This page lists all works, organized by instrumentation, and includes links to available audio/video clips and scores. A link to the publisher’s site is provided in each work listing; if no publisher is indicated, please contact the composer directly. Use the menu below to jump to a specific section, or scroll through to see the entire list.
Chamber Orchestra
Choral
Electronic
Instrumental
Orchestra and Wind Ensemble
Solo Voice
Chamber Orchestra
(see also solo voice and choral)
Chamber Symphony
(112(1 cl, 1bs cl)0 1110 perc(2) pf 2vns 1va 2vc 1 cb) (1990) 18′
Commissioned by SUNY Stony Brook
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Choral
click here to download a PDF listing of all choral works
Alleluia on a Ground
(chorus, (SATB); text is simply “alleluia”) (2016) 5′
commissioned by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Paul Rardin, Artistic Director, “in honor of Alan Harler and his 27 years of inspired musical leadership”
Contact composer to purchase.
“Primosch’s Alleluia on a Ground began with unison vocal lines of such apparent simplicity that they could almost have been Gregorian chants. Yet subtle quirks pointed to a discreet individuality that would never have been heard in music from that world. Many vocal lines had what might be called a hinge note, opening a door into unanticipated but never radical directions.”
—David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 3, 2016
The Avowal
(chorus, (SATB); text by Denise Levertov) (1997) 5′
Contact composer to purchase.
The Call
(chorus (SATB); text by George Herbert) (2013) 5′
Contact composer to purchase.
Carthage
(chorus, (SATB); text by Marilynne Robinson) (2018) 10′
Contact composer to purchase.
Cinder (from the song cycle Holy the Firm)
(arrangement for women’s chorus (SSAA) and piano) (2002) 3′
Arranged at the request of ASTER women’s chorus
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Fantasy-Partita on “Von Gott will ich nicht lassen”
(chorus (SATB) and string quartet or piano; French 16th century anonymous text; German 16th century text by Ludwig Hembold) (2019) 10′
commissioned by the Riemanschneider Bach Institute of Baldwin-Wallace University
Contact composer to purchase.
Fire-Memory/River-Memory
(chorus (SATB) and orchestra (2222 422 timp perc(2) hp strgs); texts by Denise Levertov) (1997) 21′
Commissioned by Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia.
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Primosch ranges freely and effectively across the tonal spectrum, holding the listener in his emotional grip…
—Joshua Rosenblum, Opera News, October 1, 2012
Gaudete in Domino
(chorus (SATB); Latin text from Phil, 4:4-7) (2012) 5′
Contact composer to purchase.
Mass for the Day of St. Thomas Didymus
(chorus (SATB), schola of four soloists (SATB); texts by Denise Levertov and from the Latin Ordinary of the Mass.) (2014) 25′
Commissioned by The Crossing, with the support of the Knight Foundation.
Watch live video here.
Contact composer to purchase.
…one of his best works…
—David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2015…his command of the medium was complete.
—David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 2, 2014
Matins
(chorus (SATB), solo oboe, strgs (may be performed with small body of strings); texts by Gerard Manley Hopkins and Mary Oliver) (2003) 18′
Commissioned by Winsor Music and The Cantata Singers
Contact composer to purchase.
It’s a fine piece… Primosch showed a particular gift for choral writing: the a cappella parts were beautiful.
—David Weininger, Boston Globe, January 27, 2004
Meditation for Candlemas
(chorus, (SATB); text by Denise Levertov) (1994) 4′
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
…has tremendous rewards in store…
—Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, November/December, 1997
One Thing I Know
(chorus (SATB); text by Anne Porter) (2005) 4′
Contact composer to purchase.
One With the Darkness, One With the Light
(women’s chorus (SA); text by Wendell Berry) (2006) 2′
Contact composer to purchase.
Salve Regina
(chorus (SATB); traditional Latin text) (2000) 6′
Commissioned by the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
Contact composer to purchase.
Spiraling Ecstatically
(chorus (SATB); text by E. E. Cummings) (1998, revised 2007) 6′
Contact composer to purchase.
…generated much magic…
—David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer, December 23, 2012
Two Arms of the Harbor
(chorus (SATB); text by Thomas Merton) (2011) 4′30
Contact composer to purchase.
Electronic
(the following works are with pre-recorded electronic sound; see also under instrumental for works with synthesizer)
Aria
(ob and tape) (1982) 7′
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
Dream Journal
(2 pf, perc (2 players) and tape) (1996) 25′
Commissioned by Network for New Music
Recorded by Network for New Music for Albany Records.
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Icons
(cl, pf and tape) (1984) 14′
Recorded by Aleck Karis and Jean Kopperud for New World Records
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
Sacra Conversazione
(fl/pic/alto fl, cl/bass cl, violin, cello, piano, percussion (1 player), and tape) (1994) 21′
Commissioned by the Fromm Foundation
Recorded by New York New Music Ensemble for Centaur Records
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Secret Geometry
(pf and tape) (1993) 15′
Recorded by Aleck Karis for CRI
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Instrumental (solo and chamber ensemble)
includes solo and chamber ensemble works (see also electronic music)
A Flutist’s Sketchbook
(flute and piano) Thirteen short pieces, ranging in difficulty from easy to advanced (2012) 18′
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Contact composer to purchase.
Apparition
(piano solo) (1979) 7′
Contact composer to purchase.
Badinerie Squared
(2 flutes) (2014) 2′
composed at the request of Dolce Suono Ensemble
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Chamber Concerto
for clarinet and chamber ensemble, (solo b-flat cl, pf, synth, (one player each for piano and synthesizer) perc (one player), vln, vcl, cb) (2002) 17′
Commissioned by Speculum Musicae with the support of the Mary Flagler Carey Trust
Watch live video here.
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Christus Vincit
(organ solo) (1997) 4′
Commissioned by Benedictine Archabbey of St. Meinrad
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Ciaconna Notturna
(piano 6-hands) (1999) 3′
Composed in honor of George Crumb’s 70th birthday at the request of Orchestra 2001
Contact composer to purchase.
Dancepiece
(alto saxophone or clarinet in A, cello, percussion (1 player), synthesizer or piano) (2005) 7′
Commissioned by Network for New Music for a collaboration with Christine Cox, choreographer
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Diabolic Diabelli
(b-flat clarinet and cello) (2010) 1′
One of 25 variations on the theme of the Diabelli Variations composed by 25 composers to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Network for New Music
Contact composer to purchase.
Eighty-Eight: Homage to Gottschalk
(44 pianos, 176 hands) (1996) 4′
Composed for the 88th anniversary of the Settlement Music School, Philadelphia, PA
Contact composer to purchase.
Exchanges
(flute, clarinet) (1981) 8′
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Fantasy-Variations
(vln, vcl, pf) (1991) 16′
Composed with the support of National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
Recorded by Leonardo Trio for New World Records
Watch live video here.
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Four Sketches
(fl, ob, cl, hn, bsn) (2019) 10′
Commmissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society for the Imani Winds
Contact composer to purchase.
Five Miniatures
(fl, ob, cl/bs cl, hn, tp, tb, vn, va, vc) (1982) 7′
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
Five Poems
(violin, piano) (2015) 20′
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
I Never Knew
(saxophone quartet (SATB)) (2007) 3′
Contact composer to purchase.
Labyrinth
(oboe solo) (1979) 4′
Contact composer to purchase.
Little Suite
(organ solo) (2002) 9′
Commissioned by the Cleveland chapter of the American Guild of Organists
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Meditation on “What Wondrous Love is This?”
(organ solo) (1995) 4′
Recorded by Karel Paukert for Azica Records
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Meditation on “Amazing Grace”
(trumpet, piano, contrabass) (2014) 5′
Commissioned by Network for New Music with funding from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Music Project.
Watch live video here.
Contact composer to purchase.
Oboe Quartet
(ob, vn, vla, vcl) (2015) 18′
commissioned by Winsor Music
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
I. Moderato
II. Allegro con fuoco
III. Passacaglia: Adagio, ma non troppo
IV. Moderato e fluente
V. Moderato; Allegro giocoso
Piano Quintet
(2vns, vla, vcl, pf) (1996) 25′
Slow movement may be performed separately as Meditation on “Motherless Child” 9′
Recorded by composer and Cavani String Quartet for New World Records
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
I. Allegro con intensitá
III. Meditation on “Motherless Child”
Piano Variations
(piano solo) (2006) 20′
Based on first movement of Sonata-Fantasia for piano and synthesizer (see below)
Watch live video here.
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Pure Contraption, Absolute Gift
(piano solo) (2012) 13′
consortium commission from 12 pianists: Geoffrey Burleson, Eliza Garth, Judith Gordon, Stephen Gosling, Catherine Kautsky, You-mee Kim, Jon-Luke Kirton, Ryan MacEvoy McCullough, Eric Moe, Christopher Oldfather, Linda Reichert, James Winn
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Quintet
(ob, vln, vla, vcl, pf) (2017) 19′
Commissioned by Winsor Music
Contact composer to purchase.
Septet
(fl/pc, ob/eh, cl/bs cl, vn, va, vc, pf) (1985) 15′
Commissioned by Rosewood Chamber Ensemble
Recorded by Orchestra 2001 for CRI records
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
Short Stories
(saxophone quartet (SATB)) (2003) 10′
Composed for the Prism Quartet with the support of a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship
Contact composer to purchase.
Sonata-Fantasia
(piano and synthesizer, 1 player) (2001) 38′
Commissioned by Lambert Orkis
Recorded by Lambert Orkis for Bridge Records
Contact composer to purchase.
Straight Up
(saxophone quartet (SATB)) (2004) 1′20″
Composed at the request of the Prism Quartet for their 20th anniversary
Contact composer to purchase.
Stratigraphy
(saxophone quartet (SATB), piano) (2016) 14′
Commissioned by the Prism Quartet
Contact composer to purchase.
String Quartet
(1983) 14′
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
String Quartet No. 2 (after Zurbarán) (1991) 16′
Commissioned by Musart Society for 75th Anniversary of Cleveland Museum of Art
Recorded by Cavani Quartet for New World Records
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
…a handsome, somewhat elegaic work, built around a hymn tune, written in a language that is both harmonically diverse and emotionally unified… a satisfying and personal statement.
—Tim Page, New York Newsday, July 29, 1992
String Quartet No. 3
(1999) 20′
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Three Studies
(clarinet solo) (1980) 6′
Contact composer to purchase.
Times Like These
(b-flat clarinet and piano) (2008) 8′
Commissioned by Jean Kopperud for her “Rated X” project
Watch live video here.
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Two Sketches
(flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, cello piano) (2018) 8′
Commissioned by Network for New Music in honor of outgoing artistic director Linda Reichert
For complexity and subtlety of message, James Primosch’s Two Sketches captured quite a lot. Scored for piano, violin, cello, clarinet, and flute/piccolo, the work’s first movement lurked. The second announced itself with a four-note figure that grew into other ideas. It was a capstone of the best kind, conveying the feeling of freedom and ease, an innocent sense of discovery — coveted ideals for any artist headed off into the scary free-form of reinvention.
– Peter Dobrin, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 30, 2018
Variations
(violin solo) (1981) 8′
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
Orchestra and wind ensemble
(see also solo voice and choral)
Dappled Things
(2222 4220 perc(4) pf/cel strgs) (1986) 7′
Commissioned by New York Youth Symphony
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
Five Meditations
(3333 4331 perc(4) timp hp pf/cel strgs) (1993) 21′
Koussevitzky Foundation Commission
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Forms of Light
(4444 4 sax (sop, alto, ten, bari) 444 euph 1 timp 4 perc, pf) (2005) 22’
Commissioned by the wind ensemble directors of the Big 10 Universities
Contact composer to purchase.
Luminism
(3333 4331 perc(3) pf hp strgs) (2010) 16′
Commissioned by Albany Symphony
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Some Glad Mystery
(3333 4331 perc(2) timp hp strgs) (1992) 13′
Composed with the support of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Variations on a Hymn Tune
(2222 2221 timp 3perc strings) (2005) 6′
Commissioned by Council Rock School District, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for its high school orchestras
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Solo Voice
click here to download a PDF listing all solo voice works
A Catskill Eagle
(baritone and piano; text by Herman Melville) (2018) 3′
Commisioned by SongFest in honor of John Harbison’s 80th birthday
Ariel Songs
(soprano and piano; texts by Shakespeare) (2007) 10′
Arrangement of excerpts from Songs and Dances from “The Tempest” (see below).
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
A Sibyl
(soprano, flute, b-flat clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion (one player); texts by Susan Stewart) (2017) 24′
Fromm Foundation commission
Contact composer to purchase.
Rich expressiveness that cries out for more performances infused all of these intense but not expansive poems. Other groups should take note of this gratifying premiere.
—Mark DeVoto, Boston Musical Intelligencer, October 17, 2017
Bedtime
(voice and piano; text by Denise Levertov) (1989) 3′
(also available in version for voice, flute and harp) (1990)
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
Be Thou My Vision
(voice and piano, based on Irish folk hymn. May be performed as part of Three Folk Hymns, along with What Wondrous Love is This? and How Can I Keep From Singing? (see elsewhere on this page)) (2016) 3′30′
Contact composer to purchase.
Descent/Return
(soprano and piano; texts by Susan Stewart; arrangements of two songs from A Sibyl (see above)) (2018) 8′
Contact composer to purchase.
Dark the Star
(baritone and chamber ensemble (cl/bs cl, cello, piano, percussion (1 player) (texts by Rainer Maria Rilke, Susan Stewart, and from Book of Psalms; incorporates arrangement of From Psalm 116 (see below)) (2008) 20′
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Four Sacred Songs
(soprano or mezzo-soprano, fl/pic, cl/bass cl, hp, perc(1 player), vln, vcl; based on old traditional melodies; Latin texts; incorporates arrangements of Three Sacred Songs (see below)) (1990) 12′
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
From a Book of Hours
(soprano solo, 3333 4331 timp 3 pf/cel hp strings; texts by Rainer Maria Rilke) (2001) 18′
Commissioned by the Chicago Symphony
(Also available in version for soprano and piano (2002); version for soprano and chamber ensemble (1110 1000 pf, 1pc, 2vln, vla, vcl, cb or small body of strings) (2006))
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
I. Du, nachbar Gott
II. Mein Leben
III. Lösch mir die Augen
IV. Ich Lese es Heraus
From Psalm 116
(voice, piano; Latin text from Vulgate) (1995) 3′
Composed for an Orchestra 2001 AIDS Songbook concert
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
How Can I Keep From Singing?
(voice and piano; based on 19th century American hymn by Robert Lowery. May be performed as part of Three Folk Hymns, along with Be Thou My Vision and What Wondrous Love Is This? (see elsewhere on this page)) (1996) 3′30″
Contact composer to purchase.
Holy the Firm
(soprano, piano; texts by Denise Levertov, Annie Dillard, Susan Stewart, John Climacus) (1999) 21′
(also available in version for soprano and chamber ensemble (fl/pic, cl/bass cl, hp, perc (1 player), 2 vlns, vla, vcl, cb (2000))
Piano and voice version commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University
Chamber ensemble version commissioned by the Twentieth Century Consort
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
IV. Cinder
Sacred Songs and Meditations
(soprano or mezzo-soprano, fl/pic, cl/bass cl, harp, perc (1 player), vln, vcl, lute, 2 viols, recorders, psaltery, optional chorus; incorporates arrangements of Four Sacred Songs, and excerpts from String Quartet #2, Christus Vincit, and Five Meditations) (1999) 30′
Commissioned by the Folger Consort and the Twentieth Century Consort
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Shadow Memory
(soprano and piano; text by Susan Orlean) (2014) 4′
commissioned by SongFest
Contact composer to purchase.
Sleeping at Last
(soprano and piano; text by Christina Rossetti) (2014) 4′
Contact composer to purchase.
Songs and Dances from “The Tempest”
(soprano, baritone, medieval and renaissance instruments (four players); texts by Shakespeare) (1998) 25′
(also available in version for modern instruments (soprano, baritone, fl/pic/alto fl, hp, perc (1 player), vla, vcl) (2003))
Original version commissioned by the Folger Shakespeare Library
Recorded by the Folger Consort for Bard Records
Version for modern instruments commissioned by the 20th Century Consort
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Songs for Adam
(baritone solo 3333 4331 perc (3 players) pf/cel hp strings) texts by Susan Stewart (2009) 30′
Commissioned by the Chicago Symphony
perusal score available here.
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
IV. The cool of the evening
The Cloud of Unknowing
(cantata for female voice and chamber orchestra) (1111 1110 perc(3) pf/cel 4vns 2vas 2vc 1cb; texts by Hopkins, anonymous, Donne, Brother Antoninus, Thomas Merton) (1987) 37′
Publisher: Music Sales Classical
The Old Astronomer
(voice (soprano or mezzo or baritone) and piano; text by Sarah Williams) (2017) 2′
Contact composer to purchase.
The Pitcher
(soprano and piano; text by Robert Francis) (2017) 2′
Contact composer to purchase.
Three Folk Hymns
(voice and piano; based on Be Thou My Vision, What Wondrous Love Is This?, and How Can I Keep From Singing?) (2016) 13′
Contact composer to purchase.
Three Sacred Songs
(voice and piano; based on old traditional melodies; Latin texts) (1989) 10′
Commissioned by Town Hall, New York City
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
Two Songs from The Cloud of Unknowing
(voice, piano; texts by John Donne, Brother Antoninus (voice and piano versions of Holy Sonnet #14 and Zone of Death from The Cloud of Unknowing (see above)) (1983-1984) 10′
Contact composer to purchase.
Two Whitman Love Songs
(tenor and piano; text by Walt Whitman) (2019) 6′
commissioned by SongFest
Contact composer to purchase.
Waltzing the Spheres
(soprano and piano; text by Susan Scott Thompson) (2013) 4′
Commissioned by LyricFest
Watch live video here.
Contact composer to purchase.
Weil Alles Unsagbar Ist
(soprano, fl/alto fl, vln, vcl, pf; texts by Rainer Maria Rilke) (1990) 23′
Commissioned by New York Camerata
Publisher: Theodore Presser Co.
What Wondrous Love Is This?
(voice and piano; based on American folk hymn. May be performed as part of Three Folk Hymns, along with Be Thou My Vision and How Can I Keep From Singing? (see elsewhere on this page)) 4′30″
Contact composer to purchase.
Who Do You Say That I Am?
(soprano and piano; text by Kathleen Norris) (2016) 3′30″
Contact composer to purchase.
Wind, Carry Me
(soprano and piano; text by Susan Stewart. Solo voice version of choral work of the same name) (2020) (5:00)
Contact composer to purchase.
James Primosch, composer 