Dr. Owen is Head of Theory and Composition at Coe College, teaching harmony, musicianship skills, counterpoint, form, composition, electronic and computer music, 19th & 20th century music history. He was composer-in-residence with the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra (1984-92), Chair of the lowa Composers Forum (1988-92), held the Shuttleworth Professorship of Music (1989-94), Chair of the Artistic Advisory Committee of the C.R.S.O. (1979-1992), and Chair of the Coe College Faculty Computer Policies Committee (1992-present). He holds the Ph.D. (Richard Hervig, Peter Tod Lewis) from the University of lowa ('74), and is an affiliate of B.M.I.

Opera

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Music Theater

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Orchestra

CONCERTO FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA. 1990. Duration: 24'. 2 2 2 214-2-3-112 perc., timp., strgs., piano solo. Premiere: Jan. 25, 1992. Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Tiemeyer, cond. Brubaker, piano. Comm: J. Stickley.
A romantic. dramatic tour de force for the pianist and orchestra

 

SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG. (Isaiah, Psalms). 1989. SATB chorus, orch.:1-1-0-1 / 0-2-0-0 / timp. / strings. Commissioned by Mount Mercy College. Premiered: April 23, 1989, Paramount Theater, Cedar Rapids, IA
Commemorating Mount Mercy's 50th Anniversary, this tnumphant work combines traditional and contemporary choral tech
niques

THE MYSTIC TRUMPETER (Whitman). 1988. Cantata. SATB chorus, SATB soloists, string orchestra. Duration: 32'. Premiere: Nov. 5, 1988, CRSO, chorus, Christian Tiemeyer, cond.
Commissioned by Beta Kappa chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, this major cantata re-enacts all the mystical emotions of
Whitman's great poem, combining tradibonal and contemporary techniques to give all the participants substantial roles

GLEE. 1986. A concert overture. Duration: 4'30" 2-2-2-2/4-2-3-1/2 perc., xylo. solo, timp /strgs. Premiere: Feb.3, 1986, Cedar Rapids Symphony Orch., Christian Tiemeyer, cond Comm: CRSO.
An energetic. contemporary romp that has become the "theme-song" of the C R S O

 

DANCES OF THE MIND. 1983. A short symphony in three movements. Duration: 23'30". 3-3-3-314-2-3-113 perc., timp/strgs. Premiere: Dec. 5, 1983, Cedar Rapids Symphony Orch.,Christian Tiemeyer, cond. The accompanying poetry (program notes) sets the varied moods of this programmahc symphony that won the Indianapolis Symphony Contemporary Music Festival Award in 1985

IOWA. 1979. Symphonic poem. Duration: 13'. Premiere: Feb., 1979. Cedar Rapids Symphony Orch., Richard Wllliams, cond.
This work won the 1979 lowa Symphonic Composihon Prize

MUSIC FOR STRING ORCHESTRA. 1968. String essay in 2 parts. Div. a6. Duration: 13'. Premiere: March, 1969, Eastman-Rochester S.O., Howard Hanson, cond. A "concerto" for string orchestra, premiered by Howard Hanson.

SYMPHONY. 1967. Symphonic essay. 2-2-2-214-2-3-111 perc.,timp./strgs. Duration:13'. Premiere: May, 1968, Indianapolis Symphony Orch., Izler Solomon, cond. A tone-poem that won the 1967 Indianapolis Symphony Contemporary Music Festival Award, and was voted as the audience favorite at that Festival

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Band

MUSICA COENSIS (MUSIC FOR A GLEEFUL RITE). A.K.A. COLLEGIATE RITE. Processional. 1976. Concert band. Premiere: May 1976, Coe College Band. J. Owen, cond.
A processional march, designed for flexible repeats, this has been Coe's commencement processional since 1976

CLARINET CONCERTO 1980. Clarinet solo / wind ens. Dur: 18'. Prem.: Apr,'80, T. Topolewski, clar, J. Owen, cond.
A 3-movement clannet and wind ensemble work for the advanced clarinetist

VARIATIONS FOR EUPHONIUM AND BAND. 1976. Euphonium solo. Duration: 8'. Band. Prem.: Apr,'76, J Owen, trb., T.C. Slattery, cond, Coe College Band. (Whaling Publications).
A favorite solo work of the world's prominent euphoniumists

DIVERSION 1974 Soli alto and tenor saxes with band. Duration: 8' Prem.: April, 1976, Coe College Band, I.B.A. Convention. J. Sto ry and J Lansing soloists, T.C.Slattery, cond
An extremely accessible showcase for two saxophonists; an audience pleaser

THREE FORMATS FOR THE DANCE. 1974. Wind and perc.ens. w/ str. sext. (2-1-1-2). Dur: 22'. Prem.: June, 1974, U. of lowa Dance Theater, G Chenowith, cond, A. Ludwig, choreographer.
An avant-garde dance work in three movements that features the chamber string ensemble

Chorus

SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG. (Isaiah, Psalms). 1989. SATB chorus, orch.:1-1-0-1 / 0-2-0-0 / timp. / strings. Commissioned by Mount Mercy College. Premiered: April 23, 1989, Paramount Theater, Cedar Rapids, IA
Commemorating Mount Mercy's 50th Anniversary, this tnumphant work combines traditional and contemporary choral tech
niques

THE MYSTIC TRUMPETER (Whitman). 1988. Cantata. SATB chorus, SATB soloists, string orchestra. Duration: 32'. Premiere: Nov. 5, 1988, CRSO, chorus, Christian Tiemeyer, cond.
Commissioned by Beta Kappa chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, this major cantata re-enacts all the mystical emotions of
Whitman's great poem, combining tradibonal and contemporary techniques to give all the participants substantial roles

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Ensemble

Chamber

TANGO AND WATUSI. 1994. String Quartet No. 3. Duration: 11'. Premiere: Nov. 6, 1994, Stradavari Quartet. Coe College.
Stylized dance rhythms for the concert setting

LICORICE BRITTLE. 1994. Clarinet and Piano. Duration: 6'. Premiere: April 17, 1994, Iowa Composers Concert. Coe College. Carson/Owen .
A jazz influenced romp for both the clarinetist and the pianist

SUITE OF COLORS. 1993. Cello and Piano. Duration: 19'. Premiere: Sept. 25, 1993, ICF Festival, U. of lowa, Bostian and Miller.
A three movement dialogue for chamber artists.

LIFE. 1990. Chamber winds / perc. Dur.: 9'. Prem.: March, 1990, 30th anniversary of Life Investors Corp. CRSO players. Comm: Life Investors Corp.
A toccata for chamber band

CANON AND TOCCATA. 1990. 3 percussionists. Duration: 10'. Premiere: April 1990, Coe College, CRSO Percussion Ensemble (Harris, Lawrence, Titus).
Two electnc movements based on metnc modulation techniques

ENCOUNTERS. 1986. Piano solo. Eight character pieces. Duration: 22'.Premiere: April, 1986, Beverly Avery Smoker and Jerry Owen, Iowa Composers Concert, Coe College.
A major volume for the solo pianist, a series of character sketches

FOUR STUDIES FOR THE GUITAR. 1985. Guitar alone. Duration: 22'. Premiere: May, 1985. Cynthia Egger, Coe College
Four extended essays for the artist guitanst

AVERY DIALOGS. 1982. Piano alone. 2 mvts. Duration: 7'. Premiere: Beverly Smoker, Coe College.
Two impromptus that investigate jazz harmonies and rag-time in the recital setbng

STRING QUARTET. 1982. (String quartet No. 2) Dur.: 14'. Prem.: Cedar Rapids Symphony String Quartet, October, 1982, Brucemore, Cedar Rapids, IA.
A single-movement work of exciting contrasts.

MUSIC FOR FRIENDS. 1982. Clarinet, viola, piano. Suite. Dur.: 10'. Premiere: Topolewski, Dakin, Titus. October, 1982. Comm: W. Shuttleworth .
Written for younger players, each participant is featured in charactenstic passages

INTIMATE DANCES. 1981. Flute and guitar. Suite Duration: 8'. Premiere: Boland/Dowdall Duo, Coe College, 1981 (Southern Music Co., San Antonio).
A widely pefformed duo in four movements, an excellent opener or closer

DIALOG V. 1981. Bassoon and piano. Duration: 9'. Premiere: Kathy Hall and J. Owen, Coe College, Feb., 1981.
An existential journey

DIALOG IV, TO ME. 1979. Trombone alone. Duration: 6'. Premiere: Jerry Owen, SOMA 3, March, 1979, Coe College.
An avant-garde feature work that investigates the micro-tuning potential of the trombone

SONATA IN BAROQUE STYLE. 1976. Flute, hpschd, bass. Duration: 12'. Premiere: Coe Baroque Ensemble, Coe College. (Southern Music Co., San Antonio).
A comical theater piece that allows the harpsichordist to play jazz and avant-garde figures

DIALOG lll. 1975. Oboe and prepared piano. Duration 8'. Premiere: Carol Stephenson and G.H. Pro, May, 1975, Coe College. (Carl Fischer/Pembroke) .
The piano alternates between keyboard and percussion instrument, some avant-garde oboe techniques

DIALOG. 1973. Viola alone. Duration: 5'. Premiere: John Borg, Feb., 1973, Coe College.
A passionate solo work for the viola

THREE NOTIONS FOR TROMBONE AND PIANO. 1970. Trombone and piano. Duration: 9'. Premiere: Nov., 1970, Jerry Owen/Sharon Kay Stang, Coe College.
Bagatelles in avant-garde style

PIANO SONATA 3. 1969. Duration: 22'.
A Prokofiev-like adventure for the piano

PIANO SONATA 2. 1968. Duration: 18'. Premiere: Steven Lewark, May, 1969, DePauw University.
Another Prokofiev-like adventure

FOUR DANCES FOR TWO PIANOS. 1966. Duration 11'.Premiere: J. Linder, J. Owen., U. of Evansville, May, 1966.
Contrasting choreographic movements investigating the spectrum of color for two pianos

VARIATIONS FOR TWO TUBAS AND PIANO. 1965. Duration 10'. Premiere: May, 1966, University of Evansville, IN.
A subterranean voyage

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Voice

BLAKE SONGS. 1985. Soprano and piano. 4 songs. Duration: 9'. Premiere: Victoria Johnson, soprano, and Beverly Smoker, Jan., 1986, Coe College.
Four of Blake's greatest poems in a contemporary, dramatic cycle

CHILDHOOD SONGS. 1978. Soprano, flute, cello, piano. Suite of 13. Duration: 20'. Premiere: 1979, Coe College.
A humorous, touching cycle based on the composer's poems.

MUSIC AFTER TIMES OF WAR. 1973. 5 songs. Baritone voice, SSAA chorus, 2 perc., tape. Duration: 22'. Premiere: University of Iowa Composition Department, 1973.
An avant-garde, intense and persuasive cantata based on the Vietnamese conflict

HAIKU SET. 1969. Soprano and piano. Duration: 18'. Premiere: Marilyn Schaaf Owen and Steven Lewark, DePauw University, May, 1968.
A charming and delightful cycle based on the great Japanese poets Basho and Issa

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Solo Instrument

See "chamber" above

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Electronic

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Jazz