Collab w Sarasvat 
7 inch vinyls on Tis records

2021

Scheherazade

Eine Konzerteinführung

Mit drei romantischen Publikumslieblingen leitet die in Hongkong geborene Elim Chan das Konzerthausorchester Berlin: Hector Berlioz war Fan des exzentrischen Dichters Lord Byron und benannte wohl extra eine Ouvertüre zu Ehren von dessen Gedicht „Le Corsaire“ um. Für Robert Schumanns einziges Klavierkonzert nimmt der Schweizer Francesco Piemontesi am Flügel Platz. Manche Kollegen, etwa Franz Liszt, mochten es gar nicht, doch das Publikum hat dieses erste bedeutende romantische Klavierkonzert von Anfang an geliebt – daran hat sich nichts geändert.

Zum Schluss erklingt die berühmte „Scheherazade-Suite“ des Russen Nikolai Rimski-Korsakow. Deren farbige Instrumentierung sorgt dafür, dass alle Musiker*innen mit wunderbaren Stellen hervortreten können – von den filigranen Tongirlanden der Geschichten spinnenden Prinzessin in der Solo-Violine über Cello-Kantilenen und ein melancholisch singendes Solo-Fagott bis zu mächtigen Blecheinwürfen. Abgesehen von den Satzbezeichnungen, durch die Sindbad, Prinz Kalender, ein Liebespaar, ein Fest und ein Schiffsuntergang geistern, wollte Rimski-Korsakow aber einfach „die Fantasie des Hörers in die Richtung zu lenken, die meine eigene Fantasie beim Komponieren gegangen war. Die Ausmalung der Details sollte dem Vorstellungsvermögen und der Stimmung jedes einzelnen Hörers überlassen bleiben.“

09. - 11.0.23 Konzerthausorchester Berlin spielt Berlioz, Schumann und Rimski-Korsakow

Im schäbigen Hotel Palace besucht ein zwielichtiger Geschäftsmann Nacht für Nacht eine alternde Prostituierte und lässt sich von ihr Geschichten erzählen – denn sie hat ein Flair für das Abgründige, nicht nur im Leben, sondern auch in der Erfindung. Elf Nächte lang ersinnt diese moderne Scheherazade die wildesten Märchen und Parabeln – um ihren letzten Kunden, der sich gern König nennen lässt, zufriedenzustellen.

Zehnundeine Nacht

Charles Lewinsky, Zehnundeine Nacht. Diogenes Hörbuch 978-3-257-69477-2

"I think there is that exotic quality, and sort of the Arabian Nights element to Scheherazade that lends itself to the propulsion and the drive of these two Latin influenced pieces," says Marin Alsop, referencing the three pieces she'll be conducting with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra February 23-25, 2023. Along with Rimsky-Korsakov's sultry musical retelling of Middle Eastern folk tales with Scheherazade, the program also includes two contemporary works: Gabriela Ortiz' Antropolis and Gabriela Montero's Piano Concerto No. 1, (Latin) with Montero as soloist. WRR 101's Kurt Rongey and Amy Bishop caught up with Marin to chat about the program prior to the concerts.

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: What's on Marin Alsop's program with the DSO?

Scheherazade - Rimsky-Korsakov

Andante Cantabile - Tchaikovsky

Russian Easter Overture - Rimksy-Korsakov

All tracks composed on Logic Pro Xc

Sketch 1 – Scheherazade – Rimsky Korsakov 

Classical – Melodic Electronic   

An 1888 classical masterpiece is a challenging task to give myself. However, I am proud of my melodic electronic approach and twist on the original. I use Logic Pro X for my sketch and learned the song using YouTube.

The introduction begins with a delayed harp giving a lingering effect that suits the melody. I used automation on the piano and harp which adds depth and subtle progression to the sound I was hoping to achieve.
By bar 11 chords are added using the same 3 instruments, harp, piano, and a delayed synth. The finale ends with a single high pitched decaying chime. 


Sketch 2 – Purple Rain – Prince 

Pop - Orchestral

For my second sketch I chose to remix a pop song into an orchestral version. I learned the basic chord progression and re arranged parts. I chose violins, cello, viola, session, and studio strings to achieve the desired full sound. 
I chose staccato and arpeggiators on the violins to add a true classical interpretation and keep the rhythm going.

Sketch 3 – Clare De Lune – Debussy  

Classic – Melodic Alternative Electronic 

For Clare De Lune I wanted to recreate the beginning chord progression which is emotionally expressed rather than keep in time to capture the sad longing essence.  I repeated that motif and created a new melody and repetitive rhythm which is a common feature in melodic electronic music. Using synthesizers with arpeggiators also produces a unique sound but still displaying attributes to the original.

Layering pads and using airy gentle sounds also keeps the characteristics of the original in mind. I created a softness to the introduction and used dreamy synth pads to achieve this. I kept the tempo slow and manipulated the chords to adapt the original and layered the synth sounds to add texture and complexity. 

Sketch 4 – The Phantom of the Opera – Andrew Llyod Webber 

Musical Theatre – Tech House 

Using call and response and a delayed piano with a xylophone for the initial melody sets this tech house track off. 
Using a repeated, stepped falling effect gives a feeling of intrigue and mystery to the remix. Keeping a progressive fast tempo and fat bass line compliments the melody and is a key feature in tech house. 

Layering the intro melody and introducing the same notation just up and down an octave adds depth and a darkness to the song which is crucial for one to hear the original traits. 

When the chorus is introduced, there is a feeling of tension and release. I captured this by removing the end notes from the melody. I also used tape delay to add tension in the diminuendo just before the chorus begins. 

Towards the end I introduce half time percussion to add drama and mystery. Removing the high piano riffs also adds low ghostly frequencies which assist with the overall clarity and vision of the piece.

4 Minute Sketch - Creative Arranging

Arabian Nights

"Arabian Nights" is a composition inspired by the magic and mystery of "One Thousand and One Nights". This piece transports you to a world of oriental tales, with majestic palaces, exotic bazaars, and endless deserts. Hypnotic melodies and enveloping rhythms immerse you in an atmosphere full of charm and adventure, evoking the stories of Scheherazade and her captivating narrations. Let "Arabian Nights" take you on a musical journey where the extraordinary and the magical meet in every note.

Arabian Nights

Please visit www.themusicofalexthode.com for more information.

Repertoire:
"Belkis, Queen of Sheba" — Ottorino Respighi
"We Will Rock You" — Queen
"Scheherazade" — Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
"Bohemian Rhapsody" — Queen
"Danse Bacchanale" — Camille Saint-Saëns
"We Are the Champions" — Queen

Commissioned by the La Joya High School Marching Band (La Joya, TX)

Bow to Your Queen

"A Song of Scheherazade"
Valhjim

In the Sultan’s Garden, Scheherazade walks by
Looking at the flowers and the deep blue skies

She tells the Sultan stories in the starry night
She casts a magic spell with moonglow in her eyes

Each tale a silver thread that fills the dark with light
With wondrous words that weave a dream that never dies


Your eyes, my lady fair, they sparkle with delight,
Each tale, each new adventure, they fill me with surprise

Your songs live in my heart with words that make me wise.
With every word you say, I feel my soul take flight.

And so, my lady fair, I need you in my life,
My love belongs to you, would you be my wife?

--Jim Valero 2024.
--------------------
Hope you find this to your liking, my friends.

Thanks for listening
and for your kind and constant support.

Valhjim 
-----------------
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© 2024 Valhjim. All rights reserved. Original music by Valhjim.

A Song of Scheherazade

Written & composed by Lukas Zangerle

This techno track by Lukas Zangerle is inspired by Arabic rhythms and evokes the magic and mystery of the famous book One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of stories that originated in Persian and Arabic tradition, passed down through centuries of oral and written storytelling.

At the heart of the story is Scheherazade, the legendary storyteller who, night after night, tells tales to King Shahryar to escape her fate and, ultimately, win his heart. The track captures this atmosphere with a combination of dynamic percussion, hypnotic melodies, and a whispering voice that echoes through the desert wind.

The vocal phrases evoke the bond between Scheherazade and Shahryar: a spell woven through words, a tale unfolding beneath a starry sky, transforming the track’s energetic, pulsating rhythm into a true declaration of love. The contrast between the driving beat and the softness of the vocals creates a captivating tension, just like the story of One Thousand and One Nights: mystery, seduction, and passion intertwine in an endless dance.

Listening to this track brings to life the essence of Arabic rhythms, merging with the serenity of the night desert, where clear nights reveal vast, star-filled skies. It’s more than just a musical journey—it’s an invitation to lose yourself in an ancient love story, carried by the whispers of the wind.

"Desert Whispers" - Lukas Zangerle

Shahryar,
listen to my voice,

I will tell you a thousand stories,
Night after night... until dawn,

The stars dance over the desert,
The wind whispers my name,

Scheherazade,
One more tale,
to make you fall in love.



Desert Whispers

Michael was a multi-instrumentalist musician who graduated from Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 1981. He studied numerous genres of music ranging from Bebop to Classical, Rock & Jazz. Michael’s wife Zahra was an Egyptian dancer who influenced him to dive deeper into Middle Eastern music.

In the early 2000’s, he started his own label Down Dog Records and produced under the handle of Cairo Trip Hop Underground & Petrol Bomb Samosa. He put out a full CD album called Raks Zahra (Zahra’s Dance), which was dedicated to his wife who also appeared on the artwork of the album. Michael began to dive more into electronic music and was also inspired by classical composer Rimsky-Korsakov, which eventually led him to remix Rimsky's beautiful classical piece Scheherazade. In 2004, Michael put out his first & only vinyl release on his label. It had a short run but it was well received by the community. The vinyl featured his remix of Scheherazade, an ambient version of it and a track called Dimension X. Michael continued in music and events over the years in both electronic and Middle Eastern music.

Before moving out of their L.A. home, Michael & Zahra’s home was broken into and their laptops were stolen with Michael’s music. Luckily some hard drives were spared so some of Michael’s music production & unreleased material remained. Unfortunately Michael passed away in 2022 but he still had so much music in his head he wanted to share. Zahra is working on fulfilling his dream of finding more of his unreleased music and sharing it on her channel.

~ In Memory of Michael Cox 1957 - 2022 ~

Cairo Trip Hop Underground - Scheherazade [Down Dog Records]

I am Lukas Zangerle, an archaeologist, teacher, and generative music composer. My music arises from emotions, memories, and spontaneous thoughts that emerge from my imagination and daily experiences. For me, creating generative music is like writing a diary, transforming these feelings into sounds where rhythm sincerely expresses my state of mind.

Hi! I'm David De Quinto, a passionate and multifaceted composer. My main motivation for creating music is to express my moods. Throughout my career, I have learned and composed classical and tonal music, and gradually, I have been experimenting with other compositional forms such as modes, exotic scales, pitch class set, Bartók's axes, cardinal points, and atonalism.

I had the privilege of learning harmony and tonal composition, as well as jazz, from the great composer, bassist, choir and orchestra director, and excellent teacher Julio Blasco, to whom I am deeply grateful for his teachings. Additionally, I explored new sonorities and discovered the works of Bartók, Philip Glass, among many others, atonal music, and musique concrète through my instrumental training and music didactics professor, Nieves Hernández, whose guidance has been invaluable.

I love composing ethereal and ambient music, though I often return to my classical roots with its characteristic instrumentation. Synthesizers are essential in my compositions as they allow me to explore unique textures and atmospheres.

At 51 years old, life has greatly influenced my musical career, providing me with a variety of both good and bad experiences. My musical influences include artists like Brian Eno, John Carpenter, Paul McCartney, Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Aphex Twin, Nacho Goberna, Mike Oldfield, Erik Satie, Kebu, and Arvo Pärt.

The genres I enjoy composing the most vary depending on my mood, but I often lean towards creating sad and melancholic pieces. I enjoy composing and listening to lofi, ambient, dark ambient, ambient black metal, minimalist music, psybient, illbient, and dark wave. I am particularly proud of "Veil of Mist" and "Arabian Nights" because they explore atmospheres that are different from what I usually compose, and I believe they turned out quite well.

Currently, I have several projects in mind, including creating a series of symphonic poems for 4 or 5 synthesizers and for flute, violin, viola, cello, and piano. I am also exploring synthwave composition and have several pending collaborations that I am excited about.

At this stage of my life, my biggest dream is to compose music that expresses my feelings, and it brings me joy when listeners can decipher the emotions I try to convey with my compositions. Besides music, I enjoy writing short stories, especially horror, and listening to a lot of music, as music is life for me.

I began in music as a form of personal expression, finding it easier to compose a piece to explain how I feel than to say it in words, as I am a person of few words. I invite you to immerse yourself in my musical world and join me on this sonic journey. I hope you enjoy my compositions as much as I enjoy creating them. Thank you for listening!

Started as a YouTube channel which then turned into a full blown addiction.

https://linktr.ee/theproudmistress

contact: theproudmistress@gmail.com

Alex Thode (he/him/they) would first and foremost like you to know that not only is the “e” at the end of his last name not silent, but that he is also a composer and arranger most known for his work in the pageantry arts. He resides in Waukesha, Wisconsin with his cat, Buzz. An alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alex composes and arranges for marching bands across the continental United States. Always aiming to infuse contemporary music with the classics and the mainstream with the obscure, his marching band arrangements are known to stand out for their eclectic musical diversity and creative sonic environments.

Alex's clientele have been Bands of America (BOA) Regional Finalists and Class Champions, BOA Super Regional Class Champions, UIL Area Champions and State Finalists, WGI Winds Class Champions, and also make regular appearances at BOA Grand Nationals. He has also had the privilege of having his arrangements performed in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 2020 Tournament of Roses Bandfest.

Along with his compositions and arrangements for the pageantry arts, Alex also has been commissioned to write middle school and high school concert band works, and enjoys composing chamber percussion music. Alex recently completed his new piece for 8-piece percussion ensemble, “the carving of canyons,” which premiered in January 2022.

In his free time, Alex enjoys watching movies and believing he’s a professional film critic, hiking and pretending that he’s athletic, traveling and acting like he’s Marco Polo, playing piano, guitar and a variety of kalimbas, and being with good company.

Ayesha Innes. Producer/Artist from Edinburgh Scotland
All sets recorded live

Valhjim is a music composer with an eclectic approach to different genres: rock, pop, folk, New Age, and experimental electronic music. Greatly driven by imagination and poetic imagery, he combines multiple instrumental textures to fire the imagination of his listeners. 

His more experimental ambience and electronic music is built with layers of suggestive sound textures, rhythms, and melodic lines that stir the imagination into suggestive imagery and worlds unseen, true architectures of sound that open up limitless spaces to explore. Often Valhjim's melodies sail through genre thresholds, crossing over from one genre to another, from neo classcal to electronic, or from jazz to rock or new age.

New tracks tagged #Scheherazade