"His carefully constructed, harmonically adventurous compositions have heart and soul, two elements often missing in contemporary classical music."

— Pulse! Magazine

Daniel Asia: Guitar Works

What makes these pieces particularly remarkable is the elaborate guitar writing from a composer who doesn't play the instrument himself—a testament to his deep understanding of the guitar's capabilities and his commitment to expanding its repertoire.

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Three Songs of Transcendence:

A profound triptych performed by Joseph Pecoraro, these three movements explore spiritual and emotional transcendence through intricate guitar textures and lyrical melodic lines.

• Movement I: Stream | Download

• Movement II: Stream | Download

• Movement III: Stream | Download

"coherent, attractive, and satisfying"
— New Yorker


"most varied and rewarding"
— New York Times

Sacred Songs:

Performed by Musical Elements, this contemplative work weaves traditional sacred themes with contemporary harmonic language, creating a bridge between ancient prayer and modern musical expression.

• Oseh Shalom: Stream | Download

• Shiru Ladonai: Stream | Download

"The highlight was Daniel Asia's 'Your Cry Will Be a Whisper', a new addition to the guitar recital repertoire... written in a contemporary idiom and the elaborate guitar writing is rare for a composer who is not a guitarist."

— Henrique Pinto

Your Cry Will Be a Whisper

This three-movement work, beautifully performed by renowned guitarist Benjamin Verdery, showcases Asia's gift for creatng music that is both intellectually engaging and deeply moving.

• Movement 1: Stream | Download

• Movement 2: Stream | Download

• Movement 3: Stream | Download

Never-Recorded Guitar Works

A collection of Daniel Asia's compositions for guitar that have yet to be captured on recording — each a testament to his mastery of the instrument's expressive range.

Embers

for flute and guitar

A work of smoldering intimacy, Embers explores the delicate interplay between two of music's most lyrical voices. Asia's writing for this duo glows with warmth and subtle intensity — a flame not yet preserved on record.

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Summer Haze

for guitar

A solo meditation that evokes the languid, shimmering quality of midsummer stillness. Summer Haze reveals Asia's deep sensitivity to atmosphere and color, drawing out the guitar's full expressive palette in a work of rare poetic beauty.

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The New Set

for violin and guitar

Born from a celebrated partnership with Duo 46, The New Set represents Asia's most recent foray into the guitar repertoire. Its absence from the recorded canon makes it all the more compelling — a living work awaiting its permanent voice.

View Score

Momentary Lapses

for violin and guitar

A work of fleeting gestures and suspended time, Momentary Lapses traces the tender, fractured dialogue between violin and guitar with striking emotional precision. Asia's writing here is at once restless and reflective — a conversation caught between silence and song, still awaiting its first breath on disc.

View Score

Asia's Critical Acclaim

Daniel Asia's compositions have consistently garnered praise from leading publications and critics, recognizing his profound contributions to contemporary classical music. His ability to fuse intricate technical mastery with deep emotional resonance has earned him a distinguished place among today's most respected composers. His works are frequently described as powerful, thought-provoking, and technically brilliant, showcasing a composer whose voice is both distinctive and universally appealing.

Daniel Asia has been lauded by The New York Times for his "genuine creative spirit," underscoring his innovative approach to composition across diverse genres and his unique voice in modern music.

Schwann Opus has recognized Asia as "a welcome addition to the roster of our strongest group of living composers," highlighting his significant impact and the compelling nature of his works.

"American classical music has finally taken a sharp turn for the better—back towards tonality, accessibility, and immediacy. Daniel Asia is one of the composers who has his hands on the wheel."

—TIME Magazine

Additional Critical Acclaim

"Restoring Spirituality To Music"

—Forward.com

"Asia rocks!"

—Fanfare Magazine

"…a sensuous approach to sound…"

—New York Times

"Gorgeous music, passionate and lyrical..."

—Schwann Opus

"Challenging but listener-friendly."

—Seattle Times

Asia "wishes to be 'appropriately shattering' or revert to full-blown tonality when reaching for something 'beautiful and transcendent'"

—Fanfare

Daniel Asia: Composer

Daniel Asia (b. 1953) stands among the most versatile composers of his generation, having traversed orchestral, chamber, vocal, and operatic realms with equal mastery. A 2009 recipient of an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award and inducted into the American Academy of Sciences and Letters in 2024, Asia has been hailed as "a genuine creative spirit" and "a welcome addition to the roster of our strongest group of living composers."

His orchestral works have been commissioned and performed by major symphony orchestras including Cincinnati, Seattle, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and the American Composers Orchestra in New York City. Renowned conductors such as Jesús López-Cobos, Gerard Schwarz, Eiji Oue, and Zdeněk Mácal have championed his music on stages across America and Europe.

Asia served as Professor of Music at the University of Arizona from 1988-2024 and currently serves as President of Polyhymnia (Center for American Culture and Ideas). His distinguished career includes a Guggenheim Fellowship, four NEA Composers Grants, a Fulbright Arts Award Fellowship, and numerous other honors recognizing his contribution to American music.

Performers & Conductors

Daniel Asia's symphonic works have been brought to life by some of the world's most distinguished ensembles and conductors, showcasing the breadth and appeal of his compositional voice across the international classical music community.

Distinguished Ensembles

Dorian Wind Quintet, American Brass Quintet, Meadowmount Trio, Cypress Quartet, Amernet String Quartet

Acclaimed Soloists

Andre-Michel Schub, Alex Klein, Benjamin Verdery, John Shirley-Quirk, Sara Watkins, Christopher Pedro Trakas, Faye Robinson, Robert Dick, Carter Brey, Julian Schwarz, Robert Swensen, Jeremy Huw Williams, Carmen Pelton, Mary Feinsinger

Renowned Conductors

Zdenek Macal, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Eiji Oue, Lawrence Leighton Smith, Carl St. Clair, James Sedares, Stuart Malina, George Hanson, Kirk Trevor, Koji Kawamoto, Gerard Schwarz, Odaline de la Martinez, Jonathan Shames

Distinguished Recognition

Throughout his career, Daniel Asia has received some of the most prestigious honors available to American composers, reflecting both the quality of his work and his significant contribution to contemporary classical music.

American Academy of Sciences & Letters induction ceremony, 2024

American Academy of Arts and Letters Award

2009

American Academy of Sciences and Letters

Inducted 2024

Guggenheim Fellowship

Fulbright Arts Award Fellowship

United Kingdom

National Endowment for the Arts

Four NEA Composers Grants

Major Foundation Support

M.B. Rockefeller Grant | Aaron Copland Fund for Music Grant

Artist Residencies

MacDowell Colony Fellowship | Tanglewood Fellowships | DAAD Fellowship (Germany)

Composition Prizes

ASCAP Composition Prize | BMI Composition Prize

Orchestra Residency

Meet The Composer/Composer in Residence with the Phoenix Symphony 1991-94

Connect With Us

Igor Reznik
Agent & Producer
Momentum Artists

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +1-646-975-8402

Additional Resources

Explore more about the artists and organizations involved in this project:

Artist Websites

Organizations & Resources