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Dave Brubeck is known in the 20th-century classical world as a serious composer, not just as a jazz pianist. Here are his works which fall into that category, by which I mean that they have orchestral and choral parts, in addition to any improvisational sections with the quartet. They are listed roughly in chronological order. Not all of them have been recorded. Sheet music is available for some.
West Side Story / Brubeck plays Bernstein plays Brubeck (1960)
- side 2 is actually composed by Howard Brubeck, Dave's brother
Gold & Fizdale play Brubeck's Jazz Ballet "Points on Jazz" (1961, Columbia CL1678)
The Light in the Wilderness An oratorio for today, (1968, Decca DXSA-7202)
The Gates of Justice A cantata (1969, MCA MACS-3477)
Brubeck Mulligan Cincinnati (rec 1970) (Decca MCAD-42347)
Truth Is Fallen (cantata, 1971) (Atlantic SD1606)
La Fiesta de la Posada Christmas cantata in Mexican folk style (1975)
Beloved Son - an oratorio (written 1978)
Pange Lingua Variations (written 1983)
The Voice of the Holy Spirit - Tongues of Fire (written 1985)
Upon This Rock - an anthem (written 1987)
New Wine (1987, w/ B.Smith, Montreal Int. Jazz Fest. Orch.) (Limelight 820830)
Lenten Tryptych: Ash Wednesday, Easter, Bless These Ashes (written 1988)
In Praise of Mary (written 1989)
Joy in the Morning (written 1991)
When the Lord is Pleased
Earth is Our Mother (written 1992)
John Salmon plays Dave Brubeck Piano Compositions (recorded 1994/5)
To Hope! - A Celebration - a mass (1996, Telarc CD80430)
Regret (written 2001)
Chromatic Fantasy Sonata (played by John Salmon) (recorded 2002)
This page last updated: 24th December 2004