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

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 by Shirley Ly | Solo Piano

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 by Shirley Ly | Violin, Cello and Piano Trio

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

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 by Shirley Ly | 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 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

The deep sense of longing for loved ones at home expressed through a letter. Part 2 continued.

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

© SHIRLEY LY

Love Letter - Part 2 by Shirley Ly | Violin and Cello Duet

'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

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

London Strive by Shirley Ly | 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 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

Impetus | Contemporary Classical Music Album by Shirley Ly

Shirley Ly | Classical Music Composer and Pianist