James Harley

Studies

Harley studied at Western Washington University (B.Mus, magna cum laude, 1977–1982), Royal Academy of Music (1983–1985), Université de Paris (1986–1987), Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music, Warsaw (1987–1988), and McGill University (D.Mus., 1988–1994).

Teaching

He has taught at the Faculty of Music at McGill University (1989–1995), Wilfrid Laurier University (1995–1996), California Institute of the Arts (1997), University of Southern California (1997), and Minnesota State University Moorhead (1999–2004). In 2004, he took up a tenure-track position in music at University of Guelph, where he is associate professor.

Harley is also the author of the book Xenakis: His Life in Music. His areas of expertise and specialization include digital music, composition, contemporary music analysis, and history of electronic/computer music. Music and research by James Harley is represented by Art Music Promotion.

List of works

Orchestra

Along the Riverrun (1983) 10 min.

Version I: 1111/1100/timp/66643Version II: strings (20220 concertante/66644 orchestra)

Overture Divertimento (1984) 8 min. 2222/2220/timp/strings

Windprints (1989) 15 min. 2222/4221/3 perc/pf/strings

Kekula (Memories of a Landscape – III) (1992) 15 min. 2222/4221/strings

N(ouvelle)aissance (1994) 16 min. 1202/2000/1 perc/44321

Old Rock (1996) 10 min. 2222/4221/timp/strings

Ensemble

Sabbath (1981) 20 min. jazz ensemble (5 saxophones, 5 trumpets, 4 trombones, electric guitar, electric bass, piano, drums)

The Tail of Pinky Oozgreen and the Mossbrains (1983) 20 min. jazz ensemble (5 saxophones, 5 trumpets, 4 trombones, electric guitar, electric bass, piano, drums)

Stillness Dancing (1983, revised 1984) 10 min. 11 players (1111/1000/1 perc/pf/10111)

Mobile (1984) 18 min. 10 trombones (8 tenors, 2 bass), 2 percussion

Prelude (Under the Thin Rainfall) (1985) 7 min. flute, clarinet, horn, harp, violin, cello

Tapisse(reve)rie (1986) 13 min. 11 players (1111/1110/10111)

Memories of a Landscape – II (1988) 15 min. 13 strings (44221)

Daring the Wilderness (1991) 12 min. percussion ensemble (5 players)

Etude pour une Fete (Jazz II) (1991) 6 min. alto saxophone (or clarinet), trumpet, trombone, cello, double bass, piano

Neue Bilder (Der Holle Rache) (1991) 10 min. piccolo, oboe, Eb clarinet, trumpet, percussion, viola, cello, double bass

Wine of Dragons (1993) 7 min.

Version I: Taiko ensemble – 9 performersVersion II (1997): percussion ensemble (9 players)

Kaleidarray (Jazz III) (1994) 15 min. violin/bass violin, clarinet/bass clarinet, trumpet, Thai gongs, vibraphone, marimba, piano

Cuimhneachan Urramach (1995) 15 min. solo cello and 14 players (1111/1110/1 perc/pf/11111)

Octane-VX (1996) 8 min. flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, double bass

Can(y)on (1997) 3 min. clarinet, trumpet, vibraphone, marimba, piano, violin, double bass

bien serré (1999) 20 min. jazz ensemble (4 saxophones, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, electric guitar, electric bass, keyboard, drums)

KappaMusik (2002) 13 min. jazz ensemble (4 saxophones, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 electric guitars, drums)

aXis (2006) 12 min. 13 players (1111/1111/11111)

soundskein (2006) 15 min. two string quartets

Chamber music

Images (1983) 17 min. flute, vibraphone, violin, viola, cello

Encounters – II (1984) 10 min. percussion duo

String Quartet (1984) 10 min. 2 violins, viola, cello

Jazz (1985) 7 min. saxophone quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone)

Here the Bird (1993) 13 min. viola, piano

Épanoui (1995) 12 min. flute, cello, piano

Tyee (1995) 13 min. bass flute and percussion

Consort: Dances of the Borealis (1998) 15 min. two pianos, two percussion

Cachées (2000) 11 min. guitar and cello

nmaya (Kokopeli II) (2002) 12 min. percussion and piano

TreDue Sextet (2010) 10 min. flute, clarinet, marimba/vibraphone, piano, violin, violoncello.

Instrumental

Exposures (1984) 7 min. horn

Portrait (1984) 8 min. flute

Piano (1989) 14 min. piano

Variations (1989) 21 min. piano

Song for Nobody (1990) 8 min. Bb clarinet (alternative version for Bb bass clarinet with extended low register)

Ma'dhanah (1990) 12 min. Accordion

flung loose into the stars (1995) 10 min. piano

Exh... (1999) 5 min. piccolo

Édifices (naturels) (2001) 10 min. piano

pLayer8a (2007) 5 min. player piano

Vocal and choral

Five Poems by Richard Brautigan (1981) 8 min. mezzo-soprano, flute, cello, percussion, piano

Soft Morning (1983) 7 min. (text by James Joyce) soprano solo (alternative version for mezzo-soprano)

Singing a silence of stone (1983) 6 min. (text by e.e. cummings) soprano, harp, 2 percussion

Two Psalms (1986) 14 min. Lullaby (Psalm 23), Jubilate Domino (Psalm 100) SATB chorus, harp

Jubilate Domino (Psalm 100) SATB chorus, harp

Reflections on a Prayer of Saint Augustine (1987) 13 min. (text in Latin from St. Augustine's Confessions, and The Song of Songs) SATB chorus (36 parts, 9 groups)

one winter after(a flower)noon (1987) 8 min. (text by e.e. cummings). soprano, bass clarinet, cello, piano

Cantico delle Creature (1993) 23 min. (text by St. Francis of Assisi) mezzo-soprano, choir (SSAATTBB), chamber orchestra (2222/2220/3 perc/piano, celeste/22222), soundfiles

re: Hallelujah (2005) 5.5 min. (text by Leonard Cohen) soprano and chamber orchestra (1111/1111/perc/piano/11111)

Electroacoustic

Sonnet Sonore (1985) 14 min. oboe and stereo electroacoustic

Voyage (1986) 15 min. 4-channel electroacoustic

Per Foramen Acus Transire (1987) 15 min. flute/bass flute and stereo electroacoustic

Night-flowering ... not even sand – I (1989) 12 min. bassoon and electroacoustic

Night-flowering ... not even sand – II (1990) 9 min. stereo electroacoustic

Spangled (1996) 5 min. stereo electroacoustic

Jardinages – I (2000) 6 min. electric guitar and tape

Jardinages – II (2000) 6 min. stereo electroacoustic

On Frogs (2000) 13 min. reciter, interactive electronics (3 players)

Anasazi: Kokopeli I (2001) 11 min. amplified piccolo and electronics

Xmix (2001) 12 min. stereo electroacoustic

Chaotika (2001) 12 min. percussion and interactive electronics

jem (2003) 3 min. 4-channel electroacoustic

Wild Fruits: Prologue (2004) 16 min. 8-channel electracoustic (alternate version with slides)

Wild Fruits: Installation (2004) open duration keyboard controller, sampler, stereo electroacoustic

Mashup: Derome vs Oliveros (2005) 7 min. stereo electroacoustic

Wild Fruits 2: like a ragged flock, like pulverized jade (2006) 11 min. amplified alto flute, live electronics, 8-channel electracoustic

blueBob (Dylan Remix) (2006) 5 min. stereo electroacoustic

Ariel Fragments (2007) 17 min. SSSAAA choir, 8-channel electroacoustic

pLayer8b (2008) 5 min. 8-channel electroacoustic

re:Nude (2008) 4.5 min. stereo electroacoustic

re:Nude:ty (2008) 1 min. stereo electroacoustic

Wild Fruits 3: Chestnuts (2008) 13 min. 8-channel electracoustic

re:Reckoner (2009) 4.5 min. stereo electroacoustic

Duol (2009) 7 min. violin, guitar, soundfiles

Raindown (MegMix) (2009) 4.5 min. stereo electroacoustic

Educational music

Dance Set (2009) 8 min. two cellos, Grade 4 level

Music theatre

Scenes From a Theatre on Mars (1984) 15 min. (Text: James Harley, adapted from The Last Days of Mankind by Karl Kraus) 2 speaking/acting roles (1 male, 1 female), 2 cl (2nd doubles sax), tp/flugel, vn/vl, vc.

Affiliations

James Harley is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, and a board member of the Canadian League of Composers. He is also a member of the American Composers Forum, the Canadian Electroacoustic Community, and the International Computer Music Association.

Selected performers

Arraymusic, Codes d'Accès, Composers' Orchestra, Continuum, Corey Hamm Marc Couroux, ECM, Hammerhead Consort, Kappa, Kore, Kovalis Duo, Duo Vira, Groundswell, Hammerhead Consort, Lafayette String Quartet, McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble, McGill Symphony Orchestra, Elizabeth McNutt, New Music Concerts, Patricia O'Callahan, Oshawa-Durham Symphony, Open Ears Festival, Penderecki String Quartet, Polish Society for New Music, Brigitte Poulin, Prince George Symphony, Ben Reimer, SMCQ, Transmission, Trio Phoenix, Trio Fibonacci, Alain Trudel, University of Guelph Women's Chamber Choir, Vancouver Bach Choir, Ellen Waterman.