Best known for his wind ensemble compositions, Maslanka published nearly 100 pieces, including nine symphonies (seven of them for concert band), nine concertos, and a full mass.
The text — written by the composer's daughter, Kathryn — introduces listeners to the various instruments of the band, somewhat after the manner of Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
Premiered in January 2016 by the St. Olaf Band (Timothy Mahr, conductor) and written to mark the 125th anniversary of that ensemble.
This five-movement work is based on dreams of a young girl about to die, as related in Carl Jung's book Man and His Symbols.
Premiered March 2000 by the University of Arizona Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Gregg Hanson, conductor) with Joseph Lulloff, saxophonist.
Premiered November 1990 by the U.S. Air Force Band (Steven Grimo, conductor) with Randall Eyles, marimba soloist, at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Philadelphia.
Premiered February 1979 by the Eastman Wind Ensemble (Frederick Fennell, conductor) with William Dobbins, pianist.
It is scored for an ensemble of 21 wind and brass instruments, as well as double bass, piano, and percussion; and features a prominent obbligato cello part.
This short symphony takes its title from the Lord's Prayer and concludes with a Bach chorale setting of the Lutheran hymn Vater unser im Himmelreich.
Premiered April 1998 by the Harwood Junior High School Symphonic Band (Christopher Ferrell, conductor) of Bedford, Texas.
Premiered March 1997 by the Hellgate High School Symphonic Band (John H. Combs, conductor) of Missoula, Montana.
Written as to commemorate the retirement of Professor Green at the University of Miami, and performed under his direction in a valedictory concert, this piece is in seven movements.
The final movement features a tenor solo based on a poem by Richard Beale, "A Litany of Courage and the Seasons."
Commissioned by the conductor in memory of his wife, Susan, this work embraces the hymn "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" (Whoever Trusts Only in the Dear Lord to Reign).
Commissioned and premiered (in April 1995) by the Mount St. Charles Academy Symphonic Band (Marc Blanchette, conductor) of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Commissioned and premiered (in May 1993) by the Bishop Ireton High School Band (Garwood Whaley, conductor) of Alexandria, Virginia.
Premiered November 18, 2010 by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony (Stephen K. Steele, conductor) with Kimberly Risinger, flutist, and Adriana La Rosa Ransom, cellist.
Premiered April 1998 by the Arizona State University Wind Ensemble (Richard Strange, conductor) with Thomas Bacon and James Graves, hornists.
This work, a concerto in five movements, derives its title from both the intimate nature of the music and the vocal quality of the solo flute.
Premiered April 3, 2018 by the University of Utah Wind Ensemble (Scott Hagen, conductor) at the Libby Gardner Concert Hall in Salt Lake City.
At the composer's urging — Maslanka would die of cancer on August 7, 2017 — his son Matthew then finished the remainder of the work based on his sketches.
Premiered October 1994 by the Intercollegiate Honor Band (Allan McMurray, conductor) at a convention in Madison of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA).
Premiered February 1995 at the Music Educators National Conference Northwestern Convention in Spokane, Washington by the composer's son Matthew, as euphonium soloist, with the Missoula All-City Winds (John Schuberg, conductor), on a commission by that ensemble.
This four-movement work was inspired by the dreams of a young girl as reported by Carl Jung in his book Man and His Symbols.
Story by Ray Bradbury, Libretto by John A. Wiles, Jr. Never staged, this work instead became a source of music for a number of the composer's other pieces.
Commissioned by James Allen Anderson and the Rho Tau Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia for the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra (Boone, North Carolina).
Premiered April 1996 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Tucson, by the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble (Gregg Hanson, conductor).
The Nameless Fear, or, The Unanswered Question Put Yet Another Way (1973), for mixed chorus SATB, speakers, harpsichord, guitars, flute, bassoon, and percussion.
Premiered December 1987 by soloist Todd A. Johnson and the Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble (Robert Hohner, conductor).
Commissioned and then premiered (December 1993) by the Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble (Robert Hohner, conductor) at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.