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

Darker. side of the dancefloor
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Aurora

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

This piece is about freedom, a fundamental human right, and was inspired by my solo travels in Vietnam where I gained deeper insights into the brutality of the French occupation and the Vietnam War. I really admire the Vietnamese people's resilience, strength and unity. Vietnam has many lush, emerald forests filled with singing birds. The forests line many limestone mountains, on land and in the sea. 

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

© SHIRLEY LY

Emerald by Shirley Ly | Piano Quintet

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

Composer and Pianist: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Claudia Dehnke and Flora Yeung (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

Cats Lullaby by Shirley Ly | Piano Quintet

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: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Charlie Brookes and Susanna Griffin (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

Waltz of the Cats by Shirley Ly | Piano Quintet

J'adore mes chats, J'adore mes chats...

Composer: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Claudia Dehnke and Flora Yeung (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

J'adore Mes Chats by Shirley Ly | String Quartet

Cats' paws are empowered to not only run and jump, groom, communicate etc. but also to make tasty, tasty biscuits!

Composer: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Charlie Brookes and Susanna Griffin (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

Empowered Paws by Shirley Ly | String Quartet

The night has come. A clowder of fun, loving and mischievous cats have come out to play and cause more mischief!

Composer: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Charlie Brookes and Susanna Griffin (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

Out to Play by Shirley Ly | String Quartet

A model cat with the best behaviour gets the most treats!

Composer & Pianist: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Charlie Brookes and Susanna Griffin (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

Model Cat by Shirley Ly | Piano Quintet

Cats are famously curious due to their independent nature and their love for hunting. They tend to be solitary, and constantly pursues curiosity to help them find food, have fun and explore new territories.

Composer: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Claudia Dehnke and Flora Yeung (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

Pursuit of Curiosity by Shirley Ly | String Quartet

Pounce, one of Shirley's 5 cats, has been missing for over 6 months. Tale of a Loss Purr is a piece which conveys how much she misses him, her longing for him to return and the sweet memories shared together which will be remembered forever. Losing a pet cat, or any other pet animal, is incredibly painful. It is like losing a family member. Thoughts and prayers to all cats and animals who are suffering in the world.

Composer: Shirley Ly
String Quartet: Alerion Strings with Claudia Dehnke and Flora Yeung (Violinists), John Michael Hird (Violist) and Chris Terepin (Cellist)

© SHIRLEY LY

Tale of A Loss Purr by Shirley Ly | 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 by Shirley Ly | 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 by Shirley Ly | 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 by Shirley Ly | Violin and Piano 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 by Shirley Ly | 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 by Shirley Ly | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

'I will try to erase you from my memories
No more tears with your name on, I'll be set free
You can take your selfish, thoughtless ways
Forget these any day 
Your loss hey'

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

Erase from Memories by Shirley Ly | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

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.
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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

Erase from Memories by Shirley Ly | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

Shirley Ly | Classical Music Composer and Pianist

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