Karen Power composer
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Opera
Orchestral Scores
Orchestral
Large Ensemble
Small Ensemble
Quartet
Trio and Duos
Solo Instrument
Choral
ElectroAcoustic/Tape
Radio Art
Installations
Cross Arts Collaborations
All scores are housed by The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland.
Purchase Scores
 
Opera

TOUCH (2020) - a micro-opera produced for video and online diffusion - Mezzo Soprano, Baritone, micro Orchestra, Quadrophonic Soundscape + imagery - 5'49''
(Commissioned by Irish National Opera - 20 Shots of Opera)

 
Orchestral

...Antarctica calling...listen...(2023) - concert orchestra + Antarctica (composed field recordings in quad + projected photographs by John Godfrey) - 20'00''

...nature calls...(2022) - symphony orchestra + blackbird (composed field recording)  - 7'00''
​
no chaos: only organised panic (2011) - 3/3/3/3 4/3/3/1 2 perc. 16/14/12/10/8 plus electronics - 12’40’’

one piece of chocolate per bar (2008) - 3/2/2/2 4/2/3/1 1 perc. 12/10/8/6/4 - 10’00’’

 
Large Ensemble (6 or more players)

...if left to soar on winds wings... (2023) - Oboe + Heckelphon, Bb Clarinet + Contrabass Clarinet, Horn in F, 1 Bassoon + ContraBassoon, 1 Alto Saxophone in Eb + Tubax, 1 Bb Trumpet, 1 Violin, 1 Viola, 1 Cello, 1 Double Bass, 1 Piano (grand), 3 Percussion: Percussion 1: 29’’ Timpani, Crotales + Egg Shaker Percussion 2: 26’’ Timpani + Vibraphone Percussion 3: Bass Drum (floor standing) + Marimba + Quadraphonic Tape Playback (composed environment) - 14 instruments, Conductor + quadrophonic sound
(Commissioned by Musik Protokoll Festival for Klangforum Wien)


...adrift yet somehow tethered...(2021) - B.Flute, B.Clarinet, B.Oboe, Violin, Viola, Cello, Synthesiser + Percussion.
​3 rooms each with quadraphonic playback + live feeds. 4 videos in each space + lights - 90'00''
​(Commissioned by Ensemble Mosiak)


...when one duck leaves the row...(2020/21) - B.Flute, B.Clarinet, B.Oboe, Synth, Violin, Viola, Quadraphonic Tape/Field Recording-based  + 3 Videos - 19'00''
(Commissioned by 
Ensemble Mosiak)

Invitation to Wander (2019) - 2 vocalists, Ensemble of: Trombone, Clarinet, E. Guitar, Double Bass, Cello + Sound Choir
(4 roomed performance installation piece/wordless opera with 4 quad soundscapes, projected photographs + lights) - 90'00''
(Commissioned by Cork Midsummer Festival)

machine chatter (2018) - 7 piece - mixed ensemble + tape: cello, percussion, piano, objects, 4 ipads + tape - 8’25’’
(Commissioned by Share Music Sweden for inclusive ensembles)

those are the dangers of root vegetables (2018) - open instrumentation/public space - maximum of 10 players - open duration Fluxus inspired work for public space

veiled babble (2016) - 9 piece -  b.fl, b.ob, b.cl, b.sax, vln, vla, vc, perc, pno + quad tape (underwater river Spree) - 28’40’’
(Commissioned as part of DAAD Artist-in-Berlin)

cold or hot bean slurper (2013) - 14 piece - fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn, tpt,tbn, perc, pno, 2 vln. vla, vc, db. - 14’00’’
(Written for Ensemble Mise En )
​
pink fluffy alarmetts still sound (2010) - 16 piece - fl, ob., cl, b.cl, bsn,hn, tpt, tbn, 2 perc., pno, 2 vlns, vla, vc, db, singing conductor (plus two other singing musicians - untrained voices all) - 10’00’’

always considering kitchen sinks (2011) - Educational OPEN-SCORED work
Written for found objects, chime bars, instruments, voices and electronics 

squeeze birds to improve your garden’s plant variety (2008) - semi-free instrumentation and tape - minimum 3 brass/woodwind, 2 strings and tape, no maximum) - 9’00’’

we’re not there yet (2005) - 6 piece - a.fl, vln ,b. cl., cello + two players playing found objects of stone and wood - 9’00’’


as happy as owlies in their hammocks (2005) - 20 piece - large ensemble plus 5 singers - 2 s-solo, men-solo, t-solo, bar-solo, fl, afl, bcl, ssax, tsax, hn, tpt, 2 tbn, tuba, 2 per, pno, egtr, ebgtr - 5’00’’

it’s like riding a hefalump (2003) - 14 piece - cl, bcl, asax, tsax, bsax, hn, 2 tpt, tbn, tuba, pno, vln, vla, vc - 15’00’’

I fought an orangutan (2000) - 8 piece - fl, cl, ssax, pno, egtr, perc, vln, db - 12’00’’

Dedication to pooh (2000) - 6 piece - cl., tpt., vln, vla, 2 pnos - 10’00’’

 
Small/Chamber Ensemble (between 4-6 players)

...we return to ground...(2022) - Clarinet, E. Guitar, Trombone, Cello, Double Bass, live micro-world objects + dance + video + quadraphonic sound ( composed field recording) - 30'00'' (Multi-arts collaboration between music/dance/film with Mary Nunan + Atoosa pour Hosseini.

bog songs (2021)
-  Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Cello, Piano + Accordian + quadraphonic tape (composed field recording) + expanded instrumental sculptures - 25'00''

voices from hidden places
 (2018) - 5 piece - voice, cello, percussion, synthesiser, oboe + quadraphonic soundscapes of Arctic + Amazon.


instruments of ice (2015) - 5 piece improvising ensemble - for ensemble, quadraphonic arctic ice + photographs

cantankerous liver (2000) - percussion ensemble + bass - 6’30’’

 
Quartets
​

sonic pollinators (2017) - trombone, cello, dbass, e.guitar + quad tape - 40’00’’

sounds like...(2017) - Brass Quartet (2 horns, 2 trombones) - 4’00’’

here not here (2016) - String Quartet + quadraphonic tape (Berlin + Laos sounds) - 24’30’’
Commissioned by Sonar Quartett with funds from AC Ireland

sounds of time and place (2015) - String Quartet, soundscape + live electronics - 26’00’’ 
Commissioned by Bozzini Quartet with funds from AC Ireland.

hearing leaves (2013) - String Quartet - 14’00’’
Commissioned by ConTempo as part of the Galway Music Residency 10th Anniversary

armed only with nuts (2012) - voice, bass clarinet, cello, percussion and conductor

you me (2007) - string quartet + tape - 7’30’’

supergran’s bed now has wheels (2004 revision of 2000) - cl., pno, vln, cello - 10’00’’

 
Trios and Duos
​

...where foreigners meet... (2020) - trio - 3 synthesiser, quad tape (field recording) - 15'00''
(Commissioned by Lange//Berwick//Lorenz with Musikfond Funds)

can you hear me now??? (2019) - trio - voice, cello, synthesiser, quad tape (field recording) - 16'30''
(Commissioned by Ensemble Mosaik - UpToThree )

...let the current take us... (2019) - trio - horn, cello, piano, quad tape, video - 22'30''
(Commissioned by Retro Disco)

allusion illusion delusion (2018) - duo - synthesiser + laptop - 15'30''

(Commissioned by Ensemble Mosaik - UpToThree )

is it raining while you listen (2011) - trio - a.fl., vln, pno - 9’00’’

the colourful digestive palette of slugs (2010)  - duo - b.cl, pno, tape - 9’20’’

(RTÉ Lyric fm commission)

flies who dreamt of more than windscreens (2008) - trio - tbn., cl., cello + tape

Dan (2007) - trio - t.sax, cello, bass +tape - 7’30’’

old fashioned chocolate fondue fountain (2005) - duo - violin and piano - 6’00’’

supergran’s bed now has wheels (2000) - trio - 3 electric guitars - 10’00’’

 
Picture
Solo Instrument​

language land sea (2023)for Human: Lore Lixenberg + Nature: Environments
Live Voice Quadraphonic Sound 3 videos
Duration: 40'00''

Picture
human nature series (2020): 18 short compositions for open instrumentation, which are tied together through the singular concept of pairing human with nature: 1 musician with 1 un-processed field recording. (Digital CD release on 04/09/2020 - composerkarenpower.bandcamp.com
  • No 1: sirens of New York - 4'50''
  • No 2: underwater frogs of Angkor Wat - 4'04''
  • No 3: dusk birdscape in Northern Territories - 4'13''
  • No 4: train to Machu Picchu - 2'19''
  • No 5: loved bees - 3'02''
  • No 6: European transport hub - 3'14''
  • No 7: Amazonian frogs - 2'00''
  • No 8: bats of Namibia- 3'50''
  • No 9: crickets interrupted - 3'50''
  • No 10: if trees had bellies - 3'37''
  • No 11: a frog and gecko moment from Australia - 3'10''
  • No 12: seals off the Namibian shipwreck coast - 2'53''
  • No 13: country morning in Crete- 4'22''
  • No 14: beneath the living sand dunes @ Gobabeb- 2'23''
  • No 15: monkeys + 'waterbird' of the Amazon- 3'06''
  • No 16: rush hour in Puerto Maldonado - 1'38''
  • No 17: underwater world of Namibia- 3'51''
  • No 18: unique ecosystem of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park - 3'53''

Sea Stories (2021) - solo instrument, Cuas Sea Arches Site + field recording inside Cuas Sea Arches, Beara, Ireland.

no man's land (2020) - solo voice and the sea (quad tape) - 25'00''
(Commissioned by The Model Arts Centre as part of The Sea Around Us Exhibition) - multifaceted work 
for Michelle O' Rourke

tree flute (2018) - Baroque Flute and wind - 10’00’’ (for Carla Rees)


outside voice inside (2017) - Oboe + quadraphonic tape - 16’25’’
for Cathy Milliken

wind illusions (for Pauline) (2017) - glissando flute + quadraphonic tape - 13’30’’
for Erik Drescher

a delicious state of being (2016) - bass flute + tape (water) - 9’20’’
for Carin Levine

sonic cradle (2016) - violin, tape (ice) + projected photographs - 12’00’’
(Commissioned by Deutchlandradio Kultur + Ultraschall Festival)

quack moo sigh (2015) - voice + tape - 16’30’’
(Commissioned by Mutable Music)

loaded silence (2015) - piano and ice - 13’30’’
(Commissioned by Isabelle O’ Connell with funds from the Arts Council, Ireland.)

deafening silence (2014) - piano and tape - 5’37’’

where lost weight is found (2013) - piano, tape and live electronics - 16’00’’ 
(Commissioned by Andrew Zolinsky with AC Funds)

hang on, I’m not ready for a pig yet (2013) - for baroque violin and Tape - 9’10’’
(Commissioned by Claire Duff with funds from AC Ireland)

here comes another one (2011) - guided improvisation for any instrument + live electronics - 9’00’’

relocating elk...by train (2010) - bass flute + tape (for Carin Levine) - 8’30’’

Ducks and Chickens (2008) - trumpet and tape - 9’30’’

cows, coffee, birds, bees and a new room (2007) - double bass + tape - 7’00’’

are you sure you’re hearing what’s written (2007) - bass clarinet + tape - 6’00’’

just one girl playin’ around (2006) - amplified cello + tape - 7’20’’

an alsation ate my dog (2005) - bass clarinet + tape - 8’21’’

freight trains and manuscript paper (2005) - percussion + tape  (marimba and woodblock)- 7’00’’

like piglets at a market (1999) - solo pno - 8’00’’


 
Choral 
​

shape me (2012) - SATB - 5’00’’

 
Tape Works
​

amazonian words (2018) - stereo tape - 10’00’’

hidden allure (2016) - quadraphonic tape (Berlin unheard bunkers) - 12’00’’

forever ricefields (2014) - stereo tape - 14’00’’

fried rice, curried chip and a diet coke (2007) - stereo tape - 10’32’’

are you sure you’re hearing what’s written (2007) - stereo tape - 6’00’’

 
Radio Art
​

is this on? (2016) - 38’40’’ - a site specific radio art piece for Cork city Gaol (Commissioned by RTÉ Lyric fm)
In 1927, Cork City Gaol hosted one of Ireland’s earliest radio broadcasts, the simple sound of cartwheels on cobbles. RTÉ lyric fm has commissioned is this on?, a new work for radio from renowned Irish composer Karen Power to mark the place of that first broadcast and to pay tribute to the profoundly significant contributions by women to Ireland’s turbulent history in the early twentieth century. 
is this on? combines; field recordings recorded by Karen from all over the world, RTÉ Lyric fm archival materials + inaudible sounds from Cork City Gaol itself.

Once Below (2015) - 29'00'' - radio version of installation
(Commissioned by Deutschland Radio Kultur)

hearspace (2014) - 32’00’’
‘hearspace is a new interactive piece of radio art composed for and through Irish radio by Karen Power. On March 23rd @ 9pm RTÉ lyric fm will act as a live conduit, through which Karen Power will compose and perform a new composition for radio based on the idea of exploring the sounds of a particular time, place and memory.’

 
Installations

wondrous worlds within/without: interspecies gossip (2024) - 8 channel sound installation exploring the idea of sonic connections 
(Commissioned by Sirius Arts Centre, Cork.)

past/present suir songs
 
(2020) - 8 channel sound installation with voice/text

(Commissioned by Clonmel Junction Festival as part of The Boatmen of Clonmel Art Trail)

no man's land (2020) - 8 channel sound installation
(Commissioned by The Model Arts Centre as part of The Sea Around Us Exhibition) - multifaceted work

​
location location location (2018) - 8 channel sound installation with photograph projections and sound choir
(Commissioned by New Music Dublin)
​
sounds of a place and time (2018) - 6 channel indoor/outdoor sound installation with live performance option
(Commissioned by BigCi Residency, Creative Environmental Award)

sounds like the amazon...(2017) - 14 channel performance installation with live performance option - 33’00’’

once below (2015) - a double quadraphonic sound installation in two rooms, with 4 live soloists - 1 hour
(Commissioned as part of the DAAD Artist-in-Berlin Program + MikroMusik Festival)

North of Myth (2014) - collaboration with Joyce Majiski
5.1 sound with site specific hanging installation

are you where you think you are (2012) - 20’00’’
Quadraphonic sound + optional live element


birds I view through cracks (2010) - 20’00’’
Quadraphonic sound installation


some things just are (2008) - 40’00’’
Sound and Video Installation with live improvisation
(Commissioned by Belltable Theatre, Limerick.)

 

Cross Arts Collaborations

Solitaire (2023) - with Max le Cain - feature film by Max le Cain

Kinetics
(2019)
- Moving Image by Atoosa Pour Hosseini, Sound by Karen Power. Created in collaboration with Atoosa for her solo show Kinetics in Blue - 12'00''

ANTLER (2018) - Moving Image by Atoosa Pour Hosseini, Sound by Karen Power. Produced by Experimental Film Society & Funded by the Arts Council of Ireland - 12'00''

Arctic Abrasions (2017) - with Elaine Spatz-Rabinowitz - Film of painting and sound

dreamlives of debris (2016) - collaboration with Lance Olsen (Author) on his novel of same name. Video by Andi Olsen.

High Arctic Myth (2015) - with Tom Snelgrove - 25’00’’ - stereo + 5.1

Cloud of Skin (2015) - with Max le Cain - feature film by Max le Cain

Arctic Allusions (2014) - collaboration with Chris Blade (photographs)

Gorging Limpet (2013) - collaboration with Max le Cain - 55 minutes
Sound, film and 8mm/16mm projector performance piece for MidSummer Festival 2013

once upon a space (2011) -  dancer, cello, b.cl. +live electronics -collaboration with Mary Nunan -  25’00’’

involuntary participation (2010)- collaboration with Max Le Cain
Video and Electronics - 15’00’’

Grounded (2006) - collaboration with Sinéad Dinneen + Maria Finucane
Sound and Video Installation - 20’00’’
​Contact:

composer[@]karenpower[.]ie

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