Song Cycles
Instrumental, Chamber and Orchestra
Commissioned works and premieres
2018 — GÁLVEZ OF GÁLVEZTOWN, "A Work In Progress"commissioned by Los Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez.
2018 — SIX SILLY SHORT SKETCHES "Dogs I Have Known" for Oboe & Piano; commissioned by Anne Leek, Oboist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
2018 — BIRD SONGS for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Flute, Alto Flute, Oboe & Piano; poems by June Short Chalon.
2017 — MOSS for Mezzo, Soprano, Clarinet, Chelo & Piano; poem by New York poet Ilsa Gilbert.
2017 — RAPUNZEL & THE PRINCE written with Kate Pogue as librettist.
2017 — THE SUN & THE MOON, an opera for teenage girls' chorus. Commissioned by the American Festival of Music.
2017 — THE VETERANS' SONG BOOK for Soprano, Baritone & Piano. Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera, based on the stories of Veterans of all American wars.
2016 — EMILY MORGAN GENT, duet for Soprano, Mezzo & Piano
2015 — I PLANTED A GARDEN for Soprano solo, SATB Chorus. Lyrics by Mary Ann Pendino.
2015 — PERISHABLES for Soprano, Mezzo & Piano. Lyrics by poet Randall Watson
2015 — SKY SONGS, a song cycle for Baritone and Piano
2015 — PASTICHE for two pianos, based on the melodies of Robert Avalon
2015 — SONATA FOR VIOLA & PIANO "The Elements", commissioned and premiered by Daniel Strba Violist with the Houston Symphony
2014 — WHO AM I?, a song cycle for Baritone, Bassoon, Percussion and Piano, based on The Gathering: poems, prayers and meditations of young people "at risk" or in prison. New York premiere at La MaMa on February 4 in association with the Foundation for Modern Music
2014 — CONTRALTO RECITATIVE WITH ANGEL CHORUS, based on a poem by Ava Leavell Haymon and scored for Mezzo Soprano, 2 sopranos, Counter-Tenor, 2 Oboes, Bassoon and Piano. Commissioned and premiered by the Greenbriar Consortium, January 14, Houston, TX
2014 — CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS, based on the poem by Ava Leavell Haymon (poet laureate for the state of Louisiana), scored for Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Flute, Viola, Double Bass and Piano. Commissioned and premiered by The Greenbriar Consortium, March 4, Houston, TX
2014 — RAPUNZEL, a bilingual opera for children commissioned by Donna and Robert Bruni, libretto by Alvaro Saar Rios. World premiere on January 30 by Opera to Go, Houston Grand Opera
2013 — CELEBRATE LIFE! THE BATTLE OF THE BREAST, a song cycle for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Contralto, Tenor and Bass Voices and Chamber Orchestra, based on the poems of women and family members touched by breast cancer. Commissioned by Downtown Music Productions, Mimi Stern-Wolfe, Artistic Director and Conductor of NY premiere, November 3.
2012 — THE CLEVER WIFE, libretto by Hugh Behm-Steinberg, an opera for children based on an old Chinese folk tale, and scored for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass and piano. Premiered January, 2012, Houston, TX
2012 — A WOMAN IN COSTA RICA, poem by Ilsa Gilbert and scored for Mezzo Soprano, Violin, Viola and Piano. NY premiere by Downtown Music Productions, Mimi Stern-Wolfe, Artistic Director
2011 — PASTICHE: IMPROVISATION ON THEMES OF ROBERT AVALON, scored for two pianos and dancers. Commissioned by The Foundation for Modern Music. World premiere: October 16, 2011
2011 — IN COSTA RICA, based on the poetry of Ilsa Gilbert, and scored for Mezzo Soprano, Tenor, Violin, Viola and Piano. Commissioned and premiered in Houston, TX, by The Greenbriar Consortium (chamber musicians from the Houston Symphony Orchestra)
2010 — GRETEL SONGS, for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Flute, Oboe and Piano. Poems by Ava Haymon. World premier March 2, 2010, presented by The Greenbriar Consortium, Houston, TX
2009 — THE IKE SONGS, for Soprano, Oboe, Viola and Piano. Poems by Jemma Leech, music by Mary Carol Warwick. World premiere: October 27, 2009, by the Greenbriar Consortium of the Channing Concert Series
2009 — THE JEMMA SONGS, for Soprano, Oboe, Viola and Piano. Poems by Jemma Leech, music by Mary Carol Warwick; World Premiere by the Foundation for Modern Music, May 17, 2009, Houston, TX
2008 — SHIKOKU POSTCARDS, three songs for Baritone, Piano and Cello. Poems by Randall Watson, music by M.C. Warwick; world premiere: March 3, 2008; presented by the Greenbriar Consortium, Houston, TX
2008 — SONATA FOR TWO OBOES, BASSOON AND PIANO, commissioned by Anne Leek, Oboist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra; premiere: The Channing Concerts, November 25, 2008, Houston, TX
2008 — IMAGINE: Song for Soprano, Viola and Piano, commissioned by Ilsa Gilbert, set to a poem by Ilsa Gilbert, music by M.C. Warwick; world premiere: Downtown Music Productions, New York, April, 2008
2007 — A GRAVE MATTER, Song cycle for Mezzo-soprano, Soprano, Piano and Cello; commissioned by Downtown Music Productions, N.Y.; premiere: 2007
2007 — THE ELEMENTS: SONATA FOR VIOLA AND PIANO, commissioned by Daniel Strba, violist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra; New York premiere, March 16, 2008, East Village Concert Series: Daniel Strba, Viola, Mimi Stern-Wolfe, Piano
2005 — LIGHT AND HEAVY YEARS: A SONG CYCLE FOR SOPRANO AND PIANO, poetry by Ilsa Gilbert, music by M.C. Warwick; NY premiere by Downtown Music Productions, 2005
2004 — PERISHABLES, song for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Oboe and Piano. Also arranged for String Quartet and Oboe, Soprano and Mezzo-Soprano
2004 — THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, commissioned by Houston Grand Opera's Opera New World and in affiliation with Opera to Go, libretto by Mary Ann Pendino; music by Mary Carol Warwick; world premiere January 18, 2005, Heinen Theater, Houston Community College
2004 — THE VELVETEEN RABBITT, commissioned by Houston Grand Opera's Opera New World and in affiliation with Opera to Go, libretto by Kate Pogue; music by Mary Carol Warwick; world premiere January 20, 2004, Heinen Theater, Houston Community College
2004 — CONCERTO FOR THREE PERCUSSIONISTS AND ORCHESTRA (also known as: SYMPHONIC PARODY FOR FLY DANCE), commissioned by Fly Dance Company; world premiere March 20, 2004 by Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra, Midland, TX
2003 — MY FATHER'S FACE, for Soprano, String Quartet and Oboe; (arrangement for Soprano and Piano; also arranged for Soprano, Oboe, and Piano) commissioned by Greenbriar Consortium; words and music by Mary Carol Warwick, Premiere: The Channing Concerts, Houston, TX, 2003; Houston Community College Central, Houston, TX
2003 — SISTERS, libretto by Mary Carol Warwick; music by Craig Bohmler; world premiere: San Jose, California, 2003; commissioned by Sisters Project: City of San Jose, CA
2002 — L'INVERNO, a song cycle based on Vivaldi's FOUR SEASONS, for Mezzo-soprano, violin, viola and piano; commissioned by and text by Abbie Lipshutz; Houston premiere, April 2004: The Channing Concerts
2001 — THE HUMAN CITY, four songs for singer, viola and piano, set to poems by N.Y. poet Perry Brass after 9/11; New York premiere, October 15, 2001
2001 — THE ROYAL MAGIC GARDEN, a musical for children; world premiere by Express Children's Theater, Houston, TX
2001 — REMEMBERING D.H. and CHRIS AT 34 AND BEYOND, two songs for soprano, mezzo and piano setting the poems of New York poet Ilsa Gilbert; commissioned by Downtown Music Productions; world premiere: in NY, NY
2001 — SIGH NO MORE, for singer and guitar, composed to words by William Shakespeare; commissioned by Notre Dame University; world premiere: Notre Dame University Summer Shakespeare Festival
2001 — THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, music by Mary Carol Warwick, libretto by Kate Pogue; commissioned by Houston Grand Opera; world premiere: Opera To Go's 2001 season
2000 — STILL WE DANCE, written in 1995, music by Mary Carol Warwick, words by Sam Stewman, this song cycle had its New York premiere at the 10th Benson AIDS Benefit Concert by Downtown Music Productions June 12, 2000
1999 — TALE OF THE NUTCRACKER, Co-librettist with Daniel Helfgot: Craig Bohmler, composer; world premiere: Opera San Jose, San Jose, CA, November 13, 1999
1999 — DIALOGUES FROM A WOMAN'S LIFE, music by Mary Carol Warwick, poems by Lois Alba; world premiere: University of Houston, 2001
1998 — CINDERELLA IN SPAIN, a bi-lingual opera with librettist Kate Pogue, commissioned by Houston Grand Opera and Opera New World; world premiere by Houston Grand Opera, February, 1998
1998 — OVERTURE FOR STRING ORCHESTRA, commissioned by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Barbara Day Turner, Conductor; world premiere: San Jose, CA
1997 — GRAND NATIONAL, a musical theater composition in collaboration with Kate Pogue, librettist; premiered by Houston Community College, November, 1997
1996 — THE WEEK-END, an original musical theater piece composed to lyrics by Gerald La Bita; world premiere: Theater LaB of Houston, 1996; revised 2002
1996 — HATS! HATS OFF!, original music composed to a libretto by Kate Pogue. Third in a trilogy of new experimental musicals funded by the New Theater Project, exploring new ways of combining music and words in the theater, 1996
1995 — DOMINION, original music composed to words by Kate Pogue. Second in a trilogy of new experimental theater works, 1995
1994 — SUITE FOR WINDS, world premiere: New Music Festival, Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL
1994 — TEXAS!, music composed to lyrics by Kate Pogue; commissioned by Houston Grand Opera with a grant from Opera New World, world premiere: September 1994, Houston, TX, Heinen Theater
1994 — RAKE AND MOON FEASTING, original music composed to a libretto by Kate Pogue. First in a trilogy of new experimental theater works. World premiere: Heinen Theater, Houston, TX
1993 — CANCIONES, four Spanish songs for Baritone, Cello and Piano; words by Pedro Revuelta; world premiere: University of Houston
1993 — THE ACHILLES HEEL, libretto, co-commissioned with composer Craig Bohmler by Houston Grand Opera, March, 1991. World premiere by Houston Grand Opera Studio, February, 1993
1992 — THE KING STAG, original music to a libretto by Kate Pogue; commissioned by Houston Grand Opera's outreach program with a grant from Opera New World
1991 — CELEBRATE THE EARTH, an original musical commissioned by Theatre Under the Stars for chamber orchestra and children's chorus; lyrics by Larry Dachslager and Carole McCann; world premiere, Miller Outdoor Theater, Houston, TX
1990 — LET ME BE YOUR FRIEND and SOMETIMES I DREAM, for Soprano, Baritone, and Symphony Orchestra; world premiere: Houston Community Symphony Orchestra.
1989 — THE TWELVE-MONTHS BROTHERS, libretto for a one-act opera for children, commissioned by Margo Mattison, Boston, Mass, 1987. Music composed by John Sharpley, Singapore; world premiere: Singapore, 1989
1988 — LITTLE THINGS, a song cycle for Soprano and Piano; words by Bobbi Kaminis; world premiere by Jeanette Lombard, Mezzo-soprano, Rice University, Houston, TX
1987 — THE LAST LEAF, a chamber opera in one act, libretto and music; commissioned by the Grass Roots Opera Foundation of North Carolina, with a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council. World premiere: Robeson County Civic Center, Lumberton, NC
1987 — COME HOME TONIGHT, (Tango) world premiere: April 15, 1987, Houston Symphony Orchestra's Transco Tower Concerts, Houston, TX
1986 — SISTERS OF FAITH, a one-act opera, libretto and music; commissioned by Theater Under the Stars, world premiere: Theater Under the Stars, Houston, TX
1985 — LEALISTA, an opera in two acts, libretto and music; world premiere: Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Theatrical Works
Individual Songs, Duets, and Choral
Mary Carol Warwick
​Mary Carol Warwick Composer, librettist, educator
Mary Carol Warwick © 2013 All Rights Reserved