Daniel Steven Crafts

American composer

Daniel Steven Crafts (born September 22, 1949) is an American composer. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, but has spent most of his life in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Daniel Steven Crafts has chosen to oppose what he considers unjustifiably dissonant formalism prevalent in late 20th century classical music. Instead, he emphasizes tonality in a dialectic between form and content. Known for his strong sense of melody, the composer has written a variety of styles including operas, orchestral works, chamber music, concertos, and satirical pieces. Among Crafts' most well known works is The Song & the Slogan, a collaboration with legendary opera star Jerry Hadley. Written for voice and orchestra, the piece is based on the poetry of Carl Sandburg. The work was made into a TV program for the PBS network and was aired nationally in 2004 with host David Hartman. The Song & the Slogan was awarded an Emmy Award in 2003 for Best Music by the Mid America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Crafts also created the first comic strip opera called Too Much Coffee Man in collaboration with Shannon Wheeler and Damian Willcox. He described the opera Too Much Coffee Man as belonging to a subgenre of classical opera called Gonzo Opera. While using the vocal techniques of traditional opera, gonzo opera uses wildly comical and satirical plots and situations, and is designed for small ensembles.

Emmy Award in 2003 for Best Music by the Mid America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. https://news. illinois. edu/view/6367/212028

VS. an opera for the sake of argument. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto and original story by Rick Huff. For soprano, mezzo, tenor, 2 baritones, piano, flute, clarinet. Duration: 75 min. The Immature Burial. A Gonzo Opera from the Crypt in one act. Libretto and original story by Jonathan David Dixon. For mezzo, tenor, baritone, electronic keyboard, flute, clarinet. Duration: 1 hour. Blind Cupid On line: The Dating Opera. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto and original story by Miffy Gevar. For soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone, piano, bass, flute, clarinet. Duration: 1 hour. The Other Side of the Veil. A Gonzo Opera from the Crypt in one act. Libretto and original story by Jonathan David Dixon. For mezzo, tenor, baritone, electronic keyboard, flute, clarinet. Duration: 1 hour. Down on the Pharma: The Medicine Show. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto and original story by R Michael H. For soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone, piano, bass, flute, clarinet. Duration: 1 hour. Bag Lady. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto and original story by Janice Leber. For soprano, mezzo, baritone, optional chorus, piano, bass, flute, clarinet. Duration: 50 minutes. Adonais. An opera in two acts about the poet John Keats. Libretto by Carla Maria Verdino Sullwold, using poems and letter fragments of Keats, along with poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley and George Gordon, Lord Byron. For mezzo and tenor (primary roles), soprano, alto, tenor, 2 baritones, mixed chorus and medium size orchestra. Baggage. A Gonzo Opera in two acts. Libretto and original story by Rick Huff. For mezzo and tenor (primary roles), soprano, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, piano, bass, flute, clarinet. Cyber Mom. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto and original story by Janice Leber. For soprano, mezzo, baritone, piano, bass, clarinet. Duration: 50 minutes. #trialbytext. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto and original story by Janice Leber. For soprano, mezzo, tenor, 2 baritones, piano, bass, flute, clarinet and bassoon. Duration: 55 minutes. Cellular World. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto and original story by Janice Leber. For soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone, piano, bass, flute, clarinet and bassoon. Duration: 1 hour. Love at the Kitty Cat Hotel. A Gonzo Opera in three acts. Libretto and original story by Janice Leber. For mezzo, baritone, soprano, tenor, piano, bass, flute, clarinet and cello. All the Right Moves. A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto by Thomas B. Woodward from his original play. For mezzo, baritone, soprano, tenor, piano, bass, flute, clarinet and bassoon. And the Winner Is A Gonzo Opera in one act. Libretto by Thomas B. Woodward from his original prize winning play. For mezzo, baritone, soprano, tenor, piano, bass, flute, clarinet and bassoon. Duration: 50 min. Sappho of Lesbos. An opera in three acts based on the novel Sappho, the Tenth Muse by Nancy Freedman. Libretto by Nancy and Benedict Freedman. Mezzo soprano, baritone, tenor, alto, 7 sopranos, 1 high soprano, mixed chorus (including several short solo parts), and medium size orchestra. La Llorona. An opera in three acts, based on the play by Rudolfo Anaya. Libretto by the author. Soprano, boy soprano, tenor, mezzo soprano, 2 baritones and medium size orchestra. Too Much Coffee Man. The first comic strip opera, in two acts, based on the satirical cartoon character of Shannon Wheeler. Libretto by Shannon Wheeler, Damian Willcox, Carolyn Main, and the composer. Mezzo soprano, tenor, baritone. Clarinet, bass, piano. Duration: Act one, 45 minutes. The Refill, 45 minutes. GASP!. A comic eco operetta for children about the science of air and atmosphere!! Libretto and original story by Rick Huff. Bartleby, The Scrivener. An opera in two acts, based on the short story by Herman Melville. Libretto by Erik Bauersfeld. Baritone, tenor, baritone, bass and medium orchestra. Diary Of A Madman. One act opera based on the story by Nikolai Gogol. Libretto by Erik Bauersfeld from his radio play adaptation. Tenor, baritone, soprano, bass and medium size orchestra. Goblin Market. One act opera based on the poem by Christina Rossetti for mixed chorus, soprano, mezzo soprano, baritone with bassoon and piano. Duration: 45 minutes. Under A Halogen Sun. An opera in three acts. Original story and libretto by D. S. Black. Soprano, mezzo soprano, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, 3 basses, chorus (with short solo roles for chorus members), and medium size orchestra. The Furnished Room. An opera in one long act, based on the short story by O. Henry. Libretto by Richard Kuss. Tenor, 2 sopranos, mezzo soprano; 2 contraltos, boy soprano, baritone, bass and medium size orchestra. Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes. The Pied Piper. An opera in one act based on the poem by Robert Browning. Libretto by Adam Cornford. For mixed chorus, soprano, tenor, baritone, piano and flute. Duration: 1 hour.

I Weep for Adonais/The breath whose might I have evoked Two choruses from the opera Adonais for mixed chorus and orchestra, or piano reduction. Text by Percy Bysshe Shelley. There was a naughty boy Setting of a poem by John Keats for mixed chorus and piano. The Jumblies. Setting of a poem by Edward Lear for unaccompanied mixed chorus. Hyacinth Moon Reflections. Setting of 6 poems by Abbot Small, for unaccompanied mixed chorus. Song of the Shepherds. Christmas work—setting of a poem by William Morris. (Arrangements for solo singer and piano, and mixed chorus and piano). Duration: 3 minutes. To a Strange Land for children's chorus, based on poems written by elementary school children under the tutelage of Adam Cornford. Duration: 20 minutes. Vocalise No. 2 for male chorus. Duration: 8 minutes.

Oboe Concerto (three movements). (2222/423/strings). An Iconoclast Savors the Effects of Too Much Coffee. (Concertino for Clarinet and String Orchestra). Also arranged for clarinet and piano. Duration: 10 minutes. Designing a Virtual Reality for a Landscape that Never Was for bassoon and orchestra. (2222/423/strings). Bassoon Concerto (three movements). (2232/423/tym.,perc./strings). Piano Concertino No. 2 (three movements). (2222/310/tym.,perc./strings) (written for student performer). Piano Concertino No. 1 (three movements). (2222/310/tym.,perc./strings) (written for student performer).