DAVID EDGAR WALTHER PASSIONATE DARK; DEEP DREAMS
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Volume IV.

​Dance

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        Book I: Symphony Ballets: (Please see Volume III, Book I, Orchestra)
 
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1.   Symphony # 1. Scaramouche et Pulcinella: 
30 minutes & 35 seconds: ballet: 7 movements; after the poem "Fantoches" by Paul Verlaine (photo below, left). A magician makes puppets come alive: they love, have wars, are wounded and die. Then they wish for things to be as they were. The idea that this poem should be used as an orchestral work was first suggested to me by Dr. Anna Balakian, the chairwoman of the comparaitve ​literature department at New York University (photo below, right). Unperformed; See IV/I/3.
1a. Scaramouche et Pulcinella:  2/2/2/2  2/2/2/1 percussion, timpani and strings; woodwind/string octet is prominent. See III/Ib/1. 
1b.  Scaramouche et Pulcinella:  Synthesized realization by Michael Rafferty; cablecast on BNN-TV with the futuristic play: "Now and Then" featuring actors, TJ Norris (photo below, center) and the composer. Temporarily lost. See II/IIId/2.
1c.  Scaramouche et Pulcinella: flute, clarinet, violin, 'cello and piano. In preparation for performance, with clarinetist, Romualdo Barone, at The Aichi University of The Arts, Nagakute, Japan. See I/III/3.
1d.  Scaramouce et Pulcinella: original version for octet of woodwinds and strings:  1/1/1/1  1/1/1/1: I/VIII/2. Unapproved doctoral thesis at Boston Univeristy. Unperformed.

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          Paul Verlaine, poet                                              TJ Norris, artist & actor                             Dr. Anna Balakian, writer
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​2.   Symphony # 2: Clover Ceres:  19 minutes; ballet; 
 6 movements; 2/2/2/2  2/2/1/1 percussion, & strings.
​Illicit love is prosecuted; a jail break brings freedom.
The artwork is "daemon-emblem009" by Drew
​Hubbard. Unperformed. Please see III/Ib/2. 

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                                                                                                                                                              Symphony II: Clover Ceres
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3.   Symphony # 3: The Great Liberator: 
35 & a quartet minutes: ballet in 7 movements; 
​A woman frees the enslaved, is caught by the evil collector, and eventually is saved by love. Loosely based on an Islandic folk tale, & a dream by JS. Finished in 2023. Unperformed. 

3a. The Great Liberator:  2/2/2/2  2/2/1/1  perc/timp. harp & strings. See III/Ib/3;
3b. The Great Liberator:  original version for w. w. & string octet (withheld);

3c. The Great Liberator:  piano. II/IIId/3. P
lease click on Drew's artwork to the  right
​to see the full score of "The Great Liberator."
​

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                 Tap on "Wall004" by Drew Hubbard
               to see the Score to The Great Liberator   
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4.  Symphony # 4:  Scrooge: A ballet for New Year's Day according to Deborah Cash, of the Boston Globe. Scrooge sees ghosts & becomes a better person. Based on "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens ​(photo to the right.) Please see I/V/3, II/IIId/4, & IV/Ib/4.
4a.  Scrooge: medium orchestra 2/2/2/2  2/2/1/1  4-9 perc., pno., hrp., & strings. 67 minutes. 6 scenes, completed, January of 2024. Unperformed in this version. 
4b.  Scrooge: chamber version for: piano, harpsichord, harp, percussion, & solo viola. 50 minutes. Comissioned & performed by The Copley Square Ballet at The Strand Theaterin Dorchester, MA. Choreographed by David Drummond (photo below, left). 
Drummond was also Scrooge; Nancy Angelini, was The Spirit of The Future (photo below, Book III, left). The Dance Mistress was Zabelle Margosian (photo below, right). Musicians included Angelo Mammano, piano; & Michael Rafferty, harp. Dedicated to Mr. Drummond, the musicians, and the dancers of  The Copley Square Ballet. see also 1/V/3.
​​4a.  Scrooge: medium orchestra 2/2/2/2  2/2/1/1  4-9
perc., pno., hrp., & strings. 67 minutes. 6 scenes, completed, January of 2024. Unperformed in this version. 

4b.  Scrooge: chamber version for: piano, harpsichord, harp, percussion, & solo viola. 42 minutes (slightly cut; faster tempi; last scene is extended in 4a. revised version). Comissioned & performed by The Copley Square Ballet at The Strand Theaterin Dorchester, MA. Choreographed by David Drummond (photo below, left). 
Drummond was also Scrooge; Nancy Angelini, was The Spirit of The Future (photo below, Book III, left). The Dance Mistress was Zabelle Margosian (photo below, right). Musicians included Angelo Mammano, piano; & Michael Rafferty, harp. Dedicated to Mr. Drummond, the musicians, and the dancers of  The Copley Square Ballet. see also 1/V/3.

To watch the ballet Scrooge in its chamber ensemble version,
​40 minutes, 6 scenes, with the orchestra score; please click on Marley's Ghost or Dickens to the right:
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    Charles Dickens, novelist
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 Scrooge, The Ballet & score
4c. Scrooge: orchestral score. 40 minutes, 6 scenes. Created in December of 2023
​to accompany the dance video. Unperformed in this version. Please see II/IIId/4.

4d.   Scrooge: piano version of original chamber version. Unperformed in this version; withheld. Please see II/IIId/4.
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              David Drummond, Scrooge/choreographer;                            Zabelle Margosian, Dance Mistress 
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​8.    Symphony # 8: The Wood Sprite:
11 & a half minutes; ballet; 2/2/2/2  2/2/1/1  2 perc., & str.. A little girl is lost in the forest until The Wood Sprite shows her the way home. The artwork is "Object  9" by Drew Hubbard. 
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Unperformed. See III/Ia/4. ​
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     Symphony VIII: The Wood Sprite.  
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 Symphony # 9:  Odysseus: 18-20 minutes, 2/2/2/2  2/2/2/1  3 hrp. & str. based on scenes from The Odyssey by Homer. Tiresias (alto and/or bass) prophesizes the event s of the story before they unfold.  
Ia.  Tiresias' first prophesy: sirens & sea monsters; orch.;            4.5 minutes. ​This & Movement III are based on the                original introduction of movement IV. Written in                    November of 2024.
Ia.  Tiresias' first prophesy: sirens & sea monsters; piano;
IIa. The Island of The Sirens: orch.; 4.5 minutes;
IIb, Gdo for two harps, as performed by harpists:
      Michael Rafferty, and Virginia Crumb; Please see left,                    below to hear their performance.
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     Homer, epic story writer
DavidEdgarWalther · Island Of The Sirens
IIIa.    Tiresias' second prophesy: the cyclops: Polythemus; orch.; 4 minutes.
IIIb.    Tiresias' first prophesy: piano;
IVa.    Polythemus: 6 minutes and 20 seconds. Based on the 2025 revised version, minus the introduction which is sung by Tiresias.
IVb.   The Masque of The Red Death: 2/2/2/2  2/2/2/1  3 & str. 7 minutes & 20 seconds; Calls for English horn and contrabassoon. A tone poem after Edgar Allan Poe (to the right, top). Written when I was age 21 & read by The Juilliard Concert String Orchestra under Thomas Ludwig (to the right, below). Revised many times. The final version version, completed on  5/27/25. Dedicated to Mr. Ludwig. Please see III/1a/1 above to see the score. 
IVc.    The Masque of The Red Death: 6 minute shorter version, with 2 ob. & 2 bn.; conforms to the reading The Juilliard Concert String Orchestra under Thomas Ludwig. I plan to record the 2 songs; but for now, I have substituted this version with an introduction co-responding to the second song. Please listen to the version of the original recording below: ​
DavidEdgarWalther · Polythemus
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         Book II. Dance with Various Instruments: (Please see Volumes I - III)
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​1.  Time: 
 3 minutes and 7 seconds; 6 minutes at the 2020s rethought tempo; I wrote this piano piece at age 17. It was later used as the first movement of my "String Symphony II" III/VI/2a. "Time" was choreographed by Nancy Angelini (below). She performed "Time" with Joe Polcaro and "Music Now & Now Dance" at The Villa Victoria Boston's South End. The Pianist was Eileen Feldman. Dedicated to the three performers.
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Nancy Angelini, dancer/choreographer
Time as recorded by Eileen Feldman, & was
used as the soundtrack for "Dinos in Space" as cablecast on BNN-TV

​as part of "Crazy Dinosaurs." To watch "Dinos in Space" please click on a dinosaur to
​the right:

David Walther: CRAZY DINOSAURS: 5. Dinos in Space from David Walther on Vimeo.

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2. Billy Goats Gruff: 6 minutes at the 2020s rethought tempo; 3 minutes and 14 seconds at the original tempo; based on a Norwegian fairy tale collected by Peter Christen Asbjørrnsen and Jørgen Moe (below, right) in their "Norske Folkeeventyr" 
This piece may be used for dance. Versions  available for string orchestra with percussion III/IV/2a; concerto for 3 double reed instruments and orchestra III/IIb/4; string quintet I/V/5 and  the original piano solo, dedicated to, and premiered by Carmen Rodriguez-Peralta II/IIIc/2.  The recording was used as the sound track for "The Train" which appeared on BNN-TV as part of "Crazy Dinosaurs."
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​Please push on the train or a dinosaur to the right, to hear Ms. Rodriguez-Peralta's performance of this piece:
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Christen Asbjørrnsen & Jørgen Moe, folk tale collectors
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Carman Rodriguez-Peraltal, pianist

David Walther: CRAZY DINOSAURS: 1. The Train from David Walther on Vimeo.

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3-6 The Lovers: 17 & a half minutes; 6 movements; based on the myth of Orpheus & Eurydice, with a happy ending. Inspired by "The Lovers" by Marc Chagall. Please see I/II/7-10 & III/IIc/1-4.
3a. Flute Concerto: with percussion, timpani and strings 9/1-2/23; Alto Flute Concerto, withheld.
3b. Flute Concerto: with piano. 
4a. Oboe Concerto: with percussion, timpani and strings; 
4b. Oboe Concerto: with piano; in Spanish.
5a. Clarinet Concerto: with percussion, timpani and strings; 
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The Lovers by Marc Chagall
5b. Clarinet Concerto: with piano; written for Christian Contreras.
6a. Viola Concerto: with percussion, timpani and strings; 
6b. Viola Concerto: with piano; the viola concerto is the original version.  It is a whole step lower than the other 3 concerto ballets; written for my husband, Drew Hubbard.
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​Book III. Vocal Ballets (Please see Volume V. Vocal music): 
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IIIa. Vocal Ballets with Orchestra or Piano:
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1. Orpheus in The Underworld:  15 minute of cycle of  7 for low voice; text, in Latin,
by Boethius. 
This version, V/I/I, has an unhappy ending. This can be performed 
as a dance piece.
1a. Orpheus in The Underworld: with percussion, timpani and string orchestra.  
1b. Orpheus in The Underworld: with orchestra:  2+/2+/2+/2+  2/2/2/1  percussion, timpani, celesta, harp and strings.1c. Orpheus in The Underworld: 
with piano; cablecast under the name "Eurydice" as part of "Crazy Dinosaurs" on BNN-TV, with DEW performing the music. Clay animation, with doll houses by Jean Risman. To watch "Eurydice" and see the orchestral scores for several of the songs please click on any picture to the right:
Please click above to see the fourth song: "The Vulture"
​as performed by the composer.
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Boethius, philosopher/poet

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 Jean Riseman, doll houses

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Terry Anne Tessaurus-Rex

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​2.   Remembrance of Love's Death: 16 minute & 20 second cycle of 12 songs for medium low voice, set to poems by Emily Dickinson (some may still be under copyright: u. c.); Please see III/VII/6 & V/Ia/2. Revision finished on 8/28/25.
2a. Remembrance of Love's Death: with orchestra:  2/2/2  2/2/1/1  perc., timp., celesta & str. 
2a. Remembrance of Love's Death: with harp, perussion & string quinet or string orchestra. 
2c. Remembrance of Love's Death: with piano. 10 of the 12 songs were performed by the composer with pianist, Eileen Feldman at 1st and 2nd Unitarian Society, Boston. Please click on Eileen Feldman to the right to hear the entire premiere:
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   Eileen Feldman, pianist
DavidEdgarWalther · Love's Death: 1. The Meeting: Walther/Feldman
Please click directly above to hear the first song, performed by Ms. Feldman with DEW.------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IIIb. Unaccompanied Solo Vocal Ballet:
1. The Cool Valley: 14 and 3/4 minute cycle of 10 songs; 
7 songs were performed by the composer at The Boston Public (BPL). The cycle (2022) chronicles a love affair that takes place at several locations in Ireland culminating in a storm at Fontana Beach. The conclusion of the cycle is unclear, but somehow things have changed; was there a death or break up, or perhaps the acceptance of true love? Either a happy and sad interpretation is possible.  Please click on Cabra to the right to see a list of all of the Joyce
pomes set by this composer.
​
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   Cabara, mentioned in the cycle
DavidEdgarWalther · The Cool Valley
Please click directly above to hear the first song, performed by Ms. Feldman with DEW.
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Book IV: Ballet Opera (Please see Volume VII. Opera): 
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1.  Jepthah's Daughter:   19 minutes; soprano or mezzo-soprano, optional bass, and mixed chorus;  poem by Robert Hillyer (uc); Jepthah promises to sacrifice the first living being he meets if he wins the battle. He is met by his daughter. This work is the third of "Three Character Pieces" found in Opera:  VII/II/2/2 or 3. 
1a. Jepthah's Daughter:  medium orchestra (2/2+/2+/2+  2/2/1/1  2/1 and strings). 
1b. Jepthah's Daughter: with flute, percussion, violin, viola, 'cello and double bass. 
1c. Jepthah's Daughter:  with piano.
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2. Kali: 14 minutes; libretto & story by the composer. Starts before the birth of all things, ends after the end of all things.   The middle movements explore the ordinary life of double woodwinds: 2+/2+/2+/2+, 2 percussion, timpani, harp, an actress sawing open strings on a violin and 3-4 singers (CMB or CMAB). Premiered (un-staged) in 2001 by The Acting Singers Project with Carol Millard, high soprano; Danute Mileko, mezzo-soprano; the composer, Bb; and synthesized tape. This is one of the "Three Surrealist Operas" VII/II/3/1.
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Robert Hillyer, poet
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Jepthah's Daughter,
by William Blake
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​Book V: Sung Burlesque (Please see Volume VII): 

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1.  Off-nights at The Sometimes Café:  17# burlesque
in 10 scenes; just over one hour; for S M T b; 2 dancers, & N
/pianist. This piece was also performed by The Thompson Street Opera, but the recording is not available yet. It was earlier videoed by The Acting Singers Project. Here are two dance numbers from that 20 minute video. The pianist is Brad Conner. Jim Spellman is the choreographer. To see the whole video, please click to the right. To watch "Jazz Waltz" & "Dance Of The Rose" performed by Dana Danzel & Jim Spellman please click to the below. 
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Please click to watch the video

David Walther: SEX MYSTERY: 1. Jazz Waltz from David Walther on Vimeo.

David Walther: SEX MYSTERY: 6. Dance Of The Rose from David Walther on Vimeo.

Volume VII, Book Ia; 2-8, which do include dance;
​are not included here for the sake of brevity.
​Please see Volume VII. and it's summary for more information.
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Book VI: Burlesque Ballets (Please see Volume VII, Book I.): 

​1. Gaynocchio: ​40 minute burlesque ballet. Gaypetto creates a gay puppet, narrated by a very queer cricket. The video of uses a shortened version of the original video presented by The Marblehead Ballet, with voice overs by the composer. To watch "Gaynocchio"
please click on either of the donkeys to the right: or watch a sample below:
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Watch "Gaynocchio"
The Blue Fairy from Gaynocchio; sung by Mary Saunders, with Kristin Webb, flute; and Russell Southcott, guitar
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​2.  The Journey:  75 minute trans odyssey: 2 versions: narrations by the composer with pomes James Joyce. for Bb solo; male pome reader; 5 ff/mm/(o) singers: f/m N; male chorus, piano, chamber ensemble or small orchestra. A gay man goes to an alternate universe to destroy "The Beast" but, as a gay man, he would be killed immediately, so he becomes a woman; she finds the love of her life there, & the two women return to the original universe as gay men to continue their love. More detail is listed at IX/I/2.  Title with Jessica Mink, to the right. Please click on James Joyce to see all settings by this composer to pomes by James Joyce; or click on Ms. Mink to see the score and texts of this piece. Excerpts can be heard below. The drawing is by Drew Hubbard. 
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              James Joyce, poet
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 Title with Jessica Mink, astrophysicist
DavidEdgarWalther · The Journey (Joyce): Walther
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3.  Ample Make This Bed: Set in the 1980s, this is
the story of two gay men, one of whom contracts
A. I. D. S.. There are two versions: each with about
50 poems by Emily Dickinson that are all in the public domain. For Bb solo, male reader & male chorus.
2 male dancers, a third or more additional dancers;
piano, chamber ensemble (75 min.) or medium
orchestra (110 min.). More detail is listed at IX/I/3. 

Please click on Emily Dickinson to see a list of
​her poems that have been set by this composer.
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               Emily Dickinson, poet
 Volume IX, Book II (Burlesque Mimes); are not included here for the sake of brevity. Please see Volume IX. and it's summary for more information.
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Copyright © David Edgar Walther 2026
©
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  • Listen
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  • About
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  • Music
    • I. Chamber >
      • I. Chamber summary
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      • II. Keyboard summary
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      • III. Orchestral Summary
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      • IV. Dance Summary
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      • V. Voice summary
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      • VI. Chorus summary
    • VII. Opera >
      • VII. Opera summary
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      • VIII. Sung Burlesques summary
    • IX. Burlesque Ballet & Mime >
      • IX. Burlesque Ballets & Mimes Summary
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