Beth Ratay
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List of Works

If you are interested in any scores please contact Beth.
Opera
Chamber Works
Choir
Wind Band
Solo Works
For Children

Opera

All operas are available in a vocal/piano version.
Morpheus Quartet (2026) - in progress, 60 minute one-act with libretto by John Glore
Synopsis: the members of the Morpheus String Quartet experience an unusual evening
Voices: coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, mezzo-soprano or countertenor, baritone
Instruments: violin (2), viola, cello
Excerpt included as part of SNAPSHOT with West Edge Opera March 2023.
"Homecoming" from Expatria (2022) - an aria for soprano and piano, libretto by Basil Consindine • Commissioned by Dr. Bree Nichols for Really Spicy Opera's 2022 Aria Institute
Recording: Dr. Bree Nichols and Jodi Goble
"Four Walls" from Some Imagined Opera (2022) - an aria for soprano and piano, libretto by Marianna Mott Newirth • Written for Really Spicy Opera's 2022 Aria Institute
Recording: Courtney Kayser and Carson Rose Schneider
In the House of Serenity (2022) - 10 minute opera with libretto by Laura Fuentes
Synopsis: three young moms have joined a meditation class to help calm their motherly stresses
Voices: coloratura soprano, lyric soprano (2), mezzo-soprano
Instruments: piano
Premiere: 2023 by Boston Opera Collaborative
Meanwhile, upstairs... (2020) - 2 minute micro-opera based on an internet meme
Synopsis: Sometime late in 2019, the angel Gabriel discovers a terrible mistake
Voices: mezzo-soprano or soprano, bass-baritone
Instruments: piano
Watch: Rachel Abrams, Brendan Hartnett and Irene Moretto December 31, 2020
The Total Spiritual (2020) - 10 minute opera with libretto by Rich Orloff
Synopsis: an applicant arrives for an interview in the great beyond
Voices: soprano (2), mezzo-soprano or countertenor
Instruments: flute, clarinet, percussion, violin (2), viola, cello
Watch: Alter Ego Chamber Opera, September 19, 2020
A Womb with a View (2017) - 10 minute opera with libretto by Rich Orloff
Synopsis: a baby girl, minutes from being born has second thoughts about going into the world
Voices: soprano, soprano or mezzo-soprano (3), narrator
Instruments: flute, clarinet, percussion, violin (2), viola, cello
Watch: Boston Opera Collaborative, November 11, 2017
Watch: Hartford Opera Theater, November 17, 2019
Medicus Mortem (2017) - 10 minute scene with libretto by Andrew Rechnitz
Synopsis: a man is on trial for murder, and we learn the complicated truth of what happened
Voices: bass-baritone, lyric tenor, and soprano
Instruments: flute, clarinet, percussion, violin (2), viola, cello
Watch: West Edge Opera and Earplay, January 20, 2019

Chamber Works

Two Worlds (Dva světy) (2024) - nine songs
Voice: baritone or mezzo-soprano
Instruments: piano and flute
World Premiere on September 8, 2024
Paysage Triste (2019) - two settings of poems by Paul Verlaine
Voices: countertenor or mezzo-soprano
Instruments: violin, crotales
Listen: The Boston New Music Initiative
Miniatures (2018) - five very short works for quintet
Instruments: piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, percussion (woodblock, vibraphone)
Listen: The Oregon Bach Festival Composers' Ensemble
Vodyanoy (2017) - a short setting of a poem in Czech by Irma Geisslova (IPA pronunciation provided)
Voices: soprano
Instruments: clarinet, horn, viola, vibraphone
David's Lament for Saul and Johnathan (2015) - a setting of 2 Samuel 1 for narrator(s) and alto flute (part of Three Windows in chorus)
Listen: The Cambridge Chamber Singers, Dr. Raymond E. Fahrner, conducting
Helical Bricks (2014) - a percussion duet for marimba and multi-percussion
Instruments: Marimba (5 octave) and Multi-Percussion (Woodblocks, Toms, Anvil, Gong)
Listen: Coalescence Percussion Duo
Hvezdy (2013) - three songs in Czech about stars with poems by Jiří Karasek ze Lvovic, Otokar Březina, and František Hrubín (part of the Zrcadlit Se (To Be Reflected) Spiegeln dual cycle) (IPA pronunciation provided)
Voices: bass-baritone
Instruments: flute (dbl. piccolo), oboe (dbl. English Horn), violin, cello, percussion (timbales, wind chimes, crotales, glockenspiel, tubular bells (opt.), woodblocks, suspended cymbal, bongos, tambourine)
Listen: Ninth Planet Ensemble (formerly Wild Rumpus)
Die Tiere (2013) - three songs in German about animals with poems by Rainer Maria Rilke (part of the Zrcadlit Se (To Be Reflected) Spiegeln dual cycle)
Voices: lyric soprano
Instruments: clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, violin, cello, percussion (glockenspiel, tubular bells (opt.), suspended cymbal)
Listen: Ninth Planet Ensemble (formerly Wild Rumpus)
Zrcadlit Se (To Be Reflected) Spiegeln (2013) - a dual song cycle in Czech and German for two voices and instruments (IPA pronunciation provided for Czech)
Voices: lyric soprano, bass-baritone
Instruments: flute (dbl. piccolo), oboe (dbl. English Horn), clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, violin, cello, percussion (timbales, wind chimes, crotales, glockenspiel, tubular bells (opt.), woodblocks, suspended cymbal, bongos, tambourine)
Listen: Ninth Planet Ensemble (formerly Wild Rumpus)
Cat Songs (2011) - three songs about cats setting poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, Pablo Neruda, and Beth Ratay (also available for Pierrot Ensemble)
Voices: Mezzo-soprano
Instruments: clarinet (2), violin, cello and marimba
Listen: Beth Ratay, mezzo-soprano, Joshua Gardner, clarinet, Stephanie Gardner, clarinet, Zachary Ragent, violin,  Sebastian Knuttel, cello, Aiden McKee, marimba
Czech Dances (2010) - three dances for flute (dbl. piccolo), clarinet (dbl. bass clarinet), and marimba (also available for wind band)
Listen: Beth Ratay, flutes, Joshua Gardner, clarinets, Eli Allman and Aiden McKee, marimba
Painting for Strings (2010) - three pieces inspired by paintings from the Phoenix Art Museum for string quartet
Listen: Borromeo String Quartet (reading session), Ensemble Nova
Chorale and Flourish (2010) - for two trumpets and two trombones (available in other brass arrangements, great for high level high school players or college level amateurs)
Listen: Andrew Specht, trumpet, Erin Palchak, trumpet, Diego Rivas, trombone, John Bissett, trombone
Prelude (2009) - a prelude inspired by one by Scriabin for flute, clarinet and cello
Listen: Sarah Morris, flute, Stephanie Gardner, clarinet, Esther Cynn, cello
CrashBang! (2006) - a campy trio for clarinet, bass trombone and percussion (woodblocks, bongos, timbales, 5 metal objects)
Watch: Joshua Gardner, clarinet, Seth Vatt, bass trombone, Kyle Forsthoff, percussion
Personality Quirks (2006) - three minor quirks for euphonium (or trombone) and three flutes (2 C and 1 alto)
Listen: Camille Chitwood, conductor, Ben Negley, trombone, Sarah Morris, flute, Natalie Erskine, flute, Beth Ratay, alto flute
Die Sonette an Orpheus (2005) - five settings from the cycle of Rainer Maria Rilke
Voices: Soprano
Instruments: flute (dbl. piccolo, alto flute), clarinet, bassoon, violin (opt. dbl. viola), cello, percussion (vibraphone, frame drum, chimes, finger cymbals, bass drum, woodblock, suspended cymbal)
Listen: Scott Fry, conductor, Claire Meyers, soprano, Rebecca Romo, flute, Justin Mathis, clarinet, Eric Johnson, bassoon, Samuel Gathman, violin, Phil Norman, cello, Eric Lazar, percussion
Sketches (2003) - three short works for four flutes (1 dbl. piccolo)
Listen: Beth Ratay

Choir

Still, Still, Still (2023) - a re-imagining of the famous carol for SSATB chorus with solo violin. Premiered in December of 2023 in Albuquerque, NM.
The Book of Hours (2018) - a setting in Just intonation of selections from the Book of Hours by Rainer Maria Rilke for SATB chorus, Soprano and Baritone solos and cello, bass or organ accompaniment. Uses the English translation by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy.
Three Czech Songs (2018) - a setting of three poems in Czech by Karel Toman and Irma Geisslova (IPA pronunciation provided)
Listen: Sluneční Hodiny (The Sundial, mvt. 3) The Cambridge Chamber Singers, Dr. Raymond E. Fahrner, conductor
Mystery and Miracle (2017) - a setting of a poem Amanda Udis-Kessler for SSA or SAB chorus, narrator, violin and piano, commissioned for the Third International Convocation of Unitarian*Universalist Women and People of Progressive Faith
The Ladder of Saint Augustine (2015) - a setting of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem for SSATB chorus (part of Three Windows)
Listen: The Cambridge Chamber Singers, Dr. Raymond E. Fahrner, conductor
Song of Deborah (2015) - a setting of Judges 5 for SSA chorus (part of Three Windows)
Listen: The Cambridge Chamber Singers, Dr. Raymond E. Fahrner, conductor
Three Windows (2015) - three poetic settings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 2 Samuel 1, Judges 5 for SSATB chorus, alto flute and narrator
Listen: The Cambridge Chamber Singers, Dr. Raymond E. Fahrner, conductor
Einmal (2006) - a setting of a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke for SSAATTBB chorus
Listen: The Phoenix Symphony Chorus, Dr. Gregory Gentry, conductor

Wind Band

March of the Jackalopes (2021) - a short march for Grade 1 band. Available from T.U.X. People's Music Publishing in 2022.
Loure (2021) - a French dance for Grade 1 band. Available from T.U.X. People's Music Publishing in 2022.
Czech Dances (2010) - three dances for band (also available as a trio in chamber works), medium-hard
Sapphire and Gold (2007) - a concertino for clarinet and wind ensemble
Czech Folk Song Suite (2002) - commissioned by the Summit Ridge Middle School Band, medium-easy
Listen: Summit Ridge Middle Schol Band Robert Chapman, conductor
Purchase: from T.U.X. People's Music Publishing
Concertino (2000) - for flute and wind ensemble
Listen: University of Colorado Wind Ensemble, Allan McMurray conductor, Javier Montilla, flute

Solo Works

Winging It (2021) - for solo bass clarinet, inspired by the art of Wassily Kandinsky
Listen: Stephanie Clark, bass clarinet
Who did so tousle your dark hair? (2020) - for solo clarinet, inspired by a poem by Antonín Sova 
Listen: Yhasmin Valenzuela-Blanchard, clarinet
Evensong (2020) - for solo soprano, poem by Vítězslav Hálek
Recording: Stephanie Lamprea, soprano
Song Without Words (2010) - for piano
Recording forthcoming from Nous Records
Conservation of Mass (2006) - for solo vibraphone
Listen: Kyle Forsthoff, percussion
Caricatures (2003) - for solo bass
Listen: Gonzalo Teppa, bass
Background Noise (2002) - for solo multi-percussion (bongos, woodblock, timbales, splash cymbal, pedal bass)
Listen: Kyle Forsthoff, percussion

For Children

BUGS (2020) - for voice and piano, songs for small children learning to dance, a collaboration with Jessica Miracle of Adagio Dance
Listen:   Dew Drops  Grasshopper
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  • Home
  • Events
  • Recordings
  • List of Works
  • Contact Beth
  • Scores for Purchase
  • Press Kit