Don used to self publish under the name Zort Publications; the name was inspired by Bloom County, in which aliens from “Planet Zort” occasionally appeared on earth to wreak general havoc.
All work by Don "Orfeo" Rechtman contained herein is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. This means you can use it commercially as well as non-commercially provided that you give proper credit for its authorship and source.
Each work is displayed on its own page that includes the work's title, authorship, instrumentation, links if any to printable music, recordings, video, links if any to practice tracks, lyric sheets, Sibelius files, and additional information about the music.
Listing by Title (alphabetical)
Listing by Title (alphabetical)
(titles without links are pending; check back often!)
Apple Tree Suite--string orchestra.
A three movement suite, it was inspired by a birthday commission for the first movement Golden Delicious. The last two movements, Haunt Reminiscnece and Valse Senescens, were written for my father and mother, respectively and respectfully.
- Bagatelle in Eb--Piano.
A previously unpublished Beethoven Bagatelle discovered and transcribed by Don "Orfeo" Rechtman. - A Bird Will Sing--voice and Piano (orchestra accompaniment pending).
Don's first song written in China. A love song. - Can't Go Back Again--voice and Piano.
Don's first (and only) folk song. An anti-war song inspired by Lanford Wilson's play "Fifth of July." The dedication reads "For All Who Serve." - Celestial Godparents--bassoon and Piano.
Don's first (and only) bassoon solo work. It was written for a visit to China by George Sakakeeny and his wife Jian; he is a professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music. He was brought to my attention by my friend Celeste, who is their goddaughter. - Dance of the Siberian Crane--orchestra with oboe solo (can be performed by two sunoas).
This music was inspired by my visit to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province, China. It is the largest fresh water lake in China, and is the winter home for the Siberian Crane, which migrates back to Siberia during the Summer. It is an endangered bird, with less than 2,000 still in existence. The audio score is 6.3mb. (Caution: the video score file is 390mb!) - Dona Nobis Pacem--a cappella choir.
includes partial "Music Minus One" accompaniments to help singers learn their parts, as well as a complete recording of it sung by an amateur choir (Caution: 3.4mb MP3 file!) - Dreams of the Heart--voice and Piano.
A French-styled art song, the music was written for a good friend and remarkable mezzo, Diane Bosse. The words are an acrostic based on her name.
The Endangered Species Songbook--easy piano pieces for teaching (plus a link to the short orchestral work Dance of the Siberian Cranes).
47 Seconds of Silence--piano, four hands.
Those familiar with John Cage's work will immediately notice a similarity of title. However, the similarity does not stop there! It is in fact an abridged arrangement of Cage's 4'33", arranged for two performers instead of a paltry one. If for no other reason, you'll want to look at the music just to see the Stravinsky quote at the end.
I am also very hopeful that someone will bring its attention to the estate of John Cage, as I have knowingly and intentionally violated the 1952 copyright of his work, and I suspect his Estate will lack the sense of humor he was known for, and will ultimately make me famous by suing me for copyright infringement.
The web page includes Suggestions for Performance.
The Gettysburg Address--chorus, piano.
If you wondered what the Gettysburg Address would sound like if Puccini had set it to music--well, here it is! Read the composer’s notes here.
The Girl With the Black Satin Smile--piano; orchestra.
Maybe by Ravel; maybe not.
Hatikva--brass quintet.
An arrangement of the Israeli National Anthem.
Michelle's Song--piano, voice; orchestra, voice.
A song written as a wedding gift.
Spring is Here--chorus, piano.
A suitable prelude to "Sumer Is Icumen In," it is easily learned within a half hour. One unique feature is it ends on the dominant chord--and it works!
Lover's Waltz--baritone, piano.
Written for Don's parent's 50th wedding anniversary
Love's Waterfall--voice, piano.
This is Don's first art song, written in 1982, commissioned by Don Clark for his friend Belita.
O Blessed Night--high voice solo, chorus, piano.
A sacred Christmas carol. More than one church has used it for the candle-lighting portion of their service!
The Owl--baritone solo, piano. Perhaps the jazziest song Don has written; poem by Rebotco Sepulu.
The 23rd Psalm--baritone solo, chorus, harp, piano.
Twilight and Night--tenor solo, violin, chorus, piano.
We Are...--voice solo, piano.
My first Chinese song (Chinese music; English lyrics). You will find a recording of the accompaniment, a video performance of a school class singing it, and a copy of the English text with Chinese translation.
Woeful Walrus Waltz--brass quintet.
Often used by brass quintets as an easy encore showpiece.
Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality"--a choral setting, including piano and chorus, and a brass quintet in the finale.
The page includes the poem as libretto, the stage directions, and live performance tracks.
- Dona Nobis Pacem--a cappella choir.
includes partial "Music Minus One" accompaniments to help singers learn their parts, as well as a complete recording of it sung by an amateur choir (Caution: 3.4mb MP3 file!)
The Gettysburg Address--chorus, piano.
If you wondered what the Gettysburg Address would sound like if Puccini had set it to music--well, here it is! Read the composer’s notes here.
Spring is Here--chorus, piano.
A suitable prelude to "Sumer Is Icumen In," it is easily learned within a half hour. One unique feature is it ends on the dominant chord--and it works!
O Blessed Night--high voice solo, chorus, piano.
A sacred Christmas carol. More than one church has used it for the candle-lighting portion of their service!
The 23rd Psalm--baritone solo, chorus, harp, piano.
Twilight and Night--tenor solo, violin, chorus, piano.
Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality"--a choral setting, including piano and chorus, and a brass quintet in the finale.
The page includes the poem as libretto, the stage directions, and live performance tracks.
- A Bird Will Sing--voice and Piano (orchestra accompaniment pending).
Don's first song written in China. A love song. - Can't Go Back Again--voice and Piano.
Don's first (and only) folk song. An anti-war song inspired by Lanford Wilson's play "Fifth of July." The dedication reads "For All Who Serve."
- Dreams of the Heart--voice and Piano.
A French-styled art song, the music was written for a good friend and remarkable mezzo, Diane Bosse. The words are an acrostic based on her name.
Lover's Waltz--baritone, piano.
Written for Don's parent's 50th wedding anniversary
Love's Waterfall--voice, piano.
This is Don's first art song, written in 1982, commissioned by Don Clark for his friend Belita.
Michelle's Song--piano, voice; orchestra, voice.
A song written as a wedding gift.
O Blessed Night--high voice solo, chorus, piano.
A sacred Christmas carol. More than one church has used it for the candle-lighting portion of their service!
The Owl--baritone solo, piano. Perhaps the jazziest song Don has written; poem by Rebotco Sepulu.
The 23rd Psalm--baritone solo, chorus, harp, piano.
Twilight and Night--tenor solo, violin, chorus, piano.
We Are...--voice solo, piano.
My first Chinese song (Chinese music; English lyrics). You will find a recording of the accompaniment, a video performance of a school class singing it, and a copy of the English text with Chinese translation.
Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality"--a choral setting, including piano and chorus, and a brass quintet in the finale.
The page includes the poem as libretto, the stage directions, and live performance tracks.
Hatikva--brass quintet.
An arrangement of the Israeli National Anthem.
Woeful Walrus Waltz--brass quintet.
Often used by brass quintets as an easy encore showpiece.
Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality"--a choral setting, including piano and chorus, and a brass quintet in the finale.
The page includes the poem as libretto, the stage directions, and live performance tracks.
- Celestial Godparents--bassoon and Piano.
Don's first (and only) bassoon solo work. It was written for a visit to China by George Sakakeeny and his wife Jian; he is a professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music. He was brought to my attention by my friend Celeste, who is their goddaughter.
- Bagatelle in Eb--Piano.
A previously unpublished Beethoven Bagatelle discovered and transcribed by Don "Orfeo" Rechtman.
The Endangered Species Songbook--easy piano pieces for teaching (plus a link to the short orchestral work Dance of the Siberian Cranes).
47 Seconds of Silence--piano, four hands.
Those familiar with John Cage's work will immediately notice a similarity of title. However, the similarity does not stop there! It is in fact an abridged arrangement of Cage's 4'33", arranged for two performers instead of a paltry one. If for no other reason, you'll want to look at the music just to see the Stravinsky quote at the end.
I am also very hopeful that someone will bring its attention to the estate of John Cage, as I have knowingly and intentionally violated the 1952 copyright of his work, and I suspect his Estate will lack the sense of humor he was known for, and will ultimately make me famous by suing me for copyright infringement.
The web page includes Suggestions for Performance.
The Girl With the Black Satin Smile--piano; orchestra.
Maybe by Ravel; maybe not.
Michelle's Song--piano, voice; orchestra, voice.
A song written as a wedding gift.
Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality"--a choral setting, including piano and chorus, and a brass quintet in the finale.
The page includes the poem as libretto, the stage directions, and live performance tracks.
Apple Tree Suite--string orchestra.
A three movement suite, it was inspired by a birthday commission for the first movement Golden Delicious. The last two movements, Haunt Reminiscnece and Valse Senescens, were written for my father and mother, respectively and respectfully.
- Dance of the Siberian Crane--orchestra with oboe solo (can be performed by two sunoas).
This music was inspired by my visit to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province, China. It is the largest fresh water lake in China, and is the winter home for the Siberian Crane, which migrates back to Siberia during the Summer. It is an endangered bird, with less than 2,000 still in existence. The audio score is 6.3mb. (Caution: the video score file is 390mb!)
The Endangered Species Songbook--easy piano pieces for teaching (plus a link to the short orchestral work Dance of the Siberian Cranes).
The Girl With the Black Satin Smile--piano; orchestra.
Maybe by Ravel; maybe not.
Michelle's Song--piano, voice; orchestra, voice.
A song written as a wedding gift.
For new age music, click Gathering Lights.