a variety of music demonstrating different moods, instrumentations and styles ...

Cinematic Music

Epic orchestral theme; meditations of a Dark Age pilgrim on a long journey.  Here, the melody itself seems on an unending quest to ask and find answers to some profundity...
Celtic, medieval, strings brass, huge video game, cinematic, film
Finalist in the UK SongWriting Contest (Instrumental), 2014!

Bidwell's Path

5 "Tales" of Passion and the Macabre for Piano Trio - PNO, VLN & CEL - Impressions from selected Poetry & Short Stories of Poe:

- The Raven -  "Nevermore", "Lost Lenore"
- Annabel Lee - "Angel's Envy", "Tomb by the Sea"
- To Helen - “Beauty amongst the Roses"
- Hop-Frog -“the Jester's Last Jest”, "Hop-Frog & Trippetta Waltz"
- The Bells -“Intro”, Var. 1 -"Golden Wedding Bells”, Var. 2 -“Silver Sleigh Bells”, Var. 3 - “Alarum / Iron Bells”, Var. 4 - "Bells, Bells, Bells”, “Finale”

Composed by Richard Altenbach

These movements are impressions of the selected Poe works rather than attempts to musically summarize them. I term the musical style “Ultra-Romantic Expressionism” - an appropriately Romantic Classical tonal sound palette featuring vibrant dissonances befitting of the moody mind of the author.
Opening with the 3-note "Nevermore" motif (cello), "The Raven" ponders the angst and ultimate fury of the narrator, who feels sorrow over the fate of his beloved, departed Lenore while taunted by an enigmatic bird that perches in his apartments. The woody taps of the string players' bows represent the "tap-tap- tapping" on the chamber door. Spiky, dissonant chords signify the persistence of the ebony-plumed visitor. Anxious musical elements bring us to breathless turmoil. The slow “Lost Lenore” section features a somber cello theme poised over the piano’s deep, languid, unfurling clouds of chords. 
A violin interlude bridges this piece with "Annabel Lee", a gothic, romantic ghost story. A lover forever pines over the loss of his lady, blaming the jealous angels for tragedy. "Angel's Envy" describes the stormy cliff at the sea they frequented, while the eerie middle section, "Tomb by the Sea" explores the man's supernatural obsessions.
Solo violin brings us to “To Helen”. Contrasting the typical conception of Poe’s works as grotesque, morose and macabre, we hear more hopeful major tonality. “To Helen” is actually 2 distinct poems of the same title. In one version, Poe extols her beauty effusively. In the other, he speaks about her in a rose garden at midnight, wondering about what was and what could have been.
We now pivot harmonically to whole-tone and chromatic madness in “Hop-Frog” -  a Hobbit-sized court jester famous for his wit. He and his lovely Trippetta, were kidnapped from another land to serve at the whim of a boorish king. When the king unwisely insults Trippetta, the jester contrives a unique punishment involving a chandelier and masquerade ball gone very bad! The music here is quirky and sarcastic. The 2 heroes ecstatically escape back to their country. The carnival-like waltz describes their celebration.
“The Bells” evokes the emotions and rhythms suggested by the ringing of the various bells (tinkling silver sleigh bells, golden wedding bells, alarm bells, iron tolling bells). There is an Intro, 4 Variations and Finale ending in a cinematic, celebratory flourish. The final iteration of the “Evermore” motif in the last measures is extolled in a victorious, even hopeful manner. Listen for the “bells, bells, bells, etc,” and the indefatigable “Nevermore” motif haunting throughout the work...

Poetic Reflections

Tailwind

trailer music to a dark fantasy film (move over "Black Swan!")about a, uhh... well, haunted ballerina...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBDei6PfBM

Unbroken ("Ballerina") TEASER

Epic Anthem to honor our fantastic military men and women, past and future! 
powerful, orchestral, brass, percussion, crescendo

Warrior's Hymn

for an amazing website dedicated to uplifting terminal cancer patients, "Jesus Loves Larry", this is music to underscore inspiring biblical verses; This New Day Montage_Prayerful Meditation, Reverence, Contemplation through Joy, This New Day ( votum theoricus, reverentia, intuitus per tripudium, is novus dies )

This New Day MONTAGE

Live, Hollywood Orchestral track to score for the final racing scene of a film about victory for man & beast and by extension family and humankind; ASCAP Film Composer Workshop Participant, Richard Altenbach

In The Winners' Circle

Originally composed for solo cello, percussion, male chorus and low brass & strings, the Phantasy is a distillation of Richard's ballet-like musical themes from various moments of a darkly creative, sophisticated video game about Russian espionage. The WWII-era story finds our noble hero weaving through such events as the Nazi occupation of Kiev, KGB-style justice, escapes, love and ultimate betrayal, despair and true audacity of hope. 

from "Winter for Ivan"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmgtFEtXKFA
Movements include:
Cadenza Prologue (Adagio) 
Ballet in the Dark (Allegro agitato) 
Stefans Song (Andante) 
of Borscht & Blood (Allegro)


Wolf Sebastian's in-studio recording on cello with orchestra, electronics & male chorus prerecords. 

Stefan's Song

For Purchase Options of Piano Solo Sheet Music, click on the following LINK to J.W. Pepper:
https://www.jwpepper.com/Losing-Love/11548628.item

love song from the emotive, uplifting feature film, "Stealing Time" by Oscar-nominated director Darrell Roodt:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2593128/?ref_=nm_flmg_com_2

Losing Love

one of the most gut-wrenching questions in history; DEMO CUE for a Christian film. Richard on Violin ...

Father, Why Hast Thou ...?

Pre-Concert talk explicating the genius of the 5 literary masterpieces of Poe chosen for Richard's musical setting for Piano Trio, "Poe-etic Reflexions" ...

Intro - Poe Talk

Wiener Jeunesse Orchester / Herbert Böck

Synfonie

Symphonia für grosses Orchester | Symphonia for big Orchestra

Pater Noster Für Chor a cappella | Pater noster for choir a cappella

Trio Gassenhauer: Vera Karner, Dominik Wagner, Aurelia Visovan

Fantasy Piece for Clarinet, Double-Bass and Piano

Fantasiestück für Klarinette, Kontrabass und Klavier

The 3 Last Days - Good Friday through Easter

Director Leaf Lieber's stylish, dark and atmospheric horror short film has won 4 awards and has recently screened at the venerable Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Below are cues scored by Richard for the film. Reminds me of Poe's quietly shrieking horror story, "the Oval Portrait". (Could be described as "Black Swan" meets "Psycho"!)

Link to film:
vimeo.com/231149638
WINNER BEST OF FEST SCREEN FILM FESTIVAL 2018
WINNER BEST DIRECTOR SCREEN FILM FESTIVAL 2018
WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SEVEN HILLS FILM FEST 2017
WINNER BEST PRODUCING MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2017

Unbroken ("Ballerina") TEASER

Richard Altenbach

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