List of works
2024
The Great Flood - for concert band and choir (SATB), with text by Joyce Clouston. Commissioned by the Desaultels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba for the opening of the Desautels Concert Hall. Premiered by the UofManitoba Wind Ensemble and University Choir on September 18th, 2024 at 7pm. Length: ca. 10 min.
Blue Planet Blues - for choir (SATB), with text by Zsuzsanna Ardó. Written for Ardó’s worldwide PlanetWoman project. Premiered by Whittier College Choir at Whittier Memorial Chapel, California on April 28th, 2024 at 7pm. Length: ca 4 min.
Gradiva - for choir (SATB), with text by Zsuzsanna Ardó. Written for Ardó’s worldwide PlanetWoman project. Premiered by Conrad Grebel University College’s Chamber Choir at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Kitchener, Ontario on April 5th, 2024 at 7pm. Length: ca 4 min.
2023
Embroidered with Jagged Patterns - for violin, cello and piano. Commissioned by the Women’s Musical Club, Winnipeg. Premiered by Elation Pauls - violin, Paul Marleyn - cello, Madeline Hildebrand - piano at Canadian Mennonite University, Laudamus Auditorium on Oct. 22, 2023 at 2pm. Length: 5 min.
pîsimwak-Moons - for SSA children’s choir. Text by Joyce Clouston. Commissioned by Classical Movements for the Toronto Children’s Chorus and the Medicine Hat College Girls’ Choir, as part of the Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program. Premiered on Wednesday May 22nd, 2024 at 7pm at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Length: 3min30s.
Jack the Fiddler - for violin, piano and spoken voice with text by Joyce Clouston. Commissioned by Elation Paul with the support of SOCAN, Winnipeg Arts Council, Manitoba Arts Council and private donations. Premiered during the Rosamunde Summer Music Academy at Canadian Mennonite University, Laudamus Auditorium on August 22 at 7:30pm. Length: 10 min.
Lives Entwined - for SATB choir. Commissioned and recorded by Ensemble ArtChoral in Summer of 2023. The album (maybe to be titled ART CHORAL) is scheduled to be released in 2025 and features 13 Canadian women composers.
Waves - for viola and cello. Commissioned by Ames Asbel and Karla Hamelin with the support of Texas State University. Premiere TBD. Length: 12 min.
An Emptiness in Me - for clarinet in B-flat and marimba. Commissioned by Vidarneisti and Prairie Debut. Premiered during the Dream Big conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on February 23rd, 2024 at 7pm. Length: 7 min.
2022
The Place Where the Creator Rests - for piano trio with spoken voices. Commissioned and premiered by the Andromeda Trio May 14, 2022. Theatre for the Arts, University of Waterloo. Waterloo, ON. Length: 25 min.
A Reel Waltz - for string trio. Commissioned and premiered by the Indigo Trio, April 2022. Steinbach, MB. Length: 5 min
2021
Spider Solitaire - for solo piano. Written for Darryl Friesen for our solo piano album and premiered on Sept. 21, 2022. (Recorded for album, Curlicue, on November 9-10, 2021) Waterloo, ON. Length: 18 min
…our inner lives were entwined…embroidered with the same pattern… - for solo piano. Commissioned by Naomi Woo and Virtuosi Concerts. Premiered by Naomi Woo during an online Virtuosi Concert, March 20, 2021. Winnipeg, MB. Length: 4 min.
2020
Wandering - for solo bass clarinet. Written for Kathryn Ladano. To be premiered ONLINE in Fall 2020.
Gloria - for SATB choir. Commissioned and premiered by the Winnipeg Singers and conductor Yuri Klatz. Premiered in February 2020.
2019
Concerto for English Horn: In Memory of Beverly Clouston – for solo English horn and full orchestra (2+1.2+1.2.2 4.2.3.1 timp., 2perc, hrp, pno, str, solo English horn). Commissioned by the Orchestre Métropolitain. Premiered in October 2019 by Mélanie Harel and Orchestre Métropolitain with conductor Alondra de la Parra.
I Wasn’t Meant for This – for Viola d’Amore and Percussion. Commissioned by Park Sounds. Premiered in October 2019.
Ripples – for Viola and Cello. Commissioned by Texas State University for Ames Asbell (Viola) and Karla Hamelin (cello). Premiered in October 2019.
Psalm 146: I will Praise the Lord as Long as I Live – for SATB choir, congregation and organ. Commissioned by St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church. Premiered January 2019.
2018
We All Sing – for choir and audience. Commissioned by Conrad Grebel University College. Premiered in September 2018 and built upon in subsequent performances during the 2018-2019 school year.
2017
#DryColdConversations – for full orchestra (2.2.2.2. 4.3.3.1 timp, 2perc, hrp, str). Commissioned by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and premiered on January 31 2018.
2016
IV The Prairies – for full orchestra (2+1.2+1.2.2 4.3.3.1 timp, 2 perc, hrp, str). Commissioned by the Orchestre Métropolitain and premiered on January 22 and 24, 2017.
Across the Grasslands – for full orchestra (2d1.2.2.2 4.3.3.1 3perc, hrp, str - Although there is also a version with only 2 trumpets). Commissioned by the Regina Symphony Orchestra and premiered on September 17, 2016.
2015
Mama’s Painting: Louis Riel’s Dream – for Piano Quintet (2 violins, viola, 'cello and piano). Commissioned by the Agassiz Chamber Music Festival and premiered on June 6, 2015.
2014
Satin Shoes – for ATB choir
A Prayer: from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison – for ATB choir
2013
Never to Return – for string orchestra. Commissioned by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and premiered on November 27, 2013.
2012
Born by the River – for string orchestra. Commissioned by Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and premiered on February 19, 2013
The Lord is King – for SATB choir
Spaces Between – for piano trio. Commissioned by Providence Faculty Trio and premiered on March 17 2012
2011
Shhh – for two or more performers (instrumentalists or singers)
Swish – for SATB choir. Commissioned by Providence Chamber Singers
A Minor Study – for SATB choir
Excerpts from Accrete – for cello ensemble. Arranged in June 2011 for a local cello ensemble performance at the International Cello Festival of Canada.
2010
Through the Windows – for solo clarinet
Fyra, Quatre, Four and Cuatro – for solo percussion
Curlicue – for solo piano. Commissioned by The Eckhardt-Gramatté Music Competition. Performed numerous times (April 30-May 2 2010) during the Eckhardt-Gramatté Music Competition in Brandon, Manitoba and during the winner’s Canadian Tour.
2009
Falling Water – for solo piano
Jeremiah 19:11-12 – for SATB choir. Written for and performed by the Providence College Singers. First performance: March 29, 2009 in Steinbach, Manitoba. Performed numerous times during a choir tour in England and Scotland (April 22 – May 9 2009).
2008
Falling in the Water – for Piano and electronics
And There Was a Great Calm (revised) – for full Orchestra (3d1.2.2+1.2 4.3.3.1 timp, 2perc, hrp str). Winning work of the 2009 CMC Emerging Composers Competition. First Performance at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival on Monday February 2, 2009 in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sarabande – for solo cello. Performed by Karen Sunabacka on Friday February 13, 2009 in Mitchell, Manitoba.
2007
And There Was a Great Calm – for full Orchestra (3d1.2.2+1.2 4.3.3.1 timp, 2perc, hrp str). PhD Dissertation piece
Tecla – for violin, clarinet, percussion and piano. Performed by the Empyrean Ensemble in Davis, California on May 30, 2007.
Accrete II (excerpts from Accrete arranged as a suite for solo cello) – for solo cello. Performed by Karen Sunabacka on Friday February 13, 2009 in Mitchell, Manitoba
2006
And Then I Crow – for solo 'cello and electroacoustics. Performed twice by Leighton Fong: May 31, 2006 and February 2, 2007 in Davis, California.
2005
I wonder... – for clarinet, bassoon and percussion. Performed by The Empyrean Ensemble on June 1, 2006 in Davis, California
Accrete – for string orchestra. Commissioned by the Brandon Chamber Players. Premièred February 25, 2005.
2004
Psalm 98 – for SATB choir. Premiered on September 14, 2004 by St. Margarat’s Church Choir in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the diaconal ordination of Preston D S Parsons (Karen Sunabacka's husband)
Perichoresis – for flute, viola and cello. Performed by the Empyrean Ensemble on June 2, 2004 in Davis, California.
The Satin Shoes – for solo voice. Written during a vocal writing workshop with Paul Hillier. Premiered by Karen Sunabacka in March 2004.
Cashier – for solo voice. Written during a vocal writing workshop with Paul Hillier.
The Skater – for solo voice. Written during a vocal writing workshop with Paul Hillier
2003
Crazing – for five violoncelli. Commissioned by the Agassiz Chamber Players and premiered December 9, 2003 in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Retreat: In the Minds of Our Daughters – a tape piece created with Max/MSP. Performed: July 2005 in Montreal, Canada; March 2005 in Los Angeles, California; March 2005 in Fullerton, California; August 2004 in Dartmouth, New Hampshire; May 2003 in Berkeley, California
Our Daughters – a multimedia opera in one act. MA thesis piece at San Francisco State University
2002
Lights of Home – for solo cello and voice.
Prelude of Our Daughters – for trumpet in Bb, vibraphone and viola
2001
Vie & Quell – for String Quartet. Performed by the Left Coast Ensemble in San Francisco California November, 2001
Scherzo – for 5 violoncelli. Performed by the Agassiz Chamber Players on March 25, 2003
Surely I know the Spring that Swiftly Flows – For singer (baritone) and string quartet
2000
Andrea’s Joke – a tape piece created with Pro Tools. Broadcast on CBC during The Signal on February 2, 2008
Great – a tape piece created with Pro Tools
Agnus Dei – for choir (SATB) and solo cello. Commissioned and then performed by St. Margaret’s Anglican Church Choir (March 2003)
Returning – for solo viola
On the Shores – arranged for string quartet.
1999
A Mother’s Prayer – for solo cello
On The Shores – for chamber orchestra (1.1.1.1 2.0.0.0 timp, perc, str). Performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during the Jean Coulthard Reading Session in 2000.
Maud’dib – a tape piece created with Max.
Hiding – for solo piano
Slow Down – a tape piece created with Max.
The Duke’s Arch – for violin, violoncello and piano
Distractions – for tenor saxophone
Nothing is Subtle – for flute, clarinet in Bb, percussion, actor, and mezzo soprano
1998
Alexander Bay – for solo violoncello.
Revival – for alto saxophone in Eb and piano.
Fishing Together – for piano, violin, viola and violoncello.
Family Sons and Dotters – for clarinet in Bb, violoncello and piano
1997
Lost – for solo piano.
The Snowflake – for string quartet
PRE-1997
Various experiments and improvisations for which I no longer have any record, except the joyous memories.
Albums
Albums I have released, as well as albums on which one of my pieces has been recorded.
2025 (UPCOMING)
ART CHORAL Canada by artist: Ensemble ArtChoral. Karen’s piece Lives Entwined (with text by Joyce Clouston) was recorded for this album, along with 12 other pieces by Canadian women composers.
2024
Sustenance with artists: Elation Pauls - violin, David Braid - piano, Serouj Kradijian - piano, Karen Sunabacka - narrator. Karen’s piece Jack the Fiddler (with text by Joyce Clouston) is on this album. Karen was the narrator for the piece. On the SPEKTRAL label.
2023
2022
Curlicue: The piano Music of Karen Sunabacka with artist Darryl Friesen