Trent Johnson - Organist and Composer

Trent Johnson - Compositions

American composer Trent Johnson has received numerous accolades as one of this generations leading young composers. He has been described as a "rising star" among composers. He has been praised for his "fine ear for orchestral color", and "orchestral and vocal writing." The "beautiful lean writing" in the adagio of his Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano seduced one critic. Another critic noted, "Johnson’s Trio had the virtue of crystal clarity of structure; one could grasp immediately his compositional intent. The inner adagio movement was lovely and communicative."

His skill, imagination and treatment of the orchestra have led others to note the beauty of "particularly his harmonies and instrumental colors." Pulitzer Prize winning composer Wayne Petersen noted his "outstanding feeling and talent for choral writing." One critic noted, "Mr. Johnson’s musical language is sincere, most attractive in its lyricism, orchestrated with considerable skill and imagination ... varied in effects and dramatically coherent."

A Selective List of Recent Compositions

Concertante for organ and string quartet (2010), American Guild of Organists Commission, Premiere July 2011 with the Shanghai String Quartet and organist Marilyn Keiser.

Concert Variations on The Carnival of Venice (2010), for organ

Celebration Overture (2010), for orchestra, for the Oratorio Singers 30th Anniversary Concert
In Homage of Spring (2009) for chorus, soprano soloist, and orchestra, written for the Oratorio Singers
Viola Concerto (2008), commissioned by violist Brett Deubner of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Elegy (2008), a work for organ and string orchestra, premiered at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine

Songs of Irony (2008), for tenor and piano, for tenor Rufus Muller, on poems by Stephen Crane

Two Vignettes for Quintet (2006), commissioned by the Cygnus Ensemble, New York City

The New Colossus for orchestra (2006), commissioned by the Westfield Symphony, Westfield, NJ

Five Psalms for soloists, chorus and orchestra (2005), for the Oratorio Singers, Westfield, NJ

Organ Toccata on Engelberg (2004)

Poem for viola and orchestra (2004), commissioned by violist Brett Deubner

Petite Suite for orchestra (2004), commissioned by the Colonial Symphony, Morristown, NJ

Quartet for Saxophones (2003), written for the New Jersey Saxophone Ensemble

The Wind Tapped Like a Tired Man (2002), commissioned by The Madrigal Singers, Westfield, NJ

Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano (2001), commissioned and recorded by the Halcyon Trio

Visions for organ (2001), written for organist Mark Miller
The Cantata, The Paschal Lamb (2001), written for soprano, Phyllis Bryn-Julson and the Oratorio Singers and Orchestra

Outback, for didgeridoo and piano (2000)
Concerto for Trumpet (2000), written for Donald Batchelder

2 Pieces for String Orchestra (1998)
3 Characteristic Pieces for organ (1997)
8 Pieces for Piano (1997)
Flute Sonata (1996), written for David Cates

Arrangements

The Orange Blossom Special (2010), for organ
Mbombela (2008), for Thula Sizwe and the Mixed Flock Orchestra Project
Ukuthula (2007), for Thula Sizwe, the Halcyon Trio, and the Mixed Flock Orchestra Project

"Wir eilen mit schwachen", from Cantata No. 78 of J. S. Bach (2003), for the Halcyon Trio
Household Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams (2002), for the Halcyon Trio

Film Music of Howard Shore (2002), for the Halcyon Trio

Pasture Songs of Gary Pratt (2002), for the Halcyon Trio

A Lincoln Portrait of Aaron Copland for brass (2001), for narrator, timpani and organ

George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (1999), for the Halcyon Trio