“These Ambient Music recordings are dedicated to the many bodyworkers, PT’s, LMT’s, Craciosacral specialists, Reiki pracitioners, yoga and Tai Chi teachers, etc who have helped me so much throughout my life in reclaiming homeostasis. Many thanks to you all. I’d like this to be an offering of relaxing music to meditate, rest, fall asleep or simply “zone out” to. The two pieces can be listened to separately or together and in either order. They are best experienced with a good pair of headphones (perhaps while sipping a quality red wine)!  Thank you for listening.” -Paul

All instruments and field recordings by Paul Safar. Special thanks to Freedom for his chanting of the Vedic “Shanti Mantras”, Rob Tobias for oming, Jennifer Wright for hand pan playing, Olga Kyzivat for singing a Czech Lullaby many years ago and of course to Markus for purring….

Music recorded and mixed by Thaddeus Moore at Liquid Mastering
Ambient Music I and II (c)2021 Paul Safar
More of Paul’s compositions and project updates can be found at www.paulsafar.com

Mandalas that helped inspire the improvisations are by André Angermann

website: http://www.geometryofdivinity.com/

Drone-Ambient Music I(Homeostasis)

A piece for solo hurdy gurdy inspired by Indian Classical music as well as Irish Fiddle tunes. Title inspired by my love for running :)Paul's solo hurdy gurdy composition is performed by Marc Egea!

Sprint To The Finish

Written in the first months of the global pandemic. Dedicated to Eva and Jon Martin.

ABENDLIED

One of five recent piano solo recordings performed by the composer. The others are "Abendlied", "Recessional Reel", "Music for a Wedding" and"Brindis Variations".

RHAPSODIE

Boundaries(piano)

A Call for Peace

This piece, written in summer 2016, was a commission by a friend for their nephew’s college graduation from music school. I wrote the work with the young saxophonist, Nathanael Peterson-Blankenship in mind and his interest in both classical and jazz. The image of Soaring came to me as a metaphor for a young adult about to expand their wings into the world.

Soaring-Fantasia for tenor saxophone and piano

This is a piece many years in the making. The concept began as far back as 1995. I wrote it in 2010 and then revised it in 2023. Concerto for Electric Guitar is a classically structured concerto in three movements performed by Olem Alves, guitar solo and Eugene, Oregon based Orchestra Next, Brian McWhorter, conductor. The first movement is structured after Beethoven's"Pathetique" Piano Sonata. In addition, conscious influences include Arvo Pärt, John Cage and Jimi Hendrix. Many thanks to Lance Miller, sound engineer and Brian McWhorter for mixing. I am deeply grateful to Brian and Orchestra Next for this amazing studio performance. (c) 2010, 2023

Concerto for Electric Guitar

In memory of Peter Safar

In three movements:

I. Grave-Allegro con brio
II. Andante Cantabile y lyrico -
III. Rondo Energetico

Concerto for Electric Guitar (movement I)

This is a piece many years in the making. The concept began as far back as 1995. I wrote it in 2010 and then revised it in 2023. Concerto for Electric Guitar is a classically structured concerto in three movements performed by Olem Alves, guitar solo and Eugene, Oregon based Orchestra Next, Brian McWhorter, conductor. The first movement is structured after Beethoven's"Pathetique" Piano Sonata. In addition, conscious influences include Arvo Pärt, John Cage and Jimi Hendrix. Many thanks to Lance Miller, sound engineer and Brian McWhorter for mixing. I am deeply grateful to Brian and Orchestra Next for this amazing studio performance. 
(c) 2010, 2023 Paul Safar

Concerto for Electric Guitar

In memory of Peter Safar

In three movements:

I. Grave-Allegro con brio
II. Andante Cantabile y lyrico -
III. Rondo Energetico

Concerto for Electric Guitar (movements II-III)

“When the Fog Finally Clears,....”
for trombone and piano
a collaboration between
Paul Safar
and Chris Shuttleworth (c) 2023
“When the Fog Finally Clears,...”
I.“...the sparkle of Spring warms the very depth of my soul” II. “...I see the lies I told myself”
III. “..a cathartic dance begins”
IV. “...I see what is truly there”
V. “...the thick smoke remains”
VI. “...there is the sunset and the sunrise”
My dear friend and mentor Paul Safar approached me in the Spring of 2022 about composing a collaborative work for piano and trombone that could play to both of our strengths as composers, performers, and improvisers. I imagined this would be an educational opportunity, as I'd never composed anything in this context, but I was excited to find a wealth of inspiration and I believe that we've come up with something that's fun, unique, and represents us both well. -Chris
When Chris and I decided we’d like to collaborate on writing a piece together, I tossed out the idea of having some loose theme to go by; a framework of sorts. It was the time of year of a fair amount of fog in the area I live so the phrase “When the Fog Finally Clears,..” came to me. It was of course also a metaphor for many phrases to fill in the blank. We decided to do a suite of six movements, where each of us compose three. Two were our own solo creations and one each was inspired by a title and musical snippets given to the other. I was thrilled how the piece turned out with two composers! Many thanks,Chris for being game for this compositional collaboration! -Paul
Chris Shuttleworth,trombone  Paul Safar,piano  recorded by Thaddeus Moore of Liquid Mastering,Eugene,OR

I."When the Fog Finally Clears,…the Sparkle Of Spring Warms The Very Depth Of My Soul”

“When the Fog Finally Clears,....”
for trombone and piano
a collaboration between
Paul Safar
and Chris Shuttleworth (c) 2023
“When the Fog Finally Clears,...”
I.“...the sparkle of Spring warms the very depth of my soul” II. “...I see the lies I told myself”
III. “..a cathartic dance begins”
IV. “...I see what is truly there”
V. “...the thick smoke remains”
VI. “...there is the sunset and the sunrise”
My dear friend and mentor Paul Safar approached me in the Spring of 2022 about composing a collaborative work for piano and trombone that could play to both of our strengths as composers, performers, and improvisers. I imagined this would be an educational opportunity, as I'd never composed anything in this context, but I was excited to find a wealth of inspiration and I believe that we've come up with something that's fun, unique, and represents us both well. -Chris
When Chris and I decided we’d like to collaborate on writing a piece together, I tossed out the idea of having some loose theme to go by; a framework of sorts. It was the time of year of a fair amount of fog in the area I live so the phrase “When the Fog Finally Clears,..” came to me. It was of course also a metaphor for many phrases to fill in the blank. We decided to do a suite of six movements, where each of us compose three. Two were our own solo creations and one each was inspired by a title and musical snippets given to the other. I was thrilled how the piece turned out with two composers! Many thanks,Chris for being game for this compositional collaboration! -Paul

II. "When the Fog Finally Clears,…I See The Lies I Told Myself”

III. "When the Fog Finally Clears,..a Cathartic Dance Begins”

IV. “When the Fog Finally Clears,…I See What Is Truly There”

V. "When the Fog Finally Clears,…the Thick Smoke Remains”

VI. "When the Fog Finally Clears,…there Is The Sunset And The Sunrise”

Written many years ago and inspired by the beauty of the Oregon Cascades. Paul Safar, prepared piano and voice  David Rhodes, soprano saxophone  (c) 1999 Paul Safar     recorded by Bill Barnett at Gung ho Studios

Earth Play

Hiking Song

Awakening

A song written in honor of the birth of my daughter in 1999!
Paul Safar , keyboards and vocals   (c) 1999 Paul Safar

This Little City

Blossom of Spring

As a present for Nancy Wood's special birthday this year;  in honor of the Year of the Dragon. This piece is an arrangement/fantasy on a traditional Catalan folk tune "El Drac"(The Dragon)..all instruments played by Paul Safar of Oregon,USA and Marc Egea, Catalonia. Many thanks to Félix Miret-Rovira for introducing me to the tune!

El Drac (trad.Catalan/Safar)

Prairie

A free improvisation between Paul Safar,harmonium(USA) and Marc Egea, hurdy gurdy(Catalonia,Spain)

Zen Surrealista

This Paul Safar composition "Sprint to the Finish-a gurdy inspired raga-jig"was recorded live in concert by the hurdy gurdy/piano duo of Marc Egea and Paul Safar. Summer 2023, The Jazz Station, Eugene,Oregon. Originally written as a solo piece for Marc, this version features the composer improvising on piano. The title is a reference to "Track Town,USA", aka. Eugene,Oregon. 

Sprint to the Finish (LIve at the Jazz Station)

This live recording from a Seventh Species concert in Portland,OR features pianists Paul Safar and Terry Wergeland doing a (more or less) free improvisation based on a few random musical cues.

Card Games Improvisation

Composition by Paul Safar(c)2025  Sandy Holder and Paul Safar, piano four hands.

Recorded Mixed and Mastered by Thaddeus Moore at Liquid Mastering.

I have known my dear friend and musical colleague Sandy Holder for many years. We both are piano teachers, singers, multi instrumentalists and share a love for eclectic concert programming. After perfoming piano duets together recently, I knew I had to write a piece for us. When I asked Sandy if she had any theme or model to consider using as a starting off point, she mentioned “The Alcotts” movement of Charles Ives Piano Sonata No.2. Somehow that work, along with the emotional days leading to the U.S. General Election of 2024 inspired me to utilize a theme of pluralism. Polytonality, the use of traditional songs and hymns and the juxtposing of disparate styles and genres was both symbolic of the times and a self therapy during this tense political climate. Perhaps one day our country and others can truly experience something more akin to Pluralism.

Pluralismo

(c)2004,2020 Paul Safar    Ben Farrell and Paul Safar, piano four hands
Recorded Mixed and Mastered by Thaddeus Moore at Liquid Mastering
This jazz-blues tinged piano duet, inspired by the music of Theolonius Monk was written for my dear friend and piano duet partner, Ben Farrell and I to perform together which we have many times at places ranging from the Oregon Country Fair to the Jazz Station in Eugene,OR.

Blues For Ben And Me

Composition by Paul Safar (c) 1996
Ben Farrell and Paul Safar, piano four hands
Recorded Mixed and Mastered by Thaddeus Moore at Liquid Mastering
I wrote this piece back in 1996. It is dedicated to my father, Peter Safar, who had a very creative mind indeed. He was a fine amateur pianist and he and I did play through the piece a few times. But my most striking memory was playing it with my piano teacher at my father’s memorial service in 2003.

The Creative Mind

Composed by Paul Safar(c)2007 and performed by Ben Farrell and Paul Safar, one piano four hands.
Recorded Mixed and Mastered by Thaddeus Moore at Liquid Mastering
This short and energetic piano four hand piece was begun on a  flight to Europe. Over the years it has been paired with dance, juggling and film.

Inflight Movie

Thank you to my Catalan friend Felix for introducing me to this song. I appreciate being able to interpret it even though I know it is not traditionally done as a solo piano piece. As a processional, it is usually played on drum and shawm.

La Muixeranga (Hymn of Valencia)

This short piano piece, written back in 2007(c)Paul Safar, was composed while visiting Vienna. I recently re recorded it on the family's 1919 Bösendorfer Piano, originally from that famously musical of cities.

Montag in Wien(2025)

This incredible short little piece is an excercise in the 12 tone technique developed by Arnold Schoenberg.

12 In The Morning-Serial for Breakfast

Cobalt Capriccio

I wrote this song as something of a lullaby to parents. After putting their children to sleep for the night, it's time to rest up and take care of oneself. Candles, warming fire, a cup of teac,etc. (c) 2003 Paul Safar.

One More Lullaby

Romanza

The Inside-Out Project
a remote improvisation
between Marc Egea, zanfona(Sant Iscle de Vallalta,Catalonia) and Paul Safar, piano(Eugene,Oregon,US)
“Morning Improvisation Suite” I through V
Spring, 2020

                              

MorningImprovisation#5

Singer/songwriter Rob Tobias and I re arranged this traditional "Shaker Hymn" with some additional Tobias lyrics and the unique sound combinations of Hurdy Gurdy, melodica, harmonica and guitar as well as our vocal harmonizations. This tune was intended to be played at an environmental conference for elementary school children.

PaulSafar

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