This is an early work by Gregory La Traille. It is part of a four movement Dance Suite, written when the composer was only about 19 or 20. He taught Advance Orchestration at Arizona State University at the time, as a faculty associate. La Traille's other ballet, titled Ojibwa was publicly performed. The music of both ballets is exotic and colorful.

La Traille: Dance Suite - Dance No. 1 "Visions"

This is the second dance from an early orchestral suite by Gregory La Traille. It was premiered by the ASU Symphony Orchestra under Eugene Lombardi. La Traille was a faculty associate teaching music theory and orchestration at the time. 

La Traille: Dance Suite, Movement 2, "Dance of Contemplation"

This is the third movement from an early Dance Suite composed by Gregory La Traille. La Traille was 19 or 20 at the time of composition and served as a faculty associate in music theory and orchestration at Arizona State University, USA. The suite is scored for large orchestra and is quite suited to modern dance and ballet.

La Traille: Dance Suite, Movement 3: Village Scene

This is the final dance from the Dance Suite, an early work by Gregory La Traille. The dance is subtitled "Fire Dance" and is rich with orchestral colors. The suite, written for modern dance and ballet, was composed while La Traille was a faculty associate at Arizona state University, USA. He studied with Ronald Lo Presti and Grant Fletcher. La Traille also met periodically with composer Vincent Persichetti, who spoke highly of this early orchestral suite.

Gregory La Traille: Dance Suite, Movement 4, "Fire Dance"

A lyrical short orchestral work composed by Gregory La Traille based on a theme drawn from the Missa pro defunctis by the Renaissance composer Pierre de La Rue. Performed by l'Orchestre argent. Copyright 1977. Used by permission. 

Fantasy sur un theme de Pierre De La Rue by Gregory La Traille

The Phantasy on a theme of Johannes Ockeghem is one of two 20th century orchestral pieces composed by Gregory La Traille and inspired by Renaissance music.  Whereas the composer's preceding Phantasy on a theme of Pierre de La Rue was essentially a neo-Romantic work composed for the ASU Symphony Orchestra under Eugene Lombardi, and utilizing a single melody from the offertorium of Pierre de La Rue's Missa pro defunctis, the Ockeghem piece is essentially an orchestral impression of the Agnus Dei from Ockeghem's Missa Mimi. La Traille was drawn to the unusual Franco-Flemish counterpoint with its modal implications and points of motivic imitation appearing within continuous flowing lines, unlike the later tonal counterpoint of the high Renaissance and Baroque eras. Though sounding remote and ancient, the piece is also strangely modern. In three parts with a short dance-like interpolation that perhaps evokes a village scene, and a final section of mystical bewilderment ending in a Romantic conclusion that evokes transcendence, this second Phantasy is a modern homage to the vast, stark but intense sound world of Ockeghem. Unlike the La Rue piece which has been played by several orchestras, the Ockeghem piece was not publically performed.  Composed: circa 1980. Copyright 2006. Used by permission.

La Traille: Fantasy on a Theme of Johannes Ockeghem

A short, early work for small orchestra by LaTraille composed as a prelude for a graduation ceremony. The music is lyrical and uplifting yet with a sense of forbboding. Reproduced by permission. 2015, all rights reserved. Performed by orchestra de l'argent.

LaTraille: Soliloquy en temps de pressentiment

This is a symphonic poem composed in the early 1980s by Gregory La Traille, titled "Le Asperger enfant aux Jeux Olympiques Speciaux." The  work, composed for symphony orchestra, depicts an autistic child with musical gifts proudly participating in Special Olympic events. La Traille studied with Ronald Lo Presti and Grant Fletcher. Copyright 2010 - posted by permission. 

La Traille: Le Asperger enfant aux Jeux Olympiques Speciaux

Here is the finale, the fourth movement from the Symphony No. 3 by Gregory La Traille. The composition is cyclical, the finale returning to reminiscences of themes from previous movements.    Performed by l'Orchestre argent. Copyright 1987 - posted by permission.

Gregory La Traille: Symphony No. 3 - IV Finale

A haunting piano piece by Johannes Brahms, orchestrated by the American composer, Gregory La Traille.

Brahms Intermezzo Op. 76 No. 4 Orchestration by G. La Traille

This colorful music, composed by Gregory La Traille, and scored for large orchestra featuring saxophones and percussion, is a ballet or modern dance piece describing the moment in 1903 when, while waiting at Tutwiler train station, W.C. Handy heard a man playing guitar that inspired him to discover the blues. The piece quotes fragments from Handy's "St. Louis Blues" without stating it entirely. Copyright 2017, used by permission.

La Traille: Tutwiler Station 1903 - Dance Episode - W.C. Handy Encounters the Blues

This short piece is a musical portrait of Mindy Giles and Greg La Traille, originally written for guitar by Ross Hammond and arranged for chamber orchestra by Greg La Traille. In this piece, Hammond captures in several contrasting melodies and harmonies, the moods, whimsy, humor and insights of this musical couple. La Traille translated the piece from guitar to orchestra, creating a bouncy bit of Americana.

La Traille: Mindy and Greg - Prelude for Chamber Orchestra based on themes by Ross Hammond

Composer with two degrees in music. Studied with Grant Fletcher, Ronald LoPresti and briefly with Vincent Persichetti. Gregory LaTraille has written works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, piano and vocal groups. His music is somewhat introspective with colorful orchestration. He is also a visual artist and painter with vivid abstracts and pen & ink drawings, which can be seen at: www.greglatraille.com

l'orchestre argent

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