The Brothers Balliett

Brad Balliett and Doug Balliett — identical twin composers and performers from Massachusetts — have been performing together and collaborating for over thirty years. Fascinated by the concept of composing together as twins, they have written several large scale works in every possible manner of collaboration. These works include A Gnostic Passion, for soprano, large choir, and chamber ensemble (commissioned by CANTORI NYC), Oedipus the King, for actor, large choir, and septet, Fifty Trillion Molecular Geniuses, for mezzo-soprano, large choir, and orchestra (both commissioned by The Cecilia Chorus of New York), and Cryptophasia, a double concerto for bassoon and double bass written for themselves to perform with chamber orchestra (commissioned by Ensemble Échappé). They also regularly host "Shakespeare Parties", in which the audience collectively make up the cast of the play, with live original music.

As bassoonist and double bassist (respectively) the Brothers Balliett perform as a duo and with groups all around New York. This includes the new music ensembles NOVUS, Metropolis Ensemble, and Alarm Will Sound, the chamber ensembles Decoda, ACRONYM, and Ruckus, orchestras such as Trinity Baroque Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet, and international ensembles such as Les Arts Florissants, Jupiter Ensemble, and the Lucerne Festival Alumni Orchestra. Doug teaches double bass and violone in the historical performance department at the Juilliard School, Brad teaches bassoon at Peabody Conservatory, and the two teach together in the Juilliard Evening Division. They also present lectures together, such as a series about Bruckner presented by Carnegie Hall, and for three years had a weekly show on WQXR's Q2 music, producing over 150 episodes.

The Balliett brothers are fiercely competitive and work tirelessly to one-up each other. This drive creates a self-fueling passion to write the best work, listen to the best music, and learn as much as possible. Their working relationship has led them to craft a ten-point Manifesto which governs their creative process:

1. We are the Brothers Balliett.

2. We believe that the best music is the music that excites the best curiosity, excitement, passion and conversation.

3. We believe in music that bears repeated listening and offers something new with each visitation.

4. We believe that stretching the ear is a way to stretch the mind.

5. We believe in the continually ceaseless creativity of composers everywhere.

6. We believe that music must reflect the time in which it was written, and that all eras deserve representation.

7. We believe that great nations should strive to attract and support great artists.

8. We believe in absolute artistic freedom, unfettered by trend or dogma.

9. We believe that the power of ideas, creativity, and personality can shape a city's character.

10. We believe in the groove.

The Brothers Balliett discuss Bruckner for Carnegie Hall:

Mini-documentary for “Fifty Trillion Molecular Geniuses”, by the Brothers Balliett

for mezzo-soprano, large chorus, and large orchestra

commissioned by Cecilia Chorus of New York, premiered Carnegie Hall 2019