Stuart Saunders Smith was born in Portland Maine, and began his percussion and composition studies at the age of six with Charles Newcomb. He studied harmony, counterpoint, and arranging at the Berklee School of Music in 1966, and continued his percussion and composition studies at the Hartt College of Music (1967–1972) and the University of Illinois at Urbana (1973–1977). He currently resides in the state of Vermont with his wife Sylvia.
Over a hundred of Smith's nearly 200 works are for percussion instruments with a special emphasis on vibraphone literature. His Links Series of Vibraphone Essays (1974-1994) is considered as groundbreaking music (Welsh). Also Plenty (I-XXXIV) and New England are concert length compositions for vibraphone that extend the intellectual and emotional range of that instrument (Smith). Smith also has composed extensively for drumset, orchestra bells, xylophone, marimba, chimes, and multi-percussion.
Stuart Saunders Smith's percussion-theater music forms the core of that literature with such pieces as Poems I II III, ...And Points North, Tunnels, Clay Singing and twenty-six compositions of that genre (Smith).
Stuart Saunders Smith is widely recorded with well over 80 recordings of individual compositions on such labels as New World Records, Ravello Records, Centaur, Innova, 11 West Records, O.O. Discs, Equilibrium, GAC, and Soundset Recordings.
In addition, anthologies of new music have included his theater music, and music of rhythmic intricacy: Here and There, MacMillan Publishing, NYC; Return and Recall, Assembling Press, NYC; Faces, ASUC, NYC; and Transitions and Leaps, Mark Batty Publications, NYC. Articles on his music have been published regularly throughout the years in such journals as: Perspectives of New Music, Percussive Notes, Interface, and ex tempore.
Smith is the author of several articles on his music and others. These fifteen writings are used in some percussion literature courses as required readings. He is the author of two books: Pathways through Twentieth Century Music, an anthology, Prentice-Hall, co-edited with Dr. Thomas DeLio; Words and Spaces, an anthology, University Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Thomas DeLio. In addition, he is currently writing Composing, Thoughts, a book of experimental writings about aesthetics, language, composition, listening, and religion. Part I of this book was published in The Modern Percussion Revolution: Journeys of the Progressive Artist, edited by Kevin Lewis and Gustavo Aguilar (Routledge, 2014).
Stuart Saunders Smith's service works on the behalf of music includes organizing hundreds of concerts of new music, functioning as a lobbyist for the arts for the American Society of University Composers during the Reagan presidency, and as Executive Editor of Percussive Notes, Research Edition from 1982–1984.
Recent concerts included a three-day festival of his percussion-theater music at the University of Maine in the Fall of 2013 and a three-day festival of his vibraphone music by Berndt Thurner in Vienna, Austria in 2014.
His awards and honors include three UMBC Research Grants, The Hartt College Distinguished Alumni Award, East/West Artist Award, three Maryland State Artists Fellowships, the National Endowment for the Arts Composer's Fellowship, Percussive Arts Society Service Award and the Atlantic Center's Master Artist Award.
1970
Poems I, II, III for five brake drums and narratorOne for Syl for solo vibraphone1971
One for Two for alto saxophone and organA Gift for Bessie for violin, piano, bassoon, and percussion1972
Here and There for shortwave radio, piano interior (percussion) and any melody instrument or voiceLegacy Variations No. 1 for any three sustaining melody instrumentsLegacy Variations No. 99 for any three sustaining melody instrumentsThree for Two for violin and violaTwo for Four for percussion quartet (orchestra bells, vibraphone, cymbal, large and medium gong, xylophone, marimba, timpani, temple blocks, and various small percussion instruments).1973
Two Makes Three for organ and two percussion1974
Faces for oboe and clarinetGifts for keyboard and any two melody instrumentsLinks for solo vibraphone1975
Links no. 2 for solo vibraphoneLinks no. 3 for solo vibraphone1976
Return and Recall / Initiatives and Reactions: Studies in the Concept of Group Composition performance systems for actors, dancers, musicians, mimes, etc.1977
Pinetop for solo piano1978
Flight for flute and piano1979
Blue for trumpet, drum set and double bass1980
Notebook for any instruments in any combinationNotebook, Part II for one or two pianos (may be played with *Notebook)1981
Songs I-IX for percussionist-actor (small percussion instruments and various household items from kitchen)1982
Tunnels a solo music-text-theater composition for keyboard, string, or multiple percussionLinks No. 4 (Monk) for solo vibraphone1983
Blue Too for solo drum setBy Language Embellished: I percussion / theater opera for speaking voice1985
Aussie Blue for solo pianoIn Bingham for solo speaker/narrator1987
Links No. 5 (Sitting on the Edge of Nothing) for solo vibraphone with offstage orchestra bells and chimes1988
The Noble Snare for solo snare drum1989
Links No. 6 (Song Interiors) for vibraphone and pianoLinks No. 7 (New England Night Weave) for solo vibraphone1990
...And Points North a music-theater work for solo percussionist/narrator (wood block, small Peking opera gong, Tibetan cymbal, glass wind chimes, owl hooter, hawk screamer, pod rattles, Audubon bird call, "found" instruments from the city and the woods)Transitions and Leaps for two or more performers performing any sounds/actions1991
"as if time would heal by its passing for solo marimbaFamily Portraits: Sylvia (wife) for solo pianoFamily Portraits: Ivy (grandmother) for solo pianoFamily Portraits: Earle (father) for solo pianoHawk for solo oboeIn Common for flute and vibraphoneLinks No. 8 (Confessions-Witness to 48 Things) for vibraphone with fluteNightshade for violin or medium voice and two percussionists, each playing orchestra bells (glockenspiel), tam-tam or gong, two cymbals, two triangles1992
Good Night for solo marimbaLinks No. 9 (Mosque) for solo vibraphoneMeetings for flute, vibraphone and piano1993
Each Moment and Ending for keyboard percussion quintetPart for flute, piano, and celloThaw for solo orchestra bells (glockenspiel)Links No. 10 (Who Are We? Where Are We?) for solo vibraphone1994
Family Portraits: Brenda (first cousin) for solo pianoLinks No. 11 (Regions I-XXI) for three vibraphonesWind in the Channel for solo tenor recorder1995
Family Portraits: Delbert (great-grandfather) for percussionist/narrator (playing woodblock, logs, and newspaper)Strays for xylophone and tenor recorder or flute1996
Family Portraits: Cubba (grandfather) for trumpet, flute, and five percussion (tom-toms and triangles)Family Portraits: Mom and Dad Together for solo double bassPolka in Treblinka for percussion trio (bass drum, xylophone, snare drum and high hat)Said, Nearly for solo cello1997
Family Portrait: Self (in 14 stations) for solo pianoThe Night is Never Long for piccolo and xylophone1998
Closing for solo guitarFences in Three Tragedies for solo pianoWhen Music is Missing, Music Sings for two percussionists playing five "found" instruments each1999
All That is Left orchestra bells (glockenspiel) duetAnd Sometimes the Ears for solo tenor steel drumEven Song for solo orchestra bells (glockenspiel)Leaving for solo marimbaThe Xylophone Poems for xylophone/speaking voice2000
Books of Flutes for solo fluteBones for percussion, piano, and 3 or 4 melody instrumentsEndless for two flutes and two vibraphonesThe Geography of Streams for percussion trio (xylophone solo with two sets of orchestra bells, two bass drums, claves, and woodblocks)Thinking About Anne Sexton duo for vibraphone and speaking voice2001
Breath for mezzo-soprano and orchestra bells (glockenspiel)Family Portraits: Ligeia (daughter) for soprano voice and pianoLight Dew for solo double bassMinor for solo violin2002
Asleep in Thorns for guitar and fluteBrush for solo drum setDad's Time Had Come for solo xylophoneDead Reckoning for tenor recorder trioFurther Than Now for clarinet and pianoThings That Grow Smaller for flute, clarinet, bassoon, piano, and percussionTwo Lights for solo drum set2003
Family Portraits: Embden Pond for solo alto flute with two vibraphonesStill Slowly for xylophone and pianoWillow for solo celloWounded an antiphonal composition for 3 or 4 xylophones2004
Hearts for solo violinGround for solo orchestra bells (glockenspiel)Plenty thirty-four movements for solo vibraphone2005
Clay Singing for solo percussion with spoken textFamily Portraits: Erika (daughter) for vibraphone and violinIn Hours Like These for soprano voice and orchestra bells (glockenspiel)A River, Rose for violin and vibraphoneWhen The Body Betrays for tenor voice and double seconds steel drumsWinter Taps vibraphone duet with spoken textWomen in Meeting flute duet2006
The Authors for solo marimba with spoken textBig Falls, Little Falls' for percussion quartet and off-stage percussion ensemble (4)Castine for marimba with offstage voiceLace orchestra bell (glockenspiel) duet with voiceMagdalene for soprano saxophone and two percussionOver for solo orchestra bells (glockenspiel)Rose for flute with spoken text and movementA Vietnam Memorial opera for speaking voice and vibraphone2007
Among Us for solo pianoLight for two voicesLight in Each One for solo alto fluteThe Lines of Ageing for solo vibraphoneThe Narrow Path trio for two vibraphones and orchestra bells (glockenspiel)Quilt for vibraphone and marimbaSeven Seasons for contralto voice and vibraphoneAngels for percussion trio, three triangles each(as the days get shorter) for solo bass clarinet2008
Mornings for solo vibraphoneApart for 2 orchestra bells and vibraphone2009
The Home of the Brave for percussionist/actor performing on a 2X4, 3 bottles, and 5 metal objectsThe God Songs for orchestra bells/actorTo Freshen the Moment for cello and vibraphoneFar Away for solo chimesThe Untold Range for 1-5 percussionists and sounds from nature2010
Time Comes Full Circle for cello and violinThicket for orchestra bells or pianoAll Too Human for soprano and clarinetWinter, Knee Deep for flute/theaterThey Looked Like Strangers for solo vibraphoneWinter Songs for violin/theater2011
Three Winter Carols for orchestra bells/voiceWinter for any winds, strings, keyboard, mallet percussionNew England for vibraphone2012
Palm Sunday for pianoA Liturgy of the Hours for fluteOur Father for sopranoHeaven and Earth for organ2013
Blessings for soprano and clarinetA Good Friday for clarinetBy Hand for bongosThe Lilies of the Field for vibraphone and female voiceAcross: Lines for orchestra bells, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, chimes, voiceMy Friend Gita Said: for marimba/voiceLyric for percussion theater2014
Crystal Night for violin and percussion quartetMemory for any soloistLazarus for piano or vibraphone/actor/singerPast Regrets for double bass/singer/actorWhen We Were Giants for guitar2015
Re:Verse trans-media work for any two performance artistsWellspring for orchestra bellsEcho for 1-8 singersEvening Primrose for vibraphone solo with two drumsetsCommune, vibraphone concerto with small chamber ensembleMeadow Sweet for marimba and clarinetHere's the Sun for cello solo2016
Inner Light for solo violinHalo for solo vibraphoneThe Circle of Light for flute solo and eight luminists/actorsFamily Portraits: Our Home for soprano voice and vibraphoneEaster in Bingham for alto saxophone and actor/vibraphoneMilk and Honey for vibraphone and harpAlone for solo vibraphoneMen's Culture for soprano saxophone and xylophone, two actorsMy Romance for solo orchestra bells or vibraphoneAlone in a Room for solo orchestra bells and percussion quartet (triangles)2017
Honesty for flute and vibraphoneEmily for jazz/electric guitar and pianoMercy for large percussion orchestraDignity for soprano voice, vibraphone, and actorSmith, Stuart Saunders. Twentieth Century Scores. Prentice-Hall.Smith, Stuart Saunders, and Thomas DeLio (1989). Words and Spaces: An Anthology of Twentieth Century Musical Experiments in Language and Sonic Environments. University Press of America. ISBN 0-8191-7425-4. ISBN 978-0-8191-7425-3.Wind in the Channel, O.O. Disc (Out of Print)1. Hawk (1991), solo oboe2. Family Portraits: Brenda (1994), solo piano3. California Driving (1995), solo voiceReturn and Recall (1976)4. Notebook (1980), 2-piano version5. Wind in the Channel (1994), tenor recorder/voice/percussion6. Gifts (1974), flute, vibraphone, piano7. Pinetop (1976-1977), solo piano8. In Bingham (1985), solo voice9. Aussie Blue (1985), solo pianoMusic/Theater, Centaur (CRC 2633)1. By Language Embellished: I (1983-1984), solo voice/percussionThe Year Begins to Be Ripe, 11 West Records/Smith Publications1. Poems I, II, III (1970), 5 brake drums, narrator2. In Hours Like These (2005), soprano, orchestra bells3. Family Portraits: Delbert (1994), percussion/voice4. Xylophone Poems No. 1: Went Forth (1999), xylophone/voice5. Thinking About Anne Sexton, vibraphone (2000), narratorThe Noble Snare, 11 West Records/Smith Publications1. The Noble Snare (1988), solo snare drumBreath, 11 West Records/Smith Publications1. Each Moment An Ending (1993), marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, orchestra bells, chimes2. Blue Too (1981-1983), solo drumset3. ...And Points North (1990), percussion/voice4. Links No. 11 (1994), 3 vibraphones5. Breath (2001), mezzo-soprano, orchestra bells6. Polka in Treblinka (1996), xylophone, snare drum, high-hat, bass drum7. Thaw (1993), orchestra bells8. Family Portraits: Cubba (1996), trumpet, percussion, fluteWithered Leaves - New Birth, Disques Christal (France)1. Links (1974), vibraphone2. Links No. 2 (1975), vibraphone3. Links No. 3 (1975), vibraphoneIn Common, Equilibrium1. In Common (1991), flute, vibraphoneBook of Horizons, New World Records1. Fences, In Three Tragedies (1998), solo pianoWhen Still, Soundset Recordings1. Links No. 2 (1975), vibraphone2. The Starving Month (2012), vibraphoneMcCormick Percussion Group, Ravello Records1. Nightshade (1991), violin, 2 percussionTrio Spectra, GAC (Sweden)1. Polka in Treblinka (1996), xylophone, snare drum, high-hat, bass drumAt Sixty (Selections), 11 West Records/Smith PublicationsCD#11. Women in Meeting (2005), flute duo2. Polka in Treblinka (1996), xylophone, snare drum, high-hat, bass drum3. Over (2006), orchestra bells4. Wounded (2003), xylophone5. Magdalene (2006), soprano sax, 2 percussion6. Notebook (1980), any instrumentsCD#21. In Bingham (1985), solo voice2. Rose (2006), flute/dancer/actor3. Family Portraits: Embden Pond (2003), alto flute, 2 vibraphones4. A River, Rose (2005), violin, vibraphone5. Hearts (2004), violin6. Good Night (1992), marimba/voiceBooks of Flutes, 11 West Records/Smith Publications1. Books of Flutes (2000), solo flute2. Legacy Variations No. 1 (1972), any three melody instruments3. Legacy Variations No. 99 (1972), any three melody instruments4. Family Portraits: Embden Pond (2003), alto flute, 2 vibraphonesCrux, Chen Li Music1. Notebook (1980), any instruments2. Family Portraits: Ivy, Earle, Sylvia (1991), solo piano3. Here and There (1972), short-wave radio, piano interior, any melody instruments4. Strays (1995), tenor recorder and xylophoneStrange Paths, Innova1. They Looked Like Strangers (2010), vibraphoneMusic for Keyboard Percussions, Ravello1. Apart (2008), 2 orchestra bells, vibraphoneThe Isle is Full of Noises, Centaur (CRC 3091)1. Family Portraits: Embden Pond (2003), alto flute, 2 vibraphonesThe Links Series of Vibraphone Essays, New World RecordsThe Links SeriesLinks-Links 11, vibraphoneA River Rose, New World Records1. Hearts (2004), violin2. Three for Two (1972), violin and viola3. A Gift for Bessie (1971), violin, piano, bassoon, percussion4. Minor (2001), violin5. A River Rose (2005), violin, vibraphone6. I've Been Here Before (2009), violin and pianoHawk - The Saxophone Music of Stuart Saunders Smith, Chen Li Music1. Notebook (1980), any instruments2. Magdalene (2006), soprano sax and 2 percussion3. Husbands and Wives (2008), alto sax duet4. Hawk (2007), soprano sax solo5. One for Two (1971), alto sax and organPlot: Music for Unspecified Instrumentation, Ravello Records1. Bones (2000), for any musicians and piano2. Winter (2010-2011), any instruments and voicesFull Circle - NOISE Plays the Music of Stuart Saunders Smith, Centaur Records1. Flight (1978), for flute and piano2. Notebook (1980), any instruments3. Time Comes Full Circle (2010), for violin and cello4. Asleep in Thorns (2002), for flute and guitar5. Women in Meeting (2005), for two flutesPluralities, Chen Li Music1. Lazarus, for piano and voice
