Alex Shapiro, composer: Works

Catalog of Concert Works

Alex Shapiro

Alex at work in her studio while in residence at The MacDowell Colony, coffee and binoculars close at hand.

Welcome to a self-guided tour of my compositions, published by my company, Activist Music LLC.

Browse by medium, or for a quick sampling of different sounds, give the fun little Dial-a-Mood a whirl.

Have fun scrolling down through this page!
Click on a title, and a dedicated page will appear
with program notes, score samples,
and audio clips of the piece, as well as
performance and publishing info.

I invite you to visit the other pages of this site for additional information. Dealer discounts are available for all works in the catalog. Enjoy!

–Alex

Quick links on this page

Perusal scores

Browse the catalog

Recordings

Bio and catalog info

Licensing & Arrangements

Publishing info

Contact Info & Press Kit

The San Juan Islands. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Browse by Medium

Solo	Duets	Trios
Quartets	Quintets	Sextets

Moonrise over American Camp. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Large Chamber	String Orchestra	Orchestra
Choral	Wind Band	Electronics

Sunrise over American Camp. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Strings	Woodwinds	Brass	Percussion
With Flute	With Clarinet/Sax	With Oboe/Bassoon	With Piano

Rainbow over American Camp. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Piano	Harp	Percussion
Organ	Harpsichord	Guitar

Bio & Catalog Info

To download a .pdf of the complete
Activist Music catalog,
please click here

To download a program bio and
print-ready photos of Alex Shapiro,
please click here

To download a .pdf of Alex Shapiro's narrative bio and C.V., please click here

To order Alex Shapiro's scores and recordings, visit Purchase

Where does Alex's music come from?
Click the image to play a brief video
of dusk falling over her home
in the San Juan Archipelago.

Perusal Scores

Click on any title for
audio, video, score samples, reviews
and publishing information.

Want to download a perusal score?
Just send a request
in an EMAIL to Activist Music.

Solo Piano

Sonata for Piano (1999; 16')	Intermezzo for Piano (1998; 3')	Luvina (2007; 5')
For My Father (1996; 5')	Slowly, searching (2009; 6')	Chord History (2014; 2')
Vendaval de Luvina (with audio track; 2010; 6')	Spark (2011; 7')	Piano Suite No. 1: The Resonance of Childhood (1996; 12')
Arcana (2014; 23')	Arcana Planet (with audio track; 2017; 20')	Breathless (with audio track; 2023; 9')

PERUSAL PAGE for each of the piano works:
Solo Piano Collection (1999-2017; 11 works)

Harpsichord

Transplanted (viola and harpsichord; 2012; 3')	Three Insanities (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 7')
Slipping (violin, harpsichord and percussion; 2006; 9')	Slip (violin and harpsichord; 2001; 9')
Brat (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 2')	Fleas (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 2')

Organ

Transplant
(solo organ; 1999; 4')

Liquid Compass
(wind band with optional organ;
2014; 9')

Solo Percussion

Kettle Brew
(2013; timpani, percussion; 8')

Sunset over the San Juans. Photo by Alex Shapiro.


Solo Violin and Electric Violin	Desert Waves (with audio track; 2001; 10')	Journey (with audio track; 1999; 7')
	Vista (with audio track; 2005; 8')

Solo Viola and Electric Viola	Evolve (with audio track; 2006; 8')	Desert Waves (with audio track; 2001; 10')

Solo Cello and Electric Cello	Deep (with audio track; 2004; 8')


Solo Flute	Shiny Kiss (C Flute or Alto Flute; 1999; 4')	Below (contrabass flute with audio track; 2008; 10')

Solo Clarinet	Water Crossing (with audio track; 2002; 9')	Desert Tide (with audio track; 2015; 10')

Solo Bass Clarinet	Below (with audio track; 2010; 10')

Solo Contra-alto Clarinet	Deep (with audio track; 2018; 8')

Solo Contrabass Clarinet	Deep (with audio track; 2004; 8')

Solo Bassoon	Deep (with audio track; 2017; 8')	Below (with audio track; 2008; 10')

Solo Contrabassoon	Deep (with audio track; 2004; 8')

Solo Sax	Desert Tide (with audio track; 2005; 10')


Solo Flugelhorn	Water Crossing (with audio track; 2023; 9')

Solo French horn	Deep (with audio track; 2004; 8')

Solo Euphonium	Deep (with audio track; 2019; 8')

Solo Tuba	Deep (with audio track; 2004; 8')	Below (with audio track; 2008; 10')
	Chronicle (with audio track; 2024; 9')

Harp

Intermezzo for Flute and Harp (2008; 4')	Intermezzo for Clarinet and Harp (1998; 4')
Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Harp (2010; 4')	Intermezzo for Violin and Harp (2002; 4')
Intermezzo for Bassoon and Harp (2017; 4')

Guitar

Slippery (flute and guitar; 2015; 9')

Percussion

At the Abyss (piano, marimba, vibraphone and percussion; 2003; 14')	Music for Four Big Instruments (tuba, piano, double bass, drum set; 2006; 7')
Slipping (violin, harpsichord and percussion; 2006; 9')	Kettle Brew (2013; timpani, percussion, and audio track; 8')
Kitchen Sync (wind band and optional audio track; 2021; 1')

Duets

Slip (violin and harpsichord; 2001; 9')	Music for Two Big Instruments (tuba and piano; 2000; 7')
Slippery (flute and guitar; 2015; 9')	Re:pair (flute duet; 2000; 7')
Of String and Touch (viola and piano; 2006; 10')	Re:pair (flute and oboe; 2001; 7')
Of Wood and Touch (cello and piano; 2001; 10')	Re:pair (flute and English horn; 2014; 7')
Of Bow and Touch (double bass and piano; 2000; 10')	Re:pair (flute and bassoon; 2001; 7')
Of Air and Touch (oboe and piano; 2001; 10')	Re:pair (oboe and clarinet; 2016; 6')
Of Breath and Touch (bassoon and piano; 1999; 10')	Re:pair (oboe and English horn; 2014; 7')
Of Wind and Touch (baritone saxophone and piano; 2006; 10')	Re:pair (oboe and bassoon; 2022; 7')
Of Song and Touch (euphonium and piano; 2011; 10')	Re:pair (clarinet and bassoon; 2008; 7')
Fleas (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 2')	Re:pair (bassoon duet; 2001; 7')
Three Insanities (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 7')	Intermezzo for Flute and Harp (2008; 4')
Transplanted (viola and harpsichord; 2012; 4')	Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Piano (2010; 4')
Brat (clarinet and piano; 2013; 2')	Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Harp (2010; 4')
Brat (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 2')	Intermezzo for Clarinet and Piano (1998; 4')
Brat (oboe and piano; 2013; 2')	Intermezzo for Clarinet and Harp (1998; 4')
Brat (alto sax and piano; 2013; 2')	Intermezzo for Bassoon and Harp (2017; 4')
Water Magic (C flute and alto flute with audio track; 2025; 9')	Intermezzo for Violin and Harp (2002; 4')
Water Voyage (clarinet duet with audio track; 2007; 9')	Intermezzo for Cello and Piano (2011; 4')
Water Voyages (clarinet, bassoon, and audio track; 2018; 9')

Trios

Desert Notes (oboe, bassoon and piano; 2001; 10')	Piano Trio No. 1: Elegy (violin, cello and piano; 1999; 8')
Desert Passage (violin, cello and piano; 2001; 10')	Elegy (trumpet, cello and piano; 2004; 8')
Desert Passage (violin, tenor saxophone and piano; 2001; 10')	At the Abyss (piano, marimba, vibraphone and percussion; 2003; 14')
Desert Run (oboe, clarinet and piano; 2007; 10')	Slipping (violin, harpsichord and percussion; 2006; 9')
Desert Thoughts (flute, clarinet and piano; 2008; 10')	Elegiac (clarinet, cello and piano; 2010; 8')
Desert Story (clarinet, bassoon and piano; 2019; 10')	Trio for Clarinet, Violin & Piano (1998; 12')
Flea Circus (rec. only: clarinet, violin and piano; 2008; 1')	Quarks (oboe, violin and piano; 2022; 12')
Circus of Fleas (clarinet, violin and piano; 2018; 2')

Quartets

Introspect (string quartet; 2000; 7')	Evensong Suite (flute, clarinet, bassoon and piano; 1999; 17')
Music for Four Big Instruments (tuba, piano, double bass, drum set; 2006; 7')	Bioplasm (flute quartet: 2 bass fls, 2 alto fls, 2 C fls, 1 piccolo; 2004; 12')
Unabashedly (flute/piccolo, violin, cello and piano; 2006; 14')	Phos Hilaron (flute, clarinet, bassoon and piano; 1999; 3')
Five Squared (string quartet; 2008; 4')

Quintets

Current Events (string quintet: 2 vlns, 2 vlas, 1 vc; 2003; 16')	Introspection (string quintet: 2 vlns, vla, vc, db; 2016; 7')

Sextets

Unabashedly More (flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano; 2010; 11')	Unabashedly Said (flute/piccolo, clarinet, French horn, violin, cello and piano; 2011; 11')
Perpetual Spark (flute/piccolo, violin, viola, cello, double bass, and piano; 2011; 7')	Train of Thought (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, French horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba, with audio track; 2015; 9')

Large Chamber Ensemble

Archipelago (string quartet, double bass, woodwind quintet, piano; 2013, revised 2023; 10')	Remembrance (string orchestra; 2013; 8')
Bioplasm (flute choir; 2011; 12')	Even Deeper (double reed choir with audio track; 2014; 8')
Passages (any size ensemble, with audio track; 2020; 3')	Depth Sounding (tuba and euphonium choir with audio track; 2023; 8')

Sun on Strait of San Juan de Fuca. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Choral

Celebrate! (SATB or SSA choir and piano; 2002; 5')	Because I Am (SSAA choir and piano; 2015; 1')
O Death Rock Me Asleep ( SATB choir, with audio track; 2019; 9')

Strings

Of Wood and Touch (cello and piano; 2001; 10')	Current Events (string quintet: 2 vlns, 2 vlas, 1 vc; 2003; 16')
Desert Waves (5-string electric violin and audio track; 2001; 10')	Introspect (string quartet; 2000; 7')
Desert Waves (5-string electric viola and audio track; 2001; 10')	Circus of Fleas (clarinet, violin and piano; 2018; 2')
Slip (violin and harpsichord; 2001; 9')	Of Bow and Touch (double bass and piano; 2000; 10')
Trio for Clarinet, Violin & Piano (1998; 12')	Piano Trio No. 1: Elegy (violin, cello and piano; 1999; 8')
Quarks (oboe, violin and piano; 2022; 12')	Journey (5-string electric violin and audio track; 1999; 7')
Desert Passage (violin, tenor saxophone and piano; 2001; 10';	Elegy (trumpet, cello and piano; 2004; 8')
Desert Passage (violin, cello and piano; 2001; 10';	Of String and Touch (viola and piano; 2006; 10')
Music for Four Big Instruments (tuba, piano, double bass, drum set; 2006; 7')	Unabashedly (flute/piccolo, violin, cello and piano; 2006; 14')
Evolve (electric viola and audio track; 2006; 8')	Slipping (violin, harpsichord and percussion; 2006; 9')
Perpetual Spark (flute/piccolo, violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano; 2011; 7')	Five Squared (string quartet; 2008; 4')
Archipelago (string quartet, double bass, woodwind quintet, piano; 2013, revised 2021; 10')	Elegiac (clarinet, cello and piano; 2010; 8')
Archipelago (string quartet, double bass, woodwind quintet; 2009, revised 2013 and 2023; 10')	Unabashedly Said (flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano; 2010; 11')
Transplanted (viola and harpsichord; 2012; 4')	Remembrance (string orchestra; 2013; 8')
Fleas (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 2')	Three Insanities (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 7')
Brat (viola and harpsichord; 2013; 2')	Slippery (flute and guitar; 2015; 9')
Unabashedly More (flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano;	Introspection (string quintet: 2 vlns, vla, vc, db; 2016; 7')
Vista (violin and audio track; 2005; 8')	Intermezzo for Violin and Harp (2002; 4')
Intermezzo for Cello and Piano (2011; 4')

Pacific madrona trees. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Woodwinds

Bioplasm (flute quartet: 2 bass fls, 2 alto fls, 2 C fls, 1 piccolo; 2004; 12')	Perpetual Spark (flute/piccolo, violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano; 2011; 7')
Bioplasm, for flute choir (f2011; 12')	Evensong Suite (flute, clarinet, bassoon and piano; 1999; 17')
Re:pair (flute and oboe; 2001; 7')	Shiny Kiss (C Flute or Alto flute; 1999; 4')
Re:pair (flute and bassoon; 2001; 7')	Deep (contrabassoon with audio track; 2004; 8')
Re:pair (flute and English horn; 2014; 7")	Intermezzo for Flute and Harp (2008; 4')
Re:pair (oboe and clarinet; 2016; 6")	Intermezzo for Clarinet and Harp (1998; 4')
Re:pair (oboe and English horn; 2014; 7")	Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Piano (2010; 4')
Re:pair (oboe and bassoon; 2022; 7')	Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Harp (2010; 4')
Re:pair (clarinet and bassoon; 2008; 7')	Intermezzo for Clarinet and Piano (1998; 4')
Re:pair (flute duet; 2000; 7')	Intermezzo for Bassoon and Harp (2017; 4')
Re:pair (bassoon duet; 2001; 7')	Elegiac (clarinet, cello and piano; 2010; 8')
Re:pair for Two Baroque Flutes (flute duet; 2000; 7')	Water Crossing (clarinet with audio track; 2002; 9')
Desert Notes (oboe, bassoon and piano; 2001; 10')	Water Magic (C flute and alto flute with audio track; 2025; 9')
Desert Tide (soprano saxophone with audio track; 2005; 10')	Water Voyage (clarinet duet with audio track; 2007; 9')
Desert Tide (clarinet with audio track; 2015; 10')	Water Voyages (clarinet, bassoon, and audio track; 2018; 9')
Desert Passage (violin, tenor saxophone and piano; 2001; 10')	Of Breath and Touch (bassoon and piano; 1999; 10')
Desert Run (oboe, clarinet and piano; 2007; 10')	Of Air and Touch (oboe and piano; 2001; 10')
Desert Thoughts (flute, clarinet and piano; 2008; 10')	Of Wind and Touch (baritone saxophone and piano; 2006; 10')
Desert Story (clarinet, bassoon and piano; 2019; 10')	Below (contrabass flute with audio track; 2008; 10')
Unabashedly (flute/piccolo, violin, cello and piano; 2006; 14')	Below (bass clarinet with audio track; 2008; 10')
Unabashedly Said (flute/piccolo, clarinet, French horn, violin, cello and piano; 2010; 11')	Below (bassoon with audio track; 2008; 10')
Unabashedly More (flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano; 2010; 11')	Brat (oboe and piano; 2013; 2')
Slippery (flute and guitar; 2015; 9')	Brat (alto sax and piano; 2013; 2')
Brat (clarinet and piano; 2013; 2')	Even Deeper (double reed choir with audio track; orchestra; 2014; 8')
Train of Thought (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, French horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba, with audio track; 2015; 9')	Trio for Clarinet, Violin & Piano (1998; 12')
Archipelago (string quartet, double bass, woodwind quintet, piano; 2013, revised 2023; 10')	Quarks (oboe, violin and piano; 2022; 12')
Circus of Fleas (clarinet, violin and piano; 2018; 2')

Works with flute

Shiny Kiss (solo C or alto fl)	Desert Thoughts (fl, cl., pno)
Re:pair (fl, ob)	Bioplasm (fl quartet)
Re:pair (fl, Eng hn)	Bioplasm, for flute choir
Re:pair (fl, bn)	Evensong Suite (fl, cl, bn, pno)
Re:pair (fl duet)	Unabashedly (fl/picc, vln, vc, pno)
Re:pair for Two Baroque Flutes	Unabashedly More (fl/picc, cl, vln, vla, vc, pno)
Intermezzo for Flute and Harp	Unabashedly Said (fl/picc, cl, hn, vln, vc, pno)
Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Harp	Perpetual Spark (fl/picc, vln, vla, vc, db bs, pno)
Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Piano	Below (contrabs fl, audio track)
Archipelago (str qt, dbl bs, w.w. quint, pno)	Slippery (fl, gtr)
Water Magic (c fl, alto fl, and audio track)

Works with clarinet and saxophone

Intermezzo for Clarinet and Piano	Water Voyage (cl duet, audio track)
Intermezzo for Clarinet and Harp	Water Voyages (cl, bn, and audio track)
Re:pair (ob, cl)	Desert Tide (sop sax, audio track)
Re:pair (cl, bn)	Desert Tide (cl, audio track)
Trio for Clarinet, Violin & Piano	Of Wind and Touch (bari sax, pno)
Train of Thought (bass cl, bari sax, Fr hn, tbn, euph, tuba, audio track )	Brat (cl, pno)
Brat (alto sax, pno)	Evensong Suite (fl, cl, bn, pno)
Elegiac (cl, vc, pno)	Archipelago (str qt, dbl bs, w.w. quint, pno)
Desert Run (ob, cl, pno)	Unabashedly Said (fl/picc, cl, hn, vln, vc, pno)
Desert Thoughts (fl, cl, pno)	Unabashedly More (fl/picc, cl, vln, vla, vc, pno)
Desert Story (cl, bn, pno)	Circus of Fleas (cl, vln,pno)
Deep (contra-alto cl, audio track)	Desert Passage (vln, tenor sax, pno)
Water Crossing (cl, audio track)	Below (bs. cl, audio track)
	Below (contrabs. cl, audio track)

Works with oboe and bassoon

Re:pair (fl, ob)	Of Air and Touch (ob, pno)
Re:pair (fl, Eng hn)	Of Breath and Touch (bn, pno)
Re:pair (ob, Eng hn)	Desert Run (ob, cl, pno)
Re:pair (fl, bn)	Desert Notes (ob, bn, pno)
Re:pair (ob, cl)	Desert Story (cl, bn, pno)
Re:pair (ob, bn)	Deep (contrabn, audio track)
Re:pair (cl, bn)	Even Deeper (double reed choir with audio track)
Re:pair (bn duet)	Archipelago (str qt, dbl bs, w.w. quint, pno)
Brat (ob, pno)	Quarks (ob, vln, pno)
Intermezzo for Bassoon and Harp	Water Voyages (cl, bn, and audio track)
Evensong Suite (fl, cl, bn, pno)	Below (bn, audio track)

Works with piano

Intermezzo for Clarinet and Piano	Quarks (ob, vln, pno)
Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Piano	Desert Notes (ob, bn, pno)
Intermezzo for Cello and Piano	Desert Passage (vln, tenor sax, pno)
Intermezzo for Flute and Harp	Desert Run (ob, cl, pno)
Intermezzo for Bass Flute and Harp	Desert Thoughts (fl, cl, pno)
Intermezzo for Clarinet and Harp	Desert Story (cl, bn, pno)
Intermezzo for Bassoon and Harp	Of Air and Touch (ob, pno)
Intermezzo for Violin and Harp	Of Breath and Touch (bn, pno)
Quarks (ob, vln, pno)	Of Wind and Touch (bari sax, pno)
Circus of Fleas (cl, vln, pno)	Of Song and Touch (euphonium, pno)
Trio for Clarinet, Violin & Piano	Of String and Touch (vla, pno)
Brat (cl, pno)	Of Wood and Touch (vc, pno)
Brat (oboe, pno)	Of Bow and Touch (dbl. bs, pno)
Brat (alto sax, pno)	Phos Hilaron (fl, cl, bn, pno)
Elegy (tpt, vc, pno)	Unabashedly Said (fl/picc, cl, hn, vln, vc, pno)
Elegiac (cl, vc, pno)	Unabashedly More (fl/picc, cl, vln, vla, vc, pno)
Piano Trio No. 1: Elegy	Unabashedly (fl/picc, vln, vc, pno)
Archipelago (str qt, dbl bs, w.w. quint, pno)	Perpetual Spark (fl/picc, vln, vla, vc, db bs, pno)
Music for Two Big Instruments (tuba, pno)	Evensong Suite (fl, cl, bn, pno)
Music for Four Big Instruments (tuba, dbl. bs, drums, pno)

Works with brass

Elegy (trumpet, cello and piano; 2004; 8')	Deep (euphonium, with audio track; 2019; 8')
Water Crossing (flugelhorn, with audio track; 2023; 9')	Depth Sounding (tuba and euphonium choir with audio track; 2023; 8')
Deep (French horn, with audio track; 2004; 8')	Deep (tuba, with audio track; 2004; 8')
Unabashedly Said (flute/piccolo, clarinet, French horn, violin, cello, and piano; 2010; 11')	Below (tuba, with audio track)
Archipelago (string quartet, double bass, woodwind quintet (incl. French horn), piano; 2013, revised 2023; 10')	Music for Two Big Instruments (tuba and piano; 2000; 7')
Train of Thought (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, French horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba, with audio track; 2015; 9')	Music for Four Big Instruments (tuba, piano, double bass, drum set; 2006; 7')
Of Song and Touch (euphonium and piano; 2011; 10')	Chronicle (tuba, with audio track; 2024; 9')

Orchestra

Remembrance (string orchestra; 2013; 8')	Archipelago (chamber orchestra; 2013, revised 2023; 10' )
Beneath (orchestra, with audio track; 2019; 11')	Passages (any size ensemble, with audio track; 2020; 3')

Concert Wind Band

Homecoming (wind band; ACOUSTIC; 2008; 8')	Paper Cut (wind band, printer paper, audio track; 2010; 5')
Airborne (wind band; ACOUSTIC; 2021; 5')	Rock Music (wind band, rocks, audio track; 2016; 4')
Free (wind band, ACOUSTIC; 2022; 8')	Liquid Compass (with wind band; optional organ; 2014; 9')
Lights Out (wind band, audio track; 2015; 5')	Moment (wind band, audio track; 2016; 6')
Tight Squeeze (wind band, audio track; 2013; 3')	Trains of Thought (wind band, audio track; 2017; 7')
Immersion (wind band and audio track; 2010; 23')	Passages (with soloist or any size ensemble; 2020; 3')
Depth (wind band and audio track; 2010; 8')	Off The Edge (wind band and audio track; 2019; 3')
Surface (wind band and audio track; 2010; 4')	Ascent (wind band and audio track; 2020; 3')
Beneath (wind band and audio track; 2010; 11')	Breathe (with wind band; 2020; 10')
Suspended (wind band, audio track; 2021; 28')	Kitchen Sync (any ensemble and opt. audio track; 2021; 1')
Distanced (wind band, audio track; 2021; 9')	Pop Music (wind band and audio track; 2022; 4')
Masked (wind band, audio track; 2021; 5')	Count to Ten (any ensemble and opt. audio track; 2021; 1')
Viral (wind band, audio track; 2021; 6')	Slump (wind band, audio track; 2024; 4')
Recycled Music (wind band, empty containers, audio track; 2024; 4')

PERUSAL PAGE for each of the wind band works:
Wind Band Collection (2008-2024; 26 works)

Lion's Mane jellyfish. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Electroacoustic: Solo and Small Ensemble

Water Crossing (with clarinet; 2002; 9')	Vendaval de Luvina (with piano; 2010; 6')
Water Crossing (with flugelhorn; 2023; 9')	Arcana Planet (with piano, 2017; 23')
Water Magic (C flute and alto flute with audio track; 2025; 9')	Breathless (with piano; 2023; 9')
Water Voyage (with clarinet duet; 2007; 9')	Desert Tide (with soprano saxophone; 2005; 10')
Water Voyages (with clarinet and bassoon; 2018; 9')	Desert Tide (with clarinet; 2015; 10')
Below (with contrabass flute or other instrument; 2008; 10')	Desert Waves (with 5-string electric violin; 2001; 10')
Vista (with violin; 2005; 8')	Desert Waves (with 5-string electric viola; 2001; 10')
Evolve (with electric viola; 2006; 8')	Deep (with contrabassoon or any low wind or brass; 2004; 8')
Journey (with 5-string electric violin; 1999; 7')	Even Deeper (with double reed choir, 2014; 8')
Train of Thought (with bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, French horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba, 2015; 9')	Passages (with soloist or any size ensemble; 2020; 3')
Kitchen Sync (with any ensemble; opt. audio track; 2021; 1')	Depth Sounding (tuba and euphonium choir; 2023; 8')
Chronicle (with tuba; 2024; 9')	Kettle Brew (with timpani, percussion, 2013; 8')

Electroacoustic: Large Ensemble

Paper Cut (with wind band, printer paper; 2010; 5')	Lights Out (with wind band; 2015; 5')
Depth (with wind band; 2010; 8')	Slump (with wind band; 2024; 4')
Surface (with wind band; 2010; 4')	Tight Squeeze (with wind band; 2013; 3')
Beneath (with wind band; 2010; 11')	Liquid Compass (with wind band; optional organ; 2014; 9')
Immersion (with wind band; 2010; 23')	Moment (with wind band; 2016; 6')
Beneath (with orchestra; 2019; 11')	Trains of Thought (with wind band; 2017; 7')
Even Deeper (with double reed choir; 2014; 8')	Off The Edge (with wind band; 2019; 3')
Ascent (with wind band; 2020; 3')	Passages (with soloist or any size ensemble; 2020; 3')
O Death Rock Me Asleep (with SATB choir; 2019; 9')	Breathe (with wind band; 2020; 10')
Kitchen Sync (any ensemble and opt. audio track; 2021; 1')	Count to Ten (any ensemble and opt. audio track; 2021; 1')
Pop Music (wind band and audio track; 2022; 4')	Distanced (with wind band; 2021; 9')
Masked (with wind band; 2021; 5')	Viral (with wind band; 2021; 6')
Suspended (with wind band; 2021; 28')	Recycled Music (with wind band, empty containers; 2024; 4')
Rock Music (with wind band, rocks; 2016; 4')

Electronic only

Just a Minute of Your Time (electronic; 2006; 1')	Wail (electronic; 2009; 1')
Unhinged (electronic; 2005; 1')	Plasma (electronic, with altered flute quartet; 2004; 1')
Chakra Suite (with 32-string veena, tabla and guitar; 2005; 10')

works as a fox naps in front of her.

WHY is Alex drawn to compose electroacoustic works
for large ensembles?

In a conversation on March 26, 2022 with the musicians of The Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra, Alex was asked a question that gave her an opportunity to share her unique perspective on a genre she has helped bring to the fore. Click to watch her response!

For more of Alex's interviews
and appearances, click here

The San Juan Islands from the ferry bow. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Further information

Alex Kayaking

For concerts and recordings, the descriptions found on the individual web pages of each of these pieces, or in the bound scores themselves, may serve as program notes.

A brief program bio can be found here

For more information about Alex Shapiro, please click Biography

A composer's work is purely abstract
without musicians bringing it to life.

To see a list from 2000-2009
of some of the wonderful players
who have performed and recorded this music,
click here

Alex kayaking off the coast of Malibu.

Contact Info and Press Kit

To contact Alex Shapiro,
email is best.
Click here to send Alex a note

To download a .pdf of the complete
Activist Music LLC catalog,
please click here

To download a .pdf of a complete
narrative bio and C.V.,
please click here

To obtain a
short program bio for print,
please click here

To download a photograph
for print or web,
please click here

Interact with the composer!
See Alex in the context of the world around her,
through the nature-oriented lens of her popular archived blog,
Notes from the Kelp,
and in the social networks-- especially Bluesky.


	Engage HERE!



Facebook	Bluesky	Instagram	LinkedIn	YouTube	Soundcloud	Email

Alex is very fortunate to have a fantastic professional associate helping her each day with running her business: meet Laura Krider!

Need assistance with anything from Alex or Activist Music LLC? In addition to always being able to contact Alex, don't hestitate to email Laura.

Recordings

Information about albums
on which Alex's concert works appear
can be found at Recordings

Interested in hearing a particular piece
in its entirety that hasn't
been released yet?
Email Alex.

If you'd also like to hear some of Alex's
jazz, pop music, film & TV scoring work,
click here

Licensing, Arrangements, & and Booking

Alex at work in her home studio
on the edge of San Juan Island, WA., February 2024.

Licensing:

Arrangements:

Every work in Ms. Shapiro's catalog is published by Activist Music LLC unless otherwise indicated. ALL licensing inquiries, including recording, broadcast, synchronization to video or dance, marching band or other arrangements, etc., are handled DIRECTLY by Ms. Shapiro and Activist Music LLC. Please avoid the unnecessary expense of third party businesses.

Send an email with the details of your request by clicking here.

Here's something VERY helpful: a thorough explanation for creating arrangements, prepared by the Music Publishers Association, of which Alex is a board member. The documents also addresses related copyright issues that can sometimes seem elusive.

Click HERE to download!

Commissioning:

Webhearsals:

Ms. Shapiro is equally comfortable creating new works for an individual ensemble, or for a large consortium of participants.

To discuss a project, please contact Alex.

Alex loves to interact with ensembles, coach rehearsals, discuss myriad topics, and give a detailed tour of her state-of-the-art project studio on San Juan Island.

Click here for more information, to see a video, and to schedule a session.

Residencies:

Speaking:

When budgets allow for the expense of an in-person residency, Alex is a positive presence on campus, whether in rehearsals of her music, or giving lectures on the many facets of a happy career. Alex also enjoys doing e-residences, which are an excellent option that saves money and fossil fuels!

To inquire, please email Alex.

With expertise in music, publishing, advocacy, and technology, Alex is in demand as a speaker. Equally at ease talking to a room of 20 people or 3,000 attendees at a conference, and a lively guest on podcasts, webcasts, and radio, she welcomes opportunities to share her enthusiasm and perspective. Alex's addresses often include eye-catching multimedia, as well as companion web pages designed to further inspire and inform audiences.

For booking, please email Laura Krider.

Knowing a bit about a composer as a person
often adds to the perception of her music.
If you're interested in reading
some of Alex's musings about music,
nature and the humor of life in general,
click here

Kingfisher and lunch. Photo by Alex Shapiro.

Publishing & Distribution

Alex Shapiro is proud to serve on the Board of Directors
of the Music Publishers Association of the United States,
representing her publishing company Activist Music LLC.

Activist Music LLC is delighted to include
these companies among its many distributors:

Orders may also be placed with your local music retailer.

Alex Shapiro is an ASCAP writer, and Activist Music is an ASCAP publisher. They control 100% of all rights to all cataloged pieces unless otherwise indicated.
Works in the Activist Music, LLC catalog have been copyrighted by Alex Shapiro with the United States Copyright Office at the Library of Congress.