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Selected Works

The Angel (from Blake’s Songs of Innocence & of Experience)

On 01, Apr 2024 | In | By Joel Friedman

The Angel (from Blake’s Songs of Innocence & of Experience)

William Blake’s Songs Of Innocence and Of Experience dwells in the realm of nuance, with multiple, even conflicting interpretations. This ambiguity is what attracted me to his poem, The Angel. In the beginning an idealistic young girl, in the glow of wonderment, dreams of being a “maiden queen.” As the poem unfolds, her music moves from chaste pop song simplicity to complexity. Was her Angel over-protective, even misleading? Did the Angel abandon her in her time of need? Did she mislead her Angel? The question whether she needlessly sacrificed her youth and desires leads her to doubt, then anger, but also independence. Aware, and armed with gray-haired wisdom, she has no need of an Angel. After an intense instrumental interlude, the opening simple drum groove returns and then is embedded in the pitched instruments, creating a faint funereal echo. The song’s rueful weariness is disrupted by a last rush of unresolved sound, which hangs questioning in the air. I’m proud to take part in this joint student-faculty composition project designed by Dr. Stephen Gorbos. I’d also like thank my performers Balance Campaign, and mezzo-soprano Carolyn Shaffer. You can hear the premiere performance (4/24/24) here or view it here:

My score for Evolve Puppet’s They Were Called Trees (2023)

On 11, Nov 2023 | In | By Joel Friedman

My score for Evolve Puppet’s They Were Called Trees (2023)

Selected cues from my score for the recent Evolve Puppets hybrid puppetry play “They Were Called Trees” that was just workshopped as part of La Mama’s Jumpstart Festival 2023 in NYC. (Evolve Puppets: Tanya Khordoc, Barry Weis). Music by Joel Phillip Friedman.

You can listen to the score HERE.

Dream – words & music by Joel Phillip Friedman (featuring Alex Gallows/vocals, Scott Thureen/video)

On 28, Sep 2022 | In | By Joel Friedman

Dream – words & music by Joel Phillip Friedman (featuring Alex Gallows/vocals, Scott Thureen/video)

We are living in dangerous times — politically and socially — and part of what makes them so dangerous is so many Americans are still unaware…of context, of history. I wrote DREAM and co-created the video, because I believe that music and visuals can offer a novel and powerful way of underscoring what is happening in America, and world-wide in, a clear, concise, yet viscerally compelling way. At just 4 minutes in length, DREAM is not a podcast, not an editorial: we know how powerfully images and music have resonated in past movements. I created DREAM with this in mind. I offer DREAM in that spirit.

And I have a request: please watch DREAM (it’s just 4 minutes long) and share it WIDELY. I would like it to make a constructive difference for our upcoming midterm elections on November 8th. Democracy and freedom – and all that follows – are on the ballot. We need to “sing that out” loud and clear, and art can help. Thank you. — Joel Phillip Friedman (composer/lyricist). Special thanks for the talents of Alex Gallows (voice) and Scott Thureen (video).

Audio: https://on.soundcloud.com/D773y

Home – a hybrid puppetry theater play

On 03, Jan 2019 | In | By Joel Friedman

Home – a hybrid puppetry theater play

I wrote the score for the evening-length, beautiful hybrid theatre/puppetry/multimedia play for adults entitled Home and written by writers/directors/puppetry designers Tanya Khordoc & Barry Weil of Evolve Puppets and a 1st-rate creative team of designers and actors. Our production team includes Tanya & Barry, associate director/movement coordinator Lake Simons (Lincoln Center’s WAR HORSE), projection designer Jared Mezzocchi (Obie and Lucille Lortel winner, VIETGONE), set designer Tom Lee (SHANK’S MARE), lighting designer Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew (Drama Desk nominee, KPOP), costume designer SL Riffle (Lyric Opera of Chicago), and me. Home premiered in New York City at The Tank NYC (312 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018) between May 30th-June 2nd, 2019. If you are interested in donating to help make this project happen, click HERE. Selected cues can be heard HERE.

One Into One – for soprano & piano

On 04, Aug 2018 | In | By Joel Friedman

One Into One – for soprano & piano

One Into One (lyric: Seth Friedman)
Instrumentation: soprano & piano
Duration: Ca. 5 minutes
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On 03, Jan 2013 | In | By Joel Friedman

Arias with Dance Glitch (2016)

Commissioned by the Irving M. Klein International String Competition for the duo Soliloquy – Klein Laureates Ariel Horowitz, violin & Lauren Siess, viola. NEW REVISED VERSION!

Instrumentation: violin and viola (NB: this piece requires some singing and movement)

Duration: Ca. 20″

A video of the Washington DC performance can be found here; the National Sawdust performance here; a short film about the piece and those of us involved in the project is here.

The score is available through Grey Bird Music. To see a perusal score click here.

You can purchase a 10×13″ PDF copy of the score below:


10×13 PDF Score
10×13 PDF



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Fallings (Workshop Excerpts)

On 07, Dec 2012 | In | By Joel Friedman

Fallings (Workshop Excerpts)

Fallings (work-in-progress) – A multi-media chamber music theater piece residing in the realm between opera and musical theater. Seth Friedman libretto

Instrumentation: 6 person cast (3 women, 3 men), solo violinist, mixed ensemble, and pre-recorded sound
Duration: projected as a one act


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Gravity of Honey

On 21, Nov 2012 | In | By admin

Gravity of Honey

Incidental music for Gravity Of Honey (Play by Bruce Rodgers, directed by John Greenleaf, Chester Theatre Company)

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Personals – I Think You Should Know

On 21, Nov 2012 | In | By admin

Personals – I Think You Should Know

I Think You Should Know (Personals the musical) An intimate torch song for the stage or cabaret. A recent divorcee is unsure about returning to the dating scene. The man she’s brought home is not. She thinks he should go, maybe… Music by Joel and Seth Friedman, Lyrics by Crane, Friedman, Kauffman

Instrumentation: voice, pit band
Duration: 3:34


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T Tables

On 21, Nov 2012 | In | By admin

T Tables

T-Tables was a collaboration with fellow Swarthmore College faculty members Sally Hess (concept and choreography) and John Alston (bass-baritone voice).
Instrumentation: bass-baritone voice and dancer
Duration: 6 minutes
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