Nancy Van de Vate


Nancy Van de Vate is an American-born composer living in Austria.

Life and career

Van de Vate was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. She studied piano at Eastman School of Music and music theory at Wellesley College and completed graduated degrees in music composition at the University of Mississippi and Florida State University. She later pursued further studies in electronic music at Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire and is known worldwide for her music in the large forms. Her first professional performance was of the Adagio for orchestra. During the early part of her career she taught at various North American universities and worked as a violist and pianist.
She taught at Memphis State University, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College, Maryville College, the University of Hawaii, and Hawaii Loa College.
In 1975, Van de Vate founded the League of Women Composers and served as chairperson until 1982..
Van de Vate now lives permanently in Vienna, Austria and teaches composition at the in Vienna. In 2010 the IES named her Composer-in-Residence.

Selected works

;Opera
Premiere: 2005, Normal IL, US, Illinois State University Opera, Karyl K. Carlson; Cond.
Rec. VMM 4006, 2006, Michelle Vought, sop, Christopher Hollingsworth, bar, Timothy Schmidt, bass, Clinton Desmond, ten.
Soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, 1/1/1/1 – 1 - 2 perc, pn/cel-str.
Premiere: 2003, Osnabrück Opera, Germany, Hermann Bäumer, Cond.
Prem. 2003, New York City Opera, George Manahan, Cond. Rec. VMM 4004, 2002, Moravian Philharmonic and soloists from the Janáček Opera, Toshiyuki Shimada, Cond.
2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass, soprano, mezzo, orch: 2/2/2/2 - 2/2/2/0 - 3 perc - hp – str
Rec. VMM 4002, 2001. Moravian Philharmonic and soloists from the Janáček Opera, Toshiyuki Shimada, Cond.
2 sopranos, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, SATB chorus - orch: 3/3/3/3 -4/4/3/1 - timp,
3 perc - hp, pf, cel – str
and Nancy Van de Vate, 1995, 30', VM
Premiere: June 21, 1995, Theater Künstlerhaus, Vienna, Austria
Rec. VMM 4001, 1999, Werner Hackl, Cond.
soprano, baritone, narrator, 2 actors, pf, perc, cl
Prem. March 12, 1999, Cambridge, Mass., Donna Roll, Dir. Rec. VMM 4003, 2001, Michelle Vought, John Koch, Jack Delmore, Dominic Natoli, Slovak Radio Orch., Jiri Mikula, cond.
soprano, 2 tenors, baritone - orch: 2/2/2/2 - 2/0/1/0 - 2 perc - hp - str
Premiere: February 8, 1960, Tupelo, Mississippi. Rec. VMM 4001, 2001, Michelle Vought, Soprano, John Koch, Baritone
soprano, baritone, fl., vc, 1 perc, pf
Premiere: April 27, 1999, Vienna, Austria. Sulie Giradi, mezzo, Charles Moulton, baritone
soprano, baritone, fl., vc, 1 perc, pf.
;Orchestral
Premiere: Oct. 3, 2000, Scarlatti di Napoli Orchester, Rome, Italy, Daniele Moles, Cond.
Premiere: June 21, 1998, Moravian Philharmonic, Olomouc, Czech Republic, Toshiyuki Shimada; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3043, 1998, Moravian Philharmonic, Shimada
3/3/3/3 - 4/3/3/1 - 4 perc - hp, pf/cel - str
Premiere: November 9, 1999, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland, Maine, US, Gao Hong, Pipa, Toshiyuki Shimada; Cond. Rec. VMM 3043, 1998, Moravian Philharmonic,
Gao Hong, pipa, Jiri Mikula; Cond.
2/2/2/2 - 2/1/1/0 - 3 perc - pipa - str
Premiere: June 21, 1998, Moravian Philharmonic, Olomouc, Czech Republic, Adriana Antalova, hp, Toshiyuki Shimada; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3043, 1998, Moravian Philharmonic, Antalova, Shimada
Harp and String Orchestra
Premiere: June 27, 1996, Ruse Phiharmonic Orchestra, Ruse, Bulgaria, Tsanko Delibozov; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3038, Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra, Delibosov
3/3/3/3 - 4/4/3/1 - timp, 3 perc - hp, pf, cel - str
Premiere: June 21, 1996, Nina Stoyanova, vn, Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra, Tsanko Delibozov; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3035, 1996 and VMM CD 3058, 2007, Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra, Stoyanova, Delibozov.
3/3/3/3 - 4/3/3/1 - 4 perc - hp, pf, cel - str
Premiere: July 25, 1994, Sala Balowa, Lancut, Poland, Joanna Kawalla, vn, Lancut Festival Orchestra, S. Kawalla; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3025, 1994, Joanna Kawalla, Vn, Koszalin Philharmonic, Poland, S. Kawalla; Cond.
Premiere: April 26, 1969, University of Alabama Symphony, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Franklin Choset; Cond., Sallie Schoen, pf; Prem. Nov.11,1993, Koszalin, Poland, Makiko Hirashima, pf, Koszalin Phil. Orch., Szymon Kawalla; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3025, 1994, KSPO, Hirashima, Kawalla
3/2/2/2 - 4/2/3/1 - timp, 2 perc - str
Rec. VMM CD 3013, 1992, Slovak Radio Orchestra, Szymon Kawalla; Cond., Sulie Girardi, mezzo
2/2/2/2 - 2/0/1/1 - 1 perc - hp - str
Premiere: September 14, 1993, Kraków, Poland, Grigorij Zhislin, Viola, Polish Radio Orch. of Kraków, José Maria Florêncio Junior; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3023, 1993, PRSO, Zhislin, Florêncio
3/3/3/3 - 4/3/3/1 – timp, 3 perc - hp, pf, cel - str
Premiere: November 28, 1989, Kraków Percussion Ensemble, PRO, Szymon Kawalla; Cond. Rec. Conifer CDCF 185 ; VMM CD 3015, 1992, PRO, Kawalla
3/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 – timp. 5 perc - hp, pf/cel - str
Premiere: May 18, 1995, Vienna, Austria, Niederösterreichisches Tonkünstlerorchester, Peter Keuschnig; Cond. Rec. Conifer CDCF 168, VMM CD 3010, 1992, PRO,
Kawalla
3/3/3/3 - 4/3/3/1 - timp, 3 perc - cel, hp, pf - str
Premiere: February 6, 1988, San Francisco, California, Bay Area Women's Philharmonic, JoAnn Falletta; Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3006, 1992, Slovak Radio Orchestra, Kawalla
33/3/3 - 4/3/3/1 – timp. 2 perc - hp, pf/cel - str
Premiere: November 15, 1987, Pittsburg, Kansas, Southeast Kansas Symphony, Paul Carlson, Vn; Carolann Martin; Cond. Rec. Conifer CDCF 168, VMM CD 3010 1992, Polish Radio Orchestra, Kawalla, Janusz Myrinski, vn
2/2/2/2 - 4/2/2/1 - timp, 2 perc - hp, pf, - str
Premiere: June 20, 1987, Kraków, Poland, PRO, S. Kawalla; Cond., Janusz Myrinski, vn; Rec. Conifer CDCF 168, VMM CD 3008, 1992, PRO, Kawalla, Myrinski
Solo vn, 3/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - timp, 3 perc - cel, hp, pf - str
Premiere: February 25, 1985, Eugene, Oregon, US, University of Oregon Symphony, Marsha Mabry; Cond. Rec. Leonarda CD LE 327, 1987, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Carolann Martin, Cond., Conifer CDCF 168 ; VMM CD 3008, 1992, PRO, Kawalla
2/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - timp, 2 perc - cel, hp, pf - str
Premiere: January 30, 1985, Jakarta String Orchestra, Jakarta, Indonesia, Adidharma, Cond. Rec: VMM CD 2003, 1992 and VMM 2042, 1998, Slovak Radio Orchestra, Kawalla, and. Live From the Louisiana Sinfonietta, Dinos Constantinides, Cond. 1992
Streichorchester
Premiere: June 29, 1983, The Women's Music Club Symphony, Columbus, Ohio, US, Cynthia Capper; Cond. Rec. Conifer CDCF 147, VMM CD 3008, 1992, PRO, Cond. S. Kawalla
3/2/2/2 - 4/2/2/0 - timp, 2 perc - cel, hp, pf - str
Premiere: April 29, 1979, Boston, Massachusetts, New England Women's Symphony, Miriam Barndt-Webb, Cond., Betsy Goy, vc. Rec. Conifer CDCF 147, VMM CD 3008, 1992 PRO, S. Kawalla, Zdzislaw Lapinski, vc
Solo vc - 5 or 3 perc - cel, pf - str
Premiere: March 13, 1963, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Vincent de Frank, Cond. Rec. VMM CD 2006, 1992, and VMM CD 3042, 1998, Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra, Kawalla, Cond.
fl/ ob/ cl/ bn - str
Premiere: April 4, 1958, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, University of Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Henry Sopkin, Cond. Rec. VMM CD 2006, 1992, Slovak Radio Orch. S. Kawalla, Cond.
2/2/2/2 - 2/2/2/1 - timp - str
;Chorus and Orchestra
SATB, Boy soprano, 3/3/3/3 - 4/4/3/1 - 4 perc - hp – str
Premiere: June 29, 1994, Koszalin, Poland, Chorus Soranus, Christine Marstrand, soprano, Knud Vad, Choral Dir. Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra. Kawalla, Cond. Rec. VMM CD 3025, 1994, KSO, Chorus Soranus, Marstrand, Kawalla
SATB, soprano 2/2/2/2 - 2/0/1/0 - 2 perc - hp - str
Premiere 1993, Koszalin, Poland, Silesian University Choir, Sulie Girardi, Mezzo-soprano, Halina-Gorniewicz, Choral Director, Koszalin State Philharmonic Orchestra, Kawalla;
Recording: VMM CD 3022, 1993, Silesian University Choir, Sulie Girardi, KSPO, Kawalla.
SSA soprano, mezzo, picc/1/0/1/0 – 2 perc – hp, cel, str
4'30",VM
Premiere: 1993, Koszalin, Poland, Silesian University Choir, Joanna Kawalla, Vn, Halina
Gorniewicz, Choral Director, Koszalin State Phil. Orch., Szymon Kawalla, Cond.
Recording: 1993, Silesian University Choir, Joanna Kawalla, Vn, KSPO, Szymon Kawalla
SSAA, solo violin, string orchestra
Premiere: 1989, Kraków, PRSO and Chorus, Szymon Kawalla, Cond. Recordings:
Conifer CDCF 185 ; VMM CD 3015, 1992, PRSO and Chorus, Kawalla
SATB, 3/3/3/3 - 4/3/3/1 - timp, 3 perc - hp, pf/cel - str
; Theatre Music
Premiere: November 4, 2000, Toronto, Canada, Michelle Vought, soprano; Rec: VMM 4003, 2001, Michelle Vought, soprano
soprano or mezzo, bass cl, and 1 perc; or voice with tape
Premiere: April 22, 1988,ensemble belcanto, Bremen, Germany; Recordings: Koch Schwann/Aulos CD 3-1432-2,1994, ensemble belcanto, Dietburg Spohr; VMM 2026, 1998, Blair Resicka; VMM 2034, 2001, Michelle Vought
mezzo or soprano, 4-8 jazz singers with small percussion.
Premiere: April 13, 1984, Marilyn DeReggi, Soprano, College Park, Maryland
Rec. VMM 2028, 1998, Michelle Vought
soprano and CD
Rec. VMM 4001, 1999, Sulie Girardi
;Music for strings
Premiere: Nov. 25, 2005, Austrian Radio Concert Hall, Vienna, Austria,
H. Groh, vn, G. Hinterndorfer, vn, D. Ivanova, va, R. Flieder, vc
Rec. VMM 2034, 2001 Adriana Antalova, hp, Moravian PO String Quintet
hp + vn, va, vc, db
  • Seven Fantasy Pieces for Violin and Piano, 1989, 18', VM
Premiere: July 19, 1991,Paul Carlson, Vn, Nancy Van de Vate, Pf, Vienna, Austria
Rec. VMM 2034, 2001, Michael Davis, vn, Nelson Harper, pf
Premiere: March 24, 1984, Mexico City, Mexico, Nancy McAlhany, Vn, Maxine Neuman, Vc, Max Lifchitz, Pf. Recording: VMM CD 2001, 1990, Janusz Mirynski, Vn, Zdzislaw
Lapinski, vc, Marek Mitelski, pf
10', VM
Premiere: November 8, 1976, Johnson City, Tennessee, US, Recording: VMM CD 2006, 1992, Sulie Girardi, Mezzo, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic String Quartet
soprano and string quartet
Premiere: December 12, 1976, The New School, New York. Recording: VMM CD 2006, 1992, Michael Davis,
Prem. Nov. 2, 2006, Vienna, Austria, Jan Reznicek
Rec. VMM CD 2034, 2001, Kate Hamilton
Premiere: August 1975, Stowe, Vermont, Recordings: VMM CD 2006, 1992, Bohuslav
Martinu Philharmonic String Trio; VMM CD 2026, 1997, Veronika String Trio
vn, va, vc
Premiere: December 24, 1974, New York City, Jacob Glick, Recording: VMM CD 2003, 1992, Michael Davis
Premiere: November 12, 1989, Paul Carlson, Pittsburg, Kansas
Recordings: VMM 2028, 1998, Michael Davis
Premiere: July 1971, Lancing, Tennessee, Recording: VMM CD 2001, 1990, The Ridge
Quartet: Robert Rinehart, vn, Krista Bennion, vn, Ah Ling Neu, va, Jennifer Culp, vc;
VMM CD 2026, 1997 Veronika String Quartet
Premiere: February 16, 1966, Memphis, Tennessee, Elda Franklin, va, Edwin LaBounty, pf,
Recording: VMM CD 2001, 1990, Michael Davis, va, Rosemary Platt, pf
; Keyboard Instruments
Premiere, Vienna, Austria, Ruth Spindler, pf.
Premiere: Sept. 9, 2003, Ananda Sukarlan, pf. Oslo, Norway. Rec. VMM 2043, 2007. A. Sukarlan.
Premiere: June 9, 2002: Brad Maguire, Wellesley Mass. Rec. VMM 2043, 2007, Carlyn Morenus
Premiere: August 15, 2001, Kathryn Rosenberg, Provincetown, Mass. Rec. VMM 2039, 2004 Thomas Hlawatsch
Premiere: March 5, 1996, Utrecht, the Netherlands, Ananda Sukarlan; Recording: VMM 2026,
1997, Makiko Hirashima
Premiere: April 19, 1997, Eisenstadt, Austria, Ruth Spindler. Rec. VMM 2028,
1998, Antoinette van Zabner
Premiere: July 19, 1990, Vienna, Austria, Ruth Spindler. Recording: VMM CD 2003,
1992, Ruth Spindler
Premiere: March 23, 1984, Max Lifchitz, Mexico City, Mexico, Recordings: Coronet LPS 3206, Paula Ennis Dwyer; VMM 2006, 1992, Makiko Hirashima
Premiere: Autumn 1981, Columbus, Ohio, Rosemary Platt, Recordings: Coronet LPS
3105, Rosemary Platt and VMM 2003, 1992, Ruth Spindler
Premiere: April 2, 1982, Los Angeles, CA, Gloria Cheng. Recording: Opus One SN 118,
Max Lifchitz, and VMM CD 2001, Rosemary Platt
Premiere: May 23, 1984, Jakarta, Indonesia, Nancy Van de Vate, Trisutji Kamal, Marusya
Nainggolan, pf; Recording: VMM 2026, 1997
2 pf
Premiere: May 6, 1983, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Michelle Edwards, Harpsichord; Recording:
VMM 2028, 1998, Ewa Gabrys
Sonata for Harpsichord, 1982, rev. 1996, 10', VM
Premiere: November 12, 1983, Davis, California; Recording: VMM 2026, 1997, Ewa Gabrys
MUSIC FOR WOODWINDS
Prem. April 27, 2002, Vienna, Austria, Abraham Ibrahim
English horn and optional piano or guitar
Prem. June 6, 2001, Styrian Saxophone Quartet, St.Pölten, Austria
Prem. November 15, 1993, Vienna, Austria, Regina Stummer, fl, Rosario Marciano, pf
Rec. VMM 2028, 1998, Ann Marie Yasinitsky, fl., Gerard Berthiaume, pf
Premiere: 24 April 1976, Redlands, Calif., American Society of University Composers, Region VIII Conference, Gene Keener, Ann Noble, Corey Nordal, saxophones
Premiere: Sept. 2005, Vienna, Austria, Ruth Spindler, pf, Katrin Gstöckenbauer, cl.
Premiere, 2001, Vienna, Austria, Abraham Ibrahim, ob., Akiko Takahashi, pf
Premiere: January 1970, Knoxville, Tennessee US, John Bentley, ob, N. Van de Vate, pf
Sarabande for Flute or Oboe and Klavier VM
Prem. March 30, 2001, Vienna, Austria, Abraham Ibrahim, ob. Akiko Takahashi, pf
Premiere: Autumn 1964, Interlochen, MI, Interlochen Arts Woodwind Quartet
fl, ob, cl, bn
; Music for Brass
Prem. March 8, 2007, Haydnsaal, Vienna, Austria, Ferenc Leitner, hn., Ute Lehmann, vn., Maki Saeki, pf
Prem. August 5, 2006, Potsdam Horn Quartet
Prem. October 9, 2006 Oxford, Miss., The Mississippi Brass; Rec. VMM 2043, 2005,
The Mississippi Brass
2 tpt. hn. trb. tuba
Prem. Feb. 2, 1975, Jacksonville, Florida, Delius Festival. Rec. VMM 2039, 2005, The Niagara Brass
2 tpt, hn, trb. tuba
Premiere: February 23, 1974, Atlanta, Georgia, Recording: VMM CD 2003, 1992, Bohuslav
Martinu Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cond. Milos Machek
2 tpt, 2 hn, 2 trb, tuba, 6 perc
Premiere: November 14, 1964, Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia State University Brass Quartet
Rec. VMM 2043, 2007, The Niagara Brass
2 tp, hn, trb or euphonium
Short Suite for Brass Quartet, 1960, 6',VM
Premiere: November 9, 1963, Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia State University Brass Quartet
Rec. VMM 2039, 2005, Niagara Brass
2 tp, trb, bass trb
; Music for Percussion
Prem. April 5, 2005, University of Mississippi, Ricky Burkhead
Premiere: February 24, 1989,"Musica Viva", Herculessaal, Münchner Residenz, Munich,
Kraków Percussion Ensemble; Recordings: VMM CD 2015, 1995, UNI Percussion
Ensemble and VMM CD 2039, 2005, same
6 percussion
; Music for Mixed Ensemble
  • Trio for Horn, Violin, and Piano, 2006, see under Music for Brass.
Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano, 2005, VM
See under Music for Strings
Premiere: February 10, 1989, North South Consonance, New York City
fl, vc, pf-4 Hands, l perc
Premiere: December 7, 1980, Honolulu, Hawaii, Paul Barrett, bn, William Wiley, perc, Nancy Van de Vate, pf
Premiere: February 27, 1977, Honolulu, Hawaii, Maxine-Karen Johnson, va, William Wiley, perc, Stephen Salazar, pf. Recordings: VMM 2001, 1990, Maxine-Karen Johnson, va, William Wiley, perc, Evelyn Zuckerman, pf and VMM 2039, 2005, Arthur Klima, va, Andrew Pongracz, perc, Eric Zioleck, pf
Premiere: 12.01.1976, Honolulu, Hawaii
fl, vn, cl, vc, pf
; Choral Music
Premiere: April 1, 1982, Los Angeles, California, Veil of Isis, Joan Gallegos, Cond.
SSAA, picc, fl, cl, hp, cel, 2 perc
Premiere: May 16, 1972, Knoxville Choral Society, Knoxville, Tennessee, J. B. Lyle, Cond.
Janice Clarke, Soprano
SATB, pf, l perc
Premiere: 1970, Orlando, Florida. Recording: VMM 3025, 1994, Chorus Soranus, Knud Vad, Cond. and VMM 2039, 2005, Chorus Ars Brunensis, Roman Valek, Cond.
SATB a cappella
Premiere: May 29, 1977, Honolulu, Hawaii, Text: anon. 5th century BC, trans. Mimi Tsoi
SSA, pf
SATB, pf or organ
Premiere: June 30, 1974, St. John's Episcopal Choir, Knoxville, Tennessee
SATB a cappella
; Vocal Music
Prem. March 18, 2003, Michelle Vought, Normal IL
Soprano and seven instruments
Premiere: October 25, 1984, Paris, Lucille Field, Soprano, Harriet Wingreen, Piano, Recordings: Cambria CD 1037, 1990, Lucille Field, sop, Harriet Wingreen, pf and
VMM 2028, 1998, Evelyn Petros, sop, Nancy Van de Vate, pf
Premiere: see under Music for Strings
Premiere: May 16, 1972, Bettie Mason, soprano, Nancy Van de Vate, piano, Knoxville TN
Verlaine, 11',VM
Premiere: October 21, 1973, Bettie Mason, sop, Nancy Van de Vate, pf, Oak Ridge, TN
Premiere: February 2, 1963, Juanita Kirkpatrick, mezzo, Hattiesburg, Miss. N. Van de Vate, pf
Rec. VMM 2028, 199?, Evelyn Petros, sop, Nancy Van de Vate, pf
Premiere: Autumn 1962, J. Kirkpatrick, mezzo, N. Van de Vate, pf, Oxford, Miss.
Rec. VMM 2028, 1998, Evelyn Petros, sop, Nancy Van de Vate, pf
Premiere: Autumn 1962, Juanita Kirkpatrick, mezzo, Nancy Van de Vate, pf,
Oxford, Miss. Rec. VMM 2028, 2005, Evelyn Petros, sop., N. Van de Vate, pf
Premiere: 1960, Oxford, Miss, J. Kirkpatrick, mezzo, N. Van de Vate, pf.. Rec. VMM 2028, 2005, Evelyn Petros, sop, N. Van de Vate, pf
Premiere: Autumn 1960, Oxford, Miss. Rec. VMM 2028, 2005, Evelyn Petros, sop,
N. Van de Vate, pf
Premiere: 1960, Oxford, Miss. Rec. VMM 2028, 2005, Evelyn Petros, sop.,
N. Van de Vate, pf
;Electronic Music
Premiere: May 20, 1973, Knoxville, Tennessee
Premiere: May 20, 1973, Knoxville, Tennessee
Premiere: May 20, 1973, Knoxville, Tennessee
; Music for Piano Instruction