TRIGONOMETRY
(1996)
Four baritones and four percussionists look for the point "omega." Premiered in Hamburg, Nov.
1997, 80 minutes. € (Euros) 40
UNA
OPERA ITALIANA (1991)
Twelve scenes in Italian, interrupted by recitatives, in which seven
experts explain everything in the language of the audience. Never
performed. 20 singers, seven intellectuals, and orchestra, two hours.
Orchestra material on rental. Vocal score € (Euros) 40
DEUX
CENTS ANS (1989)
Opera premiered at the Festival d'Avignon in 1989 for the French
Bicentennial. A numbered edition of 200 copies. € (Euros) 20
RIEMANNOPER
(1988)
A comic opera in two acts, with text from the Riemann
Musiklexikon, in German. Baritone, tenor, prima donna, prima
donna assoluta, and piano. 90 minutes. € (Euros) 35
Read production
history.
SOPRANOS
ONLY (1984)
A procession of sopranos, with six sopranos, flute, violin, cello and
harp. 35 minutes. € (Euros) 20
DOOR
(1978)
Someone is at the door, but the two singers are too tired to answer it.
They sing many cadences on the word "yawn." Two sopranos and piano, € (Euros) 10
DRAWERS
(1978)
She looks for her thimble and finally finds it on her finger. Soprano
and piano, text in English, French, German. 15 minutes, € (Euros) 10
Read
libretto.
DRYER (1978)
The baritone catches fish and hangs them up to dry while the tenor
looks on, wondering why. Baritone and piano, in English, 15 minutes, € (Euros) 10
WINDOW
(1978)
The window is dirty and it takes 15 minutes to clean it. Tenor,
baritone, piano, in English. € (Euros) 7
L'OPÉRA
DE QUATRE NOTES (THE FOUR NOTE OPERA) (1972)
The composer's first opera, and the best known. Published in America by
G. Schirmer, but now also available in French from Editions 75. € (Euros) 30
1
2 3 (2002)
Nine movements for mixed speaking choruses. Divided into three parts.
Each part: € (Euros) 6
WESLEY'S
CHALLENGE (1982-2001)
SATB anthem in six parts with texts by John Wesley. € (Euros) 6
LE
CHOEUR (1993)
A commission from Radio France, for their children's choir. SSAA,
without text, 20 minutes. € (Euros) 17
BONHOEFFER
ORATORIUM (1988 -1992) (CD)
The largest work of Tom Johnson, premiered by the orchestra and chorus
of the Dutch Radio in September 1996, and had its German premier in
Berlin in November of 1998. The text comes from various books, sermons,
and letters of the controversial German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(1906-44), who took part in the resistance against Hitler. Two hours
and 15 minutes of music. Orchestra material on rental.
Read composer's program notes.
Score available in four versions:
Complete
score in hard cover, € (Euros) 350
Vocal score in hard cover, € (Euros) 100
Vocal score in spiral binding, € (Euros) 60
A capella score of the seven choruses of Part IV
(with texts from the prison letters), which can be presented outside
the context of the oratorio as a whole, € (Euros) 6
TRINITY
(1978)
Four choruses standing at four corners of the space sing three choruses
using three words: Creator, Son, Holy Ghost. € (Euros) 10
How can different rhythmic patterns be combined in such a way that no two patterns ever occur simultaneously and every beat is filled? "Tiling the line" is a subject that Johnson and several mathematicians have been investigating (download the IRCAM lecture of February 2002, PDF file), and the Tilework series includes pieces, mostly for solo instruments, that employ these techniques.
Tilework for Flute € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Oboe € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Clarinet € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Bassoon € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Saxophone € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Horn € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Trumpet € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Trombone € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Tuba € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Percussion € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Log Drums € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Violin € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Viola € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Cello € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Double Bass € (Euros) 10
Tilework for Piano € (Euros) 10
Tilework for String Quartet € (Euros) 10
ARPEGGIOS
FOR GUITAR (2002)
Logical up-and-down progressions, dedicated to Didier Aschour. Five
short movements in 9 minutes, € (Euros) 6
32
BREATHS (32 Atemzüge) (2000)
Inhaling and exhaling quite deliberately as one plays a growing melody.
Basically a flute piece, though other wind instruments are welcome to
try it. 7-11 minutes, € (Euros) 5.
KIENTZY
LOOPS (2000) (CD available)
Kientzy Loops was written for the saxophonist Daniel
Kientzy, who premiered it, with Reina Portuondo, at the ADAC in Paris
on November 21, 2000, as part of a Meta Duo concert. In January 2001
the piece received the prize as the contemporary music premier for the
year 2000 in the annual Victoires de la Musique Classique et du Jazz in
Nantes.
The piece requires an accompanying recorded loop (which performers
prepare however they like), and from beginning to end, the music turns
around on this loop of eight notes : G F E D E F G D. This little
melody is not as innocent as it looks, however, because it is
"self-replicating," which means that as it turns, the listener can also
hear the same melody turning three times or five times slower than the
basic melody. The cross-rhythms are brought out in different ways by
the performer, who often needs to count in several tempos at once.
10 minutes, € (Euros) 12.
MUSIC
WITH MISTAKES (1993 - 1999)
Ten short pieces for flute or clarinet. In each piece the same phrase
is played seven times. Six times there is a mistake, and once it is
correct. Can you hear the mistakes? Do you prefer the correct or the
incorrect phrases? € (Euros) 10
SEQUENZA
MINIMALISTA (1993)
A rather difficult solo for trombone. Six minutes. € (Euros) 8
ALEXANDRINS
POUR GUITARE (1989)
Nine miniatures in phrases of 12 and 13 notes, following the rhythm of
classical French poetry. 10 minutes. € (Euros) 8
INFINITE
MELODIES (1986) (CD available)
Any instrument may play these logical sequences, which become longer
and longer, to infinity. € (Euros) 7
RATIONAL
MELODIES
(1982) (CD)
21 systematic melodies for any melodic instrument(s). No. XV is the
first "self-replicating" melody, and several other techniques,
explained later in the book "Self-Similar Melodies," were first used
here. € (Euros) 18.
DOUBLINGS
FOR DOUBLE BASS (1980)
Six ways of transforming a melody of two notes into a melody of four
notes, eight notes, 16 notes, 32 notes, etc. until you have a piece as
long as you like. A rather formidable concentration exercise, which can
also make an unusual recital piece. € (Euros) 6
NINE
BELLS (1979)
One of the key works in the evolution of the composer, who often played
it himself, on his set of nine bells, suspended from the ceiling. A few
rather athletic percussionists continue to present the work. Nine
movements in about 50 minutes. € (Euros) 14
ACTION
MUSIC IV (1968)
The music is on 12 music stands, and the viola soloist makes the
rounds, playing all the fragments in 6-8 minutes. € (Euros) 10
844 CHORDS (2005)
Rational harmonies in five voices for amplified ensemble (solo 1, solo
2, keyboard, guitar and bass). 20 minutes. Score € (Euros) 12, parts € (Euros) 15.
KIRKMAN’S
LADIES (2005)
Rational harmonies in three voices, preferably for three flutes, or
solo harp. Score € (Euros) 13.
TRIO (2005)
288 three-note chords with sums of 72 (middle C = 24), preferably for
violin, viola, violoncello. Score and parts € (Euros) 13
LOOPS
FOR ORCHESTRA (1999)
Self-replicating loops turn for 17 minutes in this orchestra piece,
premiered at the Steirischer Herbst in Graz, Austria, in September
1999. 2222, 2221, 2 perc. str. Score € (Euros) 20, parts on rental.
CANON
FOR SIX GUITARS (1998)
A five bar theme is gradually transformed into one repeating chord. 6
minutes. Score and parts, € (Euros) 20.
AUTOMATIC
MUSIC (1997)
Mathematical music, systematically following finite automata, for six
percussionists. Eighteen short movements, 50 minutes in all, but
playable in incomplete versions. Score and material offered in one
package, € (Euros) 90
SIMULTANEOUS
PROGRESSIONS (1996)
Four logical progressions for four instruments, each playing
independently from the others. Clarinet, trombone, piano, and cello. 10
- 12 minutes, € (Euros) 10
DESCENT
(1996)
About 7 minutes for a handbell ensemble, with chromatic scales
descending two octaves in canons. Score € (Euros) 4.
FORMULAS
FOR STRING QUARTET (1994)
The only Johnson string quartet, premiered by the Brindisi Quartet in
1994. Eight movements, each following a mathematical formula, 20
minutes. Score € (Euros) 14, parts € (Euros) 20
Sound examples
available.
COMPOSITION
WITH DESCENDING CHROMATIC SCALES IN EIGHT-VOICE CANON PLAYED IN THREE
WAYS, SEPARATED BY TWO PIANO INTERLUDES, WHICH BRING THE MUSIC BACK UP
TO ITS STARTING POSITION (1993)
See title. Six minutes. € (Euros) 12
EINSTIMMIGER
POLYRHYTHMUS (1992)
Trio for saxophone, guitar and bass, written for the German ensemble
Ugly Culture. The title means "Unison Polyrhythms." 18 minutes. € (Euros) 14
PREDICTABLES
(1984)
Predictable music for violin, cello and piano, 15 minutes. Score,
including string parts, € (Euros) 23
HARPIANO
(1982)
The subtle differences between the colors of these two isntruments
continue for 16 minutes. Harp and piano, € (Euros) 10
MOVEMENTS
(1980)
Four movements for wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn).
20 minutes. Musicians read from the score, € (Euros) 12
DRAGONS
IN A (1979)
Five movements for orchestra, each following the dragon formula, also
known as the "paper-folding formula." 18 minutes, orchestra material on
rental. Score € (Euros) 20
EIGHT
PATTERNS FOR EIGHT INSTRUMENTS (1979)
A suite of short pieces for unspecified upper-register instruments. 20
minutes. Score € (Euros) 16, parts € (Euros) 20.
60-NOTE
FANFARES FOR FOUR ANTIPHONAL TRUMPETS (1976)
Nine short movements in eight minutes, always with the same sequence of
60 notes. € (Euros) 10
RECYCLED
OSTINATO (1996)
Baritone sax, guitar, and bass make their way through 20 different
musical fragments, following signals called out by the leader. Usually
about 10 minutes. € (Euros) 5
MAXIMUM
EFFICIENCY (1991)
Three unspecified instruments in three octaves produce as much music as
possible with as little effort as possible, thus achieving "maximum
efficiency." Seven minutes, € (Euros) 14
NARAYANA'S
COWS (1989) (CD available)
"Narayana's Cows" are the product of a formula devised by a
14th-century Indian mathematician. Music in three voices for an
unspecified (but preferably large) ensemble and a narrator. 16 minutes, € (Euros) 8
MUSIC
AND
QUESTIONS (1988) (CD available)
There are 120 permutations of five notes to play with bells or
glockenspiel, and a question to be asked after each one. The text is
given in English, French and German, and the piece lasts 25 minutes. € (Euros) 10
EGGS
AND BASKETS (1987)
One explains how many ways there are of putting six eggs into two
baskets, with the help of a narrator and two unspecified
instrumentalists, who play the permutations as melodies. Also published
in French as Les Oeufs et les paniers, and in
German as Eier und Körbe, 12 min. € (Euros) 8
PIANO
PROBLEMS
(1986)
A young pianist can play a particular exercise 216 times in a single
practice session of 45 minutes. How many times can he play the exercise
in one minute? This and 13 other "piano problems," originally presented
as a radio piece, may also be resolved by pianist and narrator in
concert hall in 28 minutes. € (Euros) 15
BEDTIME
STORIES
(1985) (CD available)
Twelve pieces for clarinet and narrator, or clarinettist/narrator. Also
available in French as Histoires à dormir debout,
and in German as Gutenachtgeschichten. € (Euros) 14
TALKING
(1985)
A dialogue between two speakers, A and B, who talk mostly about
talking, with regular interludes of harpsichord music. Originally a
radio piece, but also possible in concert. 30 minutes. € (Euros) 15
SELF-PORTRAIT
(1983)
Eight notes are written on eight cardboard boxes. The "box mover"
places the boxes in different positions while two to 10 unspecified
instrumentalists play what they see. 20 minutes. € (Euros) 8
COUNTING
DUETS (1982)
Five movements, two speaking voices, text in numbers. One may speak the
numbers/music in whatever language one wishes. 8 minutes. € (Euros) 8
MONOLOGUE
FOR TUBA (1978)
A tubist talks to and plays with his instrument for seven minutes, in
English. € (Euros) 8
FAILING,
A VERY DIFFICULT PIECE FOR SOLO STRING BASS (1975) (CD available)
One of Johnson's most often performed pieces, written for Jon Deak, and
also interpreted by Bertram Turetzky, Gary Karr, and many other
virtuosos. Recently recorded by Robert Black with the "Bang on a Can
All-Stars" (CRI), 7 minutes. € (Euros) 15
SCENE
FOR PIANO AND TAPE (1969)
The pianist talks and plays with his collabo-rator, a loudspeaker. A
performance tape, made by the composer in 1969, is available, but it is
preferable to make a new one, with the performer's own voice and piano
playing. Score in English, 20 minutes, € (Euros) 8
SAME OR DIFFERENT (2004)
After each phrase, the listener is asked to decide whether the two
things heard were the same or different. This test of perception skills
can be presented silently and discreetly, or with vocal audience
participation, or with answer sheets and scores. A commission of VPRO
radio, premiered in Hilversum in 2004 by the Dutch pianist Dante Oei.
About 15 minutes. € (Euros) 15
ORGAN
AND SILENCE FOR PIANO (2002)
A collection of movements extracted from Organ and Silence,
dedicated to John McAlpine. Premiered in Düsseldorf in
September, 29, 2002. 25 minutes. € (Euros) 15
COSINUS
FOR PIANO (1994)
Four movements with a mathematical melody in one, two, three, and
finally four voices. 6 minutes. € (Euros) 7
SEPTAPEDE
(1973-1993)
A variable loop turning around on seven piano keys. Written in 1973 and
revised in 1993. About 12 minutes, € (Euros) 7
MUSIC
FOR 88
(1988) (CD available)
Nine pieces written in 1988 for the 88 keys of the piano. Also
available on CD. Score € (Euros) 10
CHORD
CATALOGUE
(1986) (CD
available)
All the 8178 chords possible in one octave. Written on one page and
playable on any keyboard in about two hours.
Download
score free of charge [PDF]
TANGO
(1984)
120 permutations of a melody played with an Argentine beat.
Download
score free of charge [PDF]
COUNTING
KEYS (1982-1989)
Five movements in 14 minutes. € (Euros) 12
TRIPLE
THREAT (1979)
A challenge for a pianist who can play, talk, and make recordings.
Score in English. 10 minutes. € (Euros) 7
PRIVATE
PIECES (1976)
Verbal instructions to follow at the piano. A useful book for students
who can not yet read notes with facility, and for others who wish to
play music allowing much room for interpretation. In English, € (Euros) 15
AN
HOUR FOR PIANO (1971) (CD
available)
Exactly 60 minutes of music for piano. € (Euros) 20.
SPACES
(1969)
Twelve minutes of tranquil music, where one senses the influence of
Morton Feldman, with whom Johnson studied just before, in 1967-68. 12
minutes. € (Euros) 8
VOICINGS
(1984)
Four pianists repeat a single phrase. The music is always the same, but
the distributions of the notes, the "voicings," are always changing. € (Euros) 30
SYMMETRIES
(1981 - 1990)
49 symmetrical miniatures playable by four hands, 50 minutes, € (Euros) 40
TWO
CURVES (1998)
Piece for player piano, in collaboration with Wolfgang Heisig. No
score, just the roll, ready to roll: € (Euros) 60
FULL
ROTATION OF 60 NOTES THROUGH 36 POSITIONS (1996)
Piece for player piano, in collaboration with Wolfgang Heisig. No
score, just another roll, ready to roll: € (Euros) 60
ORGAN
AND SILENCE (1999) (CD available)
A collection of 28 organ pieces to be played separately or as a long
recital. A minimal meditative kind of music with much more silence than
sound. 120 minutes, € (Euros) 20
MELODIE
DE SIX NOTES, POUR ORGUE (1986)
An organ solo in four sections, each seven times longer than the
previous one. 12 minutes, € (Euros) 5
Since 1985, Johnson has written many radio pieces for René Farabet (Radio France), for Kaye Mortley (Australian Broadcasting Company), for Klaus Schöning (WDR) and for Radio Nacional de España (RNE). Some of these have been prepared as scores and can be found in the category "Music with Text," but others exist only as recordings, which are the property of the producing radio stations. We list the titles here as historical documentation:
Signale [1984-1985].
Le Napperon [1984].
Talking [1985].
Fishing [1985].
Chord Catalogue [1986]. Available as a free score.
Bedtime Stories [1986]. Available as score.
Piano Problems [1987]. Available as score.
Paddling (Paddeln) [1987].
Music for 88 [1988]. Available as score.
Music and Questions [1989]. Available as score.
Chord with five notes (Musique avec des auditeurs, Música con oyentes) [1991].
La Mélodie (La Melodía) [1993]. Available as score.
Cling Clang [1993].
J'Entends un choeur [1993]. Choral part available as score.
Duets for Bassoon and Talking Machine [1994].
Triangle de Pascal modulo sept [1995].
Die Melodie Maschinen (Les Machines mélodiques) [1996].
Mesurer [1997].
La Roue [1999].
Same or different [2004]