Compositions
Betty Wishart’s music has been performed throughout the United States, in England, Greece, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Japan. To purchase scores please contact the composer.
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Duet
Small Ensemble
Large Ensemble
Solo Pieces
Piano
Après Margherita
My interpretation of Verdi’s loss and longing after the death of his wife. It was written for Verdi’s 200th birthday celebration.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 1:00
Atmospheres
Frustrated 1:03
Self-Confident 0:37
Tranquil 0:58
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 3:29
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Celebration Prelude
Commissioned by Margaret Mills for performance at a concert celebrating her birthday.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 7:33
Published by: Musicalion.com
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Divertissement
Commissioned by Nancy Bogen. Variations on the tune used as a World War II victory song in a Warner Bros. cartoon.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 4:06
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Etude No. 1
Duration: 1:30
Illusions
Where it all began…my first piece. I woke in the middle of the night, got manuscript paper and wrote this straight through with no erasures.
Restless Time 1:08
Interplanetary Visit 0:41
Goodbye (a dèmain) 0:43
Dawn 1:23
The End 0:48
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 4:05
Published by: Conners Publications
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Interlude
An episode in the life of a musician.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 1:35
Performer: Tamara Licheli, piano
Recordings:
NEW MUSIC FOR SOLO PIANO
Available to stream and buy
Intermezzo
Patrons rushing around during concert intermission.
Duration: 1:12
Performer: Tamara Licheli, piano
Recordings:
NEW MUSIC FOR SOLO PIANO
Available to stream and buy
Night Visions Suite
The suite explores the sonorities of the piano. Utilizing the full range of the keyboard as well as the strings of the piano, the suite invites listeners to use their imagination. I wrote this during a week of nighttime storms. Rain, thunder, lightning, bushes brushing against the window, and limbs breaking fired my imagination.
II 6:31
III 4:25
IV 5:14
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 21:23
Published by: Musicalion.com
NIGHT VISIONS SUITE I
NIGHT VISIONS SUITE II
Recordings:
PIANO SONORITIES
Available to stream and buy
Overcoming
Duration: 4:00
Phantasmagoria
Rain and thunder ignite my imagination. A cinematic kaleidoscope begins with a fortissimo two against three then encompasses the full range of the keyboard and strings of the piano. As the storm subsides, a lyrical wind eases me into a restful sleep.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 6:10
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Prelude No.9
This piece is based on brief motifs that depict events experienced during the pandemic.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 1:52
Recordings:
NEW MUSIC FOR SOLO PIANO
Available to stream and buy
Prelude No.10
This piece is based on brief motifs that depict events experienced during the pandemic.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 2:07
Recordings:
NEW MUSIC FOR SOLO PIANO
Available to stream and buy
Preludes: In Memoriam
These character pieces represent important people in the arts, literature, history, and exploration.
2. Amelia Earhart 2:06
3. Winston Churchill 1:58
4. Jane Austen 1:43
5. Henry David Thoreau 2:13
6. Lewis & Clark 2:53
7. Sylvia Plath 2:02
8. Anna Pavlova 1:36
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 17:00
Amelia Earhart
Jane Austen
Henry David Thoreau
Anna Pavlova
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Remembrance
This expressive piece covers a depth of human experience within a very short time. The music takes the listener through a journey of loss, recollection and grief that ends with a feeling of completeness of expression.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 2:23
Published by: Conners Publications
Recordings:
PIANO SONORITIES
Available to stream and buy
Reverie
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 2:00
Sonata
Adagio-Scherzo-Adagio “Sonata” refers to the form, “a sound piece”. Written without time signature, key signature, or measure markings, only tempo changes separate the sections.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 12:11
Recordings:
PIANO SONORITIES
Available to stream and buy
Sonata II
This piece displays introspection and drama, punctuated by distinct meter changes, melodies, and an expansive range of the keyboard.
Capriccio 1:00
Finale 3:10
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 8:26
Recordings:
PIANO SONORITIES
Available to stream and buy
Toccata II
A virtuosic piece that plays with seconds, fourths and sevenths in various rhythmic combinations, yet stays centered on the tonality of A. Repeated triplet sixteenth notes add urgency to the driving rhythm and create a whirlwind finish.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 2:24
Published by: Conners Publications
Recordings:
PIANO SONORITIES
Available to stream and buy
Toccata III
Seconds, fourths, sevenths and octaves propel the driving eighth and sixteenth notes from beginning to end.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 1:57
Performer: Tamara Licheli, piano
Recordings:
NEW MUSIC FOR SOLO PIANO
Available to stream and buy
PIANO SONORITIES
Available to stream and buy
Variations On A Folk Melody
Variations contain imitative polyphony of the Baroque, Alberti bass and homophony of the Classical, chromatic harmony and thematic transformation of the Romantic, jazz and atonality of the Contemporary Era.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 8:37
Recordings:
PIANO SONORITIES
Available to stream and buy
Variations On Shenandoah
Commissioned by Nancy Bogen Six paraphrases of the 19th century sea chanty. The 19th century sea chanty tune undergoes six transformations including one accompanied by blues harmonies – eventually culminating in a majestic adaptation of the original melody.
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 5:27
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Vibes
Three short pieces depicting a day in New York City.
Quiescent 2:02
Ebullient 1:06
Instrumentation: piano
Duration: 4:32
Blue
Recordings:
MOODS
Available to stream and buy
Flute
Awaking
Waking up in the morning.
Instrumentation: flute
Duration: 1:00
Recordings:
ONE MINUTE
Available to stream and buy
Coffee Suite
After the First Cup 0:40
A Little Later 0:35
Several Cups Later 0:50
Duration: 3:15
Four Bibelots
Memories of a vacation filled with relaxation, fun, happiness, and joy.
Instrumentation: flute
Duration: 2:12
Recordings:
YODH
Available to stream and buy
Frolicking
Time to have a little fun. Album won the Global Music Award – Outstanding Achievement and Silver Medals in Contemporary Classical and Album, June 2017.
Instrumentation: flute
Duration: 0:45
Recordings:
ONE MINUTE
Available to stream and buy
Alto Recorder
Suite Of Miniatures
II LARGHETTO 1:00
III ALLEGRETTO 0:30
IV ARIOSO 1:15
Written for Dr. James Chaudoir. Five diverse character pieces filled with unexpected harmonic twists and surprises.
Instrumentation: Alto Recorder
Duration: 3:30
Organ
Sounds
Includes graphic notation and use of the arms.
Instrumentation: Organ
Duration: 5:06
Cello
Stress
So much to do in very little time creates stress.
Instrumentation: Cello
Duration: 1:15
The Conversation
I’ve always liked to watch people interact. In this scenario, a talented but rather shy person meets one who is self-assured. “Meekness” (soft harmonics) questions “Confidence” (low register). After Confidence encourages Meekness to become more positive, Meekness lets loose a barrage of ideas he’s been withholding. The meeting ends as they unite in harmony.
Instrumentation: Cello
Duration: 5:33
Vocal
Requiem For Dreams
1. Fortune or Fate
2. Normal?
3. Marriage
4. Prayer
Commissioned by Judith Bruno (mezzo). Written to promote awareness about domestic violence. Four movements use widely varying styles – musical theatre, pop vocalisms, spoken dialogue, sprechstimme, and classical recitative.
Instrumentation: mezzo soprano, piano
Duration: 13:30
Published by: Musicalion.com
The Marriage
Duos
Piano Duo
Salute
Flute & Piano
Oracles
II 0:40
III 2:14
Instrumentation: piano and flute
Duration: 5:24
Published by: Musicalion.com
Recordings:
HE
Available to stream and buy
Small Ensemble
String Quartet
Experience
Although written after a traumatic experience, the ending conveys a feeling of hope.
Instrumentation: string quartet
Duration: 6:41
Brass Quartet
Fanfare No. 1
Written for Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers May 2021.
Instrumentation: brass quartet
Duration: 1:00
Fanfare No. 2
Instrumentation: brass quartet
Duration: 1:00
Fanfare No. 3
Instrumentation: brass quartet
Duration: 2:30
Fanfare No. 4
Instrumentation: brass quartet
Duration: 4:00
Chamber Ensemble
I Soliste
2. Clarinet, Cello 4:30
3. Piano 1:00
4. Flute, Violin 2:20
5. All 3:25
Written for the International Composers Conference Musicians from different countries meet for the first time. Sharing only the language of music, the first movement depicts the difficulty of performing as an ensemble.
Instrumentation: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano
Duration: 17:15
Memories Of Things Unseen And Seen
“SEEN” 3:50
Haunting melodic strains are shared equally by each instrument. Unseen evokes the human experience not often recognized in others. The pantonality of Seen depicts what people want us to see. Premiered July 5, 1996, in Talloires, France.
Instrumentation: flute, clarinet, violin, cello
Duration: 6:50
Large Ensemble
Orchestral
Concertante No.1….
“Journey into the Unknown”.
Instrumentation: winds, strings and horn
Duration: 10:41
Recordings:
PASSAGE
Available to stream and buy