Like A Bird In A Garage

Written: 2005-06/2023-25
Duration: ca. 33'
for orchestra (3 (dbl Pic.), 3 (dbl Eng. Hn.), 3 (dbl Bass Cl.), 3 (dbl C-bsn.); 4,3,3,1; timp +3; hp; kybd; strings)
Written for JoAnn Falletta and Mostly Modern Orchestra in honor of Mostly Modern Festival’s fifth season
For more information: https://robertpaterson.com/journey-of-a-dragonfly
Video: https://youtu.be/hZOVmC9R82M
Full Video: https://youtu.be/hZOVmC9R82M
Promo Video: https://youtu.be/FYH7xl2Uinw

PROGRAM NOTE
As a child, my parents vacationed at a summer cottage in Maine by a small lake. Often by myself, I would sit on a giant boulder and watch the lake and the wildlife for hours.

One day, a beautiful bright-winged dragonfly flew across the lake and hovered before me. I was startled and intrigued: its long, slender blue body glistened in the sunlight. Finally, it began to fly around the perimeter of the lake. It stopped every few minutes and hovered in place, almost as if waiting for me to follow it. I followed the dragonfly until sunset, imagining a world in which only the dragonfly existed, on its own terms, within its own world.

Years later, I hiked around the Niagara Gorge near Niagara Falls and explored Devil’s Hole Park. There is an opening on the side of a cliff called Devil’s Hole Cave. Interestingly, early Native Americans called it the Cave of the Evil Spirit and foretold subsequent disaster to anyone who dared enter the cave. The combination of the lake, the dragonfly, and Devil’s Hole Cave all came together and helped crystalize the idea for this work.

Journey of a Dragonfly begins as the sun rises; a foreboding darkness looms in the background, contrasting the Dragonfly’s graceful entrance into a world filled with the excitement of being alive. A gust of wind carries dandelion seeds skyward alongside butterflies and rainbow-colored wildflowers. Butterflies land on flowers before the Dragonfly ventures through a dark forest and emerges, only to be chased by five blackbirds. Weaving back and forth to try and escape, the Dragonfly flies into a narrow crevice as two of the blackbirds collide with trees. While still being chased, the three remaining birds retreat as the Dragonfly discovers a dark hole leading to a tunnel. The dragonfly speeds down the ghoulish tunnel and emerges at the end of the tunnel at the side of a cliff, hovering in place. It looks around in horror and sees a gigantic cavern and then Devil Town. After flying through Devil Town and witnessing tortured souls, a bomb factory, Attorney Alley, and the Devil’s Saloon, off in the distance, the Dragonfly sees Satan’s House on a hill and decides to explore. The Dragonfly enters the house and sees the Devil Child, the Devil Mother, and the Devil himself. Suddenly, the Devil Child catches the Dragonfly in a glass jar as the parents prepare dinner in the kitchen. The Dragonfly eventually manages to escape, only to be chased by the Devil Child and then by a group of hellish bats. After a chaotic chase, the Dragonfly finds the tunnel and speeds back toward the world above. Finally free, the Dragonfly finds a flat rock to rest. The tale concludes as the Dragonfly falls asleep, the sun sets by the lake, and the evening fades to black.

Journey of a Dragonfly was written for JoAnn Falletta and Mostly Modern Orchestra in honor of Mostly Modern Festival’s fifth season.

– RP

Movements:
1. The Lake: Sunrise
2. Dragonfly’s Entrance
3. Chase: Blackbirds
4. Descent Into The Underworld
5. Devil Town
6. Satan’s House
7. Trapped
8. Kitchen
9. Escape
10. Chase: Bats
11. Ascent To The World Above
12. The Lake: Sunset

Journey of a Dragonfly for Orchestra

Umrandungen, Vol. 1

Umrandungen-01-13 (Remastered 2025)

A raw and powerful fusion of Ukrainian folk and hardstyle. "Pliès" is a journey into ancient tradition, reimagined with a high-energy, pounding hardstyle sound. This track is a tribute to roots and a signal for the future.

Plies

Mi Isla est une chanson pour les amoureux des îles. Un hiver rigoureux! Hop!  Un petit voyage dans le sud et on reprend vie!  Les plages chaudes, les soirées enveloppantes pendant que chez-nous le froid perdure… (Avec tout mon amour, mon île… et avec mon corps (quelle chaleur!!)… avec aussi tout mon cœur…Oui!!!

Mi Isla is a song for islands lovers. A harsh winter! Hop!  A little trip down south and we come back to life!  The warm beaches, the enveloping evenings while at our place the cold persists... (With all my love, my island... and with my body (what a heat!! )... with all my heart... Yes!!!


Musiciennes et musiciens :
Marie-Christine Tremblay : vocal
Denis Caouette : paroles et musique et arrangements, guitares, back vocals et programmation.
Les M’s  aux brass : 
Marlène Claveau : Sax Alto
Michel Otis : Sax ténor et piano
Marcel Bergeron : Trompette
Martin Tremblay : Trombone
Sébastien Savard : Violons
Frank Corneau : Basse
Jérôme Vandal : Batterie
Martin Larose (Studio Septentrio) : Réalisation


PHONOGRAPHE

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Tout m'est merveille - Remix

A smooth yet melancholy lofi track that drifts between gentle rhythms and quiet sadness. Built on soft tones and reflective textures, it captures the feeling of reaching out into the void—messages left unsent, words that fade before they’re heard. Perfect for late-night studying, journaling, or simply sitting with your emotions.

🎧 For the moments when silence speaks louder than replies.

#lofichill #sadlofi #smoothbeats #latevibes #mrsilkyslofibeats

Typing to Nobody

Website

Sterlan Starr - Typing to Nobody (Mr Silky's LoFi Beats)

Obscured Within

Stas Mix - Game over. Surface

Original song by Stefano Pierini - © 2025  
The song is structured into scenes without a plot. Each scene evokes memories of the past or déjà vu. The wavy flow, the pauses and the bass in harmony help to immerse yourself in an imaginary scene

Already lived story

“Summer” is a song that captures the golden glow of memories you never want to let go. It’s about those endless days and sleepless nights when the world felt lighter, friendships felt unbreakable, and love seemed to live in the air. This track is a reminder of the summers you’ve lived — the laughter, the freedom, the bittersweet moments that still play like a movie in your mind. Every note carries the warmth of the sun and the feeling of time standing still, inviting you to relive your own summer story.

Lyrics - 

I see sun rise through the mountains 
It hints me we should go out 

I can’t wait 
See the beach 
When sun hits
Do you know that feel 
Close your eyes 
Feel the vibe
Do not bother 
Be happy with a smile 

Am I dreaming, you know feeling ohh oh ohh 

I see sun rise through the mountains 
It hints me we should go out 
You and I have no regrets 
we live the life, feel so high

Am I dreaming, you know feeling ohh oh ohh 
Am I dreaming, you know feeling ohh oh ohh 

I see sun rise through the mountains 
It hints me we should go out 
You and I have no regrets 
we live the life, feel so high


Merch Store

Summer

We believe in helping each other, World is based on love, kindness and chill beats x

Sterlan Starr - Typing to Nobody (Mr Silky's LoFi Beats)

Mr Silkys LoFi Beats

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