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Imaginary Stories (2018)

Posted on October 11, 2018August 19, 2019 by Jay Batzner

I read a lot of comic books and Superman remains one of my favorite characters. Alan Moore and Curt Swan’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow is, I think, one of the best Superman stories of all time. The opening prolog of the book (which is one of the stories portraying Superman’s death) establishes…

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Clans (2018)

Posted on October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 by Jay Batzner

Another collaboration with biologist Wiline Pangle, choreographer Heather Tommer-Beardslee, and costume designer Ann Dasen with contributions from puppeteer Nicole Graziano. Clans takes inspiration from Dr. Pangle’s dissertation work studying the behaviors of hyenas. The piece is in 5 sections: Hunt, Play, Mate, Motherhood, Explore. The video is of the first performance by the Central Michigan University…

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for Larry Craig (2017)

Posted on October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 by Jay Batzner

While going through airport security a few years ago, Heather Trommer-Beardslee turned to me and said “Ever since the Larry Craig scandal I’ve wanted to do a tap dance piece based in a bathroom stall.” So, of course, we made one. Rather than poke fun or mock the event, we made a work about “Public…

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Absolutions for organ duo (2017)

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Jay Batzner

This work was composed for the Russian-Italian Organ Duo of Elena Kalashnikova and Luca Massaglia in the late summer of 2017. I was drawn to the long sustained sound possible with the organ and created a piece which does very little but for a rather long amount of time. I’m honored that the duo asked me…

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The Allegory (2017)

Posted on August 28, 2017March 26, 2018 by Jay Batzner

Based on Plato’s Cave Allegory, this work was conceived and choreographed by Andrea Purrenhage. This video is from the dress rehearsal of the Central Michigan University Dance Company in April 2017.

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Songs My Radio Taught Me (Book 2) (2015)

Posted on November 25, 2016December 29, 2020 by Jay Batzner

I have a problem. As a composer, I’m supposed to write Extremely Serious Music (ESPECIALLY for orchestra). My problem is that, as a man of my age, I listened to a lot of music from the ‘80s. And I still do. I have several pieces in my catalog which draw on ‘80s hits and abstract…

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Dunes (2016)

Posted on November 25, 2016November 7, 2018 by Jay Batzner

This work, inspired by the ecological succession found in Michigan sand dunes, was performed at the Regeneration Dance Festival in Detroit in April 2016. Choreographed by Heather Trommer-Beardslee with costumes by Ann Dasen. Inspiration and lectures were provided by biologist Wiline Pangle.

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The Enemy (2016)

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Jay Batzner

This is a dance collaboration I did with Andrea Purrenhage in April 2016. Andrea came to me with the structure and story of the dance and the theme of “time as the enemy.”

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Word of the Day for voice, flute, and bass clarinet (2015)

Posted on November 8, 2016November 20, 2020 by Jay Batzner

This piece was composed for Tracy Watson and the Crescent Duo (Joanna and Kennen White). Based on the poem “Orbs (Word of the Day)” by Joanna White. Download the score (original flute + bass clarinet version): Word of the Day Download the score (voice + piano version): Word of the Day A recording can be…

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Stalker for solo percussionist (2016)

Posted on November 8, 2016March 1, 2021 by Jay Batzner

Stalker is based on the book Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky and was composed for Aaron Ragsdale. In this book, aliens have visited Earth and left strange objects behind in certain “zones” around the globe. Stalkers are black market dealers who enter these zones and procure these rare and often dangerous objects. In…

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Recent Posts

  • Five Fugues Based on Pop Songs for piano (2021)
  • This Union for soprano and organ (2019)
  • Threads for flute choir (2021)
  • A Thing I Cannot Name for flute (2019)
  • push pins for alto sax (2021)

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