A thread of piano music runs through my work since 1999, focusing on small pieces that, through their associations with texts, reflect a wandering and sometimes weird experience of history and the world. Centaur Records has released representative works from this collection in Pieces, Threaded: 1999-2009 (CRC3105, 2011), as a part of its distinguished catalogue of American piano music. My “piano music” page also features video of Jacob Rhodebeck interpreting “Fors Seulement…” fors seulement condition, and Coda: “You Are Not I”, at UC Santa Cruz.

Music for Percussion (Albany Records TROY1225, 2011) is focused on my 2007 work A is for Azimuth and Arnica, commissioned by Chris Froh. The composition is designed to be re-shaped in multiple ways, depending on which objects and texts the performer “finds” for the work. The disk features five different interpretations, including two by Froh, and others by percussionists Ian Antonio, Russell Greenberg, and Aiyun Huang. Please also have a look at video of Antonio & Greenberg’s Santa Cruz performance of Mediations, Tenors. 

On March 26th, 2009, the Music Performance Program at Columbia University presented Anahistoric: Music of Ben Leeds Carson—a dynamic and innovative presentation at Philosophy Hall. New York piano and percussion quartet Yarn/Wire led the evening with several works, including Anahistoric, with CORE Ensemble’s Katie Schlaikjer as cello soloist. Distinguished soloists included Dr. Rhonda Taylor of New Mexico State University, trumpeter Glen Whitehead of University of Colorado, and American/Spanish/German contrabassist/critic Christopher Williams.