Coups de cœur francophones 3

Good Classical I Found 9

Sur un texte de Michel Benoit
musique, arrangement, instrumentation ,interprétation et enregistrement  par Alban Jacques Bouquette au Studio d'Azy

A Decize,    
Y’a des filles qui sourient,    
Quand on chante des chansons,     
Et les toits des maisons
Qui jouent d’l’accordéon,           
A Decize,

 Sur L’Aron,     
C’est la fête aux copains    
La guinguette est ouverte          
Et au son des flons flons
Les pêcheurs font la quête             
Aux Poissons,

Y’a tes yeux,  
Qui me disent je t’aime        
Et ne me quittent pas,            
Mais Decize c’est une ile,
Qu’on franchit pas à pas,        
Par les ponts,
 
Y’a La Loire,    
Qui s’écoule lentement        
Au rythme des chansons,     
Sous les yeux des amants
Qui se fiche des saisons,        
A Decize
 
Y’a le canal,          
Quand l’printemps refleurit             
Les écluses s’envolent,          
Pour Avril ou Fleury
En une farandole             
Sous les halles,
 
Au rocher,      
Y’a Saint-Just            
Qui nous parle,   
Et qui nous tend les bras
Qui nous montre Paris,     
Et nous dit ça ira       
ça Ira ,
 
C’est l’été,    
Sur un air de Monnot,            
Genevoix fait des claquettes,          
Et au fil de l’eau     
L’piano joue à tue-tête        
Au café  
  
Y’a tes yeux,       
Qui me disent vient voir,           
La Loire est un miroir,           
Qui nous parle le soir
Et nous conte son histoire,          
A Decize,
la la la …
Y’a des jours,        
Venus de St Leger,           
De Champvert ou d’Verneuil,         
On vient pour partager
Le bonheur sur le seuil            
De Decize.
Y’a tes yeux,       
Qui me disent vient voir,           
La Loire est un miroir,           
Qui nous parle le soir
Et nous conte son histoire,          
A Decize,

Y’a La Loire,     
Qui s’écoule lentement        
Au rythme des chansons,     
Sous les yeux des amants,
Qui se fiche des saisons,                             
A Decize

A Decize

A subtle, almost organic pulse rises within a textured and enveloping soundscape. Blending silky piano layers with delicately scattered sonic details, this track feels like an introspective drift — intimate, slow-burning, and contemplative. There's no urgency, no clear destination — only a carefully guided immersion where every frequency breathes. A meditative, cinematic piece designed for deep listening and sonic escape.

Under the waves

The phrase Thy kingdom come is part of the Lord’s Prayer, a prayer that Jesus taught His disciples (and all future servants of His kingdom) as a pattern for prayer.In Luke 11:1, the disciples observed Jesus praying and wished to learn from Him how to pray. They recognized that Jesus’ day-to-day actions flowed from His intimate prayer life with God, and they wanted their lives to reflect the same. So Jesus taught them this model prayer: “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. And do not bring us into temptation” (Luke 11:2–4, CSB).A fuller version of the Lord’s Prayer features in Matthew 6:9–15 as part of Jesus’ extensive teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. In both passages, Jesus includes the statement Thy kingdom come.

Let Thy Kingdom Come

Obsidian Reflections for Small Orchestra - Marco Polo Orchestra (Live World Premiere)

Tout m'est merveille - Remix

Daydream V2 (version soundtrack )

World Premiered by Katherine Cheng	(violin) and Jeongmin Oak (piano) Kilbourn	Hall,	Eastman	School of Music Rochester,	NY | 
Friday, November	22,	2024

Program Notes:

“Tea with Debussy & Pärt in Casablanca” is a musical dream born from a vacation in Havana, Cuba. This piece imagines an encounter with the esteemed composers Arvo Pärt and Claude Debussy in the vibrant city of Casablanca, over Moroccan tea. It is not an imitation of their styles but rather a heartfelt conversation between us, infused with elements of both composers’ musical languages. Originally commissioned by Vincent Delorme for viola and piano, the piece was premiered in Montreal. The clarinet version, performed by double Grammy-nominated clarinetist Tasha Warren and pianist Yun Hao, premiered at the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY, in June 2024. Katherine Cheng, inspired by both the clarinet version and her experience performing in the sextet premiere of the first movement of my Suite “Moroccan Dances,” felt a strong connection to my compositional style. Her expressive playing and nuanced interpretation are well-suited to the music’s blend of minimalist and impressionistic elements. Katherine’s excitement about this collaboration led to the creation of this violin and piano version, marking the beginning of our artistic partnership. The piece begins with minimalist touches, a nod to Pärt’s recent works, where the piano introduces serene arpeggios that intertwine with expressive violin melodies. As the music progresses, it incorporates Debussy’s harmonic richness, weaving a tapestry of sound that captures the essence of typical Moroccan conversations—dynamic, lively, and filled with unexpected turns.

Tea with Debussy and Pärt in Casablanca for Violin and Piano - World Premiere

A reflective, mournful piece from Before I Forget by The Jeremias Langsämmer Ensemble, featuring lofi piano, cello, and subdued strings. This contemporary minimal classical track blends intimate piano melodies with gentle orchestral strings, perfect for focus, study, or contemplative listening. The restrained yet cinematic soundscape evokes quiet introspection while maintaining a modern, avant-garde sensibility.

For Fans Of:
Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, Balmorhea, A Winged Victory for the Sullen

The Jeremias Langsämmer Ensemble – What The World Can't See (I Don't Hide) | Lofi Piano & Strings

Wound Up/Unwind - Unwind for String Quartet and Hand Pan
Written: 2025
Total Duration: 10'
for string quartet and percussion (cajón with pedal and handpan—D Kurd 10: D) A, B-flat, C, D, E, F, G, A, C )
Commissioned by FAB5 quintet with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
World Premiere: FAB5, Mostly Modern Festival | The Netherlands, Oostkerk, Middelburg, Middelburg, Zeeland, The Netherlands, May 2, 2025
US Premiere: Mostly Modern Festival. FAB5, Mostly Modern Festival, Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 18, 2026
Publisher: Bill Holab Music
For More Information: https://robertpaterson.com/wound-up-unwind
VIdeo: https://youtu.be/RPyXPYx-nuo


PROGRAM NOTE
For many years, my wife Victoria and her FAB5 quintet (string quartet and percussion), have entertained thousands of people at numerous performance spaces and travel hubs in New York City, including Moynihan Train Hall, Oculus World Trade Center, Javits Center, and Chelsea Market. Having seen many of their shows, especially those at travel hubs, there's a certain tension and release you experience watching people wait anxiously for their trains, and then the release they feel when they are finally on their way. I've had these experiences myself, so I wanted to create two pieces that emulate these feelings.

Wound Up/Unwind consists of two contrasting pieces for string quartet and percussion. The first, Wound Up, for string quartet and cajón, imitates the feeling of being worried, anxious, and frustrated, especially while waiting to board a train. The second, Unwind, for string quartet and handpan, is calm and soothing, perhaps emulating the satisfying feeling of relaxing in a quiet seat as the train leaves the station. Both pieces can be performed independently and in any order.

Wound Up/Unwind is written for and commissioned by the FAB5 quintet with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Unwind for String Quartet and Hand Pan

Wound Up/Unwind - Wound Up for String Quartet and Cajón
Written: 2025
Total Duration: 10'
for string quartet and percussion (cajón with pedal and handpan—D Kurd 10: D) A, B-flat, C, D, E, F, G, A, C )
Commissioned by FAB5 quintet with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
World Premiere: FAB5, Mostly Modern Festival | The Netherlands, Oostkerk, Middelburg, Middelburg, Zeeland, The Netherlands, May 2, 2025
US Premiere: Mostly Modern Festival. FAB5, Mostly Modern Festival, Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 18, 2026
Publisher: Bill Holab Music
For More Information: https://robertpaterson.com/wound-up-unwind
VIdeo: https://youtu.be/RPyXPYx-nuo


PROGRAM NOTE
For many years, my wife Victoria and her FAB5 quintet (string quartet and percussion), have entertained thousands of people at numerous performance spaces and travel hubs in New York City, including Moynihan Train Hall, Oculus World Trade Center, Javits Center, and Chelsea Market. Having seen many of their shows, especially those at travel hubs, there's a certain tension and release you experience watching people wait anxiously for their trains, and then the release they feel when they are finally on their way. I've had these experiences myself, so I wanted to create two pieces that emulate these feelings.

Wound Up/Unwind consists of two contrasting pieces for string quartet and percussion. The first, Wound Up, for string quartet and cajón, imitates the feeling of being worried, anxious, and frustrated, especially while waiting to board a train. The second, Unwind, for string quartet and handpan, is calm and soothing, perhaps emulating the satisfying feeling of relaxing in a quiet seat as the train leaves the station. Both pieces can be performed independently and in any order.

Wound Up/Unwind is written for and commissioned by the FAB5 quintet with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Wound Up for String Quartet and Cajón

Simon Alami is a Canadian composer with a passion for blending different musical styles and traditions. He draws inspiration from master composers. Simon's compositional style is characterized by a fusion of diverse elements and a willingness to experiment with new forms of expression. He currently lives in Montreal, Canada and is a proud member of the Canadian League of Composers (CLC), Canadian Music Center CMC and SOCAN.

Obsidian Reflections for Small Orchestra - Marco Polo Orchestra (Live World Premiere)

Simon Alami Composer