Composition

Nolan is an active composer in a myriad of genres: theater, film, classical, world, rock, jazz, etc. His original works (vocal and instrumental) are performed regularly by esteemed ensembles and performers at the most prestigious venues in the US and beyond—including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, La Salle Pleyel, the Old Globe Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, Davies Symphony Hall, the Green Music Center, and the Rose Bowl, to name but a few.

 

The following is a partial list of Nolan’s compositional output—divided into the realms noted above. A sample of recordings of several of these works are found on the “Music” tab.

 

To discuss future commissions for / collaborations with Nolan—other than for film—contact Ben Cohen (Cadenza Artists): ben@cadenzaartists.com or inquiry@nolangasser.com  

 

For film scoring inquiries, contact Amos Newman (WME) at: ANewman@wmeentertainment.com

 

THEATER

Benny & Joon  (musical)

With lyricist Mindi Dickstein and book writer Kirsten Guenther. Major productions to date: Old Globe Theater (2017); Paper Mill Playhouse (2019). Future plans: commercial run in New York (Broadway) or London (West End), etc. No licensed productions until after Broadway.

 

Start Me Up  (musical)

With lyricist Clark Sterling and book writer Peter Sagal. Development to date: House Theater (Chicago) reading, workshop, etc. Future plans: 1st production early 2020 (location TBD)

 

Twisted Cabaret  (comedy variety show)

Songs and underscoring for Frank Olivier’s decade-running one-man show featuring his unrivaled mix of juggling, unicycling, and twisted comedy. Tours of Frank’s show run each year, especially along the West Coast. For dates and info, see:   https://twistedcabaret.com

 

FILM

All-Stars   (comedy / “mockumentary” film, 2014)

Film score and featured song: “All Stars are Falling” (Tim Hockenberry). Film directed and written by Lance Kinsey; starring Fred Willard, John Goodman, Angela Kinsey, Richard Kline. Multiple film festival awards. Available on Netflix, Amazon, and frequently scheduled on cable TV.

 

OPERA

The Secret Garden  (children’s opera)

With librettist Carey Harrison and visual designer Naomi Kramer. Commissioned and premiered in 2013 by San Francisco Opera (featuring Sarah Shafer, Michael Kepler Meo, and Scott Joiner; conducted by Sara Jobin); rev. 2015 production by Opera Theater of Weston (Vermont). Future plans: continued productions across the country, individually and via co-productions.

 

ORCHESTRAL / CHORAL

Cosmic Reflection  (narrated symphony)

With librettists Lawrence Krauss and Pierre Schwob—telling the “story of the universe”. Commissioned (with visuals) by NASA and Stanford University. Premiered 2009 Kennedy Center with Boston University Symphony; numerous subsequent and forthcoming performances. Future plans: commercial release or recording by Baltimore Symphony under Marin Alsop and subsequent public performances.

 

World Concerto for Cello and Orchestra   (concerto; also featuring erhu, oud, and sarangi)

Premiered in 2009 by Maya Beiser with Oakland Symphony under Michael Morgan; with Jiebing Chen, erhu; Bassam Saba, oud; and Aruna Narayan, sarangi. Future plans: additional public performances and commercial recording.

 

American Festivals   (large-scale oratorio)

With poet Robert Trent Jones. 4-movement work for orchestra, chorus, and soloists (vocal and instrumental)—dedicated to the holidays of July 4th, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving. Premier at Festival Napa Valley (2008); individual movements performed by Charleston, Memphis, and Oakland symphonies. Future plans: addition public performances (individual movements and complete work) and commercial recording.

 

Repast: An Oratorio  (small-scale oratorio)

With poet Kevin Young—celebrating the life of civil rights figure Booker Wright. Commissioned by Premiere Commissions and Southern Foodways Alliance; premiered by baritone Justin Hopkins and pianist Bruce Levingston in 2014 at the Lyric Theater, Oxford Mississippi; rev. version for baritone, chorus, and piano premiered in 2016 by Dartmouth Glee Club and baritone Robert Honeysucker at Dartmouth College. Future plans: additional public performances and commercial recording.

 

Tyler’s Suite (choral work)

Opening movement: “There are Songs I Haven’t Heard”, for chorus, piano, and violin. Collaborative work with composers Stephen Schwartz, Jake Heggie, John Corigliano, and others—to honor the memory of Tyler Clementi. Commissioned by San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and Tyler Clementi Foundation. Premiered in 2014 at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco; multiple follow-up performances across the US, including Lincoln Center. Future performances scheduled; for more information see   https://tylerclementi.org/tylers-suite

 

PIANO / CHAMBER

American Citizen  (piano solo)

Inspired by “American Citizen”—a portrait of former slave John Wesley Washington by Mississippi-based artist Marie Hull in 1936. Commissioned by Premiere Commissions for pianist Bruce Levingston; it is the title track of Levingston’s album Citizen . Levingston has performed the work at Carnegie Hall, and in multiple concerns in the US and London.

 

V’Samachta   (chamber work)

For clarinet, violin, cello, and piano. Commissioned by Congregation Shomrei Torah (Santa Rosa, CA) to celebrate the dedication of a new Sefer Torah in 2012 ( V’Samachta  means “Rejoice!”).

 

String Quartet No.2

Commissioned by Mr. Robert Uhlmann; premiere forthcoming.

 

ROCK / WORLD / JAZZ HYBRIDS

Border Crossing  (song collection)

A forthcoming album by Nolan Gasser and an all-star band—featuring Tim Ries, reeds; Matt Szemela, violin; Dimitris Mahlis, oud / guitar; George Doering, guitar / mandolin; Jamie Haddad, percussion; Carlos Del Puerto, bass; and Gary Novak, drums. The album is a collection of songs merging rock and various “world” styles—Turkish, Andalusian, Hungarian, Tunisian, Celtic, Senagalese, and Levantine. Featured also are two vocal songs with lyrics by Mindi Dickstein (vocalists TBD). The album was recorded at Capital Records (Los Angeles) in January 2019, engineered by Ed Cherney. The album is being produced by Gregg Field. Expected release, on a major label (TBD), is fall 2019.

 

The Wellness Suite  (instrumental)

For string quartet, flute, piano, bass, and drums. This work was composed for the ESPN / FiveThirtyEight documentary on Nolan, entitled “Breaking Music Down to Its Genes"—part of its “Collectors” series. The composition—mixing rock and classical elements—is a kind of is a "reverse-engineering" of Pandora's Music Genome Project (for which Nolan is the Architect) on behalf of utilizing music’s power to assist patients dealing with the ailments of cancer treatment. Specifically, Nolan identified musicological elements identified in the literature associated with reduced pain and stress (e.g., pedal point under moving harmonies; descending bass line) to compose a work, presented in the documentary to a group of cancer survivors. To view the film and learn of it, see   https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/breaking-music-down-to-its-genes/

 

Swingtime in Sonoma  (jazz quartet)

Written for and recorded by the San Francisco Jazz Quartet—Nolan, piano; Roger Glenn, alto sax; Terry Miller, bass; Andy Eberhard, drums—for their 2011 album Ode to Swing . The song combines traditional jazz elements—including extended solo sections—with classical-influenced techniques, including a fugato section. The album is available for sale on   Amazon .

 

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