Music
I. MUSIC FOR VOICE AND ORCHESTRA
I Have a Dream
1 - "I Have a Dream" symphonic cantata in one movement (Symphony No. 6). Esther Hinds, soprano, University of Maryland Chorus conducted by Paul Traver, FMMC Orchestra conducted by Robert Gerle. Kennedy Center Premiere.
Ariel
2 - "Ariel" (Symphony No. 2 in 5 movements) a vocal symphony on poems by Sylvia Plath commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and premiered at the Kennedy Center for the American Bicentennial. Stephen Dickson, baritone, Antal Dorati, conductor. Recording: Syracuse Symphony, Christopher Keene conductor.
Movements: 1. The Night Dances / 2. Contusion - Fever 103 degrees / 3. Paralytic / 4. Daddy / 5. The Moon and the Yew Tree
Songs of the Tulpehocken
3 - “Songs of the Tulpehocken” (Symphony No. 3 in 7 movements) for tenor and orchestra based on anonymous Pennsylvania Dutch (German) texts. Commissioned by the people of Berks County, Pennsylvania and Metropolitan Opera and Paris Opera tenor Kenneth Riegel. Premiere with Riegel and Burton conducting the Reading Symphony in 1977 with the Louisville Orchestra.
Movements: 1. Der Auszug (The Journey) / 2. Intermezzo / 3. Trinklied (Drinking Song) / 4. Endlich Daheim (Home at last) / 5. Krieg (War) / 6. Ein Neuer Anfang (A New Beginning) / 7. Faravell (Farewell)
Ode to a Nightingale
4 - "Ode to a Nightingale" based on the poem by John Keats. Sylvia Brigham, soprano, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Hans Werner Henze. 1963
II. MUSICAL THEATER
Duchess of Malfi
5 - "Duchess of Malfi" Opera in 3 Acts based on the play by John Webster. Libretto by Christopher Keene. The first opera by an American composer to receive its world premiere in the Nation's Capital. Commissioned by the National Opera Institute. Productions: Wolf Trap 1978 and Artpark 1979 Keene conducting, stage direction by the composer. See REVIEWS AND INTERVIEW PAGE for Conversations at the Kennedy Center in the American Film Institute Theatre at the Kennedy Center, an interview with Burton and Keene by Joanne Hoover just before the World Premiere at Wolf Trap.
Duchess of Malfi Act I
Duchess of Malfi Act II
Duchess of Malfi Act III
III. MUSIC FOR ORCHESTRA
Fanfare for Peace
6 – “Fanfare for Peace" Commission of the International Committee for the Bicentennial of the Treaty of Paris (1783). Premiered at the U.S. Capital Mall by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hugh Wolf, and later performed in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, with Queen Elizabeth II in attendance on British American Day, and also performed at Grosvenor Square at the dedication of the "Diplomatic Gates, " a gift from the US to UK, and also played for the opening of the George Mason University Concert Hall in Virginia with Arnald Gabriel conducting the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.
Symphony No. 1 in three movements
7 – “Symphony No. 1 in three movements” Rudolf Alberth conducting the SFB Free Berlin Radio Orchestra, 1969 Alberth conducting the French National Orchestra (ORTF), 1971 Sir Georg Solti conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and 1971 Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Dithyramb
8 – “Dithyramb” (Hymn to Dionysus) Commissioned by Antal Dorati and premiere by Dorati and the National Symphony Orchestra for the opening of the second (1972) season in the Kennedy Center. Further performances: 1974 Dorati and National Symphony at Lincoln Center, 1975 Donald Johannos conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony, and Christopher Keene conducting the Chicago Symphony.
IV. CHAMBER MUSIC
String Quartet Fantasy
9 - “String Quartet Fantasy in two movements” Commissioned by National Symphony String Quartet at Corcoran Gallery and played on the Paganini Stradivarius instruments in numerous venues.
Six Songs after Hermann Hesse
10 - “Six Songs after Hermann Hesse” a song cycle for soprano. Frank Conlon, piano. Louise Reade Burton soprano. 8th Inter-American Music Festival at the Kennedy Center.
Requiescat
11 – “Requiescat” for chamber choir on a poem by Matthew Arnold. James Madison High School Madison Madrigal Singers. Conductor: Robert Shafer.