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American Sky
Pronounced to rhyme with “Yarmolinsky,” “American Sky” is a video album of 13 American folk songs and popular melodies arranged for guitar. The playing was shot in front of a green screen and then images of the Hudson Valley were superimposed as background.
I’d Like to be Like
Here I am singing about my fantasies.
The Stranger
"The Stranger" is from a group of songs entitled "Schubert Songs," on poems by David Schubert. Chris Pedro Trakas is the baritone and Kelly Horsted is the pianist.
Anita Hill’s Statement
From the opera “Clarence & Anita.” The role of Anita Hill is sung by Adrienne Dannrich. From a 2010 reading at the Cell Theater in New York. Djordje Nesic is the pianist.
Yes, I Can Heal
From the opera “Clarence & Anita.” The role of Clarence Thomas is sung by Roland Burks. From a 2010 reading at the Cell Theater in New York. Djordje Nesic is the pianist.
Long Dong Silver
From the opera “Clarence & Anita.” The role of Anita Hill is sung by Adrienne Dannrich. From a 2010 reading at the cell theater in New York. Djordje Nesic is the pianist.
Oath of Office
From the opera “Clarence & Anita.” The role of Clarence Thomas is sung by Roland Burks. From a 2010 reading at the cell theater in New York. Djordje Nesic is the pianist.
New Orleans
This is an original tune inspired by a visit to the Big Easy in the early 2000s.
Swing Low
This is an arrangement of the well-known spiritual—a favorite of mine since childhood. Note how the melody modulates.
The Yarmolinsky Variations
This video was recorded as part of the Bronx Community College’s online concert series during the Covid pandemic. It consists of a program of variations composed on melodies such as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Sentimental Journey,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “Etude No. 3” by Fernando Sor, and others.
Past Albums
Songs and Dances (2024)
“Songs & Dances” represents a sampler of pieces for flute and guitar. Some of them began life as songs; some as dances; some as piano pieces. They all have benefitted from the artistry of flautist Margaret Swinchoski. Listen on Spotify and Apple Music.
Playing with the Big Boys (2016)
This, my third solo guitar album, was recorded in 2016. It contains variations and arrangements of well-known compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Ellington and others. Bilateral Negotiations is a set of variations on the Palestinian and Israeli national anthems. To be re-released in 2024 by Tiger Records. Listen on Spotify and Apple Music.
Album for the Young (and Not-So-Young) (2013)
As a music student, I was obliged to take piano lessons. Although I had several years of lessons, I never took to the instrument. This album is my interpretation of piano pieces from Schumann’s Album for the Young, as well as easy piano pieces by Bartok and Stravinsky, arranged and re-imagined for the guitar. It was published in 2013, and is to be re-released in November of 2023 by Tiger Records.
Paradise and Promised Land (2010)
The poet Samuel Menashe (1925-2011) was a friend and mentor. Over about six years, I set many of his poems to be sung with accompaniment by guitar or piano. In 2010, I recorded twenty-seven of these settings with baritone Bruce Rameker and pianist Marija Ilic. In 2013, I took thirty-seven of these songs and arranged them for a small ensemble of flute, oboe, clarinet, strings, guitar and piano and recorded them with mezzo-soprano Silvie Jensen and baritone Randall Scarlata.
A Marriage Cantata (2010)
This piece was commissioned in 2010 by Jean and Robert Ashton to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The singers are mezzo-soprano Blythe Gaissert and bass-baritone Robert Osborne. The texts are by Edward Lear, Donald Hall, Ogden Nash, Muriel Rukeyser, Billy Collins, William Carlos Williams and William Shakespeare.
New Music by Ben Yarmolinsky (2007)
New Music by Ben Yarmolinsky contains New York Minutes performed by the Zigzag Quartet, and Berry songs, four settings of poems by Wendell Berry performed by Bruce Rameker and Ishmael Wallace.
Late Valentines: Love Songs for Voice and Guitar (2006)
This program of songs dates from 2006. Mezzo-soprano Silvie Jensen sings guitar songs by Yarmolinsky, together with twelve Gershwin songs arranged for the guitar. Poets represented include: Bernstein, Frost, Lear, Stevens, Shakespeare and others.
Music for Guitar (2004)
This Cd from 2004 is my first album of original solo guitar music. It contains music composed from the early 1980s through the early 2000s.
The Subject: A Psychiatric Opera (2003)
The second of my three operatic collaborations with Charles Bernstein, The Subject dramatizes a 50-minute psychiatric session. The three characters in this 2003 recording are sung by mezzo-soprano Carla Wood, tenor-Tom Bogdan and baritone Stephen Kalm, with pianist Elizabeth Rodgers. As of Sept. ’23, the piece has yet to be performed publicly in its entirety.
9 Pieces for 4 Hands (2001)
This is a 2001 recording of a 20-minute piece commissioned by Anne and Sig Abeles. The pianists are Bernadette Hoke and Eric Birk.
Suite for Tangier & Brotherhoods (2000)
In 2000, the American School of Tangier commissioned me to write incidental music for their Drama Festival in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary. The Suite for Tangier was the result. In 1996, The Talujon Percussion Quartet collaborated with Friends & Enemies of New Music in a concert of premieres. My contribution was Brotherhoods, a suite of three pieces based on music of Sufi brotherhoods I had gotten to know during my time in Morocco.
In Lieu of Flowers (2000)
As the title indicates, this is an album of songs written and performed for friends and relatives on the occasion of birthdays, weddings, memorials, etc. The 32 songs on this recording from 2000 represent about twenty years of such occasional songs. Stay tuned for In Lieu of Flowers, Part 2.
April 15th Blues (1999)
This CD was commissioned by CRI’s president Jody Dalton in 1999. It is a 30-minute operetta on the subject of our national tax day, with book and lyrics by the composer. The role of Jane Q. Public is sung by Elaine Valby. Randall Scarlata sings the role of Jeremy Cohen, CPA and the ventriloquized voice of the tax form 1040. It was first performed “live” in 2005, with Melanie Mitrano and Bruce Rameker in the lead roles (available on YouTube).
Blind Witness News (1990)
In 1990, I was asked to write a piece for American Opera Projects. I had the idea of a parody of the evening television news and asked the poet Charles Bernstein to create the libretto. This was the first of our three operas. This recording is from a 2005 performance by Cantiamo opera and features Deborah Karpel, Leandra Ramm, Aram Tchobanian and Nathan Resika with pianist Ishmael Wallace.
Dark Eyes and Other Musical Memories (2016)
This 2016 recording of chamber music includes my Violin Sonata, Dark Eyes Variations, Twinkle Variations, Ballpark Variations and Piano Quartet. The players are members of the div.is.ion ensemble: Margaret Swinchoski-flute, Don Mokrynski-clarinet, Kurt Briggs-violin, Renée Briggs-piano, Peggy MacAdams-viola and Matt Goeke-cello.
Maria Ilic Plays Ben Yarmolinsky (2024)
The pianist Marija Ilic has been a valued collaborator for many years. Here she plays a selection of my pieces written between 1978 and 2023. Listen on Spotify and Apple Music.