Compositions by Colson have been performed in Europe, Russia and the United States. His works are recorded on PARMA Recordings, Centaur, Summit Records, MMC Recordings Ltd. and Red Mark, and are published by Avera Music Press and McCoy’s Horn Library.

He conducted a recording for Bridge Records of Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children, which was nominated for a 2005 Grammy® Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance.

As a percussionist, Colson has been a concerto soloist, and a chamber music and orchestral musician. In May 2007, Bridge Records released a CD including Bartók's Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra, and Milhaud's Second Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion with Colson as a featured percussionist. Colson's performances have also been recorded on New World Records, Summit Records, MMC Recordings Ltd, and Innova.

“I was particularly struck by David Colson’s highly imaginative String Trio No.1, subtitled “Zazen” - Lynn René Bayley

  • RISE / Music in Times of Uncertainty

    How We Change (2020) David Colson

    Western Brass Quintet | Scott Thornburg trumpet, Robert White trumpet, Lin Foulk Baird horn, Daniel Mattson trombone, Chance S. Trottman-Huiet tuba

    The Wind Is Rising, the Earth lets itself be inhaled (2016) David Colson

    Benjamin Kamins bassoon; and Matthew Strauss percussion

    RISE (2018) David Colson

    Clare Longendyke piano
    Clocks in Motion Percussion | John Corkill, Kyle Flens, Christopher G. Jones, Sean Kleve

    Hear the Sun’s Thunder

    I. I am rain, falling slowly on the leaves that shiver and sparkle
    II. we all shine on
    III. Moonlight slips through the broken glass
    IV. Fire is born!

    Dionysian Mysteries (2018) David Colson

    Capitol Quartet | Christopher Creviston soprano saxophone, Joseph Lulloff alto saxophone, David Stambler tenor saxophone, Henning Schroeder baritone saxophone

    I. Madness is my specialty
    II. Bacchus found him beside the lotus
    III. Reality doesn’t impress me (…what wine goes with Cap’n Crunch?)
    IV. Rainbow Body
    V. Let’s rave! (I feel more like I did when I came in than I do now.)

    Listen on Spotify

  • Better Angels of Our Nature (2014) David Colson

    Western Brass Quintet | Scott Thornburg trumpet, Stephen Jones trumpet, Lin Foulk Baird horn, Daniel Mattson trombone, Jacob Cameron tuba

    Listen on Spotify

  • Ancient Voices of Children (1970) Madrigals, Books I-IV (1965, 1969) George Crumb

    Tony Arnold soprano, Justin Murray boy soprano, Kathryn Dupuy Cooper oboe, David Starobin mandolin, Dale Stuckenbruck musical saw, Courtney Hershey Bress harp, Susan Grace piano, John Kinzie percussion, Mark Foster percussion, William Hill percussion, David Colson conductor and percussion

    Tony Arnold soprano, Rachel Rudich piccolo/flute/alto flute, Beverly Wesner-Hoehn harp, Stephen Tramontozzi contrabass, David Colson percussion

    Listen on Spotify

  • An Idyll for the Misbegotten (1986) George Crumb

    Rachel Rudich flute, David Colson, Paul Herrick, Dan Kinkle percussion

    Listen on Spotify

  • String Trio No. 1: Zazen (2005) David Colson

    I. Now there is time
    II. Rain
    III. The dolls in the window are doing perfect zazen but their eyes are not open
    IV. A Forest of Clouds
    V. Stand still, stand still

    Concordia String Trio | Marcia Henry Liebenow violin, Leslie Perna viola, Karen Becker ‘cello

    Listen on Spotify

  • Searching Schubert (1992) David Colson

    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra | Robert Stankovsky, conductor

    Listen on Youtube

  • Harmonia Mundi (2001) David Crumb - New Beginnings (1987) Carlton Gamer

    Quattro Mani | Susan Grace piano, Alice Rybak piano
    David Colson percussion, John Kinzie percussion

    Listen on Spotify

  • A Flying Circus (2009) David Colson

    Western Brass Quintet | Scott Thornburg trumpet, Stephen Jones trumpet, Lin Foulk Baird horn, Daniel Mattson trombone, Deanna Swoboda tuba

    Listen on Spotify

  • Dragon Music (1997) David Colson

    Richard Nunemaker clarinet, Sylvie Beaudette piano, Jay Harper, Kemoki Bunting, Brian Fruechtenicht, Scott Cummings percussion, David Colson conductor

    Listen on Soundcloud

  • Contemplating Weather (2013) Paul Lansky

    Western Michigan University Chorale | Kimberly Dunn Adams conductor

    Birds on a Wire | David Colson director

    Listen on Spotify

  • Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra (1943) Béla Bartók

    Quattro Mani | Susan Grace piano, Alice Rybak piano

    John Kinzie timpani, David Colson percussion

    Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra | Scott Yoo conductor

    Listen on Spotify

  • De Profundis (1990) Poul Ruders

    Quattro Mani | Susan Grace piano, Alice Rybak piano

    David Colson percussion

    Listen on Spotify

  • Golden Petals (1985) William Thomas Mckinley

    Richard Nunemaker soprano saxophone and bass clarinet, Peter Herbert double bass

    Pierrot Plus Ensemble | David Colson conductor

    Listen On Soundcloud

  • Music for a Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III) (1974) George Crumb

    Quattro Mani | Susan Grace piano, Alice Rybak piano

    David Colson percussion, John Kinzie percussion

    Listen on Spotify

  • Logo I – Introduction and Breakdown (1979) Eugene Kurtz

    Richard Nunemaker clarinet, David Nale piano, David Colson conductor

    Continuum Percussion Quartet | Gabriel Dionne, J. Riely Francis, Christopher Rose, Richard Skains

    Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra (1959) Lou Harrison

    I. Allegro, maestoso
    II. Largo, cantabile
    III. Allegro, vigoroso, poco presto

    Janna Lower violin, David Colson percussion, Richard Brown conductor

    Continuum Percussion Quartet | Gabriel Dionne, J. Riely Francis, Christopher Rose, Richard Skains

    Listen on Spotify

  • Odes of Shang (1962) Seymour Shifrin

    University of Michigan Chamber Choir | Thomas Hilbish conductor

    David Colson, James Lancioni, William Moersch percussion, Mark Hastings piano

    Listen on Spotify