Sean Friar
Sean Friar is an American composer and pianist. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.Biography
Sean Friar was born and raised in Los Angeles. He studied Music Composition and Psychology at UCLA where he graduated in 2007. He continued his studies at Princeton University, where he received an M.F.A. and Ph.D. in Composition. His primary teachers were Paul Chihara, Paul Lansky, Steven Mackey, and Dmitri Tymoczko.
Friar has been commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, New World Symphony, Alarm Will Sound, American Composers Orchestra, NOW Ensemble, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Present Music, and the Scharoun Ensemble of the Berlin Philharmonic. Other performers of his music include So Percussion, Ensemble Klang, Crash Ensemble, Psappha New Music Ensemble, Alter Ego, Ensemble Argento, and many others.
Friar is the recipient of the 2011 Rome Prize in Music Composition. He is on the Music Composition faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music.Concert Works
Friar's music is known for its propulsive energy, adventurous orchestration, and sense of humor.
Large Ensemble
- 2009 "Out of Line" for chamber orchestra
- 2011 "Clunker Concerto" for percussion quartet on junk car parts and chamber orchestra
- 2013 "Noise Gate" for orchestra
- 2013 "In the Blue" for sinfonietta
- 2015 "Finding Time" for sinfonietta
- 2017 "Dynamics"/"Concerto for Cello and Wind Ensemble" for solo cello and chamber winds.
- 2019 "Emerald Oasis" for orchestra
Solo Music
- 2010 Teaser for solo cello
- 2010 Oboemobo for solo oboe and effects pedals
- 2012 Wind-up Etude for solo piano
- 2016 Chrysalis for soloist on piano and percussion
- 2018 Elastic Loops for solo piano
Chamber Music
- 2006 "Hell-Bent" for violin, cello, and piano
- 2008 "Little Green Pop" for two saxophones, trombone, electric guitar, piano, percussion, and sound engineer
- 2008 "String Quartet"
- 2009 "Velvet Hammer" for flute, clarinet, electric guitar, piano, and bass
- 2009 "Scale 9" for clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion
- 2010 "Fighting Words" for soprano, clarinet, electric guitar, violin, cello, percussion, drum kit, and piano
- 2010 "Short Winds" for woodwind quintet
- 2012 "One-Way Trip" for clarinet, horn, two violins, viola, cello, bass, and piano
- 2012 "Etude for English Horn and Prepared Piano" for English horn and prepared piano
- 2013 "Breaking Point" for clarinet, trumpet, electric guitar, two violins, viola, cello, bass, percussion, and piano
- 2014 "Two Solitudes" for flute, viola, and harp
- 2014 "Four Streets" for percussion quartet
- 2015 "Shades" for alto sax and piano
- 2016 "Kindly Reply" for brass quintet
- 2016 "Come Again" for two pianos
- 2019 "Before and After" for flute, clarinet, electric guitar, piano, and bass
Electronic