Enhancing and expanding the field of music for treble voices by taking a leadership role in the creation of new music is central to the vision and mission of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. To this end, the Chorus has partnered with dozens of composers, commissioned and premiered many new works that have gone on to become part of an expanding repertoire of dynamic music for young women and girls around the world. Composers including Richard Danielpour, Aaron Jay Kernis, Gabriela Lena Frank, Philip Glass, Augusta Read Thomas, Libby Larsen, Jake Heggie, Chen Yi, and others have created and arranged works specifically for the Chorus. Below is a partial list of music the San Francisco Girls Chorus has commissioned and premiered.
Commissioned Original Works
Preview of Tomorrow’s Memories Composer: Matthew Welch Composition Date: June 2020
I Shouldn’t Be Up Here Composer: Angelica Negron Composition Date: February 2020
Three Parables Composer: Richard Danielpour Composition Date: June 2019
Campfire Chants Composer: Danny Clay, Chorus School Composer in Residence Composition Date: May 2019
Rags of Time Composer: Fred Frith Composition Date: March 2019
Pen Pal Composer: Pamela Z, Chorus School Composer in Residence Composition Date: May 2018
Before I Forget Composer: Amy X Neuburg, Chorus School Composer in Residence Composition Date: June 2017
Salute on the Birth of Rory Mor Music and Text: Matthew Welch Composition Date: 2016 Premiere Date: December 19, 2016 with Matthew Welch, bagpipes for SSSSAA, bagpipes in Eflat
Remembering the Sea (Se Souvenant de la Mer, for chorus and orchestra) Composer: Aaron Jay Kernis Text: Kai Hoffman-Krull Composition Date: 2016 Premiere Date: June 9, 2016 NY PHIL BIENNIAL with The Knights, Eric Jacobsen, conductor SSSA and Orchestra/Ensemble Length: 18 minutes Published by AJK Music
Santos Music and Text: Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz Composition Date: 2012 (part 1 Holy Sisters) 2013 (part 2 Santos) Premiere Date: May 3, 2013 for SSSA, soprano, mezzo-soprano and orchestra Length: 1 hour Published by G. Schirmer
Angel Island Passages (3 movements) Music and Text: Chen Yi Video: Felicia Lowe Composition Date: 2010 Premiere Date: June 4, 2010 with Cypress String Quartet for SSSA and string quartet Length: 15 minutes Published by G. Schirmer
Just Imagine... Arranged by Dwight Okamura Music and Text: Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin Composition Date: 2009 Premiere Date: June 5, 2009 for SSSA, cello and piano Length: 9 minutes
Christmas Morn Composer: Eleanor Daley Text: Eleanor Farjeon Composition Date: 2008 Premiere Date: December 23, 2008 for SSAA and organ Length: 5 minutes Published by Alliance Music
Two E. E. Cummings Songs Composer: Augusta Read Thomas Text: E. E. Cummings Composition Date: 2008 Premiere Date: October 24, 2008 for SSAA (divisi) a cappella Length: 8:02 minutes Published by G. Schirmer. Live recording on Heaven and Earth CD
Shim-Nyu Nul (For Ten Years) Composer: Jeeyoung Kim Text: Traditional Korean Composition Date: 2007 Premiere Date: June 3, 2007 Length: 4:10
A Hope Carol Composer: David Conte Text: Christina Rossetti Composition Date: January 2006 Premiere Date: March 3, 2006 for SSSA and piano Length: 4 minutes Recorded 2006 on Voices of Hope and Peace CD Published by E.C. Schirmer
Vivos Voco Composer: Joan Szymko Text: Julian of Norwich and Latin inscriptions on medieval tower bells Composition Date: February 2005 Premiere Date: May 20, 2005 for SSAA, piano and handbells Length: 4 minutes Funded by: Peter and Kathy Drake Recorded 2006 on Voices of Hope and Peace CD
Echo Composer: Frank La Rocca Composition Date: Summer 2004 Premiere Date: February 11, 2005 Length: 6 minutes for SSAA a cappella Co-commissioned by: Stanford University Lively Arts Series and the San Francisco Girls Chorus with the support of Peter and Kathy Drake Recorded 2006 on Voices of Hope and Peace CD
Anne Frank: A Living Voice (7 movements) Composer: Linda Tutas Haugen Text: The Diary of Anne Frank Composition Date: October 2002 for 1st movement; February- March 2004 for other six movements Premiere Date: May 6, 2004 For SSA and string quartet Length: 25 minutes Funded by: Michael Gordon, Lauren Hoover-Gordon and Richard Rubin, Henry Kaufman for Vermeer Chocolate Recorded 2006 on Voices of Hope and Peace CD
Runes (2 songs) Composer: Alice Parker Text: Elizabethan poets: Anonymous and George Peele Composition Date: January 2004 Premiere Date: May 6, 2004 Length: 5 minutes
The Womanly Song of God Composer: Libby Larsen Text: Catherine DeVinck Composition Date: August 2003 Premiere Date: October 2003 Length: 6 minutes Published by: Oxford For SSAA(divisi) a cappella Recorded 2006 on Voices of Hope and Peace CD
Natura Composer: James Meredith Text: Emily Dickinson Composition Date: March 2003 Premiere Date: May 30, 2003 with Sonos Handbell Ensemble Length: 8 minutes SSAA/SSA (choirs) and handbells
Caracolitos Chicos Composer: Alberto Grau Text: Lorca Composition Date: January 2002 Premiere Date: May 17, 2002 Length: 5 minutes Funded by: William and Flora Hewlett Foundation SSAA a cappella
O Magnum Mysterium Composer: Kurt Erickson Text: Traditional Advent Text in Latin Composition Date: 2001 Premiere Date: October 26, 2001 Funded by: Hewlett Foundation SSAA(divisi) a cappella
Patterns Composer: Jake Heggie Text: Amy Lowell Composition Date: 1998 Premiere Date: May 24, 1999 Guest Artist: Frederica von Stade Funded by: California Arts Council & Hewlett Foundation Composer Jake Heggie Talks About Patterns
Chinese Poems (5 movements) Composer: Chen Yi Text: Li Po, Wang Zhi-huan, and traditional Chinese folk songs Composition Date: 1998 Premiere Date: May 24, 1999 Funded by: California Arts Council Chinese Poems was recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall in May 1999. Two of five movements appear on Crossroads. Published by G. Schirmer
Letter to Anna Composer: Lisa Bielawa Text: Letters and dream work of Freud Composition Date: 1998 Premiere Date: October 30, 1998 Funded by: Meet the Composer Participation Grant
Songs of Then & Now (8 movements) Composer: Andrew Imbrie Composition Date: 1998 Premiere Date: 1998, Cal Performance series with San Francisco Contemporary Music Players Funded by: Creative Work Fund grant Recorded 2001 on Andrew Imbrie Songs of Then and Now
Australian Bush Bird Songs Composer: Stephen Leek Composition Date: 1998 Premiere Date: June 12, 2000
SING! Composer: Larry Farrow Composition Date: 1996 Premiere Date: October 25, 1996 Funded by: California Arts Council Challenge Grant
Spinning Flax Composer: Lisa Bielawa Text: attributed to Melania the Younger, Mary Parsons, Charlotte Cadiere, St. Catherine of Siena, Anon. Patient Composition Date: 1994 Premiere Date:June 4, 1994 Funded by: Meet the Composer Participation Grant Length: 11 minutes Published by: Boosey & Hawkes
Too Young to Remember Composer: Enric Zappa Composition Date: 1994 Premiere Date: 1995
Anithaca...The Island of the Daughters of Penelope Composer: Elinor Armer Text: Ursula K. Le Guin Commission Date: 1990 Premiere Date: October 26, 1990 Length: 16 minutes Funded by: The Gerbode Foundation
Mera Musica Magica Composer: Christopher Fulkerson Text: scat syllables Composition Date: 1990 Premiere Date: October 26, 1990 Length: 6 minutes
American Madrigals (5 movements) Composer: Kirke Mechem Text: American folk songs Arrangement Completion Date: 1989 Arrangment Premiere Date: November 4, 1989 Original Composition Date: 1976 Length: 15 minutes
Songs of a Young Girl Composer: John Geist Text: Caryl Porter Composition Date: 1988 Premiere Date: June 11, 1989 Length: 15 minutes
Hodie Composer: Lisa Bielawa Text: Trad. Latin Composition Date: 1984 Premiere Date: 1984
Dreams Composer: Herbert Bielawa Text: San Francisco Girls Chorus members Composition Date: 1984 Premiere Date: 1984 Funded by: Meet the Composer Participation Grant
Editions of Early Music
Venid presto flores Composer: Anonymous, ed. Craig H. Russell Text: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (sacred, Christmas) Composition Date: Mexican Baroque, mid-18th century Premiere Date: modern-day premiere, May 17, 2002 Length: 6 minutes Funded by: Stratford-Wunderlich Family Foundation
Jesus, mi dulce amor Composer: Anonymous, ed. Craig H. Russell Text: sacred, non-liturgical, Lenten Composition Date: Mexican Baroque, 1767 Premiere Date: modern-day premiere, May 17, 2002 Length: 5 minutes Funded by: Stratford-Wunderlich Family Foundation
Montes y valles Composer: Anonymous, ed. Craig H. Russell Text: sacred, non-liturgical Composition Date: Mexican Baroque, mid-18th c. Premiere Date: modern-day premiere, May 17, 2002 Length: 8 minutes Funded by: Stratford-Wunderlich Family Foundation
Written for & Premiered by SF Girls Chorus
Rip Rap Composer: Luciana Sousa Composition Date: 2007 Premiere Date: October 20, 2007 at the Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
Four Songs for Girls Chorus and Electronic Tape Composer: Judith Shatin Composition Date: 1993 Premiere Date: October 28, 1994
The Night Before Christmas Composer: Ron McFarland Text: Clement Clark Moore Composition Date: 1991 Arrangement Premiere Date: December 14, 1991
Arrangements Written for SF Girls Chorus
Ten Thousand Miles Composer: Traditional American folksong Arranger: Thomas Porter Arrangement Composition date: June 2006 Arrangement Premiere date: October 20, 2006 for SSA div., fiddle and piano Published by Alliance Music
Cripple Creek Composer: Traditional American folksong Arranger: Thomas Porter Arrangement Composition date: July 2006 Arrangement. Premiere date: October 20, 2006 Published by Alliance Music
It's De-Lovely Composer: Cole Porter Arranger: Nolan Gasser Arrangement Composition Date: 2005 Arrangement Premiere Date: March 18, 2005 for SSAA, piano, drums, and bass Length: 4:52 minutes Funded by: Peter and Kathy Drake
Sachaki Composer: Hebrew folksong Arranger: Steve Barnett Arrangement Composition Date: 1999 Arrangement Premiere Date: June 12, 2000
In Noah's Ark, Suite No. 2 Composer: Ron McFarland Text: Rumer Godden Arrangement Composition Date: 1990 Arrangement Premiere Date: October 26, 2000 Original Composition Date: 1983 (by R. McFarland) Premieres of Non-Commissioned American Works:
Welsh Songs Composer: Traditional Welsh songs Arranger: Gordon Getty/treble version by Susan McMane Composition Date: 2003 Premiere Date: October 2003
Three Songs Composer: Russell Burnham Text: Emily Dickinson Composition Date: 1993 Premiere Date: June 4, 1994
Song Book Composer: Joel Suben Text: various poems in English Composition Date: 1989 SFGC Performance Date: October 26, 1990, West Coast premiere
Victorian Scenes Composer: Gordon Getty Composition Date: 1988 Premiere Date: May 11, 1992