 7 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Echo
(2004) for women's choir. 6 min Listen! MIDI file (for slower connections click here)
*** to purchase the CD, click here ***
Cantate
Domino (2004) for SATB choir and Organ. 6 min
O
Magnum Mysterium (2003) for SATB choir. 7 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
*** to purchase the score, click here ***
Ubi
Caritas (2003) for SATB choir. 5 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
O
Vos Omnes (2003) for SATB choir. 8 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Eli,
Eli! (2003) for SATB choir and organ. 7 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Magnificat (2002) for
women's chamber choir. 8 min
Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Expectavi Dominum (2001)
for mixed choir. 6 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Veni Sancte Spiritus (2001)
for sop, cl, stg qt. 10 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
In the Beginning (2000) for mixed choir. 7 min
Credo (2002) for SATB choir. 13 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Exaudi (1998) for mixed
choir. 8 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
* Recorded on Capstone CD 8674
Psalm 23 (2002) for SATB choir.
4 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
CHAMBER INSTRUMENTAL WORKS
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In This Place (2000) for clar, vln and piano.
10 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
* commissioned by STRATA
FourPlay (1997) for string quartet. 5
min
Meditation (1991) piano solo. 3 min Listen! (for slower connections click here) * commissioned by Fallen
Leaf Press
Divertimento (1990) for two pianos.
6 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
Secret Thoughts (1986) for
unaccompanied cello. 10 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
* commissioned by Lawrence Granger * Recorded on CRI SD 567
Frammenti (1983) for piano solo. 7 min Listen! (for slower connections click here) * commissioned by
Ellen Wassermann.
Duo Lirico (1982) for
violin and viola. 4 min
String Trio (1981) for violin, viola and
cello. 16 min Listen! (for slower connections click here) * Recorded on CRI SD
567
Fantasy for Violin and
Piano (1979). 7 min
Phoenix (1976) for
clarinet, string quartet, piano and percussion. 12 min
Night Music (1975) for
violin and piano. 8 min
CHAMBER CHORAL - VOCAL WORKS
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In a Dark Time (1989) for SATB chorus and
chamber ensemble. 14 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
The Pure Fury (1988) for tenor and large chamber ensemble. 20 min
Canti d'Innocenza (1984) for soprano, clarinet, harp, and vibraphone.
12 min
* Recorded on CRS 8944.
ORCHESTRAL
WORKS
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Veni Sancte
Spiritus (2001) for sop, clar and String orchestra. 10 min
While Orpheus Dreamed (1998) for orchestra.
13 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
The Right Road Lost (1996) for large
orchestra. 14 min
Crossing the Rubicon (1994) for
orchestra. 13 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
* commissioned by the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra.
________ (1993) version
for chamber orchestra; for the San Francisco Conservatory New Music
Ensemble.
No Strings (1993) for symphonic band. 4 min Listen! (for slower connections click here)
* commissioned by Prof. Timothy Smith for the 1994 California Band
Directors Association All-State Honor Band Conference * Recorded on ME Digital
Recordings CD Vol. 6
The Pure Fury (1989) for tenor and chamber orchestra. 20 min * commissioned by the Ohlone
Chamber Orchestra
Chen (1977) Prologue for Orchestra. 2 min
ELECTRONIC - FILM WORKS
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Labyrinth (1977) for
electronic tape. 6 min
Newsical Muse (1975) contributions
to a work by Neil B. Rolnick, principal composer. Live radio theater piece.
60 min
Emergency (1974) music
for documentary film. 30 min.
Krystallos (1973) music
for documentary film. 30 min.
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