
APOLLONIAN RIFFS
MUSIC OF GEOFFREY DEAN
Compositions by Geoffrey Dean
Click on titles in bold to listen. More performance links can be found on the Projects page.
STRINGS
APOLLONIAN RIFFS: A MUSICAL ODYSSEY
FOR STRING QUARTET / COMPOSED IN 2022
III. Storms at Sea
Premiered at the 2024 Illinois Chamber Music Festival
Each of the four movements “riffs” on a different theme from Homer’s Odyssey. Read more here.
THRENODY AND OMPHALOS
FOR CELLO ENSEMBLE / COMPOSED IN 2023
Premiered at the 2024 Illinois Chamber Music Festival
THREE IMPROVISATIONS
FOR CELLO SOLO / COMPOSED IN 2023
I. Bariolage
II. Elegy
III. Pythagorean
Premiered at the 2024 Illinois Chamber Music Festival
Each improvisation explores a different type of cello-specific sound dialogue. Read more here.
ECLIPSED: IN SELENE'S SHADOW
FOR STRING ORCHESTRA / COMPOSED IN 2024
Dedicated to the School of Logic orchestras at Parnassus Preparatory School
Eclipsed evokes the spirit of Selene and Helios, the moon and sun of Greek mythology. Read more here.
NOSTALGIA
FOR STRING ORCHESTRA / COMPOSED IN 2024
Dedicated the Parnassus Preparatory School Class of 2024
Unabashedly sentimental, Nostalgia explores the mixed emotions of graduation. Read more here.
DANCING AT DELPHI: A TERPSICHOREAN TRIPTYCH
FOR STRING QUINTET / COMPOSED IN 2024
Premiered at the 2025 Illinois Chamber Music Festival
Scenes from the oracle at Delphi, filtered through tango-inspired sounds. Read more here.
COLONNADES
FOR STRING ORCHESTRA / COMPOSED IN 2025
Dedicated to the School of Logic orchestras at Parnassus Preparatory School
CULMINATION
FOR STRING ORCHESTRA / COMPOSED IN 2025
Dedicated to the Parnassus Preparatory School Class of 2025
LA FOLIA VARIATIONS
FOR STRING ORCHESTRA / COMPOSED IN 2025
PIANO
SIGNATURE SUITES
FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2022
Premiered at the 2023 VIVAPIANO Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria
MUSE MASK DIPTYCH
FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2022
I. Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy
Dedicated to my father, for his 80th birthday
(E)MOTION STUDIES
FOUR PIECES FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2022
I. Power Play
II. Ups and Downs
III. Parallel Motions
IV. It Takes Two
(e)motion studies grew out of a fleeting fascination with palindromes. Read more here.
MUSE SOURCE DIPTYCH
FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2023
I. Stream of Consciousness
II. Hooves on Helicon
RICERCARCHETA
FOUR PIECES FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2023
III. Ricercarche No. 3
Dedicated to the memory of composer Dimiter Christoff
A set of pieces with a "searching" quality. Read more here.
MICROMOMENTS
FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2023-4
Premiered by Carson Rose Schneider in Minneapolis
WINTER BLOOMS
LYRIC SUITE FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2024
I. Snow Song
II. Softly Shining
III. Liquid Moon
IV. A Certain Slant of Light
V. Tintinnabulation
VI. The Only Other Sound
VII. Shadow Dance
VIII. Winter Blooms
Dedicated to my mother, for her 80th birthday
Each movement has a winter-themed poetic epigraph. Read more here.
ASPECTS OF ATHENA
A SUITE FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2024-5
I. Birth of Athena
II. Sibling Rivalry
III. Regret
IV. Arachnophobia
V. Serpents
VI. The Olive Tree
VII. At the Agora
VIII. Athena Knows Best
Dedicated to the memory of Constance Ford
Aspects of Athena was completed during a trip to Athens in March 2025. Read more here.
VERACIOUS
DANCE SUITE FOR PIANO / COMPOSED IN 2025
I. No Cap: Step by Step
II. De Veras: Flamenco
III. No Filter: Pas de Chat
IV. Truth Bomb: Urban Dance
V. Facts: Tango
VI. Called It: Barn Dance
VII. Dare to Dream: Horo
VIII. Leap of Faith: Saute Arabesque
IX. Just Being You: Boogie
Dedicated to my daughter, a veracious dancer
Dancing is a veracious activity, where both authenticity and precision are highly prized. Read more here.
CHORAL
PERSEVERE!
FOR SATB CHOIR / COMPOSED IN 2025
Text: excerpt from Beethoven's Letter to a Young Student
INVITATION
FOR SATB CHOIR / COMPOSED IN 2025
Text: excerpt from Rostislav Dubinsky's book, Stormy Applause
ALWAYS REMAIN (MUSIC)
FOR SATB CHOIR / COMPOSED IN 2025
Text: excerpt from W. A. Mozart letter
Image: Apollo playing the lyre, ceramic artifact in the Archeological Museum at Delphi (seen March 2025)
