As a composer, Joseph Vranas has written for concert halls, ballet, film, and theatre, with premieres across the US and internationally at the Cannes Film Festival. His music has received commendations from the 48 Hour Film Competition, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and the Bolivian Music Festival. Vranas’ concert works often include elements of dance and folklore in keeping with his passion for ballet and storytelling.
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something in a sorta c minor was composed during the Covid lockdown. Utilizing dance movement as an inspiration for melodic composition, the movement for chamber orchestra manifests as a kaleidoscope of conversations between instruments.
This piece was recorded by Pretium Strings in Berlin in 2022. Recordings available on YouTube, Spotify, and others. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Bass.
Autumnal Sprites is a musical narrative developed from two poems, 11. Autumnal Sprites and 26. Snow White from my own collection, 63 Poems of the Pacific Northwest. The music is structured like a short ballet scene, fusing the poems into a fantastical story of Fall spirits waking and dancing in front of a human, disguised as frigid breezes through open windows and fallen leaves scraping across concrete.
This work was composed for and recorded by the inaugural Composers of Oregon Chamber Orchestra (COCO) concert. A version is currently being reorchestrated for concert band. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, 2 Horns, Trumpet, Trombone, Strings, Timpani, Percussion.
Tarot - Suite of the Major Arcana is a song cycle based on the cast of the major arcana in a traditional tarot deck. Featuring libretto by Daniel Reardon. For chamber orchestra, soprano, and tenor. Currently incomplete.
0. / XXII. The Fool, I. The Magician, II. The High Priestess (not featured), III. The Empress,
V. The Hierophant (not featured), VII. The Lovers (not featured), VIII. Strength
Performed by musicians at the University of Oregon 2019, featuring soprano Ashley Sizemore and tenor Luis Rivera. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Soprano, Tenor, Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano, Percussion.
Variances was composed for the University of Oregon residency of clarinetist and composer James Shields and his trio. The work employs 20th century elements used typically by Russian composers such as Stravinsky and Shostakovich; overt usage and manipulation of folk-like themes and harmony, rhythmic intensity, and emblematic neoclassical techniques.
Performed by musicians at the University of Oregon in 2019. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Clarinet, Cello, Piano.
Music for Winds premiered at the Pacific Artists Collective’s 100th Anniversary production of Stravinsky’s l’Histoire du Soldat. In celebration of the influence of Stravinsky’s music, Music for Winds embraces many of the composer’s favored techniques, particularly from the chamber music he composed during his neoclassical period. There is a dichotomy between brass and woodwinds prevalent throughout and exemplified through elements of style, harmony, color, and volume.
Performed by musicians at the University of Oregon in 2019. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba.
Inspired by a trundle down the New Jersey boardwalk on a warm Fourth of July, Fireworks on Wildwood Shore reimagines the opening of Stravinsky’s Petrushka with American patriotic themes. Rhythmic shifts between 3/4 and 6/8, coupled with clashing bitonality of familiar melodies imitates the cacophony of a busy crowd celebrating with arcade games, carnival rides, and music.
Performed by the Sam Houston State University Symphonic Band in 2015, under the direction of Dr. Brian Gibbs. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Piccolo, 2 Flutes, Oboe, Bassoon, 5 Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, 3 Cornets, 2 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, 5 Percussion, Harp, Piano.
Historical movements of art share many conceptual similarities with movements of music. No. 7 Colors on Sound. A Collage. is meant to read as though it was the title of a modernist painting, particularly from a collection where each work in the collection focuses on a specific element of art. Comprised of 7 movements, each titled and correlating to one of the “7 Elements of Art” (line, shape, space, value, form, texture, and color), the movements vary significantly in style and length and form a collage of the many sounds of brass instruments.
Performed by musicians at the University of Oregon in 2019. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. 3 Trumpets, 2 Horns, 2 Tenor Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, 2 Percussion.
Composed for the 2017 residency with soprano Estelí Gomez, Curses & Epithets embraces elements of musical theater, the imagination of Edgar Allen Poe, and the flavor of expressionists such as Arnold Schoenberg. In the scenario, a character hears a phantom knocking from behind the wall where they have just hidden the murdered body of their abuser. But what is real and what is fantasy?
Performed by musicians at the University of Oregon in 2019 featuring soprano Ashley Sizemore. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Soprano, Flute, Viola, Piano, Percussion.
A movement for seven instruments.
Performed by musicians at the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium in 2016. Cover art by Đạt Peter Ton. Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Trumpet, Piano, Violin, Cello.