Prélude for Violin and Piano was composed for Belgian violinist Nicolas Dupont, and Russian pianist Olga Kirpicheva in Autumn 2020. This performance was recorded in the Concert Hall of the Koninklijjk Conservatorium Brussel in February, 2021.

Prélude - Adam Vincent Clarke

The Last Breath Of The Czar - Excerpt - Adam Clarke

Instrumental interpretation of track 10, Final Stand.  Composed by myself.  

9. Prelude To The Dawn Of Dreams

This piece was composed for a reading with ECM+ from Montréal, Canada. In the Depths of Himeji was inspired by another great piece of architecture in Köln, Germany. The Kölner Dom. It was also influenced by a self-imagined video game, similar to that of Castlevania.

I'd like to thank ECM+ for their time and effort reading through my work while on tour! 

In The Depths Of Himeji - Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal

A ceilidh in Mabou, Cape Breton Island. "Will You Give Me A Kiss?"

"An toir thu dhomh pòg?”

Composed 2015 - Based upon the balance that exists which gives meaning to life. Death. 

"Life"

Written in Southern Bavaria, Germany. Herbst translates to Autumn! 

Herbst

This piece was composed for the 2013 OBF Composers Symposium for string quintet. The conception behind the piece is that of a brutal ruler living out the end of his days, and death bringing him on a journey of his sins, reliving the hurt he caused others, he stands overtop a dark sea awaiting his death, to find redemption in its depths. The 16th note gestures are especially imporant and should be played like a gasping breath, note the quick crescendo/diminuendo.  (Photo: Liam Elliot) 


Last Breath Of The Csar

Voices in the Shadow is a piece I had sketched during a very tumultous time. It is amazing the effect changes in our brain can have on how we hear, taste, smell, and see. Sometimes it acts as an amplifier of each, other times it distorts; it can make the most
pleasant smell unbarable, seemingly turn food to ash, make the voices of loved ones seem an entire world away. This is what a group of people became once upon a time, transforming voices of friends and family to that of the shadows. Although physically a
mere few centimeters away, in the perception of reality it was as if an entire ocean lay between those few units of measurment, drowning out the words as the waves crashed and swirled in torment. The saving grace is there is sometimes peace in the drowning of words, one time or another it is necessary to drift out to sea and be at peace with what really is.

In the beginning I've notated "Heavy Metal". If one looks for influence on how to apply this I suggest listening to a recording of the band "Apocalyptica." 

"All you are, are voices in the shadow... distant." 


Photo credit: Liam Elliot 

Voices In The Shadow

A short version of a solo viola work written for Sarah McCabe in London, England. Performed by Lieselotte Crois in Neerpelt, Belgium. July 2016.

Looking Into the Sky from a Forest

A short tapped piece for re-tuned guitar!

Uttered Tranquility

Die Straße - Eine Sommergeschichte

The Re - Enchantment Of Everyday Life - Cut - TumultFM

Movement III: 'Adagio' composed for Ophélie Sanchez and dedicated to Wim Henderickx. 

Recorded in Saint Boniface Anglican Church on June 7th, 2018 in Antwerpen, Belgium.

Violin Suite No. 1: Zsofia - Mov't III (2017)

Movement IV: 'Cantus' composed for Ophélie Sanchez and dedicated to Wim Henderickx. 

Recorded in Saint Boniface Anglican Church on June 7th, 2018 in Antwerpen, Belgium.

Violin Suite No. 1: Zsofia - Mov't IV (2017)

Movement I: 'Andantino Molto Espressivo' composed for Ophélie Sanchez and dedicated to Wim Henderickx. 

Recorded in Saint Boniface Anglican Church on June 7th, 2018 in Antwerpen, Belgium.

Violin Suite No. 1: Zsofia - Mov't I (2017)

Movement II: 'Agitato' composed for Ophélie Sanchez and dedicated to Wim Henderickx. 

Recorded in Saint Boniface Anglican Church on June 7th, 2018 in Antwerpen, Belgium.

Violin Suite No. 1: Zsofia - Mov't II (2017)

Excerpt from commission for Daniel Domenech's ballet-work 'Y Tú' for Ballet Vlaanderen. (2018)

'Y Tú?' - Ballet of Flanders (2018)

'Ballade', a solo cello work composed for Mikko Pablo, was premiered in April, 2019 at the Toneelhuis (Theatrehall) of Antwerp, Belgium.

This piece uses fragments of Eastern-European melodies, and is a call to beauty.

Ballade (2019) - Solo Cello - Adam Vincent Clarke (performed By Mikko Pablo)

MOIRA: An Ode to a Life of Failure (2019) (80')

Concept: Floris Van der Veken
Music: Adam Vincent Clarke
Choreography: Laura Walravens (Royal Ballet of Flanders)

'What does it mean to achieve greatness? To ascend atop the hardships and challenges of your life, to stand triumphant atop the mountain of success? Yet. What is it to fail? To strive and fight for your deserved position, rank, title - and in stead of a warm greeting face indifference, resistance, even violence?

MOIRA explores the journey of a creator, heading the whisperings of 'Life' - the seducer, the risk taker - over 'Death' - the cautious, the secure - to gamble her life in the name of greatness, to be met time and time again with failure, each creation devoured by the public as Saturn does his children. This road to success is difficult... but is it impossible?'


Practical:

MOIRA, is a multi-art gesamtkunstwerk/Dance-Theatre work in three Acts. It was composed from Autumn 2018 - Spring 2019 on commission of Floris Van der Veken. This was the largest work for stage yet composed by Clarke, encompassing over 75 minutes of music. MOIRA was first premiered May 10th, 2019 in the Theaterzaal of CCBerchem to a full-house.

Instrumentation: Saxophone Quartet (SATB), two sopranos, piano.
Two Dancers (Ballet/Contemporary)
One Actress (The 'Artist')

MOIRA - Opening (Act I, I)

This piece was composed on behalf of the Silakbo Ensemble and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in association with 
SoundMine, Belgium. The Silakbo Ensemble as a wonderful group of musicians with whom I have toured with, 
and will be touring with again on a future project. The idea for this concerto for 'vagabond', the word I use to describe
people like myself who are constantly moving from country to country, much like the members of Silakbo. 

This is the first movement of four, the subsequent to be premiered in Bulgaria with the Pleven Symphonic Orchestra 
featuring Angelina Gotcheva (clarinet), Bogdan Ivanov (celesta/piano), Edgar Gomez (violin), & Mikko Pablo (cello).

The music draws it's source from our time touring together in Bulgaria, in April 2018 - dancing in Plovdiv, discovering
Bulgarian music on the streets.

Photo: Tessa Kraan

Concerto For Vagabonds And Orchestra (Antwerp Symphony Orchestra) - Rehearsal 2

...for clarinet, piano, violin, & cello was composed in late 2017, early 2018 commissioned by the Silakbo Ensemble

Dedicated to the gorgeous country of Bulgaria, ppIANISSIMO Festival founder Stela Dimitrova-Maystorova, my friends in the Silakbo Ensemble and the fantastic painter Lode Laperre

First performance April 28th, 2018 by Ensemble Silakbo at the ppiannissimo Festival
in Sofia, Bulgaria

This piece contains four movements:
I: Adagio
II: The Maker's Atelier
III: Reflection
IV: Furioso

Painting by Lode Laperre
Title: “Pattern Matter (Still Life - Adam Clarke)”
Size: 120 x 100 cm

Still Life: Quartet - Movement I, Plovdiv

La Danse Balkanique for clarinet, piano, violin, cello, & soprano (optional Gaïda) was composed in June 2019, commissioned on behalf of ‘Est-Ouest’ & Ensemble Silakbo. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. 

Dedicated to the countries Canada & Bulgaria, of which there is much we can share in our traditions. This piece contains two movements.
				 
For more information and recordings visit www.adamvclarke.com

Recorded at the Bulgarian National Radio Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria. October 4th, 2019.


Lyrics:

'Les yeux - les yeux; comme la veille de l’hiver, dans notre danse éternelle. Les cheveux. Mystère. 

Moi, les yeux fermés, moi qui sais à peine.
Moi, les yeux fermés, les yeux fermés.

Dans cette danse, agitante, nous nous jetons nous-mêmes.
Avec négligence, avec confiance, se rapprochant.
Il y a une violence dans ces pas, cédant la place à la passion, 
aux murmures et aux jalousies, au désir et à la mémoire - et toi.

Mon amour secret. Un monde peint, encore et encore,
dans chaque ombre de votre visage.
Tu es mon secret, mon amour. Et j'attends.'

Original text written in English by Adam Vincent Clarke, and 
French translation/interpretation by Merve Duman

'La Danse Balkanique' - Movement I

La Danse Balkanique for clarinet, piano, violin, cello, & soprano (optional Gaïda) was composed in June 2019, commissioned on behalf of ‘Est-Ouest’ & Ensemble Silakbo. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Dedicated to the countries Canada & Bulgaria, of which there is much we can share in our traditions. This piece contains two movements.

For more information and recordings visit www.adamvclarke.com

Recorded at the Bulgarian National Radio Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria. October 4th, 2019.

'La Danse Balkanique' - Movement II (Violin Cadenza)

A poem composed sometime in March of 2009 or 2010 for Heather.  Set for electro-acoustic track, guitar and dumbek in November of 2012.  

Poet of the Sky

Piece composed for string orchestra for the 2013 STS Festival. 'Ohne Furcht' (Without Fear) is aptly related to a piece based on a fantasy world, one such as 'Lord of the Rings'. 

"It was once described as: "The beginning sounds like a victory but a remorseful victory. Lives were lost and lies were told to bring it to this point. There's almost a question in the music of how could have we have done better. How can we move on from what we've done? But a victory is still a victory, the ending breaths a relief and a yearning for tomorrow's continuing struggle but in a better place then before.

An almost medieval warrior setting. After a bloody war between two once peaceful groups." - C.J Hill

The piece is an homage to Pvt. Bradley Manning of the US Military who worked under the intelligence sector in the Middle East.

Ohne Furcht - Live at Shattering the Silence Festival (2013)

Composed in 2013 for CFB 14 Wing's Pipes and Drums band, under leadership of Pipe Major Andrew Bruce. 

Whale, Oil, Beef, Hooked - Pipes and Drums - MSR

This piece is the second of three movements from the guitar quartet entitled 'Murmers on the Rooftop.' The etherial quality created by the use of harmonics lends itself to a conversation I had with myself whilst sitting upon a rooftop.  It was early in the morning and the world was waking up around me, as I had stayed awake all night after saying goodbye to a friend.  The piece resembles the rain you would hear on a cool spring eve. 

Composed for the 2012-2013 Acadia Guitar Quartet

Murmers on the Rooftop (Pt. II)

Modal and neo-classical in nature. Familiar melodies blanketed in additive rhythms, distant Celtic under-tones, and an aggressive beauty: info@adamvclarke.com or visit my website www.adamvclarke.com

AdamVClarke

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