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

Saturn Days is a song about failed relationships and how it is not even bad in the end. Sometimes, we just want to absorb the pain of parting. We tend to enjoy seeing the world's end coming upon us when we break up, like there is no other option. But it just needs a new spark from a different direction for everything to change.

https://fanlink.to/saturndays

This year, piano and coffee turns five, and to celebrate, we are releasing our first compilation: Realismo Mágico — a conceptual project featuring unconventional works by new and old friends we have made along the way. 

Inspired by magical realism, an artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy, this special release presents unheard material by twelve exceptional musicians — from experimental sound artist Martyna Basta to award-winning film composer Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, and from poly-instrumental duo Brueder Selke to prolific pianist and producer John Hayes. 

Each artist has contributed with a new track that invites the listeners to submerge into their very own musical universes, which, at the same time, have been re-shaped by their interpretation of magical realism. We start off on our journey with the delicate nostalgia of Tim Linghaus, passing through Jakob Lindhagen and Vargkvint’s modern take on the story of a Norse mythological creature, followed by the harmonic ambiguity in Simeon Walker’s pleasingly strong dialogue between felted piano and drums. Later on, John Hayes shares with us a chaotic composition born out of samples from an old clock in his parents’ garage and saturated voices, which precedes Lucy Claire’s processed hydrophone recordings of seaweeds and starfishes in Australian waters. Ondes Martenot, pump organ, zither, analogue synthesizers, vocal processing, musical saw, and bowed gongs are some of the unusual elements to be found on this eclectic yet coherently unified record. 

Realismo Mágico has been conceptually crafted and musically curated by Peruvian composer Sergio Díaz De Rojas, and beautifully depicted by illustrator Jordan Amy Lee and graphic designer Celia Fernández González.

Tim Linghaus - Saturn Days

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 by Shirley Ly | 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 by Shirley Ly | 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 by Shirley Ly | 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 by Shirley Ly | Solo Piano

Improvisation 01

Digital Demo for Hommage a Nadia Boulanger (Theme inspired by "Theme and Variations" by Lili Boulanger), written for pianist Holly Roadfeldt.

Hommage a Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) - I have been fascinated by Nadia Boulanger for a long time now.  How did this person inspire and produce so many of the 20th century's greatest composers?  After reading about her life, I think at least part of that dedication to composers was born out of her relationship to her younger sister Lili, and the circumstances surrounding her early death.  From what I understand, Nadia was a great lover of the rigors of counterpoint, but also had the rare ability of helping composers find their own voices during a time of strict dogma in the composition landscape.  This piece is inspired by Lili Boulanger's "Theme and Variations", and also by Nadia's love of counterpoint, and by her voice in my head telling me, "Just be yourself."

Hommage A Nadia Boulanger - Digital DEMO

A Winter's Song - a delicate waltz to celebrate the beauty of winter.

Immerse yourself in a serene winter wonderland with Valeska and the River’s latest piano composition. Transporting listeners to the most tranquil moments of winter, where the world hushes into untroubled calmness, Valeska and the River’s composition captures the ephemeral magic when snow blankets the landscape, momentarily concealing the stresses of life. As the delicate piano notes gently cascade, a mesmerizing string arrangement beckons the audience to embark on a melancholic dance through a snowy forest—a waltz with nature itself. This evocative musical journey is more than just a composition; it's an enchanting escape into the heart of a peaceful winter sanctuary."

Written, performed and produced by Valeska Rautenberg
Mixed by Thomas Lemmer
Mastered by Ramin Tehrani

#pianoday2024 #pianoday

A winter's Song

Buy/Support

Valeska and the River - A Winter's Song

Le réveil - Fly Me To The Moon OST

My solo arrangement of the classic hymn "Near the Cross"

Near The Cross

Sunrise (Piano Day 2016)

My conbribution to Piano Day 2019. A track from my latest album "River Tales" which has been released in November 2018 by col legno.

Martin Ptak-Rivertales Fin Files 2305 16Bit

Panta Rhei #pianoday 2019

The co-existence of jazz and electric sound! 
The latest album from one-man project Electric Planet Five! 
As seen from the cover, the piano is at the forefront of this album and the album exudes a different, acoustic atmosphere from E.P.5's previous work. 
The piano, contrabass and electronic sound are exquisitely mixed to create a beautiful piece of music. 
An unforgettable and addictive melody combined with the restrained electronic sound promises to stir your emotions. 

E.P.5's music perfectly infiltrates space and scenery. 
This album evokes a peaceful beach at dawn or the illusion of being immersed in a beautiful nature somewhere. 
'This one song is enough' describes the highly praised track 'After Winter'. 
As the title suggests, it portrays a more mature sound after winter has passed.
credits
All Music BY Electric Planet Five

https://youtu.be/ocpPqsv9hfk
epfive5@gmail.com
Instagram@epfive5

Electric Planet Five - After Winter  #pianoday 2020

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 by Shirley Ly | Violin and Piano Duet

Constantly wandering, never settling, finding self-happiness.

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

© SHIRLEY LY

Vagabond's Tale by Shirley Ly | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

Through a Glass Darkly: A Prelude

NEW ALBUM, 9 LIVES - CATS CLASSICAL MUSIC IS OUT NOW!

Instagram: @shirleylymusic

Shirley Ly is a self-taught British female contemporary classical music composer from Greenwich in London, United Kingdom, with Chinese and Vietnamese heritage. She has composed over 40 pieces for solo piano / violin / cello, duets, trios, quartets and quintets. She has produced 4 albums: 9 Lives (2023), Paradise (2023), Blossom (2021), and Impetus (2018) and released multiple singles i.e. Emerald (2023), and London Strive (2023). 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 and halls, and will be performing in many more venues going forward in London and abroad. Shirley plays the piano in all of her pieces.
​
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) 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. 
 
9 Lives (2023) is inspired by the beauty, charm and mysteriousness of cats. She lives in London with her five cats, and gain a lot of inspiration from them. This album aims to raise money for animal charities in areas which need support the most.

She is currently 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

Amsterdam by Shirley Ly | Solo Piano

Shirley Ly | Classical Music Composer and Pianist

Recent comments

Davide Zappettini

Related tracks