Roger Craig Vogel

Life

The oldest of two children, Vogel graduated in 1965 from Lincoln High School in Cleveland Ohio. He studied music theory and composition at the Ohio State University in Columbus (Ohio) and earned the degrees Bachelor of Music in composition in 1971, Master of Music in music theory in 1973, and in 1975 he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in music theory. His teachers included Marshall Barnes, Jay Huff, Norman Phelps, and Wolf Rosenberg. Although his graduate major was music theory, he was awarded first prize in the Delta Omicron Composition Contest in 1973 and 1974. Also, his original composition Obstreperous Sonority Number 2a for string orchestra won the student concerto competition in 1973, and the following year his work Encounter Number One for large orchestral also won the competition.

In 1976 he joined the faculty of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia as an assistant professor and taught both music theory and composition. He became associate professor in 1982, and full professor in 1996. He has been professor emeritus since 2012. As a composer he has written and published more than 110 works for a variety of ensembles with such firms as the American Composers Alliance, Brixton Publications, Wiltshire Music Company, Hal Leonard Corporation, Jon Ross Music, LLC, and seven other publishers. His music has received favorable reviews in the Journal of Singing, Fanfare (magazine), American Choral Directors Association The Choral Journal, NACWPI JOURNAL, The Saxophone Symposium, and numerous other publications. In addition, he has been an active member of the Southeastern Composers League.

Awards

Vogel's awards include prizes from the Roger Wagner Choral Composition Competition, the National Saxophone Workshop Composition Contest, the National Flute Association, and the Delius Composition Competition. In 2011 he received the University of Georgia Albert Christ Janer Award. He has received commissions from the Georgia Music Teachers Association, the University of Georgia, Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Women's Music Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Professional Men's Music Fraternity, the Helios Duo, he Fellowship of Reason, the Athens Master Chorale, the Medical College of Georgia, the Georgia 'Cello Society, the Chattanooga Clarinet Choir and the Bass Club of Georgia. His works have been performed in recitals, and at conventions and festivals, throughout the United States, South America, Europe, and in Asia. Noted American composer Samuel Adler has said of Vogel, "Vogel is a fine composer. His music is very solid . . . and the work of someone who feels deeply every note. I consider his works a fine contribution to the body of American music, and with it he has established himself as a composer with a good reputation throughout this country."

Orchestral music

1973-74 Three Sonorities, for string orchestra

1974 Encounter, for large orchestra

1980 Concerto, for horn and string orchestra

Music for band

1982 Allusions to Hollywood, for high school band

1991 Concerto, for alto saxophone and winds

1993 Ceremonial March, for band

1997 Fanfares and Flourishes, for three antiphonal brass quintets

2000 Flat Rock March, for middle school band

2001 Autumn Song, for middle school band

2004 Edenwood, for high school band

2005 Concerto, for trumpet and band

2010 Music Becomes Me for solo voice, solo flute, and wind ensemble

2013 Jammin’ Junkyard Dawgs for Jazz Studio Orchestra

Dramatic works

2009 Lysistrata, a chamber opera in one act after Aristophones.

2011 Things Fall Apart, based on the novel by Chinua Achebe, for bass voice, flute, piano, and hand drums

Choral music

1986 Karma, for mixed chorus

1986 My Secret Love, for women's chorus (SSA)

1986 Psalm 100, for mixed chorus

1986 The Nature of the Cat, for women's chorus (SSA) and piano

1992-96 Cats and Bats and Things With Wings, for mixed chorus and piano

1. The Cat
2. The Frog
3. The Owl (SSAA)
4. The Crab (TTBB)
5. The Grasshopper
6. The Bat

1993 We Are the Music Makers, for women's chorus (SSAA), two flutes, and piano.

1999 Canticle of Reason, for mixed chorus

2003 Winter Song, for mixed chorus, two flutes, and piano

2016 Christmas Long Ago for mixed chorus and piano

Vocal music

1986 It is Best Not to Be Born, for baritone, and piano

1986 When She Went Alone, for soprano, and piano

1989 One Flesh, for medium voice, soprano saxophone, and piano

1991 In Darkness, for high voice, alto saxophone, and piano

1993 The Devil's Songbook, for medium voice, bassoon (or cello, or double bass), and piano

1. Of Politicians
2. Of Attorneys
3. Of Businessmen
4. Of the Media
5. Of Critics and Music
6. Of Virtue
7. Of Vanity
8. Of Celebration

1998 Eine Kleine Snailmusik, for high voice, trumpet, cello, and piano

2000 The Frog, He Fly ... Almost, for high voice and trumpet (or clarinet, or flute)

2002 Burma Shave Songs, for men's chorus, alto saxophone and piano

1. Grandpa's Beard
2. No Lady Likes to Dance
3. The Bearded Devil (TTBB en piano)
4. The Wolf and Riding Hood
5. The Midnight Ride
6. Within This Vale (TTBB a capella )
7. Bargain Hunters Gather 'Round

2002 The Distances They Keep, for two high voices, flute, and piano

2006 Love Letters, for high voice, violin and piano

1. Your Letter Moved Me
2. I Lie Awake
3. Dear Miss West 47th Street
4. My Dearest Nell (voice and piano)
5. The French Ladies
6. My Darling, Dear, Delightful Ringo
7. Have You Heard That I Love You (voice and violin)
8. Alas! I Have Suffered Your Scorn
9. Everything Measurable Passes
10. Interlude (violin and piano)
11. Adieu, I Seal My Letter

2015 Take Time for medium voice and marimba.

1. Take Time.
2. Open Your Heart.
3. Toot Not Your Horn Too Much.
4. Cancelled Because of Snow.
5. Flowers.

2015 Fragments of Your Ancient Name for medium voice and flute.

1. Morning Star.
2. Krishna.
3. Door.
4. Ocean of Joy.
5. Lord of the Dance

2016 Christmas Long Ago for voice and flute choir

Chamber music

1977 Divertimento, for saxophone ensemble (ssaaaattbbb)

1977 Suite in G, for oboe and bassoon

1978 Temporal Landscape Number 1, for tuba and piano

1979 Divertimento, for wind quintet

1979 Temporal Landscape Number 2, for flute, percussion, and piano

1980 Temporal Landscape Number 4, for tuba and piano

1981 Quartet, for Saxophones (SATB of AATB)

1981 Satanic Dance, for wind quintet

1981 Temporal Landscape Number 5, for alto saxophone and piano

1986 Sonata, for viola and piano

1986 Trio, for violin, cello and piano

1987 Metamorphoses, for trombone and piano

1987 Temporal Landscape Number 6, for trumpet and percussion

1993 Fantasy, for cello orchestra

1993 Sometimes Lyric Suite, for bassoon and piano

1993 Sonata, for alto saxophone and piano

1995 Duo Concertante, for double bass and piano

1995 Exultations, for flute quartet

1995 Night Winds, for wind quintet and alto saxophone

1995 Sirens, for flute duet (C and alto, or two C)

1996 Oboe, for medium voice and oboe

1996 Winter Sun, for flute and guitar

1997 Twin Moons, for flute and clarinet

1997 Voyages, for trumpet and percussionist

1998 Cornucopia, for multiple horns

2000 Mythic Quest, for flute and soprano saxophone (or clarinet)

2001 Twlight Reflections, for flute and guitar

2004 Eulogy, Aria, and Incantation, for contrabass and piano

2004 Illuminations in Brass, for solo trumpet and trumpet sextet

2005 Declarations, for double bass quartet (or euphonium-tuba quartet)

2005 Excursions, for flute and piano

2005 First Light, or oboe and piano

2005 Night Songs, for violin (or flute) and piano

2007 Odyssey, for viola and piano

2009 Cascades for brass quintet.

2010 Canticles for clarinet, cello, and piano

2011 Pas de deux for flute and trombone (or flute and bassoon)

2011 Solar Lights for trombone and bass trombone

2012 Two to Tango for clarinet and horn

2012 Five Sketches for violin and viola

2013 Bonbons for three flutes

2013 Stepping Out for tenor and bass trombone

2013 On The Wing for violin, alto saxophone, and piano

2013 Night Moves for trumpet and piano

2014 Cityscapes for clarinet choir

2017 Roman Festivals for flute choir.

Works for keyboard

1986 Ecologue for piano

1986 Sonata for piano

1986 Fantasy for harpsichord

1988 Suite for piano

1990 Sonata Number Two for piano

2006 Moment for piano

2011 Five Preludes for piano

Music for percussion

1980 Temporal Landscape Number 3, for percussion ensemble (six players)

Music for solo instruments

1977 Partita for Saxophone

1977 Partita for Flute

1978 Partita for Horn

1978 Partita for Clarinet

1993 Fantasy for Solo Violin

1996 The Guitarist's Day for guitar

1999 Oracle for alto flute

2009 Soliloquy for soprano saxophone (or sopranino saxophone)

2011 Six Cameos for bassoon

2013 Outings for bass trombone

2013 Moment for cello

2015 Taking Flight for vibraphone.

Discography

Cats and Bats and Things With Wings, a Centaur Records compact disc (CRC2488) contains:

Fanfares and Flourishes

Sonata Number Two for Piano

Fantasy for solo violin

Twin Moons for flute and clarinet

One Flesh

The Frog, He Fly. . . Almost

Cats and Bats and Things With Wings

Love Letters, an Oasis compact disk (ORCV4000) available from CDBaby contains:

Love Letters

The Distances They Keep

In Darkness

Things Fall Apart, an Albany Records compact disc (TROY 1409) contains:

Things Fall Apart

"Of Celebration" from The Devil's Songbook, appears on the ACA compact disc "Songs With a Touch of Bass" (CM20030).

Voyages appears on the ACA compact disc "Music for Trumpet and Percussion" (CM20042).

Temporal Landscape Number Six appears on the ACA compact disc "Music for Trumpet and Percussion" (CM20042).

Kine Kleine Snailmusik appears on the Musicians Showcase compact disk "Trumpet in the Winds" (MS 1020).

The Frog, He Fly. . . Almost appears on the Musicians Showcase compact disk "Trumpet in the Winds" (MS 1020)

Fantasy for solo violin appears on the ART Classics compact disk "From Bach to Schnittke" (ART059)

Winter Winds appears on an ACA compact disc entitled “Sunlight and Shadows” (CM20085)

Concerto for Trumpet and Winds appears on a Summit Education Compact Disk entitled American Influences (DCD 454)

Soliloquy for solo soprano saxophone appears on a Centaur compact disk entitled High Notes: New Music for the Sopranino Saxophone (CRC 3142)

Pas de Deux for flute and trombone appears on Out of Bounds, an Aliud Records CD. (ACD BR 078-2).