Original Works:
Composing the Soundtrack of Jazz
A Composer’s Journey in Jazz and Beyond
Hank Hehmsoth’s work as a composer spans film scores, ballet music, steel band compositions, chamber music, jazz ensemble works, and interdisciplinary performance projects. His compositions have been commissioned by arts organizations, chamber ensembles, steel bands, film producers, and dance companies, and performed in concerts, festivals, films, and theatrical productions throughout the United States. His music often blends jazz improvisation, contemporary classical composition, world music influences, and film scoring techniques. His compositions such as Two Desert Dances, Three Shades of Blue, Carlos n Charlie’s, and X-trusions have been performed by ensembles and festivals across the United States. His work bridges jazz, contemporary classical music, film scoring, and interdisciplinary performance.
As a composer, Hank Hehmsoth has scored numerous productions across TV and film, blending his signature jazz style with cinematic storytelling. View IMDB Profile.
Collaborating with ensembles such as the Kandinsky Trio from New York and crafting commissioned works for diverse groups, including steel drum orchestras, Hank has honed a style that’s both versatile and uniquely his own. Each piece, whether a solo jazz composition or an orchestral score, tells a story that resonates deeply, drawing listeners into a world of vivid harmonies and emotional nuance. With multiple awards honoring his contributions to jazz and modern composition, Hank’s work continues to inspire audiences and musicians alike, capturing the spirit of jazz while embracing the vast possibilities of contemporary music.
Large-Scale Works
“Two Desert Dances”
Awarded a prestigious MacDowell Fellowship in 2011, Hank Hehmsoth’s “Two Desert Dances” merges jazz with rare Native American recordings from the 1950s. Inspired by archival field recordings from New Mexican Native Americans, the pieces reflect Hank’s deep research and creative integration of traditional melodies with contemporary jazz. Selected as the MacDowell Norton Stevens Fellow, one of the highest honors for U.S. artists, recognizing contributions to the global arts community.
Three Shades of Blue is a chamber jazz composition by jazz composer Hank Hehmsoth, commissioned by the Kandinsky Trio and premiered on April 16, 2013. Written for piano, violin, and cello, the work blends jazz harmony and improvisational ideas with contemporary chamber music, creating a fusion of jazz and classical traditions. The composition was written to celebrate the Kandinsky Trio’s 25th anniversary and was presented in connection with Texas State University’s Common Experience theme, “A Global Odyssey: Exploring Our Connections to the Changing World.” Three Shades of Blue reflects Hehmsoth’s approach to combining jazz composition with contemporary art music and chamber ensemble writing.
“Scary Movie” (1991)
– A Cult Classic Scored by Hank Hehmsoth Decades before Scary Movie became a household name, the original 1991 Austin-filmed horror satire made its mark, featuring Academy Award nominee John Hawkes in his film debut. Hank crafted a chilling orchestral score that has since received renewed acclaim, accompanying the film’s limited re-release through the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) and events at Alamo Drafthouse. His innovative soundtrack, created on a low budget with an Akai S1000 sampler, evokes suspense with eerie strings, inventive sound effects, and haunting percussion. Praised for its ahead-of-its-time sound, Hehmsoth’s score has garnered attention for its complex, atmospheric quality. Film critic James Jay Edwards noted the score’s eerie melodies and “ominous chord beds,” calling it one of the film’s standout elements. Scored in close collaboration with director Daniel Erickson, Hehmsoth’s work on Scary Movie was crafted to evoke classic horror soundscapes on a limited budget, showcasing his improvisational skill in blending orchestral elements with inventive sound effects. Hehmsoth’s film scoring work blends orchestral writing, analog synthesizers, and atmospheric sound design, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to composition.
View film credits on IMDB →
“Freedom STOMP”
an original composition by jazz composer Hank Hehmsoth, performed live on April 12, 2012, at Mysterium for New Music. Freedom STOMP blends jazz with the spirit of the American Indian Stomp Dance, creating a rhythmic energy that invites listeners to consider the possibilities of self-expression and freedom in music. Listen closely, and you might even catch echoes of the Star-Spangled Banner woven into the improvisation. This piece is a tribute to the liberties protected by the First Amendment, using music to celebrate the right to create without limits.
"RITÚ DEL SOL ANDES: DIEM" is an original ballet composition by composer Hank Hehmsoth, commissioned by Ballet Austin and choreographed by Toni Bravo for the Kinesis Dance/Theatre Project. The ballet premiered June 7–8, 1996, at the Mary Moody Northen Theatre in Austin, Texas. The work combines Andean flutes, tribal percussion, jazz orchestration, and contemporary dance, creating a fusion of world music and jazz composition. This preserved program cover documents the premiere of the ballet and represents an early large-scale interdisciplinary composition by Hehmsoth, blending music, dance, and cultural themes.
“Carlos 'n Charlie's”
Dedicated to The Knights of Steel, this vibrant composition for steel band celebrates global rhythms and the spirit of unity. Inspired by the renowned South American club chain, Carlos 'n Charlie's combines Caribbean influences with jazz improvisation, creating a dynamic fusion that embodies the joy and energy of steel band music.
Commissioned by New Music USA and supported by the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division, Carlos 'n Charlie's premiered at the One World Theatre during the 15th Annual Inside Out Steelband Festival. Winner of the JCOI Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute Special Recognition Award in 2010, this work continues to resonate, blending traditional steel band sounds with contemporary jazz in a tribute to the vibrant spirit of international collaboration.
X-trusions: A Déjà Vu in 4D is a large-scale composition for string quartet by composer Hank Hehmsoth that blends the improvisational spirit of jazz with the structure and precision of contemporary classical music. Originally inspired by a vivid dream and first conceived as a jazz trio composition, the work evolved into a chamber music piece exploring time, memory, and musical transformation. The composition was awarded First Place in the 2010 NACUSA Texas Composition Competition and was premiered at the International Joint Conference on Latin-American and Modern Music. The work reflects Hehmsoth’s ongoing exploration of genre fusion between jazz and contemporary classical chamber music.
Lady Bird Johnson: Legacy of a First Lady is a documentary film scored by composer Hank Hehmsoth for the U.S. National Park Service. Produced in 1997, the film chronicles the life, achievements, and environmental legacy of Lady Bird Johnson and is screened regularly at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Johnson City, Texas. Hehmsoth composed the original score for the documentary, creating music that reflects the history, landscape, and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson’s conservation work. The inscription on this photograph from Lady Bird Johnson reads: “For Hank Hehmsoth, whose talents added pleasure and charm to ‘my film’ on this special day.”
View the film’s listing on IMDB: Lady Bird Johnson Documentary
Explore More of Hank Hehmsoth’s Work
In addition to his large-scale compositions and film scores, explore other areas of Hank Hehmsoth’s work and projects:
View Research Projects
View Recordings
These projects reflect Hank Hehmsoth’s work as a jazz pianist, composer, researcher, visual artist, and educator, combining music, visual art, history, and interdisciplinary performance.
Walk With Me is an original musical play composed by Hank Hehmsoth and commissioned by St. Edward’s University. Premiered at the Mary Moody Northen Theatre in April 1996, the production combined music, theater, and spiritual themes inspired by the medieval practice of contemplative labyrinth walking. With music and lyrics by Hehmsoth and contributions from recording artists Hartt and Illuminada, the production blended jazz-influenced composition, theatrical storytelling, and historical themes. This preserved program cover documents the premiere of this interdisciplinary musical theatre work.