Kate Soper

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Please contact me if you would like to perform something not published here.

S T A G E / M O N O D R A M A

Hard Problems (in progress)
Evening-length solo set for voice/piano/electronics

Orpheus Orchestra Opus Onus (2025), 35'
For amplified soprano/actor and orchestra
Text by Kate Soper with additional texts by various authors
Commissioned by the New York Philharmonic

THE HUNT (2023), 90'
Opera/music theatre for three sopranos self-accompanying on violin and ukulele
Book and music by Kate Soper with additional text by various authors
Commissioned by Miller Theatre
Score here, album here
(more info)

THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE (2023), 2.5 hrs
Opera for seven voices, chamber ensemble, and electronics
Book and music by Kate Soper, inspired by Le Roman de La Rose by de Loris and de Meun
Score here, album here
(more info)

HEX (2022), 15'
For two pianist/actor, one pianist/vocalist/actor, and improvising ensemble of 4+ players
Score here, watch here

IPSA DIXIT (2016), 90'
Experimental music theatre for soprano, flute, violin, and percussion
Individual movements may be performed standalone (listed separately below)
Score here, album here, watch here.
(more info)

HERE BE SIRENS (2014), 100'
Opera/music theatre for three sopranos self-accompanying on piano
Book and music by Kate Soper with additional text by various authors
Score here, video of premiere here
(more info)

Voices from the Killing Jar (2010-12)
For soprano (doubling pc, easy clarinet, optional piano), baritone (one movement only), fl, sax (optionally doubling cl), pno (doubling easy recorder), pc, vn and live and fixed electronics: texts various.
Album here, score here, scrolling score here.


V O C A L

Voice Plus One

Chutes and Ladders (2024), 21'
For soprano and clarinet: texts by Virgil and Kate Soper
Commissioned by Chamber Music America for the Whistling Hens
Score here, video here

The Fragments of Parmenides (2019), 20'
For soprano/piano or soprano and piano: texts by Parmenides, Kate Soper, and W.B. Yeats.
Score here, video here, recording here

So Dawn Chromatically Descends to Day (2018)
For soprano/piano or soprano and piano (3.5'): texts by Fred Lerdahl and Robert Frost
Score here, video here, recording here

The Understanding of All Things (2013, rev. 2015, 2019)
For soprano and tape (8'): text by Kafka
Recording here, performance materials here

The Crito (2012)
For soprano and percussion (14'): texts by Plato and Robert Duncan
Part 4 of IPSA DIXIT (click for more info)
Video here, score here, album here

Cipher (2011)
For soprano and violin (13'): texts by Jenny Holzer, Wittgenstein, Pietro Bembo, Michael Drayton, Freud, Guido d'Arezzo, and Sarah Teasdale
Part 6 of IPSA DIXIT (click for more info)
Video here, score here,, album here

Only the Words Themselves Mean What They Say (2010-2011)
For soprano and flute (13'), text by Lydia Davis
Part 2 of IPSA DIXIT (click for more info)
Video here, score here, album here

Voice(s) and Ensemble

[New Work] (2026)
Text by Antonin Artaud
For soprano, actor, flute, clarinet, trumpet, percussion, accordion, violin and cello
Commissioned by Ensemble Télémaque

epithets (2024)
For soprano, flute, tenor sax, piano, percussion, violin, cello and electronics (21')
Score here, video here
Also available in version with clarinet instead of tenor sax, here
Text by Homer and from the Orphic Hymns

Lady Reason Suite from The Romance of the Rose (2024)
For soprano, piano, and vocoder-controlled keyboard (15'): text by Kate Soper
Score here, video here

The Hunt: Suite (2023)
For three sopranos self-accompanying on violin and ukulele (preferred) or three sopranos, violin, and ukulele (23'): texts by H.D., Hildegard of Bingen, Pliny the Elder and Isadore of Seville
Score here

Telephone (2022)
For soprano and string quartet (11'): text by Kate Soper
Commissioned by Miller Theatre for the Mission: Commission podcast
Score here, listen here

Missing Scenes (2019-21)
For soprano, fl, ob, cl/bass cl, alto/bari sax, hn, 2 pc, harp, pno, 2 vn, vla, vc, and fixed electronics (28'): texts various
Video here, score here, album here

The Ultimate Poem is Abstract (2016)
For soprano, fl, ob, cl, tenor sax, hn, tpt, tn, pc, pno, 2 vn, vla, vc, and bass: text by Wallace Stevens and various
Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Recording here, score here

Here Be Sirens: Suite (2015)
For three sopranos self-accompanying on piano (25'): texts various
Perusal excerpt here, score here
NOTE: this is not the opera "Here Be Sirens" or an excerpt of the opera. If performed, the suite must be billed specifically as "Here Be Sirens Suite" or "Suite from Here Be Sirens" and not as "Here Be Sirens."

Metaphysics (2016)
For soprano, flute, violin, and percussion: text by Aristotle (adapted Soper)
Part 5 of IPSA DIXIT (click for more info)
Video here, score here, album here

Rhetoric (2015)
For soprano, flute, violin, and percussion (15'): text by Aristotle (adapted Soper)>
Part 3 of IPSA DIXIT (click for more info)
Video here, score here, album here

Poetics (2015)
For soprano, flute, violin, and percussion (13'): text by Aristotle (adapted Soper) and Sophocles
Part 1 of IPSA DIXIT (click for more info)
Video here, score here, album here

Nadja (2013-15)
For soprano and string quartet (24'): texts by Tennyson, Ovid, and Andre Breton
Recording here, score here, video here

Now is Forever: I. Orpheus and Eurydice (2012)
Version for soprano and chamber orchestra: text by Jorie Graham
Score here, listen to excerpt here

Now is Forever: I. Orpheus and Eurydice (2012)
Original version for soprano and orchestra
Commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra, contact me for score/audio

Helen Enfettered (2009)
For Soprano, Mezzo, cl, tpt, pno, pc, vn, vla, vc, cb (25'): text by Christian Bök
Commissioned by Carnegie Hall
Recording here, score here

Door, 2007
For soprano, flt, sax, electric gtr, accordion (10'): text by Martha Collins
Recording here, score here.

Songs for Nobody, 2006
For solo SSA (9'): text by Thomas Merton
Commissioned by the Museum of Biblical Art
Score here, recording here


L A R G E   E N S E M B L E

The Door in the Wall (2011, rev. 2012)
Flt, ob, 2 cl, bn, hn, tpt, tn, pno, 2 perc, 2 vn, vla, vc, cb
Listen to excerpt here, contact me for score

Nine Rakes, 2007
For symphonic wind band (8')
Commissioned by the Boston University Tanglewood Institute
Listen here, contact me for score

As the Crow Flies, 2007
Flt, cl, 2 sax, hn, tpt, tbone, electric gtr, accordion, pc, vn, vla, vc, cb (11')
Listen here, contact me for score

Didicas, 2006
For brass septet (3')
Listen here, contact me for score




S M A L L   E N S E M B L E

Underneath (2021)
For solo cello (10')
Commissioned by the I&I Foundation
Video here, score here.

OTOTOI (2017)
For two tenor saxophones
Commissioned by Ogni Suono Duo
Recording here, score here

In the Reign of Harad IV (2013, rev.2018)
For percussion trio
Commissioned by Line Upon Line
Score here, contact me for performance

Wolf, 2010
For piano four hands and 2 percussionists (16.5')
Commissioned by Yarn/Wire
Listen here, score here.

I Had a Slow Thought on a Hard Day, 2008
Commissioned by The Kenners
For alto sax and accordion (10')
Listen here, contact me for score

Into that World Inverted, 2006, rev. 2010
For horn and piano (7')
Score here, listen here

Purl, 2006
For flute and percussion
Score here, listen here



M U L T I M E D I A  

ClearVoice (2021)
Fiction with accompanying audio track
Published in McSweeney's Quarterly Issue no. 64, the "audio issue"

Unwritten Operas (May - June 2020)
Music video series ("New Music Reading Rainbow")

Persons (2020)
Short film (7.5') with original music and script: video here

On Breath (2020)
Short film (2.5'), original music, texts various: video here