When I was still a young guy in the Boston Symphony I began transcribing some of my favorite short orchestral works so that I’d be able to perform them as solo violin pieces without a conductor telling me how they should go. On one occasion I mentioned what I had considered only a hobby to my crazy, music-loving CPA, Steve Christopher (now deceased, sadly), who insisted that I had only gone half way; that it was my duty to compose original music. My formal training in compositional was minimal—a course at Yale with composer Yehudi Wyner; advanced theory with Allen Forte and Gregory Procter. Many years went by while I worked up the courage, but then one day I said to myself, “Why the hell not?” In the ensuing years, I’ve been fortunate to have heard many of my pieces performed, and not only by myself. Thank you, Steve, wherever you are!
A brief word about my compositional style. Regardless of the tonal idiom of a given piece, I want the audience to be able to say “I really enjoyed that,” and not have them scratching their heads, asking “What the hell was that all about?” Likewise, as a performer myself, I want the performer to enjoy learning the music regardless of its level of difficulty. To this end, I am painstakingly diligent in making all of my scores and parts as user-friendly as possible.
If you’re interested in scores and/or parts, let me know and I’ll sell them to you at very reasonable prices. I have live performance recordings of many of these works as well.To read more and hear an excerpt from musical selection, click note  
Second String Quartet, 1999 (10:00)
First string quartet: “When Mr. Mozart Came Home from the Ball” for string quartet and narrators. (19:00)
*There is also a version for string orchestra and one narrator.
"Pasquinade" Caprice for Violin and Chamber Ensemble, by Louis Moreau Gottschalk (6:00)
[Violin Solo, pic, fl, tpt, perc, string quintet]
*Also arranged for violin and piano; and, believe it or not, for 8 flutes and full orchestra
"The Raven" for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano (13:00) (also for baritone and orchestra)
"Mack the Knife" Fantasy for string quartet, (5:00) 2008.
Nocturne for Chamber Ensemble, 2004 (8:00)
[cl, 2 hns, timp/sn, vln, vla, vcl, cb]
"Conversations With Essie" for female narrator and chamber ensemble 2002, (24:00)
[Female Narrator and Vln, Cl, Cb, Perc, Banjo, Pa]
For solo instrument(s), unaccompanied or with piano
"V’adoro Variations" on a theme by Handel, for violin solo and CD, 2005 (10:00)
Concerto Grosso in B-flat for violin and piano (also for violin and chamber orchestra)
Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 77 1997 (rev. 2005)
Mozart Violin Concerto in G Major, 1986
Mozart Violin Concerto in A Major, 1985
For violin and piano:
Intermezzo Interrotto from the Concerto for Orchestra by Bela Bartok, 1985
Intermezzo from the Hary Janos Suite by Zoltan Kodaly, 1985
Pavane by Gabriel Faure, 1985
"The Moon and I” from The Mikado, by Arthur Sullivan, 2005
Papageno’s Aria from the Magic Flute by Mozart, 2006
For two violins:
Gavotte from the Classical Symphony by Serge Prokofiev,1985
For four violins:
Second Round of the Goblins for four violins, from Antonio Bazzini (6:00)
Premiere 2004, Nova Concert Series, Salt Lake City
Choral:
"Incantations" for mixed or female a cappella chorus, 2001 (5:00)
The Grasshopper and the Ants, for Children’s Choir, based on a fable by Aesop, 2001 (5:00)
I am particularly excited about my novels, Devil's Trill and Danse Macabre, excursions into the dark side of the classical music world, published by St. Martin's Press.
In 2009 I was honored by Barnes and Noble, who selected Devil's Trill for their Discover Great New Writers fall catalog, in which was written: "Rich in music detail and featuring a fabulously roguish cast, Devil's Trill will delight music lovers and mystery fans alike. Danse Macabre, featuring the same roguish cast, will be released in September, 2010."
Take a look at my interview with Heather Simonsen, featured in the December 2009 issue of the Salt Lake Magazine. "Who knew classical music could be so Sinister? Gerald Elias' new novel is your guide to the Shadowy side of Symphony life."
See what Dick Adler, Crime Fiction Reviewer for the Chicago Tribune and Barnes&Noble.com has written on his blog about Devil's Trill.
Read more about my writing and read more reviews from the critics. Please join me at one of my local booksigning events. Visit one of the booksellers listed on this page, where you can order a copy of Devil's Trill.
For more details about what I have been up to, please peruse the other pages of my website. If you are interested in contacting me for potential engagements or for any other reason whatsoever, don't hesitate to drop me an email.
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