Raphael J's music

The Ironheart Requiem

This song was composed for "the Silophone" an empty grain reservoir in Montreal Canada:

http://www.undefine.ca/en/projects/silophone/

Silophon (Raphael J. 2000)

Sophie settled into her seat by the window as the train lurched forward, its wheels clacking rhythmically against the tracks. Outside, the world seemed to shrink as the train gained momentum, buildings and streets quickly melting into a blur of motion.

Leaning back in her seat, Sophie let out a contented sigh, her thoughts drifting lazily as she watched the passing scenery. The train cut through the countryside like a silver arrow, fields and forests flying by in a whirl of colors.

As the landscape unfurled before her, Sophie couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom wash over her. For in that moment, she was untethered from the worries and cares of the world, her only concern the journey ahead.

Outside, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the rolling hills and winding rivers. Shadows danced across the landscape, painting the world in shades of amber and russet.

With each passing mile, Sophie felt herself growing lighter, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. She watched as towns and villages flickered past, each one a fleeting glimpse into the lives of those who inhabited them.

And as the train hurtled forward into the gathering dusk, Sophie closed her eyes and let herself be carried away by the steady rhythm of the tracks, knowing that wherever the journey took her, she was exactly where she was meant to be.

Train Ride  (Raphael J. 2018)

In the of Autum, nestled amidst the golden hues of autumn leaves, the air was tinged with a sense of melancholy as All Saints' Day drew near. As the days grew shorter and the chill of winter crept closer, the townsfolk found themselves reflecting upon the passage of time and the inevitable journey into the unknown.

On the eve of All Saints' Day, the church bells tolled mournfully, their somber melody drifting through the cobblestone streets like a whispered prayer for the departed. In the fading light of dusk, families gathered in the ancient cemetery, where weathered tombstones stood as silent sentinels beneath the shadow of towering oak trees.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the hallowed ground, the first notes of the angels' trumpets rang out, their haunting melody carrying across the quiet town like a lament for the souls who had passed beyond the veil.

Among the gathered crowd, there was a sense of reverence and solemnity, as loved ones lit candles and placed flowers upon the graves of those they had lost. Memories mingled with tears as they whispered prayers for the departed, their hearts heavy with the weight of grief and longing.

But amidst the sorrow, there was also a glimmer of hope, a belief that the souls of the departed were not truly gone, but merely waiting beyond the veil for the day when they would be reunited with their loved ones once more.

And so, as the angels' trumpets continued to sound their mournful refrain, the people of Autum found solace in the knowledge that death was not the end, but merely a part of the eternal cycle of life and rebirth. And as they turned their faces towards the heavens, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, they whispered their final farewells to the departed, knowing that they would live on forever in the hearts and memories of those they left behind.

Autumn (Raphael J. 2024)

As the night sky enveloped the dense forest in an inky cloak, Mark hurried along the winding trail, his footsteps quickening with each passing moment. The crisp autumn air chilled his skin, but it was the fear that sent shivers down his spine as he glanced over his shoulder, heart pounding with the relentless rhythm of dread.

It had started innocently enough, an evening hike through the woods to clear his mind after a long day at work. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting eerie shadows among the trees, Mark's peaceful stroll turned into a nightmare beyond his wildest imagination.

A strange hum pierced the silence of the night, echoing through the trees with an otherworldly resonance. Mark's breath caught in his throat as he glanced skyward, his eyes widening in disbelief as a luminous object streaked across the heavens, its metallic hull gleaming in the moonlight.

A UFO.

Panic seized hold of Mark's heart as he realized he was being pursued, the eerie glow of the craft casting long shadows upon the forest floor. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he broke into a sprint, his lungs burning with exertion as he raced deeper into the woods, the sound of his own footfalls drowned out by the relentless thrum of the alien vessel above.

Branches clawed at his clothes, roots threatened to trip him with each hurried step, but Mark dared not slow his pace. His mind raced with a thousand unanswered questions, his thoughts consumed by the unknown intentions of those who pursued him.

And then, just as despair threatened to overwhelm him, Mark stumbled into a clearing, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow upon the ancient trees that loomed like silent sentinels around him. With a gasp of relief, he skidded to a halt, his chest heaving as he searched for some semblance of safety in the darkness.

But his respite was short-lived.

For emerging from the shadows came figures unlike any Mark had ever seen, their forms twisted and alien, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intelligence. He stumbled backward, his heart pounding in his chest as the creatures closed in, their intentions unknown and their presence a harbinger of terror.

And then, just as all hope seemed lost, a brilliant light pierced the darkness, bathing the clearing in a blinding glow. Mark shielded his eyes against the brilliance, his heart pounding in his chest as a voice echoed through the night, a voice filled with warmth and reassurance.

"Mark, come with us. You're safe now."

With trembling limbs, Mark stumbled forward into the light, his fear giving way to a sense of wonder as he was enveloped by the embrace of those who had come from beyond the stars. And as the UFO soared once more into the night sky, carrying him away from the darkness of the forest and into the unknown expanse of the cosmos, Mark knew that his journey was only just beginning.

Chased By Aliens (Raphael J. 2024)

In the twilight of the first century AD, in the mist-shrouded lands of Britannia, there lived a queen whose name echoed through the ages with the thunderous resonance of rebellion. Boudicca, the fierce and proud queen of the Iceni tribe, stood as a symbol of defiance against the iron grip of the Roman Empire.

Born into a world of shifting alliances and turbulent loyalties, Boudicca was raised with the steel of defiance in her veins. From a young age, she witnessed the injustices inflicted upon her people by the Roman occupiers, their greed and cruelty leaving scars upon the land and the souls of her kin.

When her husband, Prasutagus, the King of the Iceni, passed away, the Romans sought to strip away the dignity of her people, seizing lands and possessions under the guise of Roman law. But Boudicca refused to yield to their oppression. With a fire burning in her heart and the legacy of her ancestors coursing through her veins, she vowed to rise against the oppressors.

Gathering warriors from across the tribes of Britannia, Boudicca rallied her people with words of passion and fury. With every step, her army swelled in numbers, a force fueled by the desire for freedom and vengeance.

The Romans, complacent in their arrogance, underestimated the resolve of this warrior queen. As they marched to quell the uprising, they encountered a force unlike any they had faced before. Boudicca led her warriors with strategic brilliance and unwavering courage, striking fear into the hearts of the Roman legions.

In a series of bloody skirmishes, Boudicca's forces wreaked havoc upon the Roman occupiers, laying waste to their settlements and fortifications. The land trembled beneath the weight of their fury as they marched ever closer to the heart of Roman power in Britannia.

But even as victory seemed within reach, fate cast its cruel hand upon the battlefield. In a final, desperate clash, Boudicca's forces faced the might of the Roman legions in a battle that would seal their fate.

Though her warriors fought with the ferocity of lions, the Roman discipline and tactics proved too formidable to overcome. Boudicca watched as her people fell, their cries mingling with the clash of steel and the roar of flames.

In the aftermath of defeat, Boudicca stood amidst the ruins of her dreams, her spirit unbroken despite the heavy toll of loss. Though the flames of rebellion had been quenched, the legacy of her defiance would endure for generations to come.

For in the annals of history, Boudicca would forever be remembered as a warrior queen whose courage and resilience echoed across the ages, inspiring countless souls to rise against oppression and tyranny, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times.

Boudicca (Raphael J. 2024)

In the small town of Willow Creek, nestled amidst rolling hills and whispering forests, lived a girl named Lily. She was a child of wonder, her laughter like the sweet melody of a songbird and her eyes sparkling with untold dreams.

But beneath her radiant exterior, a silent battle raged within Lily's fragile frame. A rare sickness had taken root in her body, its relentless grasp draining the color from her cheeks and the strength from her limbs. Doctors spoke in hushed tones, their words heavy with the weight of uncertainty, as they searched for a cure that seemed forever out of reach.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Lily's world grew smaller, confined to the sterile walls of her bedroom. But even as her body weakened, her spirit remained unbroken. In the quiet moments between the pain and the fear, Lily found solace in the memories of a world beyond her window, a world teeming with life and beauty.

And so, in the depths of the night, when sleep eluded her and the darkness threatened to consume her, Lily's spirit would take flight. Through fields of wildflowers and meadows of golden wheat, she danced, her feet barely touching the earth as she twirled and spun beneath the watchful gaze of the moon.

But it was in the heart of the forest that Lily found true peace. Here, among the ancient trees and moss-covered stones, she was free to roam, her spirit dancing among the dappled sunlight and the gentle rustle of leaves. Birds sang sweetly overhead, their melodies weaving through the air like threads of silver, while butterflies flitted from flower to flower, their wings shimmering in hues of gold and azure.

In this paradise of her own making, Lily was whole once more. Here, there was no sickness, no pain, only the boundless expanse of nature unfolding before her like a canvas waiting to be painted. And as she danced, her spirit illuminated the darkness, a beacon of light and love that reached far beyond the confines of her earthly body.

And so, when the time came for Lily to leave this world behind, she did so with a smile upon her lips and a heart full of gratitude. For though her time upon the earth had been brief, her spirit would forever dance among the stars, a reminder of the beauty that exists within us all, waiting to be set free.

Dancer In The Light (Raphael J. 2024)

Goodbye from a little soul...

[Verse]
Kleine Lisi ging heut fort
Nach langen siebzehn Jahren
Über die Regenbogenbrück
Da wo die Besten fahren

[Verse 2]
Zu Bomi Ketty hin da zieht
Auch Sara ist schon dort
Seelen sind vereint im Licht
Kein Abschied ist ein Mord

[Chorus]
Sei nicht traurig lieber Marc
Meine Seele fliegt voraus
Es gibt ein Wiedersehen klar
Im warmen Himmelshaus

[Bridge]
Die Zeit war schön mit dir
Du gabst mir viel Gefühl
Nun schließe ich die Augen still
Mein Herz bleibt nicht kühl

[Chorus]
Sei nicht traurig lieber Marc
Meine Seele fliegt voraus
Es gibt ein Wiedersehen klar
Im warmen Himmelshaus

[Verse 3]
Jahre kommen Jahre gehn
Doch die Liebe bleibt bestehen
Wo wir uns wiedersehn
Wird keine Träne mehr verwehn

Lisi's Ballade

**Baptism by Fire**  

In the ruins of an ancient Sumerian temple, a prophecy lay etched in cuneiform, its words echoing across millennia: *"The Baptism by Fire shall cleanse the Earth, and the fates of mortals will be sealed by the decree of the Anunnaki, the children of An and Ki."* For centuries, the warning was dismissed as a myth.  

The wise men of old, keepers of this knowledge, had whispered of the Anunnaki, celestial architects from the enigmatic planet Nibiru. They spoke of their descent to Earth, bearing gifts of knowledge and the burden of destiny. But their guidance was not eternal. When humanity strayed, the Anunnaki foretold, fire would rain from the heavens—a trial by flame to forge a new beginning or extinguish the old.  

In the year 2045, scientists detected an anomaly in the night sky: a crimson star drawing closer. Nibiru. Governments scrambled the wise men’s warnings resurfacing in digital archives. The "fire" was no metaphor; it was the Anunnaki's return. Cities crumbled under storms of plasma. Survivors knelt amid the chaos, staring skyward as the figures descended, wreathed in light.  

The Anunnaki had come to decree humanity’s fate. Rebirth or oblivion—the fire would decide.

Babtism by Fire (Raphael J. 2025)

Today would have been your 64th birthday and like every year I get reminded by my calendar that I should call you... even though a reminder is never really necessary.
I still have your number, but I guess where you have been for the last almost 8 years, there are no mobile phones or any other means of communication to "here".
Should you, however somehow be able to get any messages from this side of reality, please be assured that you are remembered everyday, your laugh; the sound of your voice is not and will not be forgotten.
Missing you dearly my friend, there will never be any friend as good as you were to me.
Fortunate that we could grow up together, unfortunate that we could not grow old together and remember things that only you and I know; things that only best friends know together.
Cheers my friend.

Cheers my friend!

The Soldier the Lady and the Rose

Celestial Echoes

Remember me to her

“Cello Duo – dramatic” is more than a piece of music. 
It’s a declaration. 
A line in the sand. 

A moment where I finally say: Enough!

Too many people have been lost to cycles of cruelty, indifference, and the quiet storms that tear through our collective humanity. 

Too many stories have ended before they had the chance to unfold. 

Too many hearts have been pushed aside, dismissed, or forgotten. This piece is my response to that. 

My refusal to let numbness win!

When I composed Cello Duo – dramatic, I imagined two voices—two cellos—locked in a struggle between despair and resilience. Their tones collide, clash, and intertwine like opposing winds. 
One represents the storm that rages from the far side of the heart, the place where empathy is stripped away and compassion is scattered like dust. 
The other represents the will to heal, to reclaim what has been lost, to stand firm against the forces that try to hollow us out.

This music is the sound of fighting back—not with violence, but with presence. 
With feeling. 

With the courage to care in a world that often punishes those who do.

It’s time to heal.

It’s time to remember that empathy is not weakness.

It’s time to honor those who should still be here.

Every note in this piece is a vow: that we will not let the storm define us. That we will not allow our hearts to be pushed into silence. That we will rise, again and again, until compassion becomes louder than destruction.

"Cello Duo – dramatic" is my offering to that future. A reminder that even in the darkest moments, two voices can come together and create something powerful enough to shift the air around us. 
Something strong enough to push back against the wind.

This is the beginning of healing. And I hope, as you listen, you feel that same spark—the one that says we’re not done yet.

https://soundcloud.com/raphael_j/raphael-j-dramatic-cello-duo

#EmotionalMusic #HealingThroughSound #MusicForTheSoul #InstrumentalStorytelling #CelloMagic #MusicForHealing #ArtWithPurpose #FeelDeeply #CelloDuo #CinematicMusic #DarkClassical 	#EpicStrings #ModernClassical #ContemporaryComposer #EnoughIsEnough #ChooseEmpathy #HealTheHeart


Raphael J - Dramatic Cello Duo

In 1994 I had the chance to record Kanawa Sa-El Shunk-Manitou's story in my own studio. 

Sa-El shared his view of life on the reservation as a child, his taking part in the last ritual Buffalo hunt, together with his grand-father.
It was put together as a documentary lasting 2 hours called: "A Lakota Life"

Sa-El spent the last years of his life in Europe. The last I heard is that Sael died in Prague.

I used excerpts from the documentary to my own music as a trailer using the essence of his account.

The original recordings are part of my recording studio archives. I do not know if the documentary has ever been broadcast other than in September of 1994 on public radio in Luxembourg (100komma7.lu) and on Radio in Prague.

In 2012 I found out that Kanawa Sa-el Shunk Manitu was in fact not a native american indian but an italian american by the name "Salvatore Richard Giannetta" pretending to be a native american indian living in his story...

http://tricksterdocumentary.com/documentary.html

Tribute to Kanawa Sa-el Shunk Manitu, aka Salvatore Richard Giannetta (Raphael J.)

COVID19 and confinment oblige: I found a recording on a cassette from 1983, one of my brothers, my ex-wife, my best friend Omar and I decided to record this song after rehearsing the voicing.

I wrote this song in 1980 while a student in Los Angeles.

The hiss and the "analogue" artifacts are from the original cassette recording, I left that, for authenticity... all other instruments except for original guitar and the singing have been added recently...

I am wondering if we'd ever have become famous handing in a demo like that. ;-)

Remember Me To Her (remix Raphael J. 2024 original 1983 with "The Relatives)

Raphael J. was born into the vibrant musical landscape of the 1960s, where he discovered his passion for guitar and songwriting at a young age. Throughout the late 70s, 80s, and 90s, he lent his talents to various folk bands, honing his craft and drawing inspiration from the mainstream folk charts of the time.

In the late 80s, Raphael's musical journey expanded into a new direction as he delved into the realm of electronic music, experimenting with composition on computers. Embracing the evolving technology, he seamlessly integrated eclectic influences into his music, blending traditional folk elements with modern electronic sounds.

Known for his melancholic yet versatile songwriting style, Raphael's compositions evoke a range of emotions, from the heroic to the classical, reflecting his openness to exploring diverse moods and themes. With each new creation, he continues to push the boundaries of his artistry, leaving an indelible mark on the ever-changing landscape of contemporary music.

Raphael J.

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