Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Taylor Bradshaw

Piano Sonata No. 1 (2017)

Written for the 2019 Wintergreen Composers' Retreat. a huge thank you to everyone involved!
Alison Hall, Violin
Jeannette Jang, Violin
Johanna Beaver, Viola
Adam Carter, Cello

Skybox

side-scroller (2021) is inspired by “death music” in 2D platform video games (platformers). When a player loses or “dies” in a video game, often specific music will play, indicating to the player they have failed. Death music in early platformers often had upbeat descending melodic lines underlaid with triadic harmonies. In side-scroller’s opening phrases, failed jumps can be heard followed by death music. The piece chronicles a player’s progress through a game world. There’s extra health to be found. Secret passageways to be discovered. And a boss fight! Plus, a little “game over” sequence at the end.

"side-scroller" performed by JACK Quartet

Immersion - for string orchestra

composed and conducted by J. A. Devor
performed by the West Chester University Symphony Orchestra
on 29 April 2021

dedicated to Maestro Joseph Caminiti

Copyright © 2020 JDevor Music, LLC

Immersion

4/28/21
Performed by the Hartt School Foot in the Door Ensemble, conducted by James Minnix

A dream from different spaces

written for the 2021 Wintergreen Composers' Retreat

Oboe - Jessica Warren
Clarinet - Joe Beverly
Violin - Jim Lyon
Cello - Sarah Kapps
Conductor - Erin Freeman

Photo by Tim Oun on Unslpash

Explorational Planes

all tracks by Mick Kelly, recorded on a zoom mic in a bedroom in the Bronx, New York and mixed on Adobe Audition. completed and published in Virginia.

head was mastered by Atlas Glaas in Berlin, Germany. (https://soundcloud.com/atlasglaas)

Gray Man

head

I Wore It Just For You

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

The fourth movement opens with material from the first three movements, slowly building to the presentation of a new theme. It is followed by 3 variations, each based on the previous movements. These are followed by a fugato, culminating to the final variation and coda.

4. Fantasy Variations

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

Breaking dramatically in character from the previous movement, third movement is an upbeat scherzo featuring a tarantella rhythm. It unfolds using sonata form.

3. Scherzo

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

The second movement was inspired by Stephen Gammell's illustrations from the "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark" trilogy, a favorite from my childhood. The series caused much controversy due to the intensity of the nightmarish illustrations. It was banned in many libraries, and some of the original illustrations have been replaced by less frightening images  in newer versions. The movement is in ternary form.

2. In The Dark

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

The sonata opens with a rondo, featuring a somber melody played over a single repeated note the bass. The movement drifts in and out of episodes of contrasting character, each still maintaining remnants of the original theme.

1. Rondo

“this was her, Mick Kelly, walking in the daytime and by herself at night. in the hot sun and in the dark with all the plans and feelings. this music was her—the real plain her...this music did not take a long time or a short time. it did not have anything to do with time going by at all. she sat with her arms around her legs, biting her salty knee very hard. the whole world was this symphony, and there was not enough of her to listen... now that it was over there was only her heart beating like a rabbit and this terrible hurt.” 

– the heart is a lonely hunter by Carson McCullers

track 5 is a cover and a rip off. 

track 8 was mixed & mastered by Atlas Glås in Berlin, Germany.

everything else done by Mick Kelly in the Bronx, New York, on Munsee Lenape land, from 2018-2020. 
 
cover art includes an image from a "chirologia; or, the naturall language of the hand" by John Bulwer, 1644, an early English study of gesture.

thank you Efrem, Aaron, Jane, Jello, Jacob, and Grace, I love you and yours.

X

Reedeemer

11:11pm you can't decrypt mee

As if there were deer in the next field

Classical composer/alt rock songwriter, arranger, and private guitar and piano teacher living in NYC. Click the tracks for lyrics, descriptions, and performers. More at michaellaster.com.

1. Rondo

Michael Laster

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