John Starosta
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selected works
selected works
scores available upon request
(2016) The Remaining Cobwebs of G. I. Ustvolskaya - 2nd movement for cello & piano - 15'30"
Composed by John Starosta
Performed October 27, 2024 at Duke University's Nelson Music Room
Cellist - Bonnie Thron Pianist - Anatoly Larkin
Galina Ivanovna Ustvolskaya , known as "The Lady with the Hammer," is the subject of this composition. Ustvolskaya's music lends drumming, chant-like phrases that are piercing and relentless in their intention and is unyielding to any other compositional style or form. In my opinion, she stands alone as a truly original composer who forces the ear to listen and the mind to engage. JS
(2022) Situs Inversus III - bass recorder via Sylvia Hinz - 8'00"
(music begins at 14:00)
Composed by John Starosta
Situs Inversus is a body of work that contains structured composition paired with improvisational content for the solo musician. The musical content shall emulate the condition of situs inversus. The composer's intention is for the listener to imagine how inverted organs might operate in contrast to a normal arrangement of organs, known as situs solitus.
(2022) Situs Inversus II - piano via Anatoly Larkin - 10'20"
Composed by John Starosta
Situs Inversus is a body of work that contains structured composition paired with improvisational content for the solo musician. The musical content shall emulate the condition of situs inversus. The composer's intention is for the listener to imagine how inverted organs might operate in contrast to a normal arrangement of organs, known as situs solitus.
(2021) Situs Inversus I - double bass via George Kokkinaris - 12'54"
Composed by John Starosta
Situs Inversus is a body of work that contains structured composition paired with improvisational content for the solo musician. The musical content shall emulate the condition of situs inversus. The composer's intention is for the listener to imagine how inverted organs might operate in contrast to a normal arrangement of organs, known as situs solitus.
Rec - Mix - Mastering by Christos Brito - AUX Studio
(2010) Sectors I-V - 3 pianos - 18'44"
Composed by John Starosta
On May 14, 2015, Anatoly Larkin presented his arrangement of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (for two pianos, with an optional third piano) and "Sectors," a symphonic work for 3 pianos by composer John Starosta at Greywalls Studio Hall in Raleigh, North Carolina USA. The 3 pianos are all capable of high-fidelity performance reproduction, via dedicated hardware that can move keys and pedals just like a human player.
Piano 1: Yamaha Disklavier Pro (reproducing technology by Yamaha Japan engineers)
Piano 2: Steinway (Hamburg) SE2 (reproducing technology by Richard Shepherd)
Piano 3: Bösendorfer Imperial SE (reproducing technology by Wayne Stahnke)
Performance data for the pianos was programmed by A. Larkin. In the case of Sectors, translation algorithms were used to convert the MIDI-based performance score into usable key and pedal data. Special effects (inside the piano) and sostenuto pedal actuation were done by John Starosta, Phil Amalong and Anatoly Larkin. The 3 pianos were tuned and voiced by piano technician Marc Wienert and the performances were also recorded by Marc.
The sound of Starosta's work on this video, while live, comes from the actual recording by Marc.
(2016) Subsector 6.1 - 2 mechanical pianos - 5'33"
Composed by John Starosta
Piano 1: Yamaha Disklavier Pro (reproducing technology by Yamaha Japan engineers)
Piano 2: Bösendorfer Imperial SE (reproducing technology by Wayne Stahnke)
Performance data for the pianos was programmed by Anatoly Larkin. Translation algorithms were used to convert the MIDI-based performance score into usable key and pedal data. The 2 pianos were tuned and voiced by piano technician Marc Wienert. This performance was recorded in Greywalls Studio Hall by Bernie Grunwald for the PwO Festival (Pianos without Organs) in Raleigh, North Carolina USA .
(2019) Subsectors 6.1-6.4 - 2 mechanical pianos - 13'37"
"Subsectors 6.1-6.4" (for 2 pianos) is an extension of "Sectors" (for 3 pianos) and was initially composed for the Pianos without Organs (PwO) Festival in 2016 but was not completed until 2019."
Composed and programmed by John Starosta
Recorded by Anatoly Larkin - In-home studio
Pianos: Steinway model - M.601514
Yamaha Disklavier model - DC3PRO
(2018) Inner Casings (Improvisatore under 60") 1-4, 5a,5b, 6-7, 8a,8b,8c - solo mechanical piano - 11'16"
Composed and programmed by John Starosta
Recorded by Anatoly Larkin
Steinway model M #601514
(2022) Series of Lyrical Treatments (SoLT) - solo mechanical piano - 18'30" > 1st installment - 2'39"
(for complete series - SoLT)
Composed and programmed by John Starosta
Performed on Steinway model 601514
(2020) West. Love. Bug. - solo piano - 4'37"
Composed by John Starosta
Performed by Anatoly Larkin
Live performance > Osaka, Japan August 14, 2023
(2005) Yellowing I (Birth) II (Life) III (Death) - solo piano - 11'20"
"In dedication to my fine friend, Anne Marie Loesch - the dancer."
Recorded at Greywalls Studio - Raleigh, North Carolina USA
Date of recording - 2012/08/05
Composer - John Starosta
Pianist - Anatoly Larkin
Recording Engineer - Marc Wienert
Album art - Malena Bergmann
Piano - Yamaha Disklavier Pro
(2011) Anthem - solo piano - 6'08"
Recorded at Greywalls Studio - Raleigh, North Carolina USA
Date of recording - 2021/03/17
Composer - John Starosta
Pianist - Anatoly Larkin
Recording Engineer - Marc Wienert
Album art - Malena Bergmann
Piano - Yamaha Disklavier Pro
(2003) Intuition of a Wizard - solo piano - 5'35"
Recorded at Greywalls Studio - Raleigh, North Carolina USA
Date of recording - 2012/05/25
Composer - John Starosta
Pianist - Anatoly Larkin
Recording Engineer - Marc Wienert
Album art - Malena Bergmann
Piano - Steinway (Hamburg) SE2
(2006) Static - solo piano - 5'51"
Recorded at Greywalls Studio - Raleigh, North Carolina USA
Date of recording - 2021/03/25
Composer - John Starosta
Pianist - Anatoly Larkin
Recording Engineer - Marc Wienert
Album art - Malena Bergmann
Piano - Steinway (Hamburg) SE2
(2012) Prim Existence - solo piano - 4'12"
"To the existence of a man who's lived a charmed life - our friend, Michael Prim - the artist."
Composer - John Starosta
Recorded by Anatoly Larkin - In-home studio
Yamaha Disklavier model - DC3PRO
(2003) 4/5 Character Pieces - solo piano - 7'06"
"Ed's March" - a small dedication about a theory mate who always came to class late...annoyed me!
"Piano Surge" - like a surge of electricity, but with a piano. (came to me in a dream, which is rare)
"Anchored" - the concept of an anchor descending into deep sea water.
"Cashed" (Ode to a Folk Artist) - in memory of Johnny Cash
Meredith College, Raleigh, NC. January 23, 2012
Performed by Anatoly Larkin
Composer - John Starosta
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