MICHAEL CONWAY BAKER'S OPUS LIST





Notes by the composer about his concert music.

michael conducting

Like many composers I feel I can divide my music into listening and performing levels of difficulty. These are: l.) Very accessible (Easy) 2.) Moderate (a mix of easy and difficult. 3.) Difficult (harder to play and understand.) I will characterize each category with references to various works.

Very accessible (Easy). These works are my most popular compositions because they appeal to the broadest range of the listening public. Most of "Cinderella: Frozen in Time written for the Dorothy Hamill ice ballet of the same name would fall into this category. The music is full of catchy tunes and beautiful melodies. Other pieces like "Piano in Rags" , a set of "Joplinesque " piano rags as well as "Vancouver Variations" have great appeal to the general public. Although much of this music cannot be characterized as "pop" (except, perhaps, the piano rags) it does seem to be something that could be grouped under "light classics" and, therefore, could be programmed in a symphonic "pops" event.

The second category -- Moderate, is a mix of the very accessible and more "difficult". This category constitutes the main body of my concert music. The compositions use more "rigorous" compositional harmonies and techniques and are considered more "substantial" by classical music lovers. I would include works such as "Through the Lions' Gate", (orch.) "The Flight of Aphrodite", "Summit Concerto" for trumpet & orch; both Symphony #l and#2, and a good many others. The third category "Difficult" refers to music which is more difficult to play and comprehend -- although I would never consider this music as "experimental" or "avant - garde". Works like my String Quartet #l would fall into this category: I employ twelve-tone techniques and other contemporary devices but, still, never for their own sake. Sections, but not all of the music in category two could be considered "difficult" for the listener un-used to a lot of contemporary classical music.

Perhaps it would help to explain that my own personal listening taste runs to a lot of the classics of previous musical periods I most enjoy contemporary music which doesn't seem to turn its back, completely, on the past. Amongst my favourite contemporary composers are: Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Frank Martin, Walton, Hindemith, Barber, Hanson, Copland, etc. These composers have definitely "influenced" me. But I have, it seems, found my own "style" and, generally it could be characterized as "middle of the road."

A final note regarding my film music. This music is a very ecclectic mix of all three categories.

1= Very accessible
2= Moderate ( a mix of easy and difficult)
3=difficult ( hard to play and understand)

OP.1-#1 DICHOTOMY (PIANO)(1961)1:30 MIN. 2
OP.1-#2 BALLADE FOR CELLO & PIANO (1961) 4 MIN. 2
OP.2 SONATA FOR FLUTE & PIANO (1963) 15 MIN. 2+
OP.3 (PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN MUSIC) CAPRICCIO FOR TWO PIANOS (1964)
8 MIN 2+
OP.4 CAROL (SSATB) (1964) 4 MIN. 2
OP.5 FIVE LYRIC SONGS (SOPRANO & PIANO) (1964) 10 MIN. 2
OP.6 FIVE EPIGRAMS FOR WOODWIND TRIO (1965) 6 MIN. 2
OP.7 WOODWIND QUINTET (1965) 11 MIN. 3
OP.8 CONCERT PIECE FOR BRASS (1965) 4 MIN. 2+
OP.9 QUARTET FOR VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO & PIANO (1966) 8 MIN. 1+
OP.10 SCHERZO FOR TRUMPET & ORGAN (1967) 7 MIN. 1
OP.11 MOMENT JOYEUX (ORGAN) (1968) 3 MIN. 1
OP.12 FANTASIE FOR ORGAN (1968) 7 MIN. 2+
OP.13 CONCERT PIECE FOR ORGAN, PIANO & TIMPANI (1969) 12 MIN. 3
OP.14 STRING QUARTET (1969) 15 MIN. 3
OP.15 DIALOGUES FOR ORCHESTRA, CHOIR & BARITONE SOLO (1970) 30 MIN. 2
OP.16 COUNTERPLAY FOR VIOLA & STRING ORCHESTRA (1971) 8 MIN. 2+
OP.17 INTRODUCTION & FUGUE FOR ORCHESTRA (1971) 4 MIN. 2+
OP.18 TRIO FOR VIOLIN, CELLO & PIANO (1972) 11 MIN. 2+
OP.19 COUNTERPLAY FOR VIOLA & PIANO (1973) 8 MIN. 2+
OP.20 CONCERTO (CONTOURS) FOR BASS VIOL, HARPSICHORD & STRINGS (1972) 15 MIN. 3
OP.21 ELEGY FOR FLUTE & ORGAN (1972) 6 MIN. 2
OP.22 FOUR PIANO PIECES (1973) 12 MIN. 3
OP.23 A GABRIEL FAURE: IN MEMORIAM (STRINGS & FOUR WINDS) (1959) (ORCHESTRATION 1974) 5 MIN. 1
OP.24 MUSIC FOR SIX PLAYERS (FLUTE, OBOE, STRING TRIO, HARPSICHORD) (1973) 15 MIN. 3
OP.25 FIVE CANADIAN FOLK SONGS (1973) 15 MIN. 1
OP.26 OKANAGAN LANDSCAPES (PIANO & ORCHESTRA) (1972) 13 MIN. 1
OP.27 CONCERTO FOR FLUTE & STRING ORCHESTRA (1974) 15 MIN. 2+
OP.28 "THE LETTER" A BALLET (1974) 14 MIN. 2
OP.29 COMBINATIONS FOR DOUBLE BASS & HARPSICHORD (1974) 11 MIN. 2
OP.30 "EN RAPPORT" FOR TWO GUITARS (1974) 15 MIN. 2
OP.31 SONATA FOR PIANO (1975) 15 MIN. 2+
OP.32 A STRUGGLE FOR DOMINION (PIANO & ORCHESTRA) (1975) 12 MIN. 2+
OP.33 POINT NO POINT (VIOLA & STRING ORCHESTRA (1975) 10 MIN. 2
OP.34 SIX SONGS FOR MEZZO SOPRANO (1975) 7 MIN. 2
OP.35 FOUR VIEWS FROM A NURSERY TUNE (VIOLIN, HORN, PIANO) (1975) 10 MIN. 1+
OP.36 DANCE SEQUENCES (CELLO SOLO) (1975) 6 MIN. 3
OP.37 FANFARE FOR BRASS (1976) 5 MIN. 2
OP.38 CONCERTO FOR PIANO & CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (1976) 27 MIN. 3
OP.39 DUO CONCERTANTE FOR VIOLIN, VIOLA & STRING ORCHESTRA (1976) 10 MIN. 2
OP.41 SYMPHONY NO. 1 "Highland" (ORCHESTRA)(1977) 27 MIN. 2+
OP.42 WASHINGTON SQUARE (ORCHESTRA)(1978) 60 MIN. 2+
OP.43 THE UNATTAINABLE: A SONG CYCLE (1978) 15 MIN. 2+
OP.44 "THREE PLUS ONE" QUARTET FOR FLUTE, VIOLIN, VIOLA & CELLO (1979) 15 MIN. 2
OP.45 ALLELUIA (SATB & PIANO) (1980) 4 MIN. 2
OP.46 CANTILENA FOR HORN & PIANO (1981) 5 MIN. 2
OP.47 "GO FORTH" SOPRANO, ALTO & PIANO (1981) 4 MIN. 1+
OP.48 MIRAGE FOR ORGAN, TRUMPET & HORN (1982) 5 MIN. 2
OP.49 VORTEX (ORCHESTRA) (FROM FILM SCORE "NAILS")
(1982) 7 MIN. 2
OP.50 ENCOUNTERS (A BALLET) PIANO, HARP & STRINGS (1983) 15 MIN. 2
OP.51 A HYMN TO LIFE (SATB & ORGAN) (1983) 5 MIN. 2
OP.52 DUO FOR FLUTE & BASSOON (1983) 15 MIN. 3
OP.54 PIANO SOLO (1983) 4 MIN. 2
OP.55 RED ON WHITE: FLUTE, VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO (1982) 8 MIN. 2
OP.56 WITHDRAWN 1986 REWORKED AS STRING QUARTET #2 BAROQUE DIVERSIONS (STRINGS, FLUTE, ENGLISH HORN, TRUMPET, BASSOON) (1982) 10 MIN. 2+
OP.57 EVOCATIONS FOR FLUTE QUARTET & ORCHESTRA (1982) 17 MIN.2+
OP.58 PERSPECTIVE #1 FOR FLUTE & ORGAN (1984) 3 MIN. 3
OP.59 FILM SCORE "THE GREY FOX" (1982) 45 MIN. 2
OP.60 FILM SCORE "MAGGIE" (1982) 18 MIN. 2
OP.61 FILM SCORE "DESERTERS" (1982) 52 MIN. 2
OP.62 FANFARE FOR EXPO 86 (1983) 90 SEC. 2
OP.63 RITA JOE: A TONE POEM (SOPRANO & ORCHESTRA) (1983) 17 MIN. 2+
OP.65 SEVEN WONDERS: A SONG CYCLE (SOPRANO & PIANO) (1983) 12 MIN. 2
OP.66 SYMPHONIA CONCERTANTE (ORCHESTRA) (1984) 12 MIN. 2
OP.67 SINFONIA FOR STRINGS (1984) 7 MIN. 2
OP.69 STRING QUARTET #2 FOR AMATEUR PLAYERS (1985) 10 MIN. 2
OP.70 FOUR SONGS FOR ANN (VOICE & ORCHESTRA) (1985) 10 MIN. 2
OP.73 EVE OF THE GARDEN (SOPRANO & ORCHESTRA) (1985) 18 MIN. 2+
OP.74 STREET SCENES (MEN'S CHOIR & PIANO) (1985) 10 MIN. 2
OP.75 CAPRICCIO FOR SOLO INSTRUMENTS & ORCHESTRA (1986) 8 MIN. 2
OP.76 A GIFT OF LIFE (VOICE & PIANO) (1986) 3 MIN. 2
OP.77 RAINFOREST SUITE (PIANO SOLO) (1987) 12 MIN. 2
OP.78 CHANSON JOYEUSE (ORCHESTRA) (1987) 7 MIN. 2
OP.79 FANTASIA ON TWO FOLK SONGS (YOUTH CHOIR &
ORCHESTRA (1988) 2
OP.80 INTERMEZZO FOR FLUTE AND HARP (1988) 9 MIN. 2+
OP.81 COME MAKE THE MUSIC (CHOIR, ORGAN, PIANO
& BELLS) (1988) -- Lyrics by Penny-Anne Baker 2+
OP.82 OKANAGAN SPRING (CONCERT BAND) (1989) 8 MIN. 2
OP.83 THROUGH THE LIONS GATE (ORCHESTRA) (1989) 15 MIN. 2+
OP.84 REFLECTIONS ON A LOST DREAM (STRINGS - VIOLIN SOLO) (1989) 5 MIN. 1+
OP.85 PACIFIC SUITE (ORCHESTRA) (1989) 8 MIN. 2
OP.86 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (INCIDENTAL MUSIC) 20 MIN. 2
OP.87(1989)ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS (CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA) (1989) 3 MIN. 1+
OP.88 TECHNOPHRENIA (ORCHESTRA) (1989) 7 MIN. 2+
AKA SCHERZOPHRENIA
OP.89 STAR WARRIORS (1989) (SYNTHESIZERS) 4 MIN. 2
OP.90 TIMEDANCERS (VIOLIN, CLARINET & ORCHESTRA) (1990) 11 MIN. 2+
OP.91 GENERATIONS (FLUTE AND PIANO)(19900) 5 MIN. 2
OP.92 'THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE' (INCIDENTAL) (1990) 2
OP.93 FANFARE AND CHORALE ("A BETTER WAY") (1991)
(FOR BRASS BAND AND CHOIR)
- Lyrics by Penny-Anne Baker 8 MIN. 2
OP.94 THE WEB OF LIFE (1991) (PIANO OR ORGAN AND
CHOIR) -- Lyrics by Penny-Anne Baker 4 MIN. 2
OP.95 THE COLOURS OF SPACE (FRENCH HORN AND ORCHESTRA) 9 MIN. 2
OP.96 CAPRICCIO FOR BASSOON AND STRING QUINTET (1991) 8 MIN. 2
OP.97 A THEME FOR DENNIS (PIANO AND STRING ORCHESTRA) 5 MIN. 1+
OP.98 TAKE EACH DAY ANEW (SOPRANO,TRUMPET AND ORGAN)
- Lyrics by Penny-Anne Baker (1992) 4:30 MIN. 2
OP.99 THE FLIGHT OF APHRODITE (VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA)
COMMISSIONED FOR PATRICIA SHIH BY DONNA GRESCOE
(VIOLIN AND PIANO VERSION AVAILABLE) (1993) 22 MIN. 2+
OP.100 CENTURY SYMPHONY (SYMPHONY #2) (ORCHESTRA AND
UNISON CHOIR - Youth Choir Preferred) 1993 30 MIN. 2+
OP.101 ERIDANUS - A TRIBUTE TO MALCOLM LOWRY (FLUTE, RECORDER,
OBOE, ALTO SAX, VIOLIN, PIANO, SYNTHESIZER, DOUBLE BASS,
PERCUSSION AND NARRATOR) (1993) 15 MIN. 2+
OP.102 CELEBRATION CANADA (ORCHESTRA) 1993 6 MIN. 2+
OP.103 CINDERELLA: FROZEN IN TIME (ORCHESTRA) 1993 92 MIN. 2

Two orchestral suites available--

Suite #1 41:30 MINUTES
Suite #2 26:38 MINUTES

OP.104 CANTICLE FOR AN ANGEL (PIANO AND VIOLIN) 1994 7 MIN. 2
OP.105 SUMMIT CONCERTO (FOR TRUMPET AND ORCHESTRA) 1994 32 MIN. 2+
OP.106 TO PLAY WITH ANGELS (DUO FOR VIOLIN AND CELLO) 1995 15 MIN. 3
OP.107 VANCOUVER VARIATIONS FOR OBOE AND CHAMBER
ORCHESTRA (1996 PREMIERE) 23 MIN. 2+
OP.108 A PSALM FOR OUR TIME (CHOIR (SATB) AND ORCHESTRA)
(1996 PREMIERE) 13 MIN (full) 2
9 MIN (short)
OP.109 PIANO IN RAGS (FIVE EASY PIECES FOR SOLO PIANO IN THE STYLE OF SCOTT JOPLIN)
1995 6 MIN. 1
OP.110 HORIZONS-THE ORCA BAY THEME (ORCHESTRA) 1995 8 MIN. 2
OP.111 MAELDUN - BALLET TO BE INCLUDED IN TV BALLET 30 MIN. APPROX. ?
"JOURNEY" (1996)
OP.112 PASSACAGALIA FOR VIOLIN, VIOLA AND PIANO (1996) 15 MIN. APPROX. ?
OP.113 BEYOND TIME - SOLO CELLO (1996) 5 MIN. APPROX ?
OP.114 FAREWELL, DIANA (1997) (CHAMBER ORCHESTRA) 4.5 MIN. APPROX 1+
115a CONCERTO FOR FLUTE & STRINGS #2 (1999) 17 MIN. 2
115b PIANO REDUCTION FOR FLUTE & PIANO CONCERTO #2 (1999) 17 MIN. 2
116 a SOME SUMMERTIME FOR SOLO FLUTE, PIANO, HARP &
STRINGS (1999) 6 MIN. 1+
116b PIANO REDUCTION SOME SUMMERTIME FOR FLUTE
& PIANO (1999) 6 MIN. 1+
New Piano Reduction: COUNTERPLAY FOR VIOLA & STRINGS 8 MIN. 2
OPUS #19 (b) (1999)
117 CONCERTO FOR HARP AND ORCHESTRA (2000) 15 MIN APPROX 2
118 A CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE (FULL ORCH) (2000) 16 MIN APPROX 2
119 SCHÖENBRUNN WALTZ (VIENNESE) STRING ORCH (2000) 5 MIN. 2
120 CONCERTO FOR CLARINET AND STRINGS (2001) 18 MIN. 3
121 MAPLEWEISS (VIENNESE WALTZ FOR ORCHESTRA) 2001 8 MIN. 2
122 MARCHE MECHANIQUE (BAND) AND (BAND/STRINGS) 2002 5 MIN 2
123 FORMS FOR FIVE (FLUTE, STRING TRIO AND PIANO) 2002 18 MIN 2
124 THE MOUNTAINS (3RD MOVEMENT OP.83) FOR CONCERT BAND 7 MIN 2
125 PRELUDE & SCHERZO FOR TWO MARIMBAS (2002) 5 MIN 2
126 MULGRAVE SCHOOL ANTHEM (CHOIR & ORCHESTRA) 2 MIN 2
127 A CANTICLE FOR RYAN (VIOLIN & ORCHESTRA, 11 MIN 2
And (VIOLIN & PIANO piano reduction) 2003
128 FIVE SCENES FOR 3 HORNS, TIMPANI & STRINGS (2004) 23 MIN 2
129 OKANAGAN SPRING (REVISED) FOR CONCERT BAND 2005 8 MIN 2
130 REMEMBRANCES FOR FRENCH HORN, HARP, STRINGS AND
WORDLESS CHOIR (ALSO AVAILABLE FOR HORN & PIANO) 2005 8 MIN 2
131 REFLECTIONS (FOR PIANO, FLUTE/VIOLIN, CELLO/BASSOON
AND WORDLESS CHOIR) 2005 8 MIN 2
132 FLIGHT OF THE HERON (C-FLUTE, ALTO FLUTE AND
TWO KEYBOARDS) 2005 8 MIN 2
133 FOUR MUSICAL PORTRAITS 2006 15 MIN 2
134 LULLABY FOR TWO 2006 4 MIN 1-2
135 SUSIE (2004) (Piano Solo) 3 MIN. 2
136 SONG OF THE MOUNTAINS: A CELEBRATION
CHORAL) with optional brass (2007) 10 MIN. 2
137 THREE ETUDES FOR BEGINNING STRINGS (2007) 6 MIN 1
138 CHANSON JOYEUSE FOR CONCERT BAND (2007) 7 MIN 2
139 PRELUDE AND SCHERZO FOR TWO PIANOS/PIANO DUET (2007) 4 MIN 2
140 CONCERTO FESTIVA (TWO PIANOS & ORCH)(2007) 8 MIN.
141 TWO LULLABIES (SOLO VIOLIN) (2007) 6 MIN.
142 THEME FOR NICHOLAS (SOLO VIOLIN)(2007) 4 MIN.
143 ALLELUIA (CHOIR & PIANO) (2008) 7 MIN.
144 DUO CONCERTANTE (SOLO VIOLIN,VIOLA & STRINGS)(2008) 8 MIN.
145 (a) TRIO FOR VIOLIN, CELLO & PIANO (2008) 11 MIN.
145 (b) TRIO FOR CLARINET, CELLO & PIANO (2008) 11 MIN.




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Michael Conway Baker
Evocation Publishing Company Inc.
Email: mconwayb@shaw.ca
Phone: 604-929-8732 Fax: 604-929-0164
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