Most works are published by Casa Ricordi except installations & a text piece and there are also some withdrawn pieces listed below. See Ricordi worklist for detailed instrumentation, program notes etc.
1. Garden of Earthly Desire (1988-89), 11 musicians
Fl/picc, Ob, Cl, Mand, Elec Guitar, Harp, Perc, Vln, Vla, Vc, D Bass
2. Voodoo Child (1989), Soprano, Fl/picc, Cl, Tbn, Perc, Piano, Vln, Vc
3. The Oresteia (1991-93), opera
Memory theatre (opera); soprano, 2 mezzo soprano (mezzo soprano 2 also plays stage ‘cello), counter tenor, tenor, baritone & dancer (also vocalising); Fl/Picc, Ob/Cor Ang, Cl/Bass Cl, Tpt/Picc Tpt, Tbn. Turkish Baglama Saz (played by mandolinist) Electric Guitar, Perc, Vla/Vla d’amore, Vc, D bass
4. Amulet (1992), viola solo
5. Hell (1992), string quartet
6. Koto (1993), Fl/picc, Ob.d’amore, Flugel horn, Koto, Vla, 2Vc, Perc
7. Li Shang yin (1993), coloratura Soprano and 15 instruments
Ob, Cor Ang, Bsn, Cbsn, Sop Sax, Hn, slide Tpt, Tbn, Tuba, Harp, Vln, 2 Vla, 2 Vc
8. Afterward: From a Tower (a translation)(1994), 7 night vigil & installation
(with artist Domenico de Clario & ELISION Ensemble)
9. Bardo’-i-thos-grol (The Tibetan Book of the Dead) (1994 & 1995)
7-night performance & installation with Domenico de Clario & ELISION
9. Cathedral (1994), orchestra [now withdrawn]
11. Burning House (1995), koto & voice (1 performer)
12. Street of Crocodiles (1995), 9 musicians
Fl, Ob, Alto Sax, Alto Tbn, Cimbalom/Perc, Vln, Vla, Vc, Baroque Vc
13. Sri Vidya – Utterances of Adoration (1995), choir & orchestra [now withdrawn]
14. Gothic (1995-96), 8 solo strings (3Vln, 2Vla, 2Vc, D bass)
15. The Cauldron – Fusion of the 5 Elements (1996)
2-part meditation & installation
with Domenico de Clario & ELISION
16. Inguz (Fertility) (1996), clarinet in A and violoncello
17. The Alchemical Wedding (1996), chamber orchestra (22 musicians)
2Fl/Picc, 2Ob (2. Cor Ang), Cl eflat, Cl bflat, Bass Cl, Alto Sax, Bsn/Cbsn
Hn, 2Tpt, Tbn – Perc. Angklung – Hp – Er-hu (Chinese Vln), 2Vln. 3Vc
18. The Heart’s Ear (1997), flute, clarinet, string quartet
19. Philtre (1997), violin or Hardanger fiddle
20. Anactoria (1998), six percussionists
21. Chang-O (1998), baritone and percussion
22. Veil (1999), Fl/Bass Fl, Bass Cl, Tpt in C, Perc, Piano, Vln, Vc
23. Yuè Lìng Jié (Moon Spirit Feasting) (1997-99), opera
Chinese ritual street opera in 7 parts For 3 singers, 9 instruments and live electronics. Fl/Picc/Bass Fl, Cl/Bass Cl, Alto Sax/Bar Sax, Tpt/Flugel Hn, 2 Perc, Koto, Er-hu, Vc
24. Sixteen touches of the zither (1999), koto as part of
Sonorous Body (1999), video installation with koto (with artist Judith Wright)
25. Spirit Weapons (1999-2000), I: ‘cello; II: contrabass clarinet and 3 perc.
26. Machine for Contacting the Dead (1999-2000), 27 musicians including 2 soloists
Bass Fl/picc, Fl/picc, 2 Ob (2. Cor Ang), 2 Cl in A, Bass Cl/Cbass (soloist), Bsn, Cbsn – Hn, 2 Tpt, Alto Tbn, Trbn, Tuba – 3 Perc – Harp, Piano – 2 Vln, 2 Vla, 2 Vc (1. soloist),
D bass
27. Ming Qi (Bright Vessel) (2000), oboe and percussion
28. The Tree of Life (2001), orchestra [now withdrawn]
29. Ecstatic Architecture (2004), orchestra
Picc. 3Fl (1.Picc, 2.3. Bass Fl), 3 Ob, Cor Ang, 2Cl, 2Bass Cl, 2Bsn, 2 Cbsn –
4 Hn, 3 Tpt, 3 Tbn (1. Alto Tbn), Bass Tbn, Bass Tuba, 3Perc, Harp, Strings.
30. In the Shadow’s Light (2004), string quartet
31. The Quickening (2004-05), soprano and qin
32. Immer fliessender (2004), orchestra
Picc, 3Fl, 3Ob, Cor Ang, Cl eflat, 3Cl in A, Bass Cl, 3Bsn, Cbsn-
4Hn, 3Tpt, 3Tbn, Bass Tuba – 2Timp, 2Perc – 2Harp – Strings
33. Songs found in dream (2005), Ob, Bass Cl, Alto Sax, Trumpet, 2 Perc, Vc, D Bass
34. Mother Tongue (2005), soprano & 15 instruments
Sop, 2 Fl (2nd picc), Ob, Cl, Bass Cl, Alto/Bar Sax, Bsn/C Bsn,
Tpt, Tbn, 1 Perc, 2 Vln, Vla, Vc, D Bass
35. Flying Banner (after Wang To) (2005), orchestra
2Picc, 1Fl, 2Ob, Cor Ang, Cl eflat, Cl b flat, Bass Cl, 2Bsn, Cbsn-2Hn, Picc Tpt, Tpt,
2Tbn, Bass Tbn – Timp – 1Perc (5 Chinese gongs, 3 wood blocks, 2 temple blocks,
high tom-tom)-Strings
36. Glasshouse Mountains (2005), video, sculptures & sound installation
with artist Judy Watson, Rosanne Hunt (‘cello), Michael Hewes (sound design)
37. The Compass (2005-06), orchestra with solo flute & didgeridoo
Flute solo (Picc/Bass Fl); didgeridoo solo (both soloists are amplified)
4Fl (3.4.picc) 3Ob, Cor Ang, Cl eflat, 2 Cl b flat, Bass Cl, 3Bsn, Cbsn-
4Hn, 4Tpt, 4Tbn (4.tenor-bass), Tuba – 3Perc – Piano – Strings
38. Shimmer Songs (2006), string quartet (2 Vln, Vla, Vc), harp, 3 perc
39. City of Falling Angels (2007), 12 percussionists
40. Wild Winged One (2007), trumpet
41. Weaver of fictions (2007), alto Ganassi recorder
42. The long forgetting (2007), tenor Ganassi recorder
43. Sensorium (2007), version of Scene 2 of The Navigator, soprano, counter tenor,
tenor Ganassi/contrabass recorder, harp, viola d’amore
44. The Navigator (2007-08), opera for 5 singers, 16 instrumentalists and electronics
45. Well of Dreams (2008), alto trombone [only playable as part of ‘TON’]
46. Sonorous Body (2008), clarinet
47. Ochred String (2008), oboe, viola, ‘cello, double bass
48. TON (2008), ‘scena’ for mobile sculptures, audience and musicians
Collaboration with Sabrina Hoelzer (director), Volker Maerz (artist) & ELISION
49. The Four Seasons (after Cy Twombly) (2008), piano
50. Invisibility (2009), violoncello with two bows
51. Pearl, Ochre, Hair String (2010), for orchestra
2, Picc., 2, Engl. Horn, 1, Bass Cl., 2, Contrabass Cl. / 4, 3, 2, Bass Tromb., 1 (Btb.) /
Timp., 2, Perc. / Strings
52. The Guest (2010), orchestra with solo recorder solo
Solo: Baroque alto, Tenor Ganassi, Bassett recorders
2 (2 Picc. Afl). 2 (Eh). 1. Bkl (Kbkl). 1. Kfg. / 2 . 2. Picctr. 2 (Aps). Eu. 0. / 3 Schlzg Cimbalom. / 6. 6. 6. 6. 3.
53. Ehwaz (journeying) (2010), trumpet and percussion
54. Gyfu (gift) (2011), oboe
55. Tongue of the Invisible (2010/11), improvising pianist, baritone and 16 musicians
1 (Afl. Picc). 1 (Lupophon). 1 (Bkl. Kbkl). Asax (Barsax). 1 (Contraforte). / 1. 1 (Doppeltrtr. Flhr). Tbps. 0. Eu. / Schlzg. Cim. / 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Text by Jonathan Holmes after Hafez
56. Love Letter (2011), hand drum [freely available text piece]
57. 3 Angels (2011), soprano, mezzo soprano, bass-baritone
58. Axis Mundi (2012-13), bassoon
59. The Weaver’s Knot (2013-14), string quartet
60. Winding Bodies: 3 Knots (2013-14), 9 musicians,
AFl, Bass Cl, Piano, Perc, Hardanger fiddle, Vln, Vla, Vc, D-bass
61. The Green Lion eats the Sun (2014), double-bell euphonium
62. The Window (2014), 1/4-tone flugel horn
63. Tree of Codes (2013-16), opera
for soprano, high baritone, singer/clarinettist, fifteen other musicians (also vocalising), electronics + theatre performers
64. Rug Music (2015), harp solo
65. Speak, Be Silent (2015) concerto for violin & ensemble of 15 musicians
66. an ocean beyond earth (2016), solo ‘cello work for Séverine Ballon
[‘cello prepared with thread & violin]
67. The turning dance of the bee (2015-16) alto fl, bass cl, piano, perc, vln, vc.
68. How Forests think (2015-16), sheng & ensemble
Sheng (Wu Wei), flute/bass fl, ob/cor ang, cl/bass cl, al sax, trumpet, tenor-bass trombone, percussion, ‘cello, double bass
69. Ronda – The Spinning World (2016), 16′, horn, tpt, tbn, harp, perc, vln, vla, vc, dbass + Smetak instruments (Tres Sois + 2 Ronda which can be substituted with rotary harp, 2 home-made string instruments)
70. An Elemental Thing, (2017) 15′ for solo wood block, for Eugene Ughetti, Speak Percussion. Premiere Sept 2017, Sydney
71. The Su Song Star Map, (2017) 12′, violin solo for Ashot Sarkissjan
Premiere Feb 2018, Boston [Also available as version for solo viola (2019)]
72. The Table of Knowledge (2017), 18′
for double bass solo (also with preparation & voice) for Florentin Ginot
Premiere May 2018, Acht Brücken, Cologne
73. Roda – The living circle (2017), 11′, for solo trumpet for Tristram Williams.
Premiere August 2017, Melbourne
74. Extinction Events and Dawn Chorus (2017), 40′, 12 musicians:
Fl (+picc), Ob, Cl (Bass-Cl), Bsn (C-Bsn), Tpt, Hr, Tbn, Piano, Perc, Vln, Vlc, Dbass
75. Atlas of the Sky, (2017-18), 75′ for soprano, 3 percussionists and chorus/crowd of 20 community participants
76. Pharmakon (2018), work for 2 trombones for Weston Olencki & Matt Barbier, for Bludenzer Tage Zeitgemäßer Musik, Nov 2019
77. bioluminescence, (2019) for solo flute, for Paula Rae
78. Boat Song (2019) for baritone and bassoon, 9′
79. The Incandescent Tongue (2020) for soprano & trumpet, 5′
[can be paired with Athena’s Trumpet (1993) for soprano & piccolo trumpet, Scene 7 from The Oresteia opera]
80. Sappho/ Bioluminescence (2020) for orchestra, 15-16′, Part 1 of Annunciation Triptych, orchestra cycle (2019-22)
81. Sex Magic (2019-20), for contrabass flute, live electronics, kinetic percussion, 45′, for Claire Chase
82. Mary/ Transcendence after Trauma (2020) for orchestra, 20′, Part 2 of Annunciation Triptych, orchestra cycle (2019-22)
83. Dianna (2020), horn solo, 2′, for Dianna Gaetjens – commission from Canberra Symphony Orchestra
84. Microbiome (2020), bass clarinet solo, 6-7′, for Carl Rosman
85. Ash – music for the Eremozoic (2020), for saxophone quartet for Sigma Projects
86. tree song (2021), for any voices
87. ‘Cello playing ~ as meteorology for solo ‘cello (2021) for James Morley, commissioned by ANAM
88. World as Lover, World as Self (2021), for solo piano, chamber orchestra: 1.1.1.1 – 1.1.1.0 – 1 perc – strings, for Tamara Stefanovich, Donaueschinger Musiktage, October 2021
89. Fatimah/ Jubilation of Flowers (2021-22), Part 3 of Annunciation Triptych, orchestra cycle (2019-22)
90. One and the Other (Speculative Polskas for Karin), (2021-22), for solo violin (with low octave string)
91. Nautilus (2022) for solo contraforte, Kunst-Universität Graz commission
92. String Creatures (2022), string quartet for the JACK Quartet, Commission from Lucerne Festival, Miller Theatre New York, Melbourne Recital Centre
93. Lucid Dreaming (2022), for solo flute, for Bettina Junge
94. Transcendental Étude (2022 )work for solo piano, for Kirill Gerstein, Musica Viva commission
95. Salutations to the Shells (2022-23), 10′ overture for Sydney Symphony Orchestra, 50 Fanfares commission
Works in progress/in planning
96. The Tailor of Time (2023) for oboe & harp soloists with large ensemble (30 players), 25′ for Ensemble Intercontemporain conducted by Pierre Bleuse, Paris & Strasbourg
97. Multispecies knots of ethical time (2023), large ensemble work – 17 players, 40′ Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra
98. solo for neolithic ceramic horn/trumpet (2024), for Marco Blaauw as part of his Global Breath project
99. Ghosts make form, for ‘cello & piano (2024) for Cikada duo: Kenneth Karlsson & Torunn Stavseng
100. ‘cello concerto (2024) for Nicolas Altstaedt & BRSO, Concertgebouworkest, Amsterdam ‘Cello Biennale, November Music, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and others tbc.
101. new work for Klangforum Wien, 24 players, 45’ (2025)
Liza Lim 