"Obsidian Reflections" serves as a symphonic fresco, encapsulating the essence of obsidian chrysalis within a modern orchestra. Inspired by the dual nature of this intriguing rock, the composition unfolds as a singular journey, transitioning from somber reflections on ecological challenges to an optimistic embrace of transformative potential.
The music, devoid of distinct movements, seamlessly progresses from dark, mysterious tones to luminous and hopeful harmonies. This symphonic narrative reflects the metaphorical journey from shadows cast by environmental concerns to the intrinsic human ability to find light amidst darkness.
Obsidian, with its smooth texture, serves as a metaphor for resilience and transformation, echoing qualities within both the natural world and ourselves. "Obsidian Reflections" is a continuous musical dialogue, exploring the delicate balance between despair and hope. It invites listeners to reflect on our interconnectedness and inspires a shared commitment to nurturing a brighter, more sustainable future.

The Score won the 1st Prize at the 6th Swiss International Music Competition in Lugano on April 2024

Using Dorico 5 and BBC Symphony Orchestra Library.

Obsidian Reflections - BBC Symphony Orchestra Library (Pre-Release Version)

Hi,
This is a suite of short, impressionistic solo piano pieces all about........

La Dama de Murumendi
(The Lady of Wall Mountain)

     La Dama de Murumendi is a very ancient and revered Goddess of the old Basque Country.  She rules the often inclement weather of that most northern, bleak Spanish realms.  She is most often a gentle creature but she also wields great power and when the mood takes her, she does not fear to unleash the full force of the elements at her command.

Contents

1. Brisa - La Dama awakes.  A gentle breeze stirs as she opens her eyes.  As she rises from her slumber, the winds rise and fall on her whims.

2. Lainoa - As the wind dies, a damp mist rolls in from the sea.  Before long, a thick blanket of fog covers her world and the only light is the beacon from a nearby lighthouse as it sweeps across haunted the scene. 

3. Euria - Suddenly lightning splits the air as thunder rolls off into the distance and a light rain begins to fall.  Soon it builds and a storm begins to rage as it turns colder.  The falling drops begin to freeze in the frigid air.

4. Elurra - As the storm subsides, the clouds begin to clear and suddenly snow fills the brightening sky in a flurry of dancing, glittering crystals, floating gently to the ground and turning the world a mystical winter white.

5. Berria - The snow storm slowly dies and the heavens open as the sun plays hide and seek with huge, lazy, billowing white clouds that trudge slowly across a peaceful azure sky.  La Dama returns to her slumber, pleased with the days work.

011023

La Dama De Murumendi

Crepusculaire
for piano

Pianist: Jakub Niewiadomski - on instagram as https://instagram.com/niewiadomski.pianist

Watch the performance on youtube: https://youtu.be/9_uxwhirRWE

Before it was performed by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, "Crepusculaire" was a simple piano piece. In this new recording, I feel that Jakub captures the essence of the music.

Crepusculaire for piano

Bloody Taste of Eternal Lovelessness

Bride Of Dracula

Choral piece for 8 voices a capella (SSACtTTBarB)
Text and translation into English by Rabindranath Tagore
("The Gardener", no. 61)

Music:  Eva Grill (2023)

Photo: Janet Gates, Boulder (CO), USA (thanks very much, Janet :-) )
Recordings of Soprano 1 and 2, Alto, Bass: The Voices of Audio Artisan
Recordings of Counter Tenor, Tenor 1 and 2, Baritone: Mark Rippe



Peace, my heart,
let the time for the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky
end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment,
and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp
to light you on your way.

Peace, My Heart (for 8 voices a cappella)

The Drulls of Denigrale

From Somnerack, in Bullagrave,
ten lasskes braw sailed stalbard west.
The skullyboard was all bedave,
yet none sought to protest.

Above the keep, a milsprey flimmed;
“A stolmen!” ‘stitioned several Trads.
“Pilly-pot!” the captain brimmed,
“Now pull the squill and low’r the plads!”

What grum, you ask, possessed these few
to risk the wrath of Mortiseidon?
But ask yourself, what you would do
if thar be drulls a’glidin’?

When first they skeer’d above the town,
well, ‘twas but three or four.
But with each year there would appear
at least a scoven more!

Now as each wing abrocked the sun*
the harvley droomed all through the land.
And so the elders called upon
the stravest ones to band.

The plan (if we can smike it that)
was based upon a tale.
For some believed they nestled at
the Isle of Denigrale.

For this they sailed, all gree with hope,
across the slithy seas.
They dreamt of drull’s egg stew to cope,
but woke to gruck, with fleas.

Some claim they never reached the Isle,
but perished in the drabe,
while others doubt the whole affair
as nothing but a fabe.

Likely I’d be doubtin’ too
if ’t weren’t for the fact
that I strow’d with that mully crew
but alone, I kippered back!

The camfry shimmered in the waves
as we preeled into the bawley.
‘Twas not until we reached the caves
that we realized our folly.

For in these caves, as plain as day,
there lay at least a thou’ -
but all of them were cracked in tway,
and not a snatchling found!

Then all at once, their tindry shrieks
did stimmer up our spines.
We turned to face their scurdly beaks:
we’d fight before we’d die!

Such was the fate of the furliest eight,
but two went into hidin’.
All a’gloo, me and my mate,
we learned to live beside ‘em.

At first we swore we’d venge the slain,
but as time wore we mimsied.
The drulls, it seemed, were much the same,
and only ‘fendin’ kin, see?

I can’t expect you to believe
we ‘friended the frumious beasts.
But as it were, I’ve crissed the sea
on a drull, back east!

The Drulls of Denigrale

Music created for the "Cities and Memory" project, using a recording of starlings' murmurations in Otmoor (Oxfordshire) https://citiesandmemory.com/
Moors have always been mysterious places to me. Maybe it is because of its role in Arthur Connan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, or because of my interest in railways, that made me discover the most remote station in Great Britain, in the middle of Rannoch Moor, Scotland.
Starlings murmurations are a mystery about collective behaviour. Their shapes always catch us by surprise. Their how, why and what are always fascinating. For this piece I have processed the original murmurations recorded in Oatmoor (Oxfordshire), by means of different transformative pipelines. I wanted to create something slightly mysterious, maybe menacing but not so much, as some murmurations and moors can be at times. May the music help listeners see and feel how those flocks become like a single massive entity, not only because they make a shape in the air but because, in this track, they are affected by a kind of transmogrification that turns them into otherworldly creatures. They then move the air, the whole sky fabric, in mysterious ways. Something in the way they move...

17/07/2024

Starlings' Startling Murmuration On The Moor

- Keys, synths/pads, comp.: Andrew Janik (Bury The Jar), Toronto / Kanada 
- Additional synths/pads, flute, art: Axel Weiß, Obernbreit / Germany

“'Walking For Water' is a piece of music that will be on a new album called sub-Saharan, to be released on all streaming services in the near future. It is dedicated to all those in sub-Saharan countries that walk to feed their families. It is their love, dedication perseverance and even hope that embodies all that we are as human beings. 
I am happy to be working with Axel again." (Andrew Janik)
The pleasure is all mine, Andy ☀️

Here you can listen to more of his beautiful music:
https://burythejar.bandcamp.com

Walking For Water (Andrew Janik & Axel Weiß)

A simple and quite traditional tribute to the film "La Burrerita de Ypacarai" (1962)
Composed and performed by DD and @edgar-grau-1 on several locations: Mojacar, Madrid, Paris.
DD: Accordina, percussion.
Edgar Grau: Ukulele, upright bass.

Mojacari

Ouverture to the Children's Opera Gilitrutt. Eydís Franzdóttir, oboe, Ármann Helgason, clarinet, Hrönn Þráinsdóttir, piano.

Gilitrutt Children's Opera - 01 - Ouverture

It is a terrible mythical storm, like those Poseidon triggered.
Performer and pianist, Marco Giovanetti.

Crepusculaire for piano

Jesse Voogt Music

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