Rani tero
(2002/2000)
Duration 6:00
for Alto Voice (or Baritone) and 4 Bass Viols
In raga Puria Dhaneshri, on a traditional poem in Hindi.
Aba mane manele
(2001)
Duration 3:00
for Soprano, Flute & Harp
A light, sweet song in raga Bhupali, on a traditional poem in Hindi.
Sumirana kareley
(2001)
Duration 6:00
for Soprano & String Quartet
A rather dramatic song in raga Bhairavi, on a traditional poem in Hindi.
Komachi at Sekidera
(1987/1999)
Duration 12:00
for Soprano (or Mezzo-Soprano), Alto Flute & Koto
for Soprano (or Mezzo-Soprano) & Alto Flute
for Soprano (or Mezzo-Soprano), Alto Flute & Harp
Based on a Japanese Noh play about the famous poet Komachi, who has lived beyond her beauty and her literary fame into old age, and has been forgotten.
Information about the recording
Listen to an excerpt
The Red Woman ("An Bean Rua")
(1993)
Duration 10:00
for Female Narrator & Tape
The live actor speaks in English, while Shields' recorded voice speaks in Irish on tape. Poem in Irish and English by Shields, describing a man and a woman making love on the day of the Winter Solstice.
The Virgin's Songs
(1992)
Duration 10:00
3 Arias for Soprano & Keyboard
From the opera Mass for the Dead. Based on a 13th-century Spanish song. In Catalan.
Neruda Songs
(1981)
Duration 14:00
6 Songs for Soprano (or Mezzo-Soprano) & Cello
On poems of Pablo Neruda.
Listen to an excerpt
Fragments of Archilochos(1978)
Duration 3:00
for High Soprano, Piccolo & Violin
On poem of the ancient Greek writer Archilochos.
Spring Music
(1967)
Duration 7:00
for Soprano, Trumpet & Oboe
On the poem "The Green Man" by Ronald Johnson.
Wildcat Songs
(1966)
Duration 9:00
3 Songs for Soprano & Piccolo
On a Native American shaman's poem.
Listen to an excerpt
The Wind in the Pines
(2018)
Duration 16:00
for Soprano, theorbo, oud, Renaissance bray harp, alto flute, alto recorder and 1 percussion (crotales, glockenspiel, vbraphone)
Commisioned by Chamber Music America, and dedicated to The Eurasia Consort of Seattle, Washington. Based on a Noh play.
Snow
(1993)
Duration 7:00
for Male Narrator & Electronic Music on Tape
On the poem "Snow," by Greg Muirhead, about a homeless man frozen to death in the snow.
The Black Lake
(1984)
Duration 9:00
for Tenor, Cello & Tape
From the opera Shaman. Text by Edward Barrett, in which a shaman wanders through the sounds of the night.
Telemachos' Song
(1975)
Duration 4:00
for Tenor & Piano
Song from the opera Odyssey III, in which Telemachos finds a place to set up his tent for the night.
Richard III: Speeches for Male Actor, Trumpet & Drum
(1968)
Duration 5:00
Theatrical incidental music for Shakespeare's "Richard III."
Rani tero
(2002/2000)
Duration 6:00
for Alto Voice (or Baritone) and 4 Bass Viols
In raga Puria Dhaneshri, on a traditional poem in Hindi.
Ya Devi
(2002)
Duration 5:00
for Mezzo-Soprano (or Baritone), Flute, Harp & String Quartet
Composed in raga Dhaniya Dhaiwat, on a traditional chant in Sanskrit.
Aje to ananda
(2001)
Duration 4:00
for Mezzo-Soprano (or Baritone), Organ (or Accordian) & Tubular bells
In raga Ahir Bhairo, on traditional poem in Hindi.
Komachi at Sekidera
(1987/1999)
Duration 12:00
for Mezzo-Soprano (or Soprano), Alto Flute & Koto
for Mezzo-Soprano (or Soprano) & Alto Flute
for Mezzo-Soprano (or Soprano), Alto Flute & Harp
Based on a Japanese Noh play about the famous poet Komachi, who has lived beyond her beauty and her literary fame into old age, and has been forgotten.
Information about the recording
Listen to an excerpt
Apocalypse Songs
(1994)
Duration 7:00
for Mezzo-Soprano & Keyboard
Songs from the opera Apocalypse. In Irish (with pronunciation), spoken by a sea-spirit, on how to live right.
Listen to an excerpt
Namaste ("Greetings")
(1993)
Duration 7:00
for Mezzo-Soprano & Keyboard
On a poem by Shields in Hindi to the goddess Devi. Optional choreography for the singer based on Indian classical dance style. From the larger work, Shivatanz.
Shivatanz
(1993)
Duration 9:00
for Mezzo-Soprano & Tape
On a traditional Sanskrit poem to Shiva, and poem by Shields in Hindi to the goddess Devi. Optional choreography for the singer based on Indian classical dance style.
Organ Screaming
(1993)
Duration 6:25
for Mezzo-Soprano (or Baritone) & Tape
Aria from the electronic opera Apocalypse. In Greek.
Information about the recording
Listen to an excerpt
The Red Woman ("An Bean Rua")
(1993)
Duration 10:00
for Female Narrator & Tape
Poem in Irish and English by Shields, describing a man and a woman making love on the day of the Winter Solstice.
Levertov Songs
(1987)
Duration 14:00
for Mezzo-Soprano & Viola
On poems of Denise Levertov about the lives of women.
Neruda Songs
(1981)
Duration 14:00
for Mezzo-Soprano (or Soprano) & Cello
On poems of Pablo Neruda.
Listen to an excerpt
Ya Devi
(2002)
Duration 5:00
for Baritone (or Mezzo-Soprano), Flute, Harp & String Quartet
Composed in raga Dhaniya Dhaiwat, on a traditional chant in Sanskrit.
Aje to ananda
(2001)
Duration 4:00
for Baritone (or Mezzo-Soprano), Organ (or Accordian) & Tubular bells
In raga Ahir Bhairo, on traditional poem in Hindi.
Organ Screaming
(1993)
Duration 6:25
for Baritone (or Mezzo-Soprano) & Tape
Aria from the electronic opera Apocalypse. In Greek.
Information about the recording
Listen to an excerpt
Possente Spirto
(1992)
Duration 5:00
for Baritone & Tape
for Baritone, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano & tape
Aria from the electronic opera Mass for the Dead, based on Monteverdi's Orfeo.
Rani tero
(2000)
Duration 6:00
for Baritone(or Alto Voice) & 4 Bass Viols
In raga Yaman, on a traditional temple song in Hindi.
Richard III: Speeches for Male Actor, Trumpet & Drum
(1968)
Duration 5:00
Theatrical incidental music for Shakespeare's "Richard III."
Snow
(1993)
Duration 7:00
for Male Narrator & Electronic Music on Tape
On the poem "Snow," by Greg Muirhead, about a homeless man frozen to death in the snow.
Trios from the opera "Wraecca"
(1989)
Duration 10:00
for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Baritone & Piano
Wraecca's Song
(1989)
Duration 5:00
for Baritone, Cello & Piano
From the opera Wraecca.
Scenes for Baritone & Chamber Orchestra from the Opera "Odyssey"
(1975)
Ev's Song Duration 5:00
Yul Wool-Gathers Duration 4:00
Paper Woman Murder: Yul Up to No Good Duration 4:00
Yul Talks to the Sea Duration 4:00
Ev's Song
(1975)
Duration 5:00
for Baritone & Piano
Aria from the opera Odyssey.
Richard III: Speeches for Male Actor, Trumpet & Drum
(1968 )
Duration 5:00
Theatrical incidental music for Shakespeare's "Richard III."
The Storyteller
(1967)
Duration 12:00
for Bass-Baritone & Full Orchestra
Story by Shields, based on a traditional Northwest Coast Native American story about the origin of death.
Ave Maris Stella
(2003)
Duration 4:00
for SATB Chorus
A polyphonic work based on the Gregorian chant Ave Maris Stella.
Trios from the opera "Wraecca"
(1989)
Duration 10:00
for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Baritone & Piano
From the opera Wraecca, in which the god Odin manages to sacrifice himself. Drama by Shields, based on Anglo-Saxon poems.
O Gracious Light
(1983)
Duration 3:00
for SATB Chorus
Hymn on traditional sacred text.
Jack and the Beanstalk
(1976)
Duration 8:00
for Children's Voices
Little theater piece for children on text by Shields, based on the fairy tale.
The little garter snake in the grass
(1976)
Duration 6:00
for Children's Voice and Simple Percussion
Little theater piece for children on original story by Shields.
Sow (as in"pig")
(1966)
Duration 13:00
Solo Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, & Bass; Mixed Chorus,
4-part Children's Chorus, 2 hn, 2 tpt, tba, db, hrp, 4 perc.
On text by Shields, based on medieval English mystery plays.
Missa Brevis
(1965)
Duration 14:00
Oratorio for Solo Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, & Bass with Guitar, Flute & Drum.
In Latin.
