This is the title song of my New album.  Cerulean (heavenly blue) visions of memories and how I want things to be...musical prayers of my soul.

Cerulean Dreams

Performed by Rebeca Enloe and Ramilya Saubanova
Recorded 2023 in Baltimore, MD

Jules Mouquet, La Flute de Pan – Mov. I

THOMAS GOULD Live in Riga
Sinfonietta Riga

1-3. Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 - Ludwig van Beethoven
	I. Allegro ma non troppo
	II. Larghetto
	III. Rondo (Allegro)

4. The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughan Williams  

Produced by Raphaël Mouterde
Executive producer Dave Stapleton

‘Live in Riga’ is the major new album from the celebrated 31 year old British violinist Thomas Gould.  Recorded live in concert with Sinfonietta Riga on April 11th 2014 at the Great Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, it confirms Gould’s enormous potential as one of the most inventive and colourful instrumentalists of his generation.  Gould is no ordinary classical musician but one of a new generation who refuse to be defined by a single genre.  He has developed impressive jazz credentials, but it is in this environment as soloist/director of classical repertoire where he really excels.  The Times recently described Gould as “intent on becoming the Nigel Kennedy of his generation”.  Gould, however, is incomparably his own musician.  Bold and courageous enough to forge his own path and follow his singular vision, he steps outside the footsteps of the greats.

‘Live in Riga’ is a defining album for Gould, his first disc of a three-album deal with forward-thinking British jazz and classical record label Edition Classics.  Over the last decade he has been in demand as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra and LA Phil New Music Group.  He is also much in demand as a leader/director, working with Britten Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ACO2, but it’s when he brings these disciplines together that the magic happens.  As Gould explains, “It means that everyone plays in a more engaged way. There is a group commitment to making it work, so the process is much more collaborative than when working with conductor.”

Sinfonietta Riga is an orchestra with a story to tell.  Formed in 2006, their vision is as bold as Gould’s.  Equally happy to play in concert dress or T-shirts they are intent on building new audiences for the music while reaching for the highest artistic standards.  Their collaboration is a perfect match and a unique experience for both the orchestra and for Gould.  This live concert recording bears witness to this special musical symbiosis.

To release an album featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending is a bold decision.  As two cornerstones of the violin repertoire, there are plenty of performances to compare, but Gould’s versions demonstrate a brilliance of tone and colour that demands attention.  His flexibility and breadth of musical interests is fully evident.  Gould’s playing has the clarity you would expect from any major performer but radiates a freedom in its expression as though improvised with an immediate elegance and poise.

For Gould it’s all about achieving the right balance.  Whether it’s jazz or classical, written or improvised, as soloist or director, Gould is right in the eye of the storm.  If the dark clouds gathering in the wider music world imply that the days of the single-minded virtuoso are coming to an end; if to succeed in that brave new world we need to attract more diversity and brighter colours, then in Thomas Gould we may have found the lightning conductor to spark a new generation.


THOMAS GOULD Beethoven - Violin Concerto In D, Op.61 - II. Larghetto

In my humble opinion, Bach fugues are one of the wonders of the world. This is the first two pages of a piece originally composed for organ, that was later transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt.

J.S. Bach, Opening of Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543

Piano  improvisation based on "Ai ai se eu te pego” & “Eine kleine Nachtmusik”. Performed by Jef de Roode. Piano: Yamaha CFX. Location: Zwolle, Holland.

Nossa, nossa, assim Mozart me mata - Piano Improvisation

The Glory of Bach

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 I. Allegro BWV 1049

A Trip to Prague

String Quartet No. 12 in F Major Op. 96 "American" I. Allegro Non Troppo

J.S. Bach - Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude

Johannes Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24

A beautiful little piece by my favorite guitar composer, Mauro Giuliani! One of my fav's to play as well.....it's just a really nice piece all the way around! 

Mauro Giuliani ~ Study #2

This track is from the album Illumination and is available for purchase on CD or download;. Beautiful relaxing instrumental piano by Bill Whitfield. #SCFIRST
Bill's website: http://billwhitfieldmusic.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Serenity-Bill-Whitfield/dp/B01MRKMQBT/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Bill+Whitfield&qid=1587033905&s=dmusic&search-type=ss&sr=1-1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t07HwXtbPnc
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/bill-whitfield/578479004
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2vsmftXvzst7kEEK4sUWeg

Illumination

To a Wild Rose

To A Wild Rose

I am an amateur pianist with an ongoing passion for this musical instrument.  These are some favourite pieces, performed on a Yamaha Disklavier grand piano.

J.S. Bach, Opening of Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543

DavidR