Name: Old Athens - Plaka by Jordan Q
Duration: 2 min 54 s
Description: this is a part of all of the music that I have composed

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

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

Old Athens - Plaka

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

I created a music video for this. You can watch it at  
https://youtu.be/koyrqkYnAC4?si=tj3jBuujwj__zMPj

This is an Improv. Each track is layered at the piano. I have been a bit down lately because I am not well. Life is hard right now. It has made me very conscious of how precious time is, and how fast it is going by. We always think we have more time and therefore we waste it on things that don't matter.

I am computerizing all of the music, piano arrangements, lead sheets, lyrics along with photo shoots over the past 50 years in an attempt to document who I am and where I was at each stage of my life and music. I was never even close to being well known but that has little to do with the enjoyment of creating music or the quality and the personal growth we go through during life. My children were with me from birth as I played music around the country but I doubt if they know or even remember the music I wrote throughout their life, so how will their children and grandchildren understand who I am? When you create music it is like a diary. As I enter it into the computer note by note I am reliving the time when it was written. I didn't "decide" to be a musician. It wasn't a choice. It is who I am since I was born. It was always there. I need more time . . .

Searching For Hope

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”

"Träumende Klarinette" by Eryk Sowa is a mesmerizing concert piece that captures the ethereal essence of dreams through the voice of the clarinet. The composition begins with a gentle, haunting melody that seems to float through the air like a distant memory, evoking a sense of longing and introspection. The clarinet's tones are rich and expressive, weaving through delicate harmonies that create an almost surreal atmosphere. As the piece progresses, the dynamics ebb and flow, reflecting the unpredictable nature of dreams—sometimes peaceful, sometimes intense, but always captivating. The interplay between the clarinet and the accompanying instruments adds depth, as if the clarinet is engaging in a dialogue with unseen forces. The music's texture ranges from tender whispers to soaring crescendos, inviting listeners to lose themselves in a world where reality and fantasy blur. "Träumende Klarinette" is a deeply emotional journey, leaving a lasting impression of beauty and mystery.

Best of

Eryk Sowa - Träumende Klarinette (Concert Piece)

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

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.

Old Athens - Plaka

Jordan Q

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