If you are interested in sourcing sheet music or recordings, please send us an email and we will gladly get back to you. Click on a link below to hear some select audio samples of John Downey’s music.
- Pyramids, as performed live in London
- Tabu for Tuba from John Downey Plays John Downey
- East Lake Terrace from John Downey Plays John Downey
- A Dolphin, as read by Irusha Downey
Chamber & Symphonic Orchestra
Almost 12 for Chamber Orchestra (1971) — 18′30″
1 1 1 1 - 1 0 0 0; Perc. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Music from Almost Yesterday
Premiere Information: Music from Almost Yesterday, Yehuda Yamony, conductor; University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; 1971
Call for Freedom for Symphonic Winds (1990) — 22′30″
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Hartt School of Music
Premiere Information: Hartt School of Music, Hartford, CT; 1990
Chant to Michaelangelo (1958) — 14′
3(Picc.) 2 3(B.Cl.) 2 - 4 4 3 1; Timp. Perc. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra (1987) — 31′30″
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Gary Karr
Premiere Information: Sydney Symphony, Gary Karr, double bass, Geoffrey Simon, conductor; Sydney Opera House, Australia; September 1, 1987
Available Separately:
Full Score - Large (416411980)
Declamations (1985) — 16′
3(Picc.) 3(E.H.) 3(Bb, A, B.Cl.) 3(Cbsn.) - 4 3 3(Bass) 1; 3Perc. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Geoffrey Simon
Premiere Information: Albany Symphony, Geoffrey Simon, conductor; Troy Savings bank Music Hall, NY; December 6, 1985
Fanfare for Freedom for Winds and 2 Harps (1991) — 22′
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra
Premiere Information: Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra; Aberdeen, Scotland; 1991
For Those Who Suffered (Yad Vashem - An Impression) (1994) — 26′
1(Picc.) 1(E.H.) 1 0 - 1 1 0 0; 2Perc. Pno. Accord. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Shel and Danni Gendelman
Premiere Information: 47th International Cantors Assembly, composer conducting; Performing Arts center, Milwaukee, WI; June 8, 1994
Jingalodeon (1968) — 11′23″
2 2 2 2 - 4 2 3 1; Timp. Perc. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Premiere Information: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Schermerhorn, conductor; Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, WI; December 1968
Ode to Freedom for Orchestra (1993) — 8′15″
3(Picc.) 3(E.H.) 3(B.Cl.) 3(Cbsn.) - 4 3 3 1; Timp. Perc. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Zdenek Macal
Premiere Information: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; October 7, 1992
Ode to Freedom for Wind Ensemble (1995) — 7′
3 3 3 3 - 4 4 3 1; Timp. 2Hp. 5Perc. 2Cb.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Symphonic Modules Five for Orchestra (1972) — 43′
5 3 4 3 - 6 4 4 1; Timp. 5Perc. Pno. Cel. Hp. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Milwaukee Symphony Women’s League
Premiere Information: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Schermerhorn, conductor; April 15, 1972
Available Separately:
Full Score - Large (416411970)
The Edge of Space / Fantasy for Bassoon and Orchestra (1978) — 20′
Solo Bsn.; 2 3 3 2 - 2 2 3 1; Perc. Cel. Hp. El.Gtr. Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Basson, bassoon, Kenneth Schermerhorn, conductor; Uihlein Hall, Performing Arts center, Milwaukee, WI; September 15, 1978
Available Separately:
Full Score - Large (416411960)
Solo Part with Piano Reduction (114410470)
Chamber Ensembles & Instrumental Solos
Adagio Lyrico for Two Pianos (1953) — 10′
Published: #410-41302S
Premiere Information: Rudolph and Felix Ganz; Chicago, IL; 1953
Available Separately:
Set of Performance Scores (410413020)
Agort for Woodwind Quintet (1971) — 16′20″
Published: #524-02398
Commission Information: Woodwind Arts Quintet
Premiere Information: Woodwind Arts Quintet; University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; 1971
Duo for Oboe and Harpsichord (1981) — 15′
Published: #114-40397
Commission Information: Bedford Duo
Premiere Information: Bedford Duo; Parkside, WI; 1982
Eastlake Terrace for Piano (1959) — 5′
Published: #110-40671
Premiere Information: Composer performing; Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
High Clouds and Soft Rain for 24 Flutes (1977) — 17′
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Robert Webb
Premiere Information: University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI; 1977
Lydian Suite for Cello (1978) — 17′
Published: #114-40251
Premiere Information: Wisconsin Music Forum; February 1977
Octet for Winds (1958) — 15′
1 1 2 2 - 1 1 0 0
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Premiere Information: Aspen, CO; 1958
Portrait No. 3 for Flute and Piano (1984) — 7′
Published: #114-40427
Commission Information: Isabelle Chapuis
Premiere Information: Isabelle Chapuis, flute, Sheldon Skolnik, piano; Chicago, IL; June 13, 1984
Prayer for Violin, Viola and Cello (1984) — 10′
Published: #114-40472
Commission Information: Bennington College, VT
Premiere Information: Carnegie Recital Hall, New York, NY; 1985
Pyramids for Piano (1961) — 7′
Published: #510-01488
Commission Information: Armand Basile
Premiere Information: Town Hall, New York, NY; 1969
Recombinance for Contrabass and Piano (1989) — 13′
Published: #114-40816
Premiere Information: Roger Ruggieri; Piano Gallery, Milwaukee, WI; 1989
Silhouette for Double Bass (1980) — 10′
Published: #114-40271
Commission Information: Roger Ruggieri
Premiere Information: Roger Ruggieri, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee, WI; February 17, 1981
Soliloquy for English Horn (1996) — 5′
Published: #114-40887
Commission Information: Thomas Stacy
Sonata for Violoncello and Piano (1966) — 19′
Published: #514-00489
Commission Information: George Sopkin
Premiere Information: George Sopkin; Chicago Contemporary Concerts, IL; 1968
String Quartet No. 1 (1962) — 10′
Published: #114-40735
Premiere Information: Indiana University, Muncie, IL; 1962
Available Separately:
Set of parts (11440735P)
Full Score - Large (11440735S)
String Quartet No. 2 (1976) — 27′
Published: #114-40505
Commission Information: Fine Arts Quartet
Premiere Information: Fine Arts Quartet; Goodman Theater, Chicago, IL; April 1976
Available Separately:
Set of parts (11440505P)
Full Score - Large (11440505S)
Vocal & Choral
A Dolphin for Tenor and Chamber Ensemble (1974) — 12′
High Voice; A.Fl. Vla. Pno. Perc.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Dean Adolph Suppan
Premiere Information: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; 1974
Available Separately:
Full Score - Study (416411950)
What if? for SATB Chorus, Brass Octet and Percussion (1973) — 12′
Published: #312-41147
Commission Information: Delta Omicron
Premiere Information: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; April 1973