Bill Alves — Composer
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Bird Song

Excerpts from Bird Song, a shadow play with writer Adam Novy.

Asterism Demo Video

Demo of Asterism, a virtual reality composition.

Concerto for Violin and Gamelan mvt. 3

With Susan Jensen, violin, and the HMC American Gamelan

Breath of the Compassionate video

Wild Geometry video

Cempaka Petak

Balinese gamelan

Duration: 9 min.

Katherine Hagedorn was my colleague and dear friend for nearly twenty years at the Claremont Colleges, an inspiring scholar and teacher known for her study of Afro-Cuban music. The night after I heard of her passing, a melody came to me in a dream. With the help of I Nyoman Wenten and other friends, I have fashioned it into a piece for Gamelan Giri Kusuma, the Balinese ensemble that Katherine founded and directed at Pomona College. In it, I tried to give solo expressions to several of her friends. As we put it together, I was later reminded of the blessing given by the goddess Ochún to Katherine on the occasion of her religious initiation: "The good day is known from the dawn." Nyoman Wenten bestowed the title of this piece. Cempaka Petak is a pure white flower from Bali, and Wenten says it is "the most beautiful and fragrant flower, symbolizing Katherine's pure heart and love she gave to her family, friends, and students."

 

Metalloid video

Rational Basis video

Paths of the Wind video

Performed by Aron Kallay.

In-Yo performance

For shakuhachi and electronics, with Rachel Rudich.

Metallurgy performance

A Sonatina video

With Kirsten Ashley Wiest and Nic Gerpe.

Aleph video

 

Night Refuge video

Performed by Brightwork New Music at the Hear Now Festival

Mystic Canyon video

Static Cling video

California Mabommay video performance

Resonant Halls of Memory video

Performance by Maggie Parkins.

Imbal-Imbalan (score follow)

Liminal Landscape performance

Performance of Liminal Landscape with video.

Bill Alves — Composer
© Bill Alves 2016 - 2025
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