Sean's Composer Bio

List of Works

"Osborn's music is always a joy to hear or perform." Gregory Barrett, The Clarinet, March 2018

Composer and Clarinetist Sean Osborn has traveled the world as soloist, chamber musician, and during his eleven years with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Winner of the 2018 International Clarinet Association Composition Competition, and a recipient of an "Accomplished Musician" award from the IBLA Grand Prize, 15 ASCAPlus awards, and grants from Jack Straw, Sean has been commissioned by the North Corner Chamber Orchestra, Cornish College of the Arts, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Woodwind Quintet, and multiple solo performers. His compositions have been widely performed by amateurs, students, and professionals, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Auburn Symphony, Philharmonia Northwest, members of the American Saxophone Quartet and the orchestras of New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, Dallas, the MET and participants in the Marlboro Music Festival. Mr. Osborn's compositions have also been featured on recordings by Cambria and Albany records, and reviewers have called his music full of "ingenious antiphony and counterpoint" (ClassicalNet), "fun-to-play" (The Clarinet), "engaging" (Fanfare), and "impetuous" (Hoefner Volksblatt).

Combining multiple styles and genres (Modern, Gregorian, Rock, Folk, Post-Minimal, etc.) with the styles of his Celtic and Native American heritage, Mr. Osborn achieves a synthesis like no other. Complex overlapping rhythm and ostinati often combine with multiple simultaneous tempos and free melodies. "Extended techniques" make up his wide and colorful palette, with each unusual sound always in service to the musical expression.

Unless otherwise noted, all music is published by Octogram Press. Please contact me if you wish to purchase any music, or borrow scores to peruse, or use the convenient PayPal buttons. All prices include shipping and handling to the US.

Currently in production:

Mixed Clarinet Quartet
Quartet for Newspapers
Sonata for Flute and Piano

Orchestral (2017) Concerto for Chamber Orchestra - Commissioned by the North Corner Chamber Orchestra. 20 minutes. Three movements: I. Ostinatos, II. Hymns, III. Fun. "...unusual and consistently engaging." " It feels impressionistic, like a Monet in soft colors." "...quirky...imaginative...fun..." - Philippa Kiraly, City Arts, April 10, 2017 Winner of the Cascadia Composers/Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra Composition Competition Score and parts FREE DownloadHere. Bound Score - $30 I. Ostinatos (mp3) II. Hymns (mp3) III. Fun (mp3) Unconcerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (or Chamber Ensemble [7 players]) Orchestra Score Chamber Version Score Recording Claude Debussy Preludes for Orchestra - Complete orchestration of Debussy's Preludes for Piano, Book I. FREE Download Score and recordings here Bound Score - $30 (2005) Deck with Joy, Double Fugue for Orchestra - 5.5 min. Double fugue with Deck the Halls, and Joy to the World as the subjects. Score and parts: $50 Listen (midi mp3 file) Score FREE Download (2003) Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra - written for Trombonist Don Immel - 16 min. Playable by High School/College/Amateur level orchestras and professional trombonists. Write for price. (2002) Symphony No. 1 September 11th - 25 min. long for full orchestra. Begun September 11, 2001. Three movements, played without break. Unpremiered. Score Parts on request. I. Chaos II. Grief III. Resolve (1997) Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra with Percussion - Written for Metropolitan Opera Oboist John Ferrillo. 22 min. The inner movements are based on songs by Enya. Write for price. First Movement Last Movement	Band/Wind Ensemble (2005) Deck with Joy Double Fugue for Band 5.5 min Double fugue with Deck the Halls, and Joy to the World as the subjects. Score and Parts $50 Listen (midi mp3 file) Score (pdf) FREE Download (2003) Concerto for Trombone and Band - written for Trombonist Don Immel - 16 min. Playable by High School/College/Amateur level bands and professional trombonists. Write for price. (2002) Symphony No. 2 for Band - 30 min. Challenging for players, accessible to audiences. Four movements, colorful orchestrations, dance and song themes in traditional forms. The last movement is a double fugue. Unpremiered. Parts on request. Score First movement - MIDI recording First movement is in traditional Sonata form, with a chromatic first theme full of energy, and a beautiful second theme in 5/8. A fugue developement leads to a free-form re-cap and beauty-culminating coda. Themes are constantly morphing from instrument to instrument bringing new dimensions of color to the ensemble that specializes in color: the Band. II - Mosaic Recording. Mosaic pieces of themes are interwoven over ostinato in beautiful layers as the arch form reaches its peak, then subsides. III - Song Recording. Three lyrical themes in verses and choruses separately and together, with a beautiful layered coda. IV - Jig Recording. A double fugue featuring many original themes and "The Weaver and the Factory Maid." The second fugue is the inverse augmented retrograde of the first. A short homage to Grainger brings the folk song back with beautiful, crunchy harmony at the end. (2001) Bulldog March for Band - 4.5 min. - Grade 4. Score/Parts $50. Score Listen (mp3 file) (2000) Fantasy on "Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming" For Junior High Band - 3.5 min - Grade 3. Downloadable Score FREE MIDI recording Score/Parts $40
Choral (2015) Epitaph for a capella SSAATTBB chorus. On a text by Merrit Malloy, used with permission Score (with piano part for rehearsal) MIDI recording Clarinet Recording - the tempo is a bit fast here.
Chamber Music (2023) Celtic Sonata for Flute and Piano - 22 minutes I. Cerridwen II. Morrigan III. Taliesin Score and Part Video Recording (2018-19) Preludes and Counterpoints for Wind Quintet. Eight stand-alone pieces that can also be performed in any set, in any order Inspired by Bach and Debussy, as well as other composers, old and new. "...a substantial contribution to the woodwind quintet repertoire. This excellent collection of compositions tackles interesting formal and technical questions without sacrificing an ounce of expressive potential." - Matthew Nelson, The Clarinet Score, Parts, Recordings (2012) Fantasy Variations for Viola and 'Cello - 4 minutes. Light-hearted and Tonal, also a version for Clarinet and Bass clarinet Score FREE Download Bound Score - $20 (2011, rev. 2014) Trio No. 2 for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon - Finalist The American Prize Tired of light, short music for reed trio? This is your piece! A major work of 25 minutes and four movements. "...highly theatrical...bringing great variety while maintaining stylistic unity." - Helena Michelson, American Prize jury FREE Downloads Bound Score/Parts - $40 I. Allegro Score, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Video II. Scherzo Score, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Video III. Slow Score, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Video IV Rondeau Score, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Video (2009) Lyric Pieces - Quartets for Violin, Clarinet, 'Cello, and Piano. FREE Download Score, Parts, and Recordings HERE Bound Scores/Parts - $5 each (specify in form which ones you want) (2008) Theme and Three Variations for Piano - 11 min. - Piano piece with a LOT of leeway for the performer to put their stamp on it. Theme (Finale .mus file) Variation I (Finale .mus file) Variation II (Finale .mus file) Variation III (Finale .mus file) Theme (mp3 file) Variation I (mp3 file) Variation II (mp3 file) Variation III (mp3 file) (2005) 12-4-6 - 12 min. - Sextet for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, 'Cello, Percussion, and Piano. Twelve pitches in twelve minutes for six players. The mood, volume, and number of pitches available to use follows a hyperbolic curve up and down (and from calm to activity) over the course of the 12 minutes, peaking at 7 minutes. Each pitch is then removes in the order in which it was introduced. For example, for the first minute, all we here is F, then we get E and play between the two, then C, etc., ending on A-flat. FREE Download Bound Score/Parts: $25 Video Score pdf Flute pdf Clarinet pdf Percussion pdf Violin pdf 'Cello pdf Piano pdf (2004) Quintet for Clarinet and Strings - "The Beatles" - 21 min. - Beatles songs used compositionally for more than just an arrangement. 19 songs in four movements. Published by permission from Hal Leonard. "...catchy...dissonant...oblique...impetuous..." - Lilo Etter, Hoefner Volksblat, July 1, 2013 Score and Parts: $25 Video here I. For Eleanor excerpt II. Mother Julia Will excerpt III. Chaos excerpt IV. I've got nowhere, love sunshine. Think writer. Because, the end. excerpt (2001) Miniature Trio - 7 min. - Familiar forms (sonata-allegro, scherzo-trio, song, and rondo) done with the absolute minimum length needed to fulfill all the rules. Part one can be played on Oboe, Clarinet, or Violin; part two on Clarinet or Viola; and part three on Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, 'Cello, or Trombone, thus giving you a Reed Trio, a String Trio, a Clarinet Trio, or any combination. FREE Download Bound Score and 6 Parts - $15 I. Sonata-Allegro Recording Score Parts II. Scherzo Recording Score Parts III. Song Recording Score Parts IV. Rondo Recording Score Parts (2000) Serenade for Woodwinds (Pic, Fl, Ob, EH, Eb Cl, Bb Cl, Bs Cl, A Sax, T Sax, and BN) - 60 min. - a major work of large scope. Pointellism, Minimalism, Rock and everything in between. Written as a 20th Century companion to Mozart's Gran Partitta. Parts on request. Score Audio I. (untitled) II. Mosaic Catch 1 III. Scherzo IV. The Blender Catch 2 V. Song VI. Jig (1995/1999) Sonata for Violin and Piano - 17 min. - An ecclectic mixture of Celtic polyrhythms, avant garde construction and "new age" sounds. "...charming, direct melodicism" - The Clarinet, March 2018 FREE Download Bound Score/Part - $15 I. April Morning Recording, Violin, Score. II. Night Music Recording Violin, Score. III. Jig Recording Violin, Score. (1999) Romance for 'Cello and Piano - 5 min. - Written for Gerald and Susan Kagan. Also available for Viola, Clarinet, or Bassoon and Piano - specify instrument when ordering. FREE download Bound Score/Parts - $15 (Specify 'Cello/Bassoon, Viola, or Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Score Cello part (also Bassoon) Viola Bass Clarinet Video ('Cello version) Recording (Bass Clarinet version) (1997) Brief Duet for Bassoon and Clarinet - 12 min. - Fun, professional-level piece. FREE Download Bound Score/Parts - $15 I. Very Fast - mp3 Score, Clarinet, Bassoon II. Freely - mp3, Score, Clarinet, Bassoon III. Waltz - mp3, Score, Clarinet, Bassoon IV. Moderate - mp3, Score, Clarinet, Bassoon (1995) Quintet for Clarinet and Strings No. 1 - 20 min. - Five movements, tonal, beautiful, simple. FREE Download Bound Score/Parts - $20 Recording I. Sarabande II. Tempets in a Teacup III. Lullabye IV. Reel V. Hymn Sheet Music Score Clarinet Violin I Violin II Viola 'Cello (1993) The Mating Call of the Warthog for Basson and Contrabassoon - a short self-explanitory piece. $10 Clarinet Quartet Arrangements Angels We Have Heard On High Score Video (2012) Hedwige Chretien - Andante espressivo from Sonatine No. 3 for Piano, arranged for Four B-flat Clarinets - 2 minutes. Score, 1st 2nd, 3rd, 4th mp3 Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Johnny Marks Score and Parts available at Sheet Music Plus Video Let It Snow - Jule Styne Score and Parts available at Sheet Music Plus Video A Holly Jolly Christmas - Johnny Marks Score and Parts available at Sheet Music Plus Video Clarinet Choir Arrangements Impresario Overture - Mozart Score and Parts Video Prelude No. 2 - Gershwin Score and Parts Video coming soon The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Debussy Score and Parts Video coming soon Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Martin/Blane Score and Parts available at Sheet Music Plus Video Orchestral Excerpts Strauss - Rosenkavalier D Clarinet part, transposed to E-flat Miscellaneous compositions Write to me with questions about these. (2002) Triangle Round for Four Trinagles - 2 min. (2002) Three variations for Quake's New Diabelli Variations (2001) The Scorpio Creed for A Capella Chorus - 3 min. (2000) Sarah for electronic piano - 5 min. - named for my cousin Jennifer's daughter Sarah Nicole. (1996) "The Fox Hunt" for Soprano and Piano - meant to be part of a larger cycle. Currently looking for animal-related texts to finish it. (1994) Solitare for Piano - a minimalist experiment representing a game of cards. (1984) Andante for Piano - a short, easy piece.
	Clarinet Music (2017) Concertino for Two Basset-Horns and Clarinet Orchestra - 13:30, Three movements without pause. Commissioned by the Capriccio Clarinet Orchestra FREE Download Bound Score/Parts - $40 Score Basset-Horn Solo Parts Sub Bb clarinets E-flat Clarinet Sub Bb clarinet Clarinet 1 Clarinet 2 Clarinet 3 Clarinet 4 E-flat Alto Clarinet Sub Basset-Horn Sub Bb clarinet 5 Bass Clarinet 1 Bass Clarinet 2 B-flat Contrabass Clarinet Sub Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet *(2016)Meditation and Funk* for Clarinet Choir - 12:30, two movements. Winner of the International Clarinet Association's 2017 Composition Competition. "...beautiful, slow first movement..." "...exquisite sonorities..." "...groovy..." "A favorite..." - Margaret Thornhill, The Clarinet, June 2017 Recording FREE Download Bound Score/Parts - $40 Score Meditation Parts Eb Bb 1 Bb 2 Bb 3 Bb 4 (instead of Alto Clarinet) Eb Alto (instead of Bb Clarinet 4) Basset Horn (instead of Bb Clarinet 4) Bass Clarinet 1 Bass Clarinet 2 Bb Contra-bass Clarinet Eb Contra-alto Clarinet (instead of Bb Contra-bass Clarinet) Mpingo Funk Parts Eb Bb 1 Bb 2 Bb 3 Bb 4 (instead of Alto Clarinet) Eb Alto (instead of Bb Clarinet 4) Basset Horn (instead of Bb Clarinet 4) Bass Clarinet 1 Bass Clarinet 2 Bb Contra-bass Clarinet Eb Contra-alto Clarinet (instead of Bb Contra-bass Clarinet) (2016)Four Moods for Two Bass Clarinets - 12 minutes, four movements - Dramatic, Creepy, Fun, and Contemplative. Showcasing the vast palette of colors and sounds available on the Bass Clarinet, in service to musical expression. FREE Download Bound Scores(2) - $25 Free downloadable Score Video (2014)A Day at the Opera/A Night at the Races for Clarinet in A (or Basset Clarinet in A) and Piano** - 20 minutes, 3 movements. This sonata is based on the music of Queen, all with permission of the copyright holders. Songs are used motivically, and include We Will Rock You, Under Pressure, Bohemian Rhapsody, Love of my Life, Death on Two Legs, Tie Your Mother Down, and many others. Video *(2013) Suite of Music by William Byrd* for Three B-flat Clarinets and Bass Clarinet 22 Minutes, 6 movements. Beautiful Elizabethan era music. Think Shakespeare and the Renaissance. Version also available for Saxophone - contact me for more info. FREE Download Score, 1, 2, 3, Bass Bound Score/Parts - $30** VIDEO I. O Mistris Myne II. Pavana. The Earle of Salisbury III. Galiarda IV. Galiardas Passamezzo V. The Carman's Whistle VI. Tregian's Ground (2012) Fantasy Variations for Clarinet and Bass Clarinet - 4 minutes. Part of my new Commissioning Project, commissioned by Jean Pace. FREE Download Bound Score - $20 Score mp3 *(2011) Bits and Pieces* for Solo Clarinet - 11 Minutes, 5 movements. Commissioned by Paul Petrucelly. For PARTS of the clarinet. Some extended techniques. Recording on my CD "Bits and Pieces" Title and Explination pages FREE Download Bound Score - $10 I - for Mouthpiece and Barrel Score mp3 excerpt II - for Mouthpiece, Lower Joint, and Bell Score mp3 excerpt III - for all but Mouthpiece Score mp3 excerpt IV - for Mouthpiece, Barrel, Upper Joint Score mp3 excerpt V - for Upper Joint, Lower Joint, and Bell Score mp3 excerpt (2011) Character Duets for two B-flat Clarinets - 12 minutes. Six movements. FREE Download Bound Scores(2) - $15 I. Joze (Kotar)Score mp3 II. Eric (Mandat)Score mp3 III. Jim (Ognibene)Score mp3 IV. Jesse (Canterbury) Score included in "Jim" above. No recording (I don't want to cause undue influence). V. Frank (Kowalsky)Score mp3 VI. Jennifer (Nelson)Score mp3 (2011) Three Miniatures for B-flat Clarinet solo. 3 min. Student level piece. Free Score Recording soon. (2009) Three Women and Three Girls for B-flat Clarinet and Piano. Musical portraits of six of my cousins. Uncomplicated, beautiful, humerous, sweet. Playable by high school students as well. 11 min. FREE Download here. (2004) Character Pieces for solo B-flat Clarinet. Five movements depicting five people - four clarinetists and three composers. 10 min. FREE Download here. Bound Score - $10 (2001) Miniature Trio for Two B-flat Clarinets and Bass Clarinet - 7 min. - Familiar forms (sonata-allegro, scherzo-trio, song, and rondo) done with the absolute minimum length needed to fulfill all the rules. Part one can also be played on Oboe or Violin; part two on Viola; and part three on Bassoon, 'Cello, Euphonium or Trombone. To listen to MP3 files, or download free pdfs of score and parts, scroll down to entry under Chamber Music. FREE Download. Score and 6 Parts - $15 I. Sonata-Allegro Recording Score Parts II. Scherzo Recording Score Parts III. Song Recording Score Parts IV. Rondo Recording Score Parts (1995/1999) Sonata for E-flat Clarinet and Piano** - 17 min. - An ecclectic mixture of Celtic polyrhythms, avant garde construction, and "new age" sounds. "...charming, direct melodicism" "...at the top of my list of works for E-flat clarinet and piano." - Gregory Barrett, The Clarinet, March 2018 Available at Presser Music I. April Morning - mp3 II. Night Music - mp3 III. Jig - mp3 (1995) Quartet No. 1 for Four Bb Clarinets - 13 min. - Good for professionals and students alike. Available from Presser. $29.99 "...most engaging" - Ronald Grames, Fanfare, May/June 2010 "An elegant and concise score." - Steve Schwartz, Classical.net, 2010 "Sean Osborn wrote this delectable quartet destined to be loved by audiences." - Michele Gingras, The Clarinet, 12/04 Complete Review in "The Clarinet" Video of The Toledo Clarinets peforming it. I. Moderate II. Scherzo III. Freely IV. Dorian Dance
	Wind Quintet Ravel - Pavanne for a Dead Princess $15 Mozart - Impressario Overture $15 Grieg - Lyric Pieces March of the Dwarves, Notturno, Scherzo, Ringing Bells. $15 Bach - Fugue in g minor (the little) $10 Byrd - The Bells $10 Deck the Halls Carol and Fugue $10 Also available for Clarinet Quintet/Choir (specify when ordering) Video of Clarinet version Boar's Head Carol and Fugue $10 Variations on the Twelve Days of Christmas Humorous and fun. $10 Video Come All Ye Shepherds/Carol of the Bells $10