Musicatlas
Music
- Veni Sancte Spiritus (2000) for soprano and chamber orchestra. 10 min.
- ________ (2000) version for soprano, clarinet and string quartet. 10 min.
- In the Beginning (2000) for mixed choir. 7 min.
- Credo (2000) for mixed choir. 11 min.
- In This Place (2000) for clarinet, violin and piano. 10 min.
- While Orpheus Dreamed (1998) for orchestra. 13 min.
- Exaudi (1998) for mixed choir. 8 min. Recorded on Capstone CD 8674.
- FourPlay (1997) for string quartet. 5 min.
- The Right Road Lost (1996) for large orchestra . 14 min.
- Crossing the Rubicon (1994) for orchestra; commissioned by the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra.13 min.
- ________ (1993) version for chamber orchestra; for the San Francisco Conservatory New Music Ensemble. 13 min.
- No Strings (1993) for symphonic band; commissioned by Prof. Timothy Smith for the 1994 California Band Directors Association All-State Honor Band Conference. 4 min. Recorded on ME Digital Recordings CD Vol. 6.
- Petit Four (1994) for string quartet; supported by grant from the NEA
- Meditation (1991) piano solo; commissioned by Fallen Leaf Press. 3’.
- Divertimento (1990) for two pianos. 5’30’'.
- In a Dark Time (1989) for chamber chorus (SATB) and chamber ensemble. 14’.
- The Pure Fury (1989) for tenor and chamber orchestra; commissioned by the Ohlone Chamber Orchestra. 20’.
- ______________. (1988) for tenor and large chamber ensemble. 20’.
- Secret Thoughts (1986) for unaccompanied cello; commissioned by Lawrence Granger. 10’. Recorded on CRI SD 567
- Canti d’Innocenza (1984) for soprano, clarinet, harp, and vibraphone. 12’. Recorded on CRS 8944.
- Frammenti (1983) for piano solo; commissioned by Ellen Wassermann. 7’.
- Duo Lirico (1982) for violin and viola. 4’.
- String Trio (1981) for violin, viola and cello. 16’. Recorded on CRI SD 567
- Fantasy for Violin and Piano (1979). 7’.
- Labyrinth (1977) for electronic tape. 6’.
- Chen (1977) Prologue for Orchestra . 2’.
- Phoenix (1976) for clarinet, string quartet, piano and percussion. 12’.
- Night Music (1975) for violin and piano. 8’.
- Newsical Muse (1975) in collaboration with Neil Rolnick, principal composer. Live radio theater piece. 60’.
- Emergency (1974) music for documentary film. 30’.
- Krystallos (1973) music for documentary film. 30’.
Life
Earned his B.A. in Music from Yale University, and the M.A. and Ph.D in composition from the University of California at Berkeley. The recipient of several awards including an NEA Composer’s Fellowship, a California Arts Council Artist’s Fellowship and a Young Composers’ Award from the ASCAP Foundation, Mr. LaRocca has been a leading figure in the Bay Area new music scene as a founding member and Artistic Director of Composers, INC. as well as in his work as a composer and teacher.
His music has been performed in major cities throughout the United States and in Europe by the California Symphony, San Francisco Concerto Orchestra, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Camellia Orchestra, North/South Consonance, Washington Square Series, the Alexander String Quartet and San Francisco Choral Artists, among others. A recent work for symphonic winds, No Strings, has been performed over 25 times since its premiere at the California Band Director’s Association Annual conference in 1993 and will soon be released on a CD of symphonic wind music, entitled "No Strings". Mr. LaRocca’s most recent orchestral work, "The Right Road Lost" (1995) will be premiered next season by the Redwood Symphony.
He is published by Fallen Leaf Press and Right Road Music, and has been recorded on CRI (String Trio, Secret Thoughts), ME Digital Recordings (No Strings) Johnson Digital (No Strings), CRS (Canti d’Innocenza) and Capstone Records ( Exaudi). He teaches at California State University, Hayward, where he is Head of Composition and Theory.