Classical Music for Sleeping

Contemporary Classical Music by avik

I was asked to write a piece about Pasir Ris, focusing on the homegrown wildlife and nature that Singapore has to offer. With a sample of great recordings by wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Dan Ng, I decided to incorporate some “electronics” in this orchestral piece. The electronics are merely processed recordings of different animals, used to structure the piece and give it some context.
Singapore is home to several types of animals - local wildlife (“true blue Singaporeans”) as well as migratory animals - birds and such that come to this beautiful country for a rest and respite from harsher climates. It made me think of how these migratory cycles keep repeating and slowly drifting, be it short distance movements, like that of animals roaming a forest for different food sources, to large distance, from country to country. The piece utilises several repeating ideas that keep coming back again and again. The Shakuhachi, Gaoyin Sheng and Veena bring their own cyclical ideas, but almost seem like outsiders, unable to find a consistent place in the ensemble. Over time, however, they are accepted by the rest of the ensemble.

This piece is a tribute to the animals of Singapore, and Pasir Ris, both local and migratory, as well as to my parents, Tulika and Nandakumar, who have thought me a great love and fondness for nature. It was written for the Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra, in March 2021.

Drift (feat. Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra)

2020 has been a challenging year for the world. As we focus on restoring our economy and infrastructure, we also need to spend time healing our mental health. With the company of good friends, leadership, and self- reflection, we can begin to move forward and eventually heal. This piece is an attempt to depict that. The ensemble begins dark and solemn, a little unlike the robust joy of many Christmas carols, and a strained and sorrow inducing version of Silent Night is heard. However, the solo instruments lead us to a brighter future with the help of other carols such as Away in a Manger and Deck the Halls. In response to these carols, a different version of Silent Night is heard - slowly evolving from solemn to nostalgic and finally, joyful.

This piece was written for Singapore Symphony Orchestra, to be first performed at their 2020 Christmas Fundraising Concert.

Dawn - A Medley of Christmas Carols (feat. Singapore Symphony Orchestra)

An arrangement I wrote for Samuel Phua (Saxophone) and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Performed at Victoria Concert Hall in August, 2021.

Promenade (Walking The Dog) by George Gershwin, arranged for Soprano Saxophone and String Orchestra

French Suites 4, 5 & 6

French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816: I. Allemande (Original Version)

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's String Quartet No. 17 in B-flat major, K. 458, nicknamed "The Hunt", is the fourth of the Quartets dedicated to Haydn. It was completed in 1784. It is in four movements:

Allegro vivace assai
Menuetto and Trio. Moderato
Adagio, in E-flat major
Allegro assai

Neither Mozart nor Artaria called this piece "The Hunt." "For Mozart's contemporaries, the first movement of K.458 evidently evoked the 'chasse' topic, the main components of which were a 6/8 time signature (sometimes featuring a strong upbeat) and triadic melodies based largely around tonic and dominant chords (doubtless stemming from the physical limitations of the actual hunting horns to notes of the harmonic series)."According to Irving, Mozart's first intention was to conclude with a polonaise and sketched 65 bars (p. 17).

Its popularity is reflected in its use in various films, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mystery Date, The Royal Tenenbaums and Star Trek: Insurrection.

Retailers:

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-mozart-project/id1034980035

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/The_Mozart_Project_Mozart?id=Batumgqtgiizmmajzp7nun2bawq&hl

Rdio
http://www.rdio.com/artist/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart/album/Mozart_-_Symphonies%2C_Sonatas%2C_Serenades%2C_Concertos__Overtures/

Deezer:
http://www.deezer.com/album/11116224

Tidal:
http://listen.tidal.com/album/53171424

HMV
https://www.hmvdigital.com/releases/4910498

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Project-Mozartisan/dp/B014MVAV7Y

Rhapsody
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/mozart-2/album/mozart-symphonies-sonatas-serenades-concertos-and-overtu

MediaNet
http://www.mndigital.com/content-experience/music_content/albums/378851987/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart/Mozart_The_Essential_Collection/

Groove
https://music.microsoft.com/album/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/mozart-the-essential-collection/bz.15673C09-0100-11DB-89CA-0019B92A3933?target=web

Emusic
http://www.emusic.com/album/the-mozart-project/mozart/16177427/

Microsoft
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/music/album/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-haydn-light-orchestra/mozart-the-essential-collection/8d6kgx070nr0

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Mozart_Mozart_Symphonies_Sonatas_Serenades_Concert?id=Bbrfnmsqsow4thkok67d7hr7kku&hl=en_GB

Spotify:
https://play.spotify.com/album/2qTzSNOusiykyFQ21F51mc

Orchestral samples included in this recording from the Vienna Symphonic Library.

Mozart - The Essential Collection

Spotify

Quartet No. 17 in B-Flat Major, L. 458 "The Hunt": III. Adagio

Quintessenz plays an arrangement by Gudrun Hinze of Debussy's "L'après-midi"

our most famous piece!
available on CD at  www.genuin.de 

Claude Debussy: Prélude a l'après-midi d'un faune

An Ode To Kashmir (feat. the Boston Conservatory Orchestra)

For violin and electronics

Performed by Michelle Guzman
Recorded at Berklee Studios
Mixed and Mastered by Maurice Soque

Flux was originally written as Valinor, a piece for my string and electronics album influenced by the Lord of the Rings. It ended up going a completely different way during the writing process, so I decided to include it in this album. Majority of the electronics track focuses on achieving a consistent "fluttery" ambience. I used a short section of Ravel's Trios Poemes de Mallarme as an element in the track, changing pitch, filters and so forth. Additionally, the sound of rain was used, filtered in a way to make the rain "sing". All of these elements play under the Violin, which, at times reacts to the electronics with it's own ideas, and at other times, tries it's best to stay afloat.

For more info, see: www.avikcharimusic@gmail.com/flux

Promenade (Walking The Dog) by George Gershwin, arranged for Soprano Saxophone and String Orchestra

avik chari