In memoriam, the bombing of Guernica, Spain, April 26, 1937. A lamentation in music.

And in 2024, for the injured, displaced, and departed around the world as invading forces of tyranny rain down death and destruction upon innocent people.

I literally cried as I updated my old composition about the bombing of Guernica. 

Originally composed in GarageBand, I finished the first version of this song on April 26, 2013, not consciously aware that the date was the anniversary of the atrocity committed by fascists against civilians during the Spanish Civil War. I had had ambitions to create an animated short about its history and Picasso’s famous painting when I could afford the technology. So my first step was to use available resources and create the music, which I did 11 years ago. I have yet to produce the animation. Maybe someday. The cover art gives you an idea as to how I envisioned the graphics for the animated short.

This Guernica composition is my first attempt at composing neoclassical music. As a girl I would sing and hum made-up symphonies as I conducted an imaginary orchestra. I’ve got hundreds of improvised concertos, sonatas, fugues, and arias deep in my memory banks that sometimes creep into my contemporaneous music.

This week, as the anniversary of Guernica approached, I imported my old music file into my current DAW and refreshed it, adding French horn, the first instrument I played as a young student. I also added audio of propeller planes recorded live in March and April 2024. And I pushed the previous violin and cello parts to the limit, so if you hear a screeching violin or a groaning cello, it’s intentional; war gives millions of reasons to scream and wail. The composition’s 8-chord structure is repeated as if to state the obvious — we, humans, have yet to contain our violence individually and collectively. We witness and experience the horror of mass murder and war around the globe. Every. Damn. Day.

I realize my song probably isn’t going to be a favorite for listeners, not my usual chill music. But I’m also a firm believer in the idea that sunlight is the best disinfectant. With this music about Guernica and the history of 1937, I am reminded how far we’ve come, and yet, how little we’ve changed. But change we must, and I believe humanity will change for the better. The question is when.

Guernica

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

Not stripped, but certainly not very well dressed, and with a few tweaks.

FOR YESTERDAY

Yesterday felt so easy
Yesterday felt so good
Yesterday felt so easy
Yesterday felt so good

Walked to the gate
Not a worry in the sky
Turned to my baby and I waved her goodbye
Saw her through the window
Sweet tear in her eye
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

I picked up the phone
Dialed a memorized number
Told her I love her didn’t talk about the weather
Sat at my desk
Wrote the first of many letters
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

It was so easy
It was so good

I went to the bar
Started talking to my neighbor
Nobody thought I was a sicko stranger
Didn’t think twice
I gave my name and number
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

It was so easy
It was so good
It was so easy
It was so good

For Yesterday Scantily Clad

grand nothings 1

THE TEMPEST

Orbs (2015) Anthology CD2 Track 03

Deep in the laboratory of sound again. Cooking up some tasty tones. Join me in exploring this track. Headphones please. 👾

2 HOUR CHALLENGE

Skies

Inertia

#RNDOriginal #rednemesisdog :- ‘Original’ musical evolutions and experiments using a Polyend Tracker and/or Polyend Mini. With samples from: #teenageengineering #polyend #ep1320 #polyendtracker #akaimpkmini #stylophone #hawaiiangosling #polyendmini The Lift Music Series are usually palindromic and can be played forwards or backwards – up or down.

Why Not

- Official digital release on 27/12/2017

https://torresp2b.wixsite.com/matziz-compositeur/m-z


you can support the project and pre-order it at this address:

https://matzizrecords.bandcamp.com/album/prisme
by clicking on "Pre-order now"


Thank you for your attention.

Prisme

Sweet Acid (Violet)

Interface

BJon

Hello, SoundCloud crew. I create all my music from the ground up. ZERO A.I. (Except for the tracks Jamaica and Castlevania versions, which, I altered the original notes from pre made template.)  I am an experimentalist with tones of synthwave and ambient thrown in to the mix. I hope you can enjoy some of my tracks.  

I use FL Studio most of the time.
GEAR BEHIND THE SOUNDS.
FL STUDIOS
FLKEY49
NOVATION LAUNCHPAD PRO
ROLAND RD-88
ALESIS V49
SCARLETT SOLO
GRETSCH ELECTROMATIC GIT.
FENDER MUSTANG III

2 HOUR CHALLENGE

CRANIUM-&-FEMURS