Second album composed for violin, cello and piano ensembles, inspired by nature (e.g. flowers, swans, cats and the snow), relationships (e.g. family) and travel.

Blossom | Contemporary Classical Music Album by Shirley Ly

All contemporary classical music works composed by Shirley Ly from albums, Paradise, Blossom, Impetus, and more! Available on other platforms i.e. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and many more.

All Contemporary Classical Music Works by Shirley Ly

Album 'Paradise' is inspired by the beauty and wonders of the ocean, its ecosystems and marine life, captured through experiences of swimming, sailing, surfing and diving in the ocean. Hear the soulful playing of piano, violin and cello.

Paradise | Contemporary Classical Music Album by Shirley Ly

First album composed for violin, cello and piano ensembles, inspired by nature (e.g. the seasons, birds), relationships (e.g. heartbreak) and travel.

Impetus | Contemporary Classical Music Album by Shirley Ly

Cats meowing and dancing into the night whilst the rest of the world sleeps.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Carnival of the Cats | Violin, Piano and Cello Trio

Swans gracefully glide across from one side to the other of a lake to find their nests to rest in at midnight. The moon glistens in the distance.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Midnight Swans | Violin and Cello Duet

Springtime blossoms,
Light pink and plum shades,
Delicate and transient,
Their sweet scents pervade.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Blossom | Violin and Cello Duet

A whimsical ball awaits...

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Whimsical Ball | Violin and Cello Duet

From morning to night, the canals of Amsterdam glisten magically against the backdrop of beautifully uniform, looming, and narrow buildings. The heart dances with inspiration.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly

© SHIRLEY LY

Amsterdam | Solo Piano

The feeling of walking through the beautiful city of Berlin at dawn.

Berlin is one of my favourite cities and carries a lot of emotional weight for me - it never sleeps, it is artsy, alternative and culturally diverse.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly

© SHIRLEY LY

Dawn in Berlin | Solo Piano

A light-hearted waltz inspired by my sweet, mischievous, and playful cats. 

We waltz and we play
Through night and through day

With our tails entwined
We forget the day's grind

From our sleep and our slumber
Brings insatiable hunger

To prowl and to pounce
To forget all our doubts

We waltz and we play
Through night and through day

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Matthew Scrivener
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Cats Waltz | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

Whilst the sun shines through the windows, the kitties sleep tight dreaming about their catches at dawn.

Cats Lullaby | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

A grey fog casts across London's cityscape - rain pattering and wind hissing. Despite this, we strive as in this city, there is full of opportunity.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Minsi Yang Johnson
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

London Strive - Recomposed | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

The ocean is dark, powerful, and mysterious. Storms happen, waves billow amongst each other, crashing and thrashing. The ocean can also be calm and peaceful, lined with delicate coral and filled with diverse aquatic species. 

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly

© SHIRLEY LY

Ocean Redemption | Piano Solo

Delightful changes happen in the ocean during the Spring season. Growing coral and seaweed, blooming plankton, wandering fish, and other species.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio-Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Joys of Spring | Violin, Cello and Piano

Mesmerised by the exquisite colours, movements and patterns of coral, and their importance in supporting marine life.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Cellist: Patrick Tapio-Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Corals' Soul | Cello and Piano

Expression of deep sorrow for what the ocean is facing - climate change, pollution, overfishing, mining, etc. continues to endanger vital marine ecosystems.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall

© SHIRLEY LY

Lament for the Ocean - Part 1 | Solo Violin

Continued expression of deep sorrow for what the ocean is facing - climate change, pollution, overfishing, mining etc. continues to endanger vital marine ecosystems.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

Lament for the Ocean - Part 2 | Solo Cello

The feeling of inner peace in Egypt's Red Sea, filled with many natural treasures.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Red Sea, Egypt | Solo Cello

Where the ocean connects with the land between high and low tides. Filled with marine species well-adapted to the harshness of the environment.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio-Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Intertidal | Violin, Cello and Piano

A surprise seeing fishes soar from the turquoise seas of Barbados into the air. Flying helps the fishes avoid predators in the ocean. A wondrous sight!

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio-Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Dance of Flying Fish | Violin and Cello

A sweet and charming octopus swims close to the seabed, swirling its tentacles. It is inquisitive, wondering what is above.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly

© SHIRLEY LY

Inquisitive Octopus | Solo Piano

Precious turtles swim gently across in the calm, crystal-clear waters.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Swimming Turtles | Violin and Cello

Birds sing in their hundreds and thousands,
The cries from golden cages cannot be compared to the sounds of freedom heard from the emerald forests. 

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinists: Charlie Brookes, Susanna Griffin
Violist: John Michael Hird
Cellist: Chris Terepin

© SHIRLEY LY

Emerald | Piano Quintet

The feeling of loss and recovery during a relationship breakdown - everything seemed like a sweet dream...

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall

© SHIRLEY LY

Sweet Reverie

Sweet Reverie | Violin and Piano Duet

The feeling of walking through the beautiful city of Berlin at dawn. 

Berlin is one of my favourite cities and carries a lot of emotional weight for me - it never sleeps, it is artsy, alternative and culturally diverse.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall

© SHIRLEY LY

Impetus

Dawn in Berlin

Dawn in Berlin | Violin and Piano Duet

Swallows swoop in the sunset. We see their strong, deep wingbeats at a distance. A storm amounts. Clouds are thick and swallows lose their senses of direction in the darkening skies. Raindrops batter their wings. 

The clouds disperse and the swallows emerge slowly and cautiously to find their way back to their warm clay nests.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall

© SHIRLEY LY

Swallows Silhouette

Swallows Silhouette | Violin and Piano Duet

The deep sense of longing for loved ones at home expressed through a letter.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Love Letter - Part 1 | Violin and Cello Duet

Dancing on a starlit road where above, silver and neon stars blink. The air is crisp and the leaves in the distant woods flutter. Wishing twilight lasted forever.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Twilight Dance | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

Melting snow dampens the earth beneath, sunlight becomes clearer and clouds become lighter against the bluing sky. Anticipating renewal and revitalisation of life in all forms.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Spring Fantasy | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

Amber oak leaves flutter in the mellow sun. Songbirds call in the distance. Preparation for Winter begins.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Minsi Yang Johnson
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

Amber Leaves | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

Wherever we go, falling leaves always return to their roots - a saying that will always resonate with me. No matter what happens, family will always be there to provide unconditional love.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall

© SHIRLEY LY

Falling Leaves | Violin and Piano Duet

Dancing in the powdery snow, white flakes from the dark night gently kiss the skin, the flakes glitter against the stars, swirling and twirling as the feet move across the surface.

Composer: Shirley Ly
Violinists: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Waltz In The Snow | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

Constantly wandering, never settling, finding self-happiness.

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
Violinist: Anya Birchall
Cellist: Patrick Tapio Johnson

© SHIRLEY LY

Vagabond's Tale | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

‘EMERALD’ AND ALBUM, ‘PARADISE’ ARE OUT NOW.

Instagram: @shirleylymusic

Shirley Ly is a self-taught contemporary classical music composer from Greenwich in London, United Kingdom, with Chinese and Vietnamese heritage. She has produced three albums, which feature c. 30 pieces composed for solo piano / violin / cello, duets, trios, and quartets: Paradise (2023), Blossom (2021), and Impetus (2018). Her music has been played around a million times across more than 100 countries around the world spanning six continents, including by BBC radio, and is described to be a bridge between classical, romantic, and minimalist music with Eastern and jazz elements. She has performed her music across a variety of venues, including churches in London, and the Palace of Westminster, and will be performing in many more venues going forward.

​The pieces in her albums aim to capture her reflections on life experiences relating to nature (i.e., swallows' journeys to their nests, the seasons, swans), living in London, dance, relationships with family and other loved ones, travel (i.e. to Berlin, Amsterdam), and dreams. Paradise (2023) in particular is inspired by her experiences of swimming, diving, sailing, and surfing in the ocean, and she hopes that her music can further emphasise its importance. Shirley plays the piano in all of her pieces. 

She is working on her fourth album, 9 Pieces About Cats to be completed in 2023, inspired by her five mischievous cats in London. She is also working on classical and electronic music works inspired by her travels in Southeast Asia.

All works are protected by copyright. Please do not use them without permission.

© Shirley Ly

Shirley Ly | Classical Music Composer and Pianist

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