David Myska is a Canadian composer of orchestral, chamber, vocal, film, and electroacoustic music. His compositions and performances have been commissioned, sponsored, and supported by the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University, the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, Public Broadcasting, Meet-the-Composer, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harvard University, the California Institute of the Arts, Protean Productions, Haverford College, and Western University.
Myska performs as a pianist, including his own works, and directs performances of his electroacoustic music. He holds a PhD in composition from Harvard University and has taught at the University of Toronto, Harvard University, Haverford College, Mills College, and Western University, and served as Chair of the Department of Music Research and Composition at Western University.
A complete catalogue of works appears below. Information about recordings appears at Bowl Records.
Selected Compositions
Sinfonia Concertante (2009) 16 min.
2222/222/timpani, percussion/harp/strings
Psyche (2005) 25 min.
4344/433/timpani, percussion/harp/strings (16-14-12-10-8)
Chloris (2001) 30 min.
4344/433/timpani, percussion/harp/strings (16-14-12-10-8)
Zephyrus (1996) 30 min.
4344/4331/timpani, percussion/strings (16-14-12-10-8)
Excursion (1984) 22 min.
Commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation.
Alluvium (1979) 10 min.
Chamber orchestra
Gravity Lessons (2013) 10 min.
String Quintet "Printemps" (2016) 13 min.
2 Violins, 2 Violas, Violoncello
Premiere 01 May 2016 (Toronto)
Con Sequenze (2011) 10 min.
Violin and Viola
Premiere 23 February 2015 (London) and 07 March 2015 (New York)
Lynx (2010) 7 min.
Solo Guitar
On the Steps of Mariyinsky Palace (2008) 30 min.
Violin, Clarinet, Piano
Recorded November 2008 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada
Recording available through the
Canadian Music Centre
Five Pieces for Violoncello (2007) 26 min.
Recorded June 2011 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada
Recording available through the
Canadian Music Centre
Five Movements in Reflection (2004) 30 min.
Violin, Clarinet, Harp
Recorded July 2007, Valencia, California
Recording available through the
Canadian Music Centre
Piano Trio #2 (“Scorpion”) (1994) 17 min.
Violin, Violoncello, Piano
Trio (1989) 10 min.
Clarinet, Trumpet, Bassoon
Piano Trio (1988) 25 min.
Violin, Violoncello, Piano
Music for Brass and Percussion (1988) 11 min.
French Horn, Trumpet in E-flat (Flügelhorn, B-flat Piccolo Trumpet),
2 Trumpets in B-flat, Trumpet in C,
3 Trombones (1 on Baritone), Bass Trombone, Tuba, Percussion
Seven Movements in Reflection (1983) 30 min.
Clarinet, Violin, Harp, Piano
Duo Capriccio (1980) 10 min.
Clarinet, Piano
String Quartet (1978) 14 min.
Trio (1977) 8 min.
Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon
Flutepiece (1975) 6 min.
Solo Flute
Con Sequenze (2013) 10 min.
Arranged for Solo Piano
Sinfonia Traces (2010) 6 min.
Solo Piano
Little Piece (1989) 5 min.
Solo Piano
Ballade (1982) 13 min.
Solo Piano
Recorded July 2009
Recording available through the
Canadian Music Centre
Elegie – cloches (1998) 16 min.
Yamaha Disklavier Piano and MAX Software
Mensural Canons Improvisation Study (1998) variable–infinite duration
Keyboard/Synthesizer Study for MAX Software
Psalm 10 (1997) 20 min.
Mezzo-Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Harp, Synthesizer, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass
Images (1990–91) 16 min.
Flute and Computer MIDI Ensemble
Celebration (1989) 5 min.
MIDI Ensemble, 1 Player
Fantasy (1986) 14 min.
Harp and Computer MIDI Ensemble
Quilt (1985) 16 min.
Viola with Synthesis
Music for Piano and Chimes (1980) 8 min.
Four-Channel Tape
Concrete Study (1978) 3 min.
Tape Composition
Four Songs on William Shakespeare (2004, 2012) 24 min.
Mezzo-Soprano, Violoncello
(Nos. 60, 77, 98 and 65)
How Beautiful On The Mountains (2000) 6 min.
SATB Chorus
Three Songs on Poems by W.H. Auden (1988) 17 min.
Baritone Voice, Piano (Arranged for Mezzo and Piano, 1989)
Quartet (1976) 8 min.
(Text by Dylan Thomas)
Soprano, Viola and 2 Violoncellos
Edouard Manet: Painter of Modern Life (1983)
Clarinet, Violin, Harp, Piano
Film/Video Documentary
Commissioned to accompany the 1983 Manet Exhibition at the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Pissarro: At the Heart of Impressionism (1981)
Flute, Violoncello, Piano
Film/Video Documentary
Commissioned to accompany the 1981 Pissarro Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Distribution by the Museum of Modern Art, New York
Catalogue updated 2026.
For recordings, scores, and current releases, see:
Bowl Records ·
Canadian Music Centre
E-mail the composer: BowlRecords@mail.com