DAVID MYSKA
Composer and Pianist
Compositeur et pianiste
David Myska is a Canadian composer and pianist whose work includes solo, chamber, orchestral, vocal, film, and electroacoustic music. His compositions and performances have been commissioned, sponsored, and supported by
the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella Series, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Meet-the-Composer, the Canada Council,
the Ontario Arts Council, Public Broadcasting, the California Institute of the Arts, Harvard University, Haverford College, Protean Productions, and Western University.
Myska performs as a pianist, including his own works, and directs performances of his electroacoustic music. He holds a PhD in composition from Harvard University
and has taught at the University of Toronto, Harvard University, Haverford College, Mills College, and Western University, and served as Chair of the Department of
Music Research and Composition at Western University.
A complete catalogue of works appears below. Information about recordings appears at
Bowl Records.
Un catalogue complet des œuvres apparaît ci-dessous. Des renseignements sur les enregistrements se trouvent à
Bowl Records.
Selected Compositions
Selected Compositions
Orchestra
Sinfonia Concertante (2009) 16 min.
2222/222/timpani, percussion/harp/strings
Psyche (2005) 25 min.
4344/433/timpani, percussion/harp/strings (16-14-12-10-8)
Chloris (2001) 30 min.
4344/433/timpani, percussion/harp/strings (16-14-12-10-8)
Zephyrus (1996) 30 min.
4344/4331/timpani, percussion/strings (16-14-12-10-8)
Excursion (1984) 22 min.
Commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation
Alluvium (1979) 10 min.
Chamber orchestra
Wind Ensemble
Gravity Lessons (2013) 7 min.
Chamber
String Quintet "Printemps" (2016) 13 min.
2 Violins, 2 Violas, Violoncello
Premiere 01 May 2016 (Toronto)
Four Songs on William Shakespeare (2004, 2012) 23 min.
Mezzo-Soprano, Violoncello
(Sonnets 60, 77, 98 and 65)
Recorded December 2012 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada
Recording available on streaming and through the
Canadian Music Centre
Con Sequenze (2011) 10 min.
Violin and Viola
Premiere 23 February 2015 (London) and 07 March 2015 (New York)
Lynx (2010) 7 min.
Solo Guitar
On the Steps of Mariyinsky Palace (2008) 30 min.
Violin, Clarinet, Piano
Recorded November 2008 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada
Recording available on streaming and through the
Canadian Music Centre
Five Pieces for Violoncello (2007) 26 min.
Recorded June 2011 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada
Recording available on streaming and through the
Canadian Music Centre
Five Movements in Reflection (2004) 30 min.
Violin, Clarinet, Harp
Recorded July 2007, Valencia, California
Recording available on streaming and through the
Canadian Music Centre
Piano Trio #2 (“Scorpion”) (1994) 17 min.
Violin, Violoncello, Piano
Trio (1989) 10 min.
Clarinet, Trumpet, Bassoon
Piano Trio (1988) 25 min.
Violin, Violoncello, Piano
Music for Brass and Percussion (1988) 11 min.
French Horn, Trumpet in E-flat (Flügelhorn, B-flat Piccolo Trumpet),
2 Trumpets in B-flat, Trumpet in C,
3 Trombones (1 on Baritone), Bass Trombone, Tuba, Percussion
Seven Movements in Reflection (1983) 30 min.
Clarinet, Violin, Harp, Piano
Duo Capriccio (1980) 10 min.
Clarinet, Piano
String Quartet (1978) 14 min.
Trio (1977) 8 min.
Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon
Flutepiece (1975) 6 min.
Solo Flute
Keyboard
Con Sequenze (2013) 10 min.
Solo Piano
Recording by the composer available soon on streaming
Sinfonia Traces (2010) 6 min.
Solo Piano
Recording by the composer available soon on streaming
On the Steps of Mariyinsky Palace (2008) 30 min.
Violin, Clarinet, Piano
Recorded November 2008 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada
Recording available on streaming and through the
Canadian Music Centre
Elegy (1998) 12 min.
Yamaha Disklavier Piano and Max/MSP Software
Recording by the composer available soon on streaming
Piano Trio #2 (“Scorpion”) (1994) 17 min.
Violin, Violoncello, Piano
Little Piece (1989) 5 min.
Solo Piano
Recording by the composer available soon on streaming
Piano Trio (1988) 25 min.
Violin, Violoncello, Piano
Ballade (1982) 13 min.
Solo Piano
Recording by the composer available soon on streaming
Ballade (1982) 13 min.
Solo Piano
2009 recording available on streaming and through the
Canadian Music Centre
Duo Capriccio (1980) 10 min.
Clarinet, Piano
Electroacoustic
Elegy (1998) 12 min.
Yamaha Disklavier Piano and Max/MSP Software
Recording by the composer available soon on streaming
Mensural Canons Improvisation Study (1998) variable–infinite duration
Keyboard/Synthesizer Study for Max Software
Psalm 10 (1997) 20 min.
Mezzo-Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Harp, Synthesizer, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass
Images (1990–91) 16 min.
Flute and Computer MIDI Ensemble
Celebration (1989) 5 min.
MIDI Ensemble, 1 Player
Fantasy (1986) 14 min.
Harp and Computer MIDI Ensemble
Quilt (1985) 16 min.
Viola with Synthesis
Music for Piano and Chimes (1980) 8 min.
Four-Channel Tape
Concrete Study (1978) 3 min.
Tape Composition
Vocal
Four Songs on William Shakespeare (2004, 2012) 23 min.
Mezzo-Soprano, Violoncello
(Sonnets 60, 77, 98 and 65)
Recorded December 2012 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada
Recording available on streaming and through the
Canadian Music Centre
How Beautiful On The Mountains (2000) 6 min.
SATB Chorus
Three Songs on Poems by W.H. Auden (1988) 17 min.
Baritone Voice, Piano (Arranged for Mezzo and Piano, 1989)
Quartet (1976) 8 min.
(Text by Dylan Thomas)
Soprano, Viola and 2 Violoncellos
Film and Video
Edouard Manet: Painter of Modern Life (1983)
Clarinet, Violin, Harp, Piano
Film/Video Documentary
Commissioned to accompany the 1983 Manet Exhibition at the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Pissarro: At the Heart of Impressionism (1981)
Flute, Violoncello, Piano
Film/Video Documentary
Commissioned to accompany the 1981 Camille Pissarro Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Distribution by the Museum of Modern Art, New York
Catalogue updated 2026.
For recordings, scores, and current releases, see:
Bowl Records ·
Canadian Music Centre
E-mail the composer:
BowlRecords@mail.com