Bystander was written in the spring/summer of 2021 in reflection of the previous 18 months that saw a myriad of personal, national, and worldly events take place. The work is based on an idea of musical "journaling" and attempts to convey the dazed state of living through 2020/2021… and feeling there is nothing to do except watch.

The work was commissioned and premiered by the Indiana University New Music Ensemble.

Bystander - IU New Music Ensemble

piece for orchestra (excerpt)- Sioux City Symphony, Ryan Haskins, conductor

Dream Within A Dream (Chorus & Chamber Orchestra), excerpt

Voices (String Quartet & Chamber Ensemble), excerpt

the Body Electric, full orchestra (excerpt)

When We Forget

The tuba is often the root of an ensemble. It usually carries the foundational bass line and often supplies harmony with a solid tonic tone at the end of a phrase or at the end of a piece (referred to as the "root" of the chord).  For these reasons the tuba (its look and sound) has always had a paternal connotation to me.  So, when I was asked to compose this work for Ken Heinlein and the Akron Symphony, this idea was immediately the image my mind dreamed up.  Coincidentally, Ken became a father during the planning stages for the work… it all seemed to be a bit serendipitous. 

The work is cast in two movements and explores themes of the parent as the sage (movement I) and as the storyteller (movement II). The work opens with the soloist's transformation to parenthood followed by a series of growth moments between the imagined child and parent. To underscore this idea of growth, the tuba first interacts with a violin soloist, then a viola, and finally the cello.  I imagine the drama in the music (sometimes patient, sometimes assertive, sometimes supportive) mirroring my experience with the joys, anxiety, and exhaustion of raising children.  For the second movement, I recalled listening to my own parents tell me stories about their childhood adventures. These stories always seemed so fantastical, and I can only imagine my children experiencing my storytelling in the same way.

Vox Paterna, Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra

9 min. excerpt of my 24 min. Concerto for Wind Ensemble premiered by the Baldwin Wallace Wind Ensemble.  

Concerto For Wind Ensemble, Excerpt - BW Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Recording of "Abstract Mosaics" by the Bala Brass Quintet!  Purchase here - http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/balabrass2

Abstract Mosaics for Brass Quintet - Bala Brass Quintet

An excerpt from "Three Ditties" written for the AMAZING Jack Sutte!  His newest CD "Fanfare Alone" can be found here - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fanfare-alone/id933427773 

Three Ditties Excerpt - Jack Sutte

String Quartet no. 1 - Shades Of Green

Premiere of "Tethered to the Stars" for singer and Wind Ensemble 
Amanda Powell, singer
Beth Hiser, narrator/guitarist 
Brendan Caldwell, conductor 
Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Symphonic Wind Ensemble 
Rev. Elyse Wagner Berry, poet

"Tethered to the Stars" is a musical setting of nine poems by Rev. Elyse Wagner Berry. The poetry beautifully bridges the realms of humanity and the celestial, painting a tapestry of powerfully sincere emotions. The music is presented as a mix of styles (opera, folk, jazz, pop, musical theatre) that reimagines the deity-made-human story from a woman’s perspective.

Tethered to the Stars

Commissioned by the Strongsville Community Band.

Mustang Galop

"Cantata" draws inspiration from the emotional power found in my favorite works by Bach, as well as humanity's recurring inclination towards conflict – a theme found in many of Bach’s major works. I find myself unable to reason our enduring cycle of peace and turmoil, and how despite fleeting moments of harmony, we often find ourselves mired in division and animosity. 

In my work, I do not aim to depict the aggressions surrounding us, but rather to stimulate contemplation on humanity's perpetual interplay between light and darkness. While I feel we will forever grapple with the perplexing allure of human nature’s angst, my underlying optimism persists, envisioning a future where we recognize each other’s humanity.  

"Cantata" was commissioned for the 2024 Baldwin Wallace University Bach Festival. 

Text
I.	
Is religion too old in its justification of war? -A. Jodorowsky 
We have made a graveyard of the earth in attempts to lead others to their place in heaven. -Mark Twain
…for wars do not determine who’s right, only who’s left. -Bertrand Russell
…and in war, truth is the first casualty. -Aeschylus
…and only the dead have seen the end of war. -Plato
Peace cannot be achieved through violence.  -R. W. Emerson
An eye for an eye makes the world blind. ¬-Gandhi (attributed) 
Christian, Jew, Muslim, stone, ground, mountain, river all have their secret way of being with the mystery. -Rumi

II.	
How have we let places known to so many as holy lands become darkened by the taking of so many lives-so many innocent lives? -Michael D. Higgins

The moon still sends its mellow light
The morning star is palely bright
The sun still shines just as before;
The rose still grows,
The sky so blue,
But you have gone.
I loved my friend.
There’s nothing more to say. 
-Langston Hughes, from “To a Dead Friend”

Hope and faith, born of my sorrow,
Guardian angels shall become,
And the sister gone before me…
-Louisa May Alcott, from “My Beth”

You have gone.
Though I no longer hold your hand,
Your memory shall I keep.
And of the future we planned,
One day, when memories come,
I will not grieve, 
Just smile at the time we sharred.
¬inspired by Christina Rossetti, from “Remember”

If I could have placed you in my heart, sweet child
How glad I should have been.
-D. H. Lawrence, from “the End”

Oh, how I wish we would one day be old and grey,
At home, by the fire
Dreaming together.
How many have loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty
But this man loved the traveling soul in you. 
¬inspired by W. B. Yeats, from “When You Are Old” 

Warm summer sun,
Shine kindly here,
Warm southern wind,
Blow softly here.
Green sod above,
Lie light, lie light.
Good night, dear heart,
Good night, good night
-Mark Twain “Warm Summer Sun”

III.	
Can we fear and hate each other and still love God? Can we keep in difference from spreading across the planet? Can we welcome our hand to the migrant. Can we envision a world where we sow seeds of rescue for our most needy people. Can we love? Can we value kindness and respect? Can we nurture hope and watch it grow throughout the world? Can we see crisis and disaster and find the good? -Michael D. Higgins

We are forever here at the place where destinies part,
With two paths before us,
One promises pain and darkness,
Where sorrow looms, where nothing is sacred.

Yet the other path is bathed in light,
Shining of hope, and future bright. 
One we weave with threads of love,
Where the stars keep us forever in light.

We must choose wisely as we tread, 
For our steps dictate where others are led.
Will we choose this new path, woven in love and light,
To have the chance to shape a future, 
Free of lies, free of division, of hatred, of suffering, of war?
Will we get this right before it’s too late…
Before our time has run out?
-Clint Needham 


Cantata - BWV Chamber Choir & Bach Festival Orchestra - Dirk Garner, conductor

Performance at the Intimacy of Creativity Festival in Hong Kong.  Sarah Silver, violin, John Yeh, clarinet, Nolan Pearson, piano.

On The Road (Trio Version)

pre-premiere of "Advance Always" given by the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Wind Ensemble & Motet/University Choirs.  

Advance Always (excerpt) - BW Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Excerpt from the premiere performance of "Flourish" by the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.  

Flourishes (excerpt) - Texarkana Symphony

An excerpt of "We are all from somewhere else" for pre-recorded interviews and orchestra.

Clint Needham's Album

We are all from somewhere else (excerpt)

Concerto for Brass Trio and Wind Ensemble

Resolve: III. Breaking the Spin Cycle

Resolve: II. Stars in the Darkness

Resolve: I. the State of Things

The Body Electric performed by the Wellesley College Composers Conference chamber orchestra.

The Body Electric (chamber orchestra version)

Chamber Symphony performed by American Composers Orchestra.  

Chamber Symphony (III.  Radiant Nation)

Earth and Green performed by the Aspen Concert Orchestra - Larry Rachleff, conductor

Earth and Green for Orchestra

Brass Quintet "Circus" performed by the American Brass Quintet.

Brass Quintet "Circus"

Southern Air performed by the Texarkana Symphony.

Southern Air (excerpt)

Urban Sprawl performed by Alarm Will Sound.

Urban Sprawl - Alarm Will Sound

Premiere performance of my "Pocket Concerto" commissioned by the New York Classical Players for Jasmine Choi.

I. Soliloquy 0:00-2:39
II. Aria 2:40-9:59
III. Bound 10:00-15:02

Pocket Concerto (live) - Jasmine Choi (soloist), New York Classical Players

Written for the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Motet Choir and Duo Amaral.

Cradle My Heart - BW Motet Choir, Dirk Garner, conductor, Duo Amaral, guitars

Full recording of "Free Radicals" by the Texas All State Philharmonic (TMEA) with Helen Cha Pyo conducting.

Free Radicals - TMEA Philharmonic

The music of Clint Needham has been described as “wildly entertaining” and “stunning, brilliantly orchestrated” by the New York Times, as well as “well-crafted and arresting... riveting” by the Herald Times. He has served as the Mellon Composer/Educator in Residence and Music Alive: New Partnerships Composer in Residence with the Albany Symphony, and the Knight Foundation Composer in Residence with the Akron Symphony. 

Clint has received commissions and performances by leading orchestras across the country including the Minnesota Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Omaha Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, Spokane Symphony, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and the New York Classical Players, among others. Chamber ensembles including Alarm Will Sound, the American Brass Quintet, Chicago Pro Musica, Da Capo Chamber Players, Factory Seconds Brass Trio, Fifth House Ensemble, Hawthorne String Quartet, Hub New Music, and the President’s Own Marine Band Brass Quintet have given performances of his music across the country as well as in Europe, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Australia. 

Clint’s music has been recognized with numerous awards including the Barlow Prize, Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Aspen Music Festival Jacob Druckman Prize, two ASCAP Morton Gould Awards, the William Schuman Prize/BMI Composer Award, and the Heckscher & Walter Beeler Prizes from Ithaca College. He has also been the recipient of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s Project 440 Commission and the Underwood New Music Commission from the American Composers Orchestra. 

As an educator, Clint serves as Composer in Residence and Professor of Composition at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. He holds degrees from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music (BM) and Indiana University (MM, DM). He has also studied at the Aspen Music Festival as a Susan and Ford Schumann composition fellow and at the Wellesley Composers Conference. 

Clint’s music is published by the Theodore Presser Company, Manhattan Beach Music, and Triplo Press. Recordings of his works can be found on the Summit Records, New Focus Recordings, Beauport Classics, and Mark Masters labels as well as on recordings by the United States Air Force Band of the West, trumpeter Jack Sutte, and the American Composers Orchestra Digital Release Series.

https://www.clintneedhamcomposer.com

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