Benjamin Gabbay | Composer

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Works

Orchestra

  • Overture to the Old World (2025) for symphony orchestra – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Prof. Uri Mayer) in September 2025 in the Tribute Communities Recital Hall of York University, Toronto, Ontario
  • The Garden of Earthly Delights (2023) for symphony orchestra
  • Rapture in Canis Minor (2020), concerto for piano and symphony orchestra

Opera

  • The Scholars (2026), chamber opera for four soloists and string quartet – [Click for recording]
    Commissioned and premiered by Arcady Ensemble in March 2026 in Waterford Old Town Hall, Waterford, Ontario; libretto by Michaela Chiste; directed by Michal Aloni

Choir and Vocal Ensemble

  • Praise (2025) for a cappella SATB voices
  • Ave Maria (2024) for a cappella SATB voices – [Click for recording]
    Premiered in November 2025 in Walter Hall, University of Toronto, Ontario
  • Bergandacht (Mountain Prayer) (2024) for SSAA choir, flute, and string quartet – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Arcady Ensemble in November 2024 in St. Andrew’s United Church, Brantford, Ontario
  • Twilight Serenade (2024) for SATB choir and strings – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Arcady Ensemble in September 2024 in St.Thomas’ Anglican Church, Toronto, Ontario
  • The Rose That Bare Jesu (2023) for soprano soloist, SSAA choir, and string orchestra – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Arcady Ensemble and soprano Sophia Korz in December 2023 in St. Andrew’s United Church, Brantford, Ontario Also available for soprano soloist, SSAA choir, and organ
  • Chanson Courante (2023) for SATB choir and string orchestra – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Arcady Ensemble in June 2023 in St. Andrew’s United Church, Brantford, Ontario

    • Also available for SATB choir and piano
  • The Answer (2021) for SATB, SSAA, and TTBB choirs – [Click for recording]
    Commissioned and premiered virtually by the University of Toronto’s MacMillan Singers on April 17, 2021
  • When All Falls Silent (2020) for a cappella SATTBB vocal sextet
  • so comes love (2020) for a cappella SATB voices – [Click for recording]
    Recorded and premiered virtually in August 2020
  • And so the night became (2020) for a cappella SATB voices – [Click for recording]
    Recorded and premiered virtually in May 2020
  • Prelude to Winter (2019) for SATB choir and accordion
    Commissioned and premiered by Musicata Choir and accordionist Michael Bridge in November 2019 in Hamilton, Ontario
  • Annabel Lee (2019) for SATB choir and piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Concreamus Chamber Choir in November 2019 in Walter Hall, University of Toronto, Ontario
  • i thank you God for most this amazing day (2019) for a cappella SATB choir – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by the St. James Cathedral Choir in January 2019 in St. James Cathedral, Toronto, Ontario
  • Sous l’abside du ciel d’été (2019), chanson-madrigal for a cappella SSATBB voices – [Click for recording]
    Premiered on May 1, 2021 at the Arts & Letters Club, Toronto, Ontario
  • O Great Mystery (2018) for SATB a cappella choir – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Toronto Voice Lab on November 27, 2021 in St. Basil’s Parish in Toronto, Ontario
  • Requiem l’homme armé (2018) for SATB choir and piano – [Click for recording]
    Commissioned and premiered by Mississauga Summer Chorale on July 28, 2018 in Mississauga, Ontario
  • Lucis creator optime (2017) for large a cappella SATB choir

Solo and Chamber Ensemble

  • Fern Hill (2026) for clarinet quintet [cl(A) vn1 vn2 va vc]
    Commissioned by clarinetist Emerald Sun
  • Vespers (2025) for woodwind trio [ob cl(Bb) bsn]
  • for Freedom (2022) for solo violin – [Click for recording]
    Commissioned and premiered by violinist Marie-Claire Cardinal on May 2, 2022 in McGill University, Quebec
  • Piano Quintet “The Passion” (2021) [vn1 vn2 va vc pno]
  • Nigun of Four Gates (2021) for seven cellos – [Click for recording]
    Premiered in March 2023 in Walter Hall, University of Toronto,
  • Musette (2018) for clarinet and piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Katelyn Katic (clarinet) and Benjamin Gabbay (piano) in March 2018 in Walter Hall, University of Toronto

Art Song

  • Les roses de Saâdi (2026) for baritone and piano
  • Meditation (2024) for voice and piano
    • Available for low voice and high voice
    • Originally written for voice, cello, and piano (see “Vocal with Chamber Ensemble”) – [Click for recording]
  • Songs of the Heart (2025) for soprano and piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Michaela Chiste (soprano) and Benjamin Gabbay (piano) in September 2025 in Paris, Ontario
  • Crepuscule (2022) for mezzo-soprano and extended piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Maria Milenic (mezzo-soprano) and Benjamin Gabbay (piano) in November 2022 in Walter Hall, University of Toronto, Ontario 

    • Also available for mezzo-soprano and mixed ensemble [fl cl(Bb) vn vc pno] (see “Vocal with Chamber Ensemble”)
  • Toward Eternity (2019) for soprano and piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Claire Latosinsky (soprano) and Suzy Smith (piano) in December 2019 in the University of Toronto, Ontario
  • The Lake (2019) for two mezzo-sopranos and piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Claire Latosinsky (mezzo-soprano), Anika France (mezzo-soprano), and Benjamin Gabbay (piano) in April 2019 in Victoria Chapel, University of Toronto, Ontario
  • The Raven (2018) for baritone orator and piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Kai Leung (baritone) and Benjamin Gabbay (piano) in April 2018 in the University of Toronto, Ontario
  • Three Prayers (2017) for piano and soprano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Benjamin Gabbay (piano) and Maria Milenic (soprano) in November 2017 in Walter Hall, University of Toronto 

    • The work comprises three movements, the first two of which (I. Chorale and II. Elegy) are for solo piano, with the third (III. Laudate Dominum) being for soprano and piano

Vocal with Chamber Ensemble

  • Meditation (2024) for voice, cello, and piano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Marcel van Helden (tenor), Miriam Stewart-Kroeker (cello), and Benjamin Gabbay (piano) in August 2024 in Whistling Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario 

    • Available for low voice and high voice
    • Available for voice and piano only
  • Conditor alme siderum (2022) for soprano and string orchestra – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Arcady Ensemble with soprano Vivian Illion in November 2022 in Brantford, Ontario
  • Songs of Earth and Sky (2020) for mezzo-soprano and mixed ensemble [fl cl(Bb) vn vc pno]
  • Crepuscule (2020) for mezzo-soprano and mixed ensemble [fl cl(Bb) vn vc pno]

Piano Solo

  • Nocturne (2026)
  • Pentahedron (2021)
  • Three Prayers (2017) for piano and soprano – [Click for recording]
    Premiered by Benjamin Gabbay (piano) and Maria Milenic (soprano) in November 2017 in Walter Hall, University of Toronto 

    • The work comprises three movements, the first two of which (I. Chorale and II. Elegy) are for solo piano, with the third (III. Laudate Dominum) being for soprano and piano
  • Six Variations on a Theme by Beethoven (2017) – [Click for recording]
  • Valse Promenade (2016) – [Click for recording]
  • Novelette (2016)
  • Mazurka (2016) – [Click for recording]
  • Promenade (2015) – [Click for recording]
  • Trois Études (2015)
  • Valse Bagatelle (2014) – [Click for recording]