Selected Works
By Joel Friedman
On 01, Apr 2024 | In Music in the Hall Music in the Theater Music in the Club | By Joel Friedman
The Angel (from Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience)
William Blake’s Songs Of Innocence and Of Experience dwells in the realm of nuance, with multiple, even conflicting interpretations. This ambiguity is what attracted me to his poem, The Angel. In the beginning an idealistic young girl, in the glow of wonderment, dreams of being a “maiden queen.” As the poem unfolds, her music moves from chaste pop song simplicity to complexity. Was her Angel over-protective, even misleading? Did the Angel abandon her in her time of need? Did she mislead her Angel? The question whether she needlessly sacrificed her youth and desires leads her to doubt, then anger, but also independence. Aware, and armed with gray-haired wisdom, she has no need of an Angel. After an intense instrumental interlude, the opening simple drum groove returns and then is embedded in the pitched instruments, creating a faint funereal echo. The song’s rueful weariness is disrupted by a last rush of unresolved sound, which hangs questioning in the air. I’m proud to take part in this joint student-faculty composition project designed by Dr. Stephen Gorbos. I’d also like thank my performers Balance Campaign, and mezzo-soprano Carolyn Shaffer.
By Joel Friedman
On 11, Nov 2023 | In Music in the Theater Music in Industry and Film | By Joel Friedman
My score for Evolve Puppet’s They Were Called Trees (2023)
Selected cues from my score for the recent Evolve Puppets hybrid puppetry play “They Were Called Trees” that was just workshopped as part of La Mama’s Jumpstart Festival 2023 in NYC. (Evolve Puppets: Tanya Khordoc, Barry Weis). Music by Joel Phillip Friedman.
You can listen to the score HERE.
By Joel Friedman
On 28, Sep 2022 | In Music in the Hall Music in the Theater Music in the Club | By Joel Friedman
Dream – words & music by Joel Phillip Friedman (featuring Alex Gallows/vocals, Scott Thureen/video)
And I have a request: please watch DREAM (it’s just 4 minutes long) and share it WIDELY. I would like it to make a constructive difference for our upcoming midterm elections on November 8th. Democracy and freedom – and all that follows – are on the ballot. We need to “sing that out” loud and clear, and art can help. Thank you. — Joel Phillip Friedman (composer/lyricist). Special thanks for the talents of Alex Gallows (voice) and Scott Thureen (video).
Audio: https://on.soundcloud.com/D773y
By Joel Friedman
On 03, Jan 2019 | In Music in the Theater Music in Industry and Film | By Joel Friedman
Home – a hybrid puppetry theater play
I wrote the score for the evening-length, beautiful hybrid theatre/puppetry/multimedia play for adults entitled Home and written by writers/directors/puppetry designers Tanya Khordoc & Barry Weil of Evolve Puppets and a 1st-rate creative team of designers and actors. Our production team includes Tanya & Barry, associate director/movement coordinator Lake Simons (Lincoln Center’s WAR HORSE), projection designer Jared Mezzocchi (Obie and Lucille Lortel winner, VIETGONE), set designer Tom Lee (SHANK’S MARE), lighting designer Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew (Drama Desk nominee, KPOP), costume designer SL Riffle (Lyric Opera of Chicago), and me. Home premiered in New York City at The Tank NYC (312 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018) between May 30th-June 2nd, 2019. If you are interested in donating to help make this project happen, click HERE. Selected cues can be heard HERE.
By Joel Friedman
On 04, Aug 2018 | In Music in the Hall Music in the Theater | By Joel Friedman
One Into One – for soprano & piano
One Into One (lyric: Seth Friedman)
Instrumentation: soprano & piano
Duration: Ca. 5 minutes
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By Joel Friedman
On 03, Jan 2013 | In Music in the Hall Music in the Theater Music in the Club | By Joel Friedman
Arias with Dance Glitch (2016)
Commissioned by the Irving M. Klein International String Competition for the duo Soliloquy – Klein Laureates Ariel Horowitz, violin & Lauren Siess, viola. NEW REVISED VERSION!
Instrumentation: violin and viola (NB: this piece requires some singing and movement)
Duration: Ca. 20″
A video of the Washington DC performance can be found here; the National Sawdust performance here; a short film about the piece and those of us involved in the project is here.
The score is available through Grey Bird Music. To see a perusal score click here.
You can purchase a 10×13″ PDF copy of the score below:
By Joel Friedman
On 07, Dec 2012 | In Music in the Hall Music in the Theater Music in the Club | By Joel Friedman
Fallings (Workshop Excerpts)
Fallings (work-in-progress) – A multi-media chamber music theater piece residing in the realm between opera and musical theater. Seth Friedman libretto
Instrumentation: 6 person cast (3 women, 3 men), solo violinist, mixed ensemble, and pre-recorded sound
Duration: projected as a one act
By admin
On 21, Nov 2012 | In Music in the Theater | By admin
Gravity of Honey
Incidental music for Gravity Of Honey (Play by Bruce Rodgers, directed by John Greenleaf, Chester Theatre Company)
On 21, Nov 2012 | In Music in the Theater Music in the Club | By admin
Personals – I Think You Should Know
I Think You Should Know (Personals the musical) An intimate torch song for the stage or cabaret. A recent divorcee is unsure about returning to the dating scene. The man she’s brought home is not. She thinks he should go, maybe… Music by Joel and Seth Friedman, Lyrics by Crane, Friedman, Kauffman
Instrumentation: voice, pit band
Duration: 3:34
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By admin
On 21, Nov 2012 | In Music in the Theater | By admin
T Tables
T-Tables was a collaboration with fellow Swarthmore College faculty members Sally Hess (concept and choreography) and John Alston (bass-baritone voice).
Instrumentation: bass-baritone voice and dancer
Duration: 6 minutes
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