Do to its dangerous instability, magic has been outlawed by both the Kingdom of Cynehame and the Honreach Empire. Rumours of Witches, terrifying perverters of the natural order, swirl through Cynehame and Honra settlements alike; from Stainton to Campineau, from Summus to the Silver Stretch. A steadfast protection against witchcraft is seemingly the only governance which these two opposing nations agree upon, a thin veil of cooperation, narrowly damming an inevitable and bloody war. 

But, look closer and one can see that there is more to magic than what's been prescribed. There are said to be, hidden about and away from the law, some righteous sages of a bygone age. Magicians who build more than break. With powers that heal curdled flesh and console lofty hearts. Those few who quietly resist. The last, lonely guardians of the lost Zenchi ways.

"Zenchi Lament" - Music of Androweald (DnD setting) [Sept 24:2020]

"Mystic Voices" - Music of Androweald (DnD setting) [July:2020]

Let blaze the shackles of your former being and let rise from its ashes a new way of seeing; see no more the laying of blame but instead a great flame, burn away your pain, leaves you never to be the same again.

Performance from the April 13th performance of The Yacht Club's "Song Re:Cycle"

Special thanks to the performers:
James Reesor
James Dowbiggin
Sam Hill

Recording by Myke Phillips

Song Re:Cycle poster design by Erika Verhagen

Great Flame of Conversion, Great Groove in the Sky (Song Re:Cycle Performance - April 13th 2018)

Meditation in Place, Revelation in Space: redefine what surrounds you

Meditation In Place, Revelation In Space (2016 Student Composer's Concert Performance)

A recording of The Fact Pact's version of "I Wanna Dance with Somebody". Holds a special place in my heart.

Credits:

Andy Dolgin - Arrangement/ Trombone
Mike Anderson - Keys
Joe Brand - Bass
Sammy Hill - Drums
Justin Sullivan - Vocals

Pally Boy-o Bop Skies

I Wanna Dance with Somebody

This recording is from Greer Schatz's and Rose Soenen's August 17 2019 "Reflect: A Concert" performance.

This song cycle was written with the expectation that R. Murray Schafer's "4 Songs for Mezzo-Soprano and Harp" would go in between songs number 1 and 2 from "Songs for Rose and Greer". This song builds on themes from Schafer's piece and its title "Sophia in the Mirror" is a direct reference to the 1st song in his cycle. 

Greer Schatz - Voice
Rose Soenen - Voice

Photo by Kaela Bosch
Her instagram @kaelaboschcaptures

Songs for Rose and Greer No. 1 (Sophia in the Mirror)

This recording is from Greer Schatz's and Rose Soenen's August 17 2019 "Reflect: A Concert" performance.

For "Reflect: A Concert", this song, the second song of my cycle "Songs for Rose and Greer, was intended to go between R. Murray Schafer's "4 Songs for Mezzo-Soprano and Harp" and Benjamin Britten's "Folksong Arrangements for Voice and Harp". It was meant to act as a buffer between the two cycles, borrowing some inspiration from each piece, as well as further contextualizing them within the broader theme of the concert: this theme being romance and the many complications and feelings that come with it. For the most part, the theme of this song is indecision. I felt as though this theme could, at the same time, be relatable and mesh together the wide variety of ideas presented in the two other song cycles in an interesting and sensible way.

It's anxious, it's endearing, it's aggressive, it's sultry. 

Greer Schatz - Voice
Rose Soenen - Harp

Photo by Kaela Bosch
Her instagram @kaelaboschcaptures

Songs for Rose and Greer No. 2 (Yes They Do, I Know They Do)

This recording is from Greer Schatz's and Rose Soenen's August 17 2019 "Reflect: A Concert" performance.

I wrote this song with the expectation of it being the final song on "Reflect: A Concert". This concert consisted of 3 different song cycles with a common theme of romance; R. Murray Schafer's "4 Songs for Mezzo-Soprano and Harp", Benjamin Britten's "Folksong Arrangements for Voice and Harp" and my own "Songs for Rose and Greer".

Between all of these songs, many different ideas on romance are presented - and many of them conflict with each other. I wanted this song to give a beautiful sense of relief without simplifying this mess of ideas. 

Because it is a little messy.
But it's also quite beautiful.

Greer Schatz - Voice
Rose Soenen - Voice

Photo by Kaela Bosch
Her instagram @kaelaboschcaptures

Songs for Rose and Greer No. 3 (Tilt Your Head, Tilt Your Head, Tilt Your Head, Tilt Your Head)

Performed by the Edmonton Saxophone Quartet at the University of Alberta's Convocation Hall on April 16, 2019.

This is a tribute to 20th Century media and the baggage of the saxophone. I wanted something that makes a lot of wild references while still feeling like one cohesive piece the whole way through. I'm hoping it comes across as busy, messy and full of life (and brings monumental expressions of joy).

I hope you're all into it and I'll include the spoken text for this piece further down in the description.

Sheet music available upon request.

Spoken word Text:
1st section;
Shooby-dooby-doo and a can of noodle soup,
Get a tape of the painting, play it on loop,
Put some bell bottom pants on the kids in the hall,
Let them grow a couple years, watch the Berlin wall fall.
Analog pedagogue how would you feel,
If a low-fi, tye-dye joined you for a meal,
Then a square looking fella with a wide looking jaw,
Was your cabbie ride home in a ford in a wonder bra.
Gameboy colour, attract another, robot affections, cable connection,
Tear the stickers off a rubik's cube,
Flowers in my hair to get in the groove.
Hush little baby, don't say a word,
If I had a T.V., I would play it like Bird,
If I had bleached hair, I would sing a folk ballad,
If I had a new pan, I would play Rat Salad.
Oogle google all to see, Oogle a part of me.

Hot potato, Nato eating play doh, pass it on,
To an art deco woman in a golden thong,
To a fine straight tie, to a double shot of booze,
After that, change the offer to one they can't refuse.
Papa wants a new things, Mama wants to grow wings,
Brother must pick; mocking bird, diamond ring?
Sister wants a suit but she finds it hard to choose,
Is that Mister Fantastic or is that Doctor Doom?
Pepto-bismol, a funny gizmo, simply abysmal, hairy machismo,
Hold it up high for all the world to see,
And the whole world yells "Free Bird" back at me.
London bridge is falling down, no one make a sound;
If you want to cross the river, you'll have to go around,
A smell on the radio people can't ignore,
Radiation sets in and we're different than before.
Oogle google all to see, Oogle a part of me.

2nd section;
Part of me,
Outer space, all to see, in your face, part of me,
Home base, all to see, 'lectric lace, Part of me,
Savoy, all to see, sex toy, part of me,
Cowboy, all to see, love and joy, part of me,
Fred Astaire, all to see, truth or dare, part of me
Derriere, all to see, here and there, part of me,
Twist and shout, all to see, when in doubt, part of me,
Dark stout, all to see the oogle part of me.

'Lectric Lace: Psychedelic Collage from Hell for Saxophone Quartet - 04/16/2019 Performance

Hold onto your butts.
A little bit of my soundtrack work, my pop music work and my experimental music work
BMus at Wilfrid Laurier University.
MMus at University of Alberta.

Justin Sullivan

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