A study to highlight the beauty in dodecaphonic music using strict appliance of a basic/primary twelve-note row, its retrograde, inversion and retrograde inversion. Two rhythmic phrases are used in equal measure throughout: the first is the five-bar rhythmic line of the opening twelve-note row, and the second, its five-bar retrograde.

Meanderings

It is the heart which leads us on our journey through life as we grow and take on new layers, realising more complex experiences. Incorporating some minimalist techniques, this orchestral study explores gradual changes to melodic and rhythmic patterns, including repetition, canonic interplay, textural and dynamic variation and transitioning from simple to compound time, shedding new light upon the familiar. Follow your heart and all will make sense.

Follow Your Heart

Go shed those inhibitions and throw caution to the wind!

Conversation

A heart laid bare synth study expressing the emotion felt at the loss of someone close. Melody, harmony and choice of sounds stir up a feeling of deep sorrow and loneliness in grief, but an underlying, essential rhythmic pulse throughout, reflects hope and peace through mourning.

In Memory

A piece for humanity with its interminable struggle between peace and violence. 
Calm Amidst The Chaos combines fixed media electronics with live bass flute and bass clarinet instruments to create a calm yet malaise-ridden soundscape tinged with yearnings for peace. 
The electronics component creates a serene and peaceful atmosphere, while also alerting to the presence of potential conflict. The deep resonant sounds of the wind instruments interweave to express brief moments of consonant and dissonant lyricism, reflecting struggle and exhaustion. Occasional air sounds, tongue slaps and key taps provide subtle textural interest which act as a reminder of the distant unrest.

Calm Amidst The Chaos

A menacing chordal fretless bass line permeates throughout this piece, complimented by steadying hi hats to keep rhythm and pace in check. The electric string section provides an added sense of mystery and passion, peaking during the choruses.

The Changeling

Synthesised breathy voice sounds hum an ostinato pattern throughout, the main melody provided by a synth vocal sound, creating a feeling of space and loneliness. A fretless bass provides a gentle rhythmic undercurrent whilst the plucky glockenspiel sounds create an air of Eastern influence.

The Potion

Triplet ostinato patterns dominate throughout, supporting a lonely synth melody in the verses and a church organ and trumpet in the choruses. A romantic French horn motif helps to bring down the tension after each chorus, before being led to the end by our original ostinato theme.

Theme

After a series of rising-note effects atop an electro string chords introduction, a warm, pulsing bass provides the cushion for the feeling of floating mid-air around lush strings and secure harmonies/synth melodies, ultimately bringing a feeling of gently lowering you back down to earth.

Floating

A rhythmic ostinato guitar-like figure sets the tone of this short, moody piece accompanied by bongos and grave strings, occasionally relieved by an ironic musical box motif.

A Darker Side

Originally written November 1981, this is the revised 2015 version.

Nocturne

A solo piano improvisation, in celebration of Piano Day 2017.

Dreaming

Breathe with me whilst listening to this poignant solo piano moment, in celebration of Piano Day 2018.

Breathing

For me it became all about the inner voices when composing and developing this emotive solo piano piece, uploaded in celebration of Piano Day 2019.

Inner Voices

The interweaving and caressing of patterns was the premise of this intimate solo piano piece, uploaded in celebration of Piano Day 2020.

Entwined

Martin Evans is a pianist and composer based in London, UK.
Having started his musical career as a session musician (pianist and arranger), Martin’s focus is now on composition, writing for orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles and soloists, both piano and other instruments and his carol ‘Sir Christemas’ recorded by the BBC Singers for BBC Radio 3. More recently his interest is in the merging of consonance with dissonance to create sounds which evoke specific moods and situations, sometimes including fixed media electronics with solo acoustic instruments. 
BBC Singers/Radio 3 recording here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05qrtyc

Some past recording appearances include:
•Brittle Days - A Tribute to Nick Drake - compilation album- (Piano on ‘Joey’)
•Poems for Laila album: La Fillette Triste (Piano on ‘The Mirror’)
•Stefan Eicher album: My Place (Piano)
•Gianna Nannini album: Scandalo (Piano on ‘5 Minuti’ / String quartet arrangement on ‘Dea’)
•Shelleyan Orphan single: Anatomy of Love (Harpsichord)
•Shelleyan Orphan album: Century Flower (Piano/Keyboards)
•Shelleyan Orphan album: Humroot (Piano/Keyboards)

Martin Evans | Musician

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