Click on the name of a work for a link to a recent recording.
2020
1. starling sandbox – for solo piccolo [2020] for Salvatore Sciarrino [4′ – 5′]
digital premiere: Sean Quinn @ Melbourne Con composer concert; Melbourne [AU], May 2020
2. understated matter – for solo Double-Bell Horn [2020/25] for Christine Chapman and Ensemble Musikfabrik
premiere: Christine Chapman, Musikfabrik Studios; Köln, July 2020 [live/digital premiere]
3. incubation – for solo Clarinet D’amore (2020) for Richard Haynes [13′ ½]
premiere: Richard Haynes; Bern [CH], October 23rd 2020
season premiere: SMC Lausanne series; Lausanne [CH], March 20th 2023
recorded on CD ‘ghosts of motion‘ – Richard Haynes and Cubus Records [Switzerland]
4. droop, a children’s piece – for Narrator and Basset Horn/Bass Clarinet (2020) for Sarah Watts and Jon Iles [2′ – 3′]
digital premiere: Sarah Watts & John Iles @ Feed the Hound CD Launch; Sheffield [UK], March 25th 2021
recorded: Feed the Hound – released on Cuillin Sound Music Label, June 18 2021
2021
5. waiting – for Voice and Mixed Quartet (2020-21) for Ensemble Zeitstoff and Deutsche Musikwettbewerb, 2021 [from the elephant in blue cycle]
- stillness – Voice + Trio: Tuba, Percussion, Prepared Piano (2020)
1a. (transfixed) – solo Alto Saxophone (2021) for Alex Prill
- wrath – Voice + Quartet: Alto Sax, Tuba, Percussion, Prepared Piano (2020-21)
- disdain – Voice + Percussion (2021) for Marijana and Dennis
digital premiere: (excerpt) Ensemble Zeitstoff, Deutsche Musikwettbewerb Semi-finals; Hannover [DE], March 2021
6. .. an intermittent breath .. – for solo Accordion (2021) for Ghenadie Rotari [2′]
premiere: Quarantine Diaries concert; Tierto [IT], February 2021
7. eve (i) – for solo Mezzo-Soprano (2020, rev. 2021) [7′] for Anna and Kammerklang
premiere: Anna Fraser, Vestige presented by Kammerklang; Sydney Conservatorium/Sydney [AU], April 17 2021
8. glint – for solo Crotales (2021) [2’ – 3’] for Luis Azcona
premiere: Luis Azcona @ Masters Recital; HKB/Bern [CH], April 29, 2021
9. the inane beauty of its surface – for solo Soprano (2021) [4′ – 5′] for Tony Arnold, commissioned by the NMoP Festival [under revision]
from ‘EXO’ (2020-24)
digital premiere: Tony Arnold, New Music on the Point Festival; Vermont (US), June 2021
2022
10. invitation – for solo Clarinet D’amore (2020/22) [2′ – 3′] for R.H
excerpt from incubation
11. a hollow heart’s temptation – for Flute, Bass Clarinet, Percussion, Harp & Violoncello (2022) [9′ – 11′] for Ensemble Offspring, commissioned as part of the Hatched Composer Intensive
digital premiere: Ensemble Offspring @ Hatched Composer Showcase; Hospital Hill/Sydney [AU], February 2023
12. ergo, therefore i am – for solo Viola (2021-22, rev. 2023) [8′] for Phoebe Green
premiere: Phoebe Green @ Phoebe Green & Ben Opie; Tempo Rubato/Melbourne [AU], December 8 2022
13. can i forget the rising sun (2022) [6′ – 7′] to tbj
premiere: Jack Campbell (violin) @ Conway Hall; London (UK), May 2nd 2024
2023
14. bypass (i) – for solo violoncello (2022-23) [4′] commissioned by .abeceda
premiere: Urban Megušar @ Bled Castle; Bled [SL], June 29th 2023
15. brink – for Alto Saxophone, Viola, Violoncello and prepared Harp (2023) [14′] commissioned by .abeceda for the .abeceda Contemporary Music Festival
premiere: .abeceda contemporary music ensemble @ Bled Castle; Bled [SL], June 26th 2023
16. lace – for solo flute (2023) [7′] for Eric Lamb
premiere: Eric Lamb @ Sala Sergio Magnani da FEA; Belo Horizontante [BR], June 30th 2024
17. dross – for solo Percussion (2023) [9′ – 10′] for Aditya Bhat
from the fabric of one’s mettle (i)
premiere: Aditya Bhat @ The Toy Piano, ANAM/MPavillion; Melbourne [AU], February 14 2024
18. death and desire – for Large Ensemble (2022-23) [16′ – 17′] commissioned by Studio Musikfabrik
premiere: Studio Musikfabrik @ Alte Feuerwache; Köln [DE], October 14th 2023
19. lexis (i) – for improvising ensemble and ‘oracle’ (2023) [open duration]
winner of the Just The TRS Call for Scores 2023
premiere: Just the TRS @ MEIT/University of North Texas College of Music, Texas (USA); October 23rd, 2023
2024
20. drench – for solo Vibraphone (2024) [2′ – 3′]
premiere: Luis Azcona @ tbd, presented by Die Randzone; Graz (Austria) 2025
21. serous – for solo B♭ clarinet (2024) [4′ – 5′] for Szilárd Benes as part of the Rucksack-Projekt
premiere: Szilárd Benes @ Speak to Me, presented by Schallfeld Ensemble/KULTUM, Graz (Austria); April 17th 2024
22. like a canon, only… – for two Violins, spatialised (2024) [8’+] for Jack Campbell
23. trace the lines to my centre – for Violin & Violoncello (2024) [11’+] for Antigone Music Collective
winner of the Antigone Second Annual CFS 2024
premiere: Antigone Music Collective @ Maelstrom, October 12th 2024, Cleveland (USA)
24. copse – for String Quartet [and optional speaker] (2024) [9′] for .abeceda
premiere: .abeceda @ .abeceda contemporary music festival; June 24th 2024, Bled (Slovenia)
25. let it pass, let it pass.. – for solo Violoncello + Ensemble (2023-24) [15′] for Urban & .abeceda
premiere: Urban Megušar (cello) with .abeceda and Tilen Draksler (conductor) @ closing concert of .abeceda contemporary music festival; June 28th 2024, Bled Festival Hall (Slovenia)
26. waif – for solo Tuba (2024) [2′-3′] for Fanny Meteier
as part of the body, respiring
premiere: TBD, 2025/26
27. which way the blood – for solo Cimbalom (2024) [12′] commissioned by Aditya Bhat with funds from the Robert Salzer Foundation and the Australian Cultural Fund
after Patricia Sykes’ poem ‘In-roads‘ (2016)
premiere: Aditya Bhat @ In-roads; February 20th @ Hawthorn Town Hall; Melbourne (AU)
2025
28. the hunger in waiting – for solo Bassoon (2022, rev. 2025) [8′ – 9′] for Jye Torodov
premiere: [2025 version] tbd
original version: [.abeceda contemporary music ensemble] recording; Ljubljana (SL)
29. study, in renewal – for three soloists; Clarinet in B♭, Trumpet & Viola (2025) [90″]
30. study, in overlay – for two simultaneous trios (5 soloists); Oboe, Violin, Trumpet, Clarinet in B & Viola (2025) [3′ – 4′]
31. avosetta – nests in reverse bloom – for solo cor anglais (2025)
forthcoming (2025-27):
i am more than my room – for Violin, Electric Guitar, Drum-Kit & Keyboard (2025-26) [13′]
the hunger in waiting – for two dancers, bassoon/tenor saxophone, percussion and string duo (2025-26)
choreography: Alessandro Sollima
dancers: TBD
includes works:
the hunger in waiting (solo bassoon/tenor saxophone
cobble (solo percussion)
dross (solo percussion)
trace the lines to my centre (violin & violoncello duo)
… and dissolve into me – for solo Electric Guitar (2026-) for Ruben Mattia Santorsa
new work – for Electric Guitar, Accordion, Percussion & Violin + electronics (2026-27)
the brutal tongue – for Soprano & Double Bass (2024-26) [13′] tbd
text: self
EXO – for soprano, bass flute & double bass (2022-)
includes works:
i. echophemera (double bass + assistants) [6′]
1. lapse (soprano, bass flute + double bass) [6′]
ii. under veils of breath (solo bass flute) [5′]
2. how hearts (un)bind (soprano + bass flute) [12′]
iii. the inane beauty of its surface (solo soprano) [6′]
iv. bridges between you and me (bass flute + double bass) [2′]
3. more is less (soprano, bass flute + double bass) [13′]
(re)building my queer body – ongoing cycle of solo works with dancer(s) (ongoing)
– the body, fluid – solo violin + dancer (2026-) tbd
– the body, unknown – solo shakuhachi + visuals, for Shih-Wei Crassco-Wu (2024-26) [25′]
more to come…
– the body, respiring – solo tuba, orbiting horn & trombone with dancer/s, for Fanny Meteier and co. (2024-) [45′]
thresh (i) – for Tuba and Horn (2024-25) [12′] for Fanny Meteier
part of the body, respiring
thresh (ii) – for Tuba and Trombone w/ dancers & electronics (2024-25) [14′] for Fanny and Chloe
part of the body, respiring
permit me voyage, love, into your hands – for Flute, Bass Clarinet, Alto/Baritone Sax, 2 Percussion, Electric Guitar, Piano, Viola, Violoncello (2024-) [18’+] TBD
stimme/streich – EP and evening-length work for voice and string quartet; in various formations (2024-26)
includes works:
can i forget the rising sun (2022)
altered egoes (i) & (ii) (2022-24)
like a canon, only… (2024)
copse (2024)
& queer bodies – for Voice and Viola d’Amore (2025-27) for Phoebe Green and I
text: Stephen Zavitsanos
Selected scores can be found on issuu: https://issuu.com/quinn.sean.music
SEAN X. QUINN 