Jan Järvlepp Compositions

Lento (1975) for string quartet (6 minutes).
First performed in Montreal on April 13, 1979 by cellist Gisela Depkat and three of her McGill University chamber music students. AG*

Ice (1976) for orchestra (16 minutes).
First performed in Ottawa on February 29, 1976 by the University of Ottawa Orchestra conducted by Françoys Bernier. AG*

Aurora Borealis (1976) for 33-piece band (27 minutes) unperformed. AG*

Buoyancy (1977) for 4-channel tape (14 & 1/2 minutes).
First played at Pollack Hall, Montreal on April 27, 1977. Created at the McGill University Electronic Music Studio. AG, CECCD

Flotation (1978) for 2-channel tape (short version 18 minutes, long version 25 minutes).
First played on April 6, 1978 at Pollack Hall, Montreal. Created at the McGill University Electronic Music Studio. AG CD

Transparency and Density (1978) for percussion ensemble (27 minutes).
Premiere of Transparency (16 & 1/2 minutes) at Pollack Hall, Montreal on March 2, 1978 by the McGill Percussion Ensemble under Pierre Béluse. AG*

Trumpet Piece (1979) for trumpet and bass drum [one player] (5 minutes).
First performed by Louis Ranger on November 21, 1983 in Victoria, B.C. PM*

Cello Concerto (1980) for solo cello and orchestra (27 minutes).
Unperformed except for the middle movement, Fog, which was heard at a student performance at UCSD. AG*

Time Zones (1981) for spatially dispersed 17-piece chamber orchestra (17 minutes).
First performed by New Music Concerts under Robert Aitken in Toronto on February 19, 1984. AG*

End of student works.

Night Music (1982) for carillon (3&1/2 minutes).
First performed on the Peace Tower Carillon at the Parliament Builings in Ottawa by Gordon Slater on October 27, 1982.*

Fanfare (1983) for orchestra and organ (2 & 1/2 minutes).
First performed in Ottawa on December 6, 1983 by the Parkdale United Church Orchestra conducted by Gordon Slater. Trad*

Harpsichord Piece (1984) for harpsichord (6 & 1/2 minutes).
First performed at Concordia University, Montreal on March 28, 1985 by Vivienne Spiteri, who commissioned it. CC*

Evening Music (1984) for carillon (6 & 1/2 minutes).
First performed in Ottawa on the Peace Tower Carillon on January 1, 1985 by Gordon Slater, who commissioned it. OAC*

Cadenza (1985) for solo cello, or as the cadenza of the Cello Concerto (3 minutes).
First performed by the composer at Walter Hall, Toronto on June 11, 1985. CD*

Guitar Piece (1985) for amplified guitar or for amplified guitar with  prerecorded synthesizers (5 & 1/2 minutes). First performed in the guitar and synthesizer version by Douglas Reach on January 18, 1987 at Carleton University, Ottawa. CD*

Guitar Piece (1985) (two guitars version) for amplified guitar duo (5 & 1/2 minutes). First performed on November 30, 2005 by Keenan Comartin and Kieran Greeson at the University of Ottawa's Perez Hall, Ottawa. *

Morning Music (1986) for carillon (2 minutes).
First played by Gordon Slater on May 1, 1989 on the Peace Tower Carillon, Ottawa. CD*

Afternoon Music (1986) for carillon (2 minutes).
First performed by Gordon Slater in Ottawa on May 1, 1989. CD. Afternoon Music, Morning Music, Evening Music and Night Music together form Time Traveller which was first played as suite on July 2, 1989 by Gordon Slater in Ottawa.*

Sunrise (1987) for accordion (6 minutes).
First performed by Laurie Rosewarne on May 21, 1987 at Pollack Hall, McGill University, Montreal. CD*

Sunset (1987) for French horn and vibraphone (7 minutes).
First performed by Elizabeth Simpson - horn, and Ken Simpson - vibraphone in a CBC concert held at the National Arts Centre Opera, Ottawa on March 3, 1988. CD*

Trio No. 1 (1987) for flute, oboe and piano (15 minutes).
First performed in an Open Score concert in Ottawa on March 15, 1989 by Lynne Morrison - flute, Angela Casagrande - oboe, and Sonja Deunsch - piano. CC*

Liquid Crystals (1988) for digital FM synthesizers on tape (8 mins 21 secs).
First played in an Open Score concert at the Museum of Nature, Ottawa on January 25, 1989. CD*

Camerata Music (1989) original octet version for flute, guitar, cello, harpsichord, accordion, synthesizer and 4-hands piano (8 minutes).
First performed on June 12, 1991 in an Open Score concert at Perez Hall, Ottawa by Lynne Morrison - flute, Greg Prest - guitar, Jan Jarvlepp - cello, Adele Rouselle - harpsichord, Laurie Rosewarne - accordion, Paula Quick - synthesizer, Nancy Belisle-Pescatore and Sonia Pescatore - four hands piano.

Camerata Music (1989) orchestral version (8 minutes).
First performed by the University of Ottawa Orchestra conducted by David Currie on November 18, 1990 at Tabaret Hall, Ottawa.*

Dream (1990) for solo piano or the original two piano version (4 minutes).
First performed by Nancy Belisle-Pescatore and Sonia Pescatore on June 12, 1991 in an Open Score concert held at Perez Hall, Ottawa. The solo version was premiered by Nancy Belisle-Pescatore on Sept. 20, 1991 at the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Centre, Ottawa in a CBC concert.*

Life in the Fast Lane (1990) for two pianos in three movements including Dream (15 minutes).
First performed on January 10, 1993 in Ottawa by Nancy Belisle-Pescatore and Sonia Pescatore in an Open Score concert.*

Encounter (1991) for viola and conga drums (7 minutes).
First performed by Kevin James - viola and Ken Simpson - congas in an Open Score concert on January 10, 1993 at the Museum of Nature, Ottawa. CD*

Underwater (1992) for soprano voice and tape (10 minutes).
First performed by Paula Quick on January 10, 1993 in an Open Score concert entitled Underwater Concert at the Museum of Nature, Ottawa.*

Music from Mars (1993) for flute and electric guitar (8 min 45 sec).
Commissioned by flutist Sara Seck who gave the first performance at SAW Gallery, Ottawa on April 10, 1994 with Paul Zelmer on guitar. CC CD*

Moonscape (1993) for English horn and electric guitar (8 minutes).
First performed by Angela Casagrande - English horn with the composer on guitar on April 10, 1994 at SAW Gallery, Ottawa. Alternate versions also exist where the English horn is replaced by viola, alto flute, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, voice and saxophone. CD*

Pierrot Solaire (1994) for flute, violin, double bass, percussion and piano (13 minutes).
First performed by the Denis Schingh Ensemble at the Music Gallery, Toronto on November 21, 1994.*

Pierrot Solaire (1994) orchestral version arranged in 1998 (13 minutes).

Robot Dance (1994) for flute and double bass (9 minutes).
First performed by Diaphony (Sara Seck - flute and Tracy Mortimore - double bass) on July 11, 1994 in Guelph, Ontario. The flute and bass guitar version was first performed on November 21, 1999 by Pascale Margely - flute and Jan Jarvlepp - bass guitar at Rideau Park United Church, Ottawa.*

Woodwind Quintet (1995) for woodwind quintet including alto flute and English horn doubling (15 minutes).
First performed by the Bel Canto Wind Quintet in a CBC concert on November 25, 1995 in Ottawa. CBC *

Garbage Concerto (1995) a percussion concerto for 5 soloists and orchestra (28 minutes).
First performed by the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Currie with soloists Jon Wade, Paul Vaillancourt, Ken Simpson, David Stachon and Eric Vaillancourt at the National Arts Centre Opera, Ottawa on January 22, 1996. LF (also known as Transformations) *

Garbage Concerto (1995) solo version of the percussion concerto (28 minutes)
unperformed. *

Tarantella (1996) for violin and electric guitar (3 minutes).
First performed on April 3, 1997 by Mark Friedman - violin and Jan Jarvlepp - guitar at an Espace Musique concert held at the National Gallery Auditorium in Ottawa. *

Bassoon Quartet (1996) for 4 bassoons with one doubling on contrabassoon (12 minutes).
First performed by the Caliban Quartet on August 3, 1998 at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa. CC *

Saxophone Quartet (1996) for soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones.
First performed on May 21, 1998 in an Espace Musique concert held at Academic Hall, Ottawa by Saxart (12 minutes). This is an arrangement of the Bassoon Quartet.

Trio No. 2 (1997) for piccolo, viola and cello. (18 minutes).
First peformance on November 23, 1997 by Pascale Margely - piccolo, Kevin James - viola and Jan Jarvlepp - cello at Rideau Park United Church, Ottawa.

Earth Song (1998) for mixed choir SATB (7 minutes). Words attributed to U.S. Indian Chief Seattle but actually by Ted Perry.
First performance on May 13, 2000 at Ste. Anne's Church in Ottawa by the Centennial Choir directed by James Caswell.

Five-Way Crossover (1998) for jazz quintet (7 minutes). *

Overture (1999) for woodwind quintet. (8 minutes).
First performed on April 23, 1999 by the Ayorama Wind Quintet at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa in an Espace Musique concert. LF.

Dilemma (1999) for female voice and jazz ensemble. (7 min. 30 secs.) Words by the composer. *

Concerto 2000 (2000) for solo flute and orchestra (25 minutes)
First performed on November 4, 2000 by flutist Pascale Margely with Yves Léveillé conducting the Hull Conservatory Orchestra at Église Saint-Benoît-Abbé in Hull. CC

Quintet 2000 (2000) for string quartet and celesta. (20 minutes)
First performed on August 1, 2000 at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival by Martin Riseley and Manuela Milani, violins, Steve Larson, viola, Julian Armour, cello and Jean Desmarais, celesta. CC *

Street Scene (2000) for viola and electric guitar (7 minutes).
First performed at an Espace Musique concert on Feb. 11, 2001 at the National Gallery Rideau Chapel in Ottawa by Kevin James, viola and Jan Jarvlepp, electric guitar. KJ *

Quintet 2001 (2001) for string quartet and mandolin. (22 minutes)
First performed at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival on July 30, 2001 by Richard
Green - mandolin, Mark Friedman and David Thies-Thompson - violins, Sally
Benson - viola and Leah Wyber - cello. LF *

Suite for Viola and Strings (2001) for solo viola and string orchestra. (25 minutes)
First performed on November 25, 2001 by violist Kevin James and the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra under David Thies-Thompson at the Glebe Community
Centre in Ottawa. KJ *

Shinkansen (2001) for shinobue/flute, cello, percussion and piano (10 minutes)
First performed on January 19, 2002 by the Nishikawa Ensemble and guest cellist Jan Jarvlepp at the University of Ottawa's Perez Hall. NE

Comet (2002) for solo flute (2-3 minutes) First performed by Pascale Margely on January 10, 2004 at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa as part of the Ottawa Chamber Music Society's Winter Festival of Canadian Music.

Quintet 2002 (2002) for English horn and string quartet (20 minutes) composed for the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival where it was first performed on August 6, 2002 at Tabaret Hall. The players were Philippe Magnan - English horn, Mark Friedman and Leah Roseman - violins, Sally Benson - viola and Carole Sirois - cello.*

The Lord’s Prayer (2002) for SATB choir,  two treble instruments, bass instrument and keyboard.  (1.5 minutes). First performed on December 15, 2002 by the Ottawa Finnish Singers (Anna Dalvi, Eija Gardner, Mirja Kapsalis, Marja-Leena Majeed) accompanied by Anna Hall - flute, Lisa Taras - violin, Jan Jarvlepp - cello and Mai-yu Chan - organ. The event took place at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Ottawa during a church service of the St. Michael’s Finnish Lutheran Congregation.

Quintet 2003 (2003) for three violins, viola and cello (21 minutes) First performed on August 5, 2003 at Tabaret Hall, Ottawa as part of the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. Performing were Stephen Sitarski, Mark Fewer and Mark Friedman - violins, Nicolò Eugelmi - viola and Paul Marleyn - cello. OAC*

Laser Bells (2003) for carillon (6 & 1/2 minutes).

Quintet 2004 (2004) for harp and string quartet (27 minutes) First performed on August 2, 2004 at Dominion-Chalmers United Church as part of the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. The performers were Lori Gemmell - harp, Stephen Sitarski and Sophie Drouin - violins, Sally Benson - viola and Leah Wyber - cello. CO

Procession and Auction (2004) for piccolo, piano, Japanese percussion and cello (11 minutes). First performed on November 17, 2004 at  The Fourth Stage, Ottawa by the Nishikawa Ensemble (Kohei Nishikawa - piccolo, Hideko Nara - piano, Patrick Graham - percussion and guest artist Jan Jarvlepp - cello) . NE

Quintet 2005 (2005) for bass clarinet and string quartet (25 minutes) First performed at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival on August 2, 2005 at St. John's Church, Ottawa. The perfomers were David Bourque - bass clarinet, Stephen Sitarski and Marie Bérard - violins, Nicolò Eugelmi - viola and Denise Djokic - cello. CO

Pre-Concert Announcement (2005) for live or pre-recorded voice (1 minute). First heard on October 23, 2005 at Kanata United Church, Kanata, Ontario. Text by the composer

Three Cello Duets (2005) for 2 cellos (10 minutes) First performed by cellists Jan Jarvlepp and Kuniko Soda at Woodroffe United Church on December 9, 2005 (Duet No. 1), June 23, 2006 (Duet No. 2) and June 9, 2007 (Duet No. 3).

Three Stories by Hans Christian Andersen (2005-6) (41 minutes) for narrator and string ensemble (quintet or string orchestra). First performed on July 31, 2006 at the Glebe Community Centre, Ottawa as part of the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. The narrators were Lori Jean Hodge and Doreen Taylor-Claxton. The string players were Paule Préfontaine and Sophie Drouin - violins, Lisa Moody - viola, Mark Fraser - cello and Murielle Bruneau - double bass. CO

Quintet 2007 (2007) for vibraphone and string quartet (17 minutes). First performance August 1, 2007 at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa as part of the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. Performers were J. S. Lacombe - vibraphone, Donnie Deacon and David Thies-Thompson - violins, Sally Benson - viola and Leah Wyber - cello. OAC

Double Concerto (2008) for flute, English horn and symphony orchestra (32 minutes). First performance on March 21, 2009 by the Gatineau Symphony Orchestra at La Maison de la Culture, Gatineau, Canada. Pascale Margely - flute, Frederic Hodgson - English horn and Yves Léveillé - conductor.

Suite for Strings (2009) for youth string orchestra (13 minutes). First performance by the Intermediate Strings of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy under the direction of Pauline McCombe. Details t.b.a. NBMF

Atlantic Salmon Quintet (2009) for violin, viola, cello, string bass and piano (21 minutes). First performance on March 8, 2010 by the Chamber Players of Canada at St. Andrew's Church, Ottawa. CO

* = available from the Canadian Music Centre library in Toronto (416) 961-6601,
AG = avant garde
Trad = traditional
PM = postmodern
CO - City of Ottawa Arts Grant
OAC = Ontario Arts Council commission
CC = Canada Council commission
CBC = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation commission
LF = The Laidlaw Foundation commission
KJ = Kevin James commission
NE = Nishikawa Ensemble commission
NBMF = Norman Burgess Memorial Fund commission
CD = compact disc recording available from the Canadian Music Centre.
CECCD = compact disc recording available from the Canadian Electroacoustic Community.
All selections are SOCAN.

2000-01 Jan Jarvlepp. Last updated December 2009