Dr. James Lentini, compositions
Big City Stomp (viola, baritone sax, and bayan)
Commission: By Ada Gentile of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, Italy for the “Nuovi Spazi Musicali” festival. The work received its premiere at the Hungarian Academy in Rome in October, 2006
The Four Seasons (solo guitar, 2005-2006)
Commission: by guitarist Charles Postlewate for inclusion in his upcoming CD recording and publication for Mel Bay Publishers (Spring 2008)
Pacific Sunset (solo guitar, 2004)
Commission: for Italian guitarist Roberto Fabbri for publication in his solo guitar series by the international publisher Carisch
El Signo del Angel (viola and harp, 2004) Commission: for Julia Malkova (viola) and Mickaele Granados (Harp) Premiere: Madrid, Spain on the "Del Impresionismo Al Siglo XX" concert, May 30, 2004
East Coast Groove (tuba and piano, 2003) Commission: for Velvet Brown and Robert Arosio ("Duo Garda") Premiere: Rome, Italy, October 10, 2003 at the Nuovi Spazi Musicali festival by the Duo Garda (Velvet Brown-tuba and Roberto Arosio-piano)
Riding with Warriors (wind symphony, 2003) Commission: the Wayne State University Wind Symphony, Douglas Bianchi, conductor. Premiere: January 16, 2003 at the Midwest In-Service Conference, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Michigan
Dancing with Shadows (cello, accordion & computer disk, 2002) Commission: Nuovi Spazi Musicali, Rome, Italy. Premiere: Rome, Italy, November 8, 2003 at the Nuovi Spazi Musicali festival by Madeleine Shapiro (cello) and Mikko Luoma (accordion)
Shake, Rattle & Roll (percussion ensemble, 2001) Commission: Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony with a grant from "Meet the Composer". Premiere: Birmingham, Michigan, November 18, 2001 by the percussion section of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony at Temple Beth-El
Mother Songs (soprano and guitar, 2001) Commission: from Wayne State University. Premiere: February 3, 2001 at Oakland University by Dana Lentini, soprano and James Lentini, guitar
Three Sacred Meditations (orchestra, chorus and soprano soloist, 2000), written with a Creative Artist Grant from ArtServe Michigan. Premiere: Detroit, Michigan, November 21, 2000 at Old St. Mary's Church in Greektown by the Wayne State University Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra with Dana Lentini, guest soprano, conducted by Norah Duncan IV. Winner: Honors category in the "Waging Peace Through Singing" choral composition competition (for first movement, "Peace I leave with you")
Westward Voyage (classical guitar, 1999) Commission: from guitarist William Kanengiser of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Winner of the 2002 Segovia Composition Prize, Granada, Spain. Publisher: EMEC, Madrid. Publisher: Madrid: Editorial de Musica Española Contemporanea
Axe Grinder (MIDI guitar controller, computer, samplers, 1999) Premiere: Rochester, Michigan, February 13, 1999 on the "Pathway to Electronics" Concert at Oakland University, James Lentini, guitar
The Angel's Journey (symphony band, 1999) Commission: from the Wayne State University Wind Symphony, Douglas Bianchi, conductor. Premiere: Ann Arbor, Michigan, January 22, 1999 at Hill Auditorium at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra conference by the Wayne State University Wind Symphony, conducted by Douglas Bianchi. Publisher: Boca Raton: Ballerbach Music, 2000
Scenes from Sedona (viola and violoncello, 1996) Commission: from Tom Flaherty of Pomona College, CA Premiere: November 19, 1996 at Wayne State University by Tom Flaherty, cello and Cynthia Fogg, viola. Publisher: Pennsylvania: European American Music, 1998
Sinfonia di Festa (large orchestra, 1996) Commission: by the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra in celebration of their 50th season (1945-1995). Premiere: May 17, 1996 by the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Russell Reed at Pease Auditorium, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Publisher: St. Louis: MMB Music, Inc., 1999
Orchestra Hall Suite (vl, vla, vc, bsn, 1995)
Commission: from Detroit arts patron James Persons. Premiere: Community Arts Auditorium, Detroit on March 22, 1995 by members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Paul Ganson - bassoon, Geoffrey Applegate - violin, James VanValkenburg - viola, Marcy Chanteaux - cello
Dreamscape (chamber orchestra, 1994)
Commission: University of South Carolina Conductors Institute. Premiere: July 20, 1994 at the University of South Carolina by the Conductors Institute Orchestra Commission for MMC recordings. Recorded by Krakow Philharmonic, Jerzy Swoboda, conductor, MMC 2053, 1998. Publisher: St Louis: MMB Music, Inc., 1999
Concerto for Guitar and Strings (1994)
Premiere: February 19, 1993 by the Livonia (MI) Symphony, James Lentini - guitar soloist, Francesco Di Blasi - Conductor. Published: Toronto: Acoma Editions, 1996
Fantasy for Guitar and Flute (1993)
Premiere: March 15, 1993 - Grosse Pointe War Memorial by Diane Littlefield-Kegler, flute and John Hall, guitar. Recorded by the Dearing Concert Duo on their debut CD entitled "Take One," 1999. Published: Toronto: Acoma Editions, 1996
Montage (vl, vc, pno, 1992)
Commission: from Detroit arts patron James Persons. Premiere: October 18, 1992 by the Essex Trio at Temple Beth-El in Birmingham, Michigan. Recorded by the St. Clair Trio, CRS Master Recordings CD 9867, 1998
Life Matters (synthesizer score for documentary of the same title, 1992)
Aired 20 times on PBS from March - September, 1992.
Symphony (orchestra, 1990)
Premiere: October 16, 1995 by the Wayne State University Symphony Orchestra, Kypros Markou, conductor
Chautauqua (electronic tape, 1989)
Premiere: December 2, 1987 at the Schoenberg Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Reflections (guitar quartet, 1987)
Commission: by the University of Southern California Guitar Quartet. Premiere: December 2, 1987 at the Schoenberg Institute, Los Angeles by the USC Guitar Quartet
A Distant Place (mixed ensemble, 1987)
Premiere: December 2, 1987 at the Schoenberg Institute, Los Angeles by the a mixed ensemble at USC. Winner: McHugh Composition Prize
Five Pieces for Cello and Piano (1986)
Commission: by Tom Flaherty, cellist. Premiere: December 2, 1987 at the Schoenberg Institute, Los Angeles by Tom Flaherty, cello and Vicky Ray, piano
Three Sandburg Songs (soprano and piano, 1985)
Premiere: December 2, 1985 at the University of Southern California by Shirley Brumbaugh, soprano and Dean Perry, piano
String Quartet no. 2 (1984)
Premiere: January 12, 1984 by the Xian (China) String Quartet at Michigan State University's Festival for New Music.
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1983)
Premiere: March 10, 1983 at Michigan State University by Andrea Splittberger- Rosen, clarinet and Sarah Kolb, piano
Music for Brass (large brass ensemble, 1983)
Premiere: April 23, 1983 at Michigan State University's Festival for New Music by the MSU Brass Ensemble, Stanley DeRusha, conductor. Recorded by the Michigan State University Wind Symphony, Stanley DeRusha, conductor, Capstone, 1997. First Prize: Atwater-Kent Composition Contest
String Quartet no. 1 (1982)
Premiere: March 2, 1982 at Wayne State University by the WSU Faculty String Quartet
Woodwind Quintet (1981)
Premiere: March 10, 1981 at Wayne State University by the WSU Faculty Woodwind Quintet