Lee R. Kesselman
Composer Lee R. Kesselman is best known as a composer of vocal works, including opera, music for chorus, chamber music and solo songs. Large vocal works include the opera The Bremen Town Musicans (commissioned by Opera for the Young with libretto by James Tucker), The Emperor's New Clothes (a choral opera), Measuring the Holy for SATB, children and orchestra, Shona Mass for voices and African percussion, and Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand, a symphony for treble chorus and orchestra, and Praise to the Light of the World for men, women, SATB and symphonic band. The Bremen Town Musicans has been performed over 350 times for schoolchildren in Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee and Texas.
Kesselman has written numerous pieces for instrumental ensembles, including O lente, lente currite noctis equi!, CG, and Love Song for a Common Destiny for string orchestra, Metallum and Bei Mir for percussion ensembles, and works for various combinations of solo piano, violin and piano, cello and bass, violin and bass, and Duo Mythologique for flute and string bass. His extended works for solo voice and instruments include JOLERE for soprano and string quartet (and dance), FACES for soprano and piano, In the Garden of Love for soprano and piano, LOVE PHASES for baritone and piano, Prairie Epitaphs for soprano or mezzo-soprano and piano, and CIRCLES for soprano, string bass and piano.
Kesselman has been commissioned to write for children’s choirs, middle school, junior school, high school, college, community, church, and professional ensembles. Boosey & Hawkes, Roger Dean Music, Lawson-Gould Music Publishers, Colla Voce, Carl Fischer Music, Hal Leonard and G. Schirmer have published many of Mr. Kesselman’s choral works. He is published by North Star Music (vocal) and Trevco Music (double reeds). His compositions and arrangements are also available through www.kesselmanpress.com and www.MusicSpoke.com. He served as a long-time choral editor for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers. A complete listing of his works can be found at www.kesselmanpress.com
