Paul A. Epstein's compositions include two chamber operas as well as works for string orchestra and for a variety of small ensembles. He has written extensively for voice, including a setting of Robert Coover's "The Leper's Helix" and a series of collaborations with poet and novelist Toby Olson. He has received commissions from the Relache Ensemble ("The Leper's Helix" and "AlgoRhythms 2") and baritone Thomas Buckner ("Reading.")

In "American Music in the Twentieth Century," critic Kyle Gann cites Epstein as "One of the finest postminimal composers..." and calls "Chamber Music" "...a vocal setting for winds and keyboards of great contrapuntal beauty." Epstein's music has been presented in the U.S. and abroad by such ensembles as Relache, counter)induction, the Circle ensemble of London, and ONIX Nuevo Ensamble de Mexico. It is available on compact disk on the Navona, Mode, and Capstone labels.

Paul A. Epstein is Professor Emeritus of Music Theory at Temple University, where he taught for thirty-two years. Born in Boston in 1938, he is a graduate of Brandeis University and the University of California at Berkeley. His composition teachers included Harold Shapero, Seymour Shifrin, and Luciano Berio.

DRAWING NO. 4 for piano
DRAWING NO. 3 for piano
DRAWING NO. 2 for piano four hands
DRAWING NO. 1 for three instruments,
NIGHT PIECE for solo string instrument,
UNCERTAIN LENSES for clarinet, vibraphone, violin, and cello, with spoken texts by Toby Olson and projected images by Diane Burko
THE GREAT VALLEY, No.7 for guitar
THE GREAT VALLEY, No.6a for cello
THE GREAT VALLEY, No.6c for viola
THE GREAT VALLEY, No. 5 for chamber chorus
THE GREAT VALLEY, No. 4 for flute, cello, and piano
INTERLEAVINGS for piano
ALGORHYTHMS 2 for seven instruments
ALGORHYTHMS 1 for eight instruments
CHIHUAHUA, a chamber opera in six scenes
DORIT, a chamber opera in ten scenes