Written: 2022-23
Duration: 30'
for piano trio (violin, cello, and piano) and orchestra (2-2-2-2 / 4-2-3-1 / 3 percussion, timpani, strings)
Commissioned by Neave Trio
World Premiere: Mostly Modern Orchestra with Neave Trio, JoAnn Falletta, conductor, Mostly Modern Festival, Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 17, 2023.
Publisher: Bill Holab Music

As we live through a sixth mass extinction, it is not difficult to question whether we can act as good stewards of our earth. While I often feel a sense of despair — how could we have messed this up so badly? — my thoughts are often, perhaps irrationally, tempered by a sense of optimism. Maybe we can fix this, or at least that’s what I tell myself. Triple Concerto is essentially an exploration of these emotions. As a scenic point of departure, the entire work also uses three types of geographical regions as inspiration.

Triple Concerto is structured a bit differently than a traditional concerto. An introduction and three larger movements are interspersed with three small trio-centric movements that loosely function as either a prelude, interlude, or cadenza. These three smaller movements also exist as a stand-alone version for the piano trio that may be performed as a sort of “teaser” for the concerto on a chamber music concert.

The first movement, Introduction, loosely evokes a sunrise. Toward the end of the movement, bird song melodies from around the world are incorporated and performed by the winds. This leads to a movement entitled Chorale Prelude, focusing on the piano trio, leading to a joyful third movement, Bright Pastorale, filled with bright, sunlit bell-like chords and sounds reminiscent of birdsong. Moments of despair begin to appear as the movement progresses. The movement ends darkly, like an overcast sky before a storm. The fourth movement, Interlude, echoes the beginning, focusing on the trio once again and evoking a sense of longing, the sound of a more innocent time. Tundra, the fifth movement, is cold, dark, and bleak but with swaths of color. A sense of sadness and loneliness permeates this movement, at times represented by various mournful effects such as bent notes created by dipping tubular bells in water and glissandi in the strings and brass.

After the fifth movement, the trio performs a virtuosic Cadenza, full of grief and rage but with signs of hope. This leads to the final movement, entitled Summit. Ascending lines suggest climbing a mountain, both literally and figuratively. After a brief climax, eleven bell-like chords sound one after the other, symbolizing the chimes of the Doomsday Clock. The winds perform birdsong once again, perhaps of songbirds that may soon become endangered or even extinct. In a nod to Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 (his “Farewell Symphony”), the players leave the stage one by one until all that is left are the trio and conductor.

Triple Concerto was commissioned by the Neave Trio and premiered by the trio and Mostly Modern Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta, conductor, at Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY.

– RP

Movements:
I. Introduction
II. Chorale Prelude
III. Bright Pastorale
IV. Interlude
V. Tundra
VI. Cadenza
VII. Summit

Triple Concerto, "Summit" for Piano Trio and Orchestra (World Premiere)

I created a video for this. To watch it go to: https://youtu.be/WRMXCoEO_LA?si=fzZ-Q0xR2UcAF6Th

I am in increasing pain every day because my spine is a mess. Playing the piano is one of the most painful things I do. It sucks the oxygen out of the room. I don't let it beat me. The day before I recorded this I had steroid shots in my mid back, hoping it would give me a little relief. That day I had no pain. I sat at the piano for 5 hours working on music because it was such a joy. It lasted for a day and a half.  It was supposed to be weeks. anyone with chronic pain for years knows what this is like. I can only lay back on pillows for so many hours each day. I am not complaining. It is what it is. Arthritis in my hands would be worse and I have none of that. But this day - this one day was wonderful. I had asked the doctor for one day. That is what I got. W.e have to fight for the things we love.Music gives me the energy to keep going,  Who knows what these hands will produce. I don't have to be the best. I need only be the best I can be.

No Pain

each piece of music I record has a purpose, a reason for existing. When I try to record a new piece and there is no story behind it, it comes out flat. When there is a reason behind it the emotion is released. One area of my life is painful and hard to overcome is caused by my family. Family is supposed to love you and care if you are dead or alive. I don't thInk mine does. But whatever their reason is, that reason is based on a period of time we can't undo - and it is just a shot of time. Each of us goes through many phases and we change with every one. who we were as children - our education and relationships _ and our roles as parent, grandparents, and much more. we change constantly. If you don't try to know and understand the people you are connected to, you miss a lot. 

I am making a video to go with this. The title - Lest we Forget - will be filled with photographs of the childhood I shared with my sisters. I think it is important that we don't throw away parts of our lives because of whatever grudge they hold against me. That I do not understand. I have to learn to let this go, so this is my last attempt to communicate with them using part me that matters. It has taken my entire life too become who I am now. Who are they? They can throw this in the trash if they want, but at least I tried.

Lest We Forget

A toutes les mamans. 
￼
 
￼
Voici ma composition pour piano écrite dans un style i
A toutes les mamans.
Voici ma composition pour piano écrite dans un style impressionniste.
J’interprète au piano « Plurielle »
https://youtu.be/ageBu3VLqQM
To all the mothers.
Here is my composition for piano written in a style i
To all the mothers.
Here is my composition for piano written in an impressionist style.
I perform “Plurielle” on the piano

Plurielle – Original emotional Piano

this is a part of all of the music that I have composed

Madness Goes Everywhere

About ANDROMEDA:
(Tracks 2-7) 

Cassiopeia, queen of Aethiopia, offended Poseidon when she boasted of her daughter Andromeda’s beauty. Poseidon reacted by sending a deluge of tides and a sea monster named Cetus to ravage the land as a penalty.

An oracle foretold that the kingdom would be spared from starvation by having Andromeda’s life sacrificed to the sea monster.

Cassiopeia bids farewell to her child. Andromeda accepts her fate: she is tethered to a rock and awaits death on the shore. However, as Cetus approaches to devour Andromeda, Perseus emerges from the clouds atop Pegasus. After failing to defeat Cetus with his sword, he displays Medusa’s head to turn the sea monster to stone, and Andromeda is saved.

Perseus – admiring Andromeda’s courage – proposes marriage to the princess, who accepts his hand.
           
The young lovers will marry and raise six sons, founding the fabled birth of the Mycenaean dynasty. After Perseus and Andromeda’s passing, Athena will honor their bravery and self-sacrifice by placing them in the sky as constellations.

_______________

For liner notes, lyrics and more, please visit: 
www.danaevlasse.com/mythologies-II

ALBUM CREDITS:

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring:
Sangeeta Kaur, Soprano
Hilá Plitmann, Soprano (1,3,4,8) 
Omar Najmi, Tenor (1, 5-8)
Robert Thies, Pianist 
Danaë Xanthe Vlasse: Singing Bowl, Rattle, Thunder Drum, Orchestral Chimes (1), Ocean Drum & Piano String Effects (2,4,5), and Lyra (8)
Emilio D. Miler: Concert Toms (1)

Recording sessions conducted by Michael Shapiro 
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, Nov 11-12th 2023

All music composed by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse
Lyrics by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse (Medusa, Andromeda) and David R. Brunt (Dreams of Ithaca)
Orchestrators: Jeff Atmajian, Lead Orchestrator & Booth Reader (8), Jon Kull (1), Patrick Russ and Geoff Alexander (2-7)
Copyists: Colin Rae, Juan Camilo Arboleda, and Duy Tran

Executive Producers: Hai Nguyen and Sangeeta Kaur (a.k.a. Loan Xuan Mai)
Producers: Danaë Xanthe Vlasse, Emilio D. Miler, Robert Thies, Hai Nguyen, Kitt Wakeley, and Jeff Atmajian 
Associate Producers: Greg Scelsa and Hilá Plitmann
Assistant Producers: Duy Tran and Nicholas A. Booth

Engineers:
Lead Engineer: John Barrett
Recording Engineer: Gerhard Joost
Protools Engineer: Daniel Hayden 
Assistant Engineer: Freddie Light
Second Assistant Engineer: Martin Riley

Mixing Engineer: Gerhard Joost 
Mastering Engineer: Silas Brown

Additional Recording Sessions:
Studio Hill, Austin, Aug 7-10 2023 (1-8), engineered by Gerhard Joost
East West Studios, Los Angeles, July 2, 2023 (1), engineered by Brian Vibberts, assisted by Chaz Sexton
East West Studios, Los Angeles, July 23, 2023 (1), engineered by Matthew Brownlie, assisted by Chaz Sexton
Allegro Recordings, Los Angeles, Dec 7, 2023 (8), engineered by Matthew Snyder, assisted by Myra Choo
The Bridge, Brooklyn, Jan 16-17, 2024 (1-8), engineered by David Merrill assisted by Greg Tock
CasaFraga, Buenos Aires, July 25, 2023 (1), engineered by Emilio D. Miler

Photography, Makeup & Styling: Robert Hayman
Album Artwork: Greg Spalenka
Graphic Design: Jeff Burne

Special Thanks: 
Ian Maclay, Eleanor Clements, and James Williams (RPO management)
Vasily Petrenko (RPO Music Director)
Kayla Hopkins (Abbey Road Studios, London)
Candace Stewart & Keith Munson (East West Studios, Los Angeles)
Priti Gandhi (for recommending Omar Najmi)
Gloria Parker (Mr. Najmi’s management)
Mona Kahayan (The Bridge, Brooklyn)

©℗2024 Studio Hill Records
Studio Hill Records is a division of Studio Hill Productions, LLC
All music published by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse, MusicVisionPublishing, Studio Hill Music LLC, & David R. Brunt (all ASCAP). 
Made in USA. All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or use of this product is a violation of copyright laws.

Mythologies II

2) ANDROMEDA, I. “Ocean Overture”

Bonjour et bon w.e à tous,
Voici ma composition piano que j’interprète : « Amour »
https://youtu.be/Lmr48It8qmU

Amour – Original emotional Piano

Making taramo salad

My Beautiful Orchids is both ode and observation — a tender study of nature’s artistry and audacity. Through verses of wit and wonder, it unveils the secret lives of orchids: cunning, sensual, and endlessly surprising.

From the Lady Slipper’s one-way path to the "Ice Orchid’s" weekly ritual, the song blooms with quiet insight and affection. Its melody lingers like scent in warm air — delicate, intelligent, and a little mischievous — just like the orchids themselves.

***** Lyrics *****

Verse 1
I learned about orchids long ago
Their glistening petals seem to glow
They bloom from their newer shoots
They last long, even without their roots

Chorus
Orchids are wondrous if you really look
They come in colors that would make you smile
They are easy sometimes, but misunderstood.
They just have their own exquisite style.

Verse 2
A Lady Slipper is one that lures—
Down a path that's one way for sure—
Not back up the way you came. The—
Way out is the back door of the game.

Others fling pollen like laughter,
A flick of surprise, a tease—
When a bee drifts just too near,
It leaves with pollen on its knees...

Chorus
Orchids are wondrous if you really look
They live by wit, cunning and guile.
They are easy sometimes, but misunderstood.
They just have their own exquisite style.

Verse 3
Some Orchids mimic the look of female bees
Pheromones drift on the warm, moist breeze
A male bee gently lands on one nearby—
He's out of luck, no matter how hard he tries..

Some orchids mimic sweetness,
And some smell of stuff that shocks
Beauty and deceit and meekness
All in hopes of tying the knot..

Chorus
Orchids are wondrous if you really look
They live by wit, cunning and guile.
They are easy sometimes, but misunderstood.
They just have their own exquisite style.

Verse 4
Some are called ice orchids,
The kind sold at big box stores
"One cube a week," the directions read
"Beauty made simple," but I do more—

I give mine a warm shower instead,
Let roots drink, drain well and rest,
Return them to their indoor flower bed—
That’s the spa day they love best.

Chorus
Orchids are wondrous if you really look
They live by wit, cunning and guile.
They are easy sometimes, but misunderstood.
They just have their own exquisite style.

Bridge
They deserve the myths we make of them,
And the strange ways they’re known
They’ve evolved-- to wait, to lure,
To live on what little nature loans.

Sometimes, when they bloom some day,
I think they’re dreaming of their forest
Humming silently—as if to say
We made it... as have all that came before us.

Chorus
Orchids are wondrous if you really look
They live by wit, cunning and guile.
They are easy sometimes, but misunderstood.
They have their own exquisite style.

11/12/2025

My Beautiful Orchids

Gunslinger in the Dust

I started composing music (songs with or without lyrics) many years ago. Unfortunately, I dont know music theory and I can not read music scores. All the songs presented here are recorded using a single musical instrument (Yamaha PSR 750 keyboard*).  It's all done by ear. So, my music is completely amateurish and therefore I would like to thank you for your patience.
* As of 1/20/24 I received a new PSR-SX900. I study it and hope to create better sounds.

Gunslinger in the Dust

Jordan Q

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