William Jay Sydeman (born 8 May 1928) is an American composer. Born in New York, he studied at the Mannes School of Music, where he later taught composition (1960–1970). Winning early acclaim for his avant-garde music (principally published by C. F. Peters), he felt trapped by the prevailing orthodoxies and moved to California in 1970, beginning a period of wandering during which he also studied Buddhism and Anthroposophy. He joined ASCAP in 1975. In 1981 he settled in Sacramento and resumed composition at his former prolific rate, having newly embraced a neotonal musical language. He currently resides in Mendocino.
OperaAria da CapoThe OdysseyOrchestralMosey'n Along for string orchestra with oboeLyric Piece for chamber orchestraMiniaturesOrchestral AbstractionsStudy No. 1 (1959)Study No. 2Study No. 3 (1965)Study No. 4 "The 4 Seasons"In Memoriam: J. F. Kennedy for narrator and orchestra (1966)Texture Studies (1969)OecumenicusBandMovements for concert bandFive Movements for wind symphonyConcertanteLargo for cello and string orchestra (1959)Concert Piece for horn and string orchestraConcertino for oboe, piano and string orchestra (1967)Concerto da Camera [No. 1] for solo violin, flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, viola and cello (1959)Concerto da Camera No. 2 for solo violin, oboe, clarinet, viola and cello (1960)Concerto da Camera No. 3 for solo violin, winds and percussion (1965)Concerto da Camera for viola and chamber ensemble (1968)Music for viola, winds and percussion (1971)Reflections for violin, cello and string orchestraChamber musicString Quartet No. 2 (1954)Quintet No. 1 for woodwinds (1955)Sonata for violin and piano (1955)Music for brass ensemble and percussion (1955)Quartet for violin, clarinet, cello and piano (1955)Quartet for violin, clarinet, trumpet and double bass (1955)Music for 10 woodwinds (1956)Study for 2 flutes and piano (1956)Tower Music for brass quintet (1959)Duo for cello and piano (1963)Duo for violin and piano (1963)Trio for flute, double bass and percussion (1963)Duo for trumpet and percussion (1965)Sonata for violin solo (1966)Duo for viola and harpsichord (or piano) (1967)Sonata for cello solo (1967)Trio for bassoon, bass clarinet and piano (1968)Duo for xylophone and double bass (1969)Duo for trumpet and amplified double bass (1969)Duo for horn and piano (1970)Music for xylophone solo (1975)Trio for viola, cello and piano (1985)Auld Lang Sydeman for violin and violaDuo for flute and violaDuo [No. 1] for violin and violaDuo No. 2 for violin and violaA New Wedding March for violin and violaPrelude for viola and celloSonata for viola and pianoSong for double bass and pianoTrio for 3 violasVariations for viola and bassoonPianoVariations (1958)ChoralPrometheus, cantata for soloist, chorus and orchestra (1957)Lament of Electra for alto solo, large chorus and chamber orchestraVocalThe Place of Blue Flowers for narrator and violaSongs on Elizabethan Texts for soprano and flute3 Songs after Emily Dickenson for soprano and celloJabberwocky for soprano, flute and celloFive Short Songs for soprano and piano (1978)4 Japanese Songs for soprano and 2 violinsCradle Song for mezzo-soprano and pianoJapanese Love Poems for mezzo-soprano and pianoLa Jour de la Mère for mezzo-soprano and pianoMoon Over Mountain for mezzo-soprano and pianoThe Fence for mezzo-soprano and pianoThe Foundation Stone for mezzo-soprano and pianoI Sing the Praises for mezzo-soprano and pianoA Prayer for alto, viola and pianoMalediction for tenor, string quartet and tape (1970)It Seems for baritone and pianoUpon Julia's Clothes for baritone and pianoA Spider for baritone and piano4 Psalms for bass and piano