A piece I composed for string quintet and piano. Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.
This was inspired by the soundtrack of Inception by Hanz Zimmer. 
Thank you to all the WLU musicians who pulled this together in a matter of days!!

Piano- Yvonne Choi
Violin 1- Lauren Taylor
Violin 2- Jasmine Michel 
Viola- Emily Walker
Cello- Grayson Carter
Double Bass- Eric Beaune

There were a couple of mistakes but a solid performance!
If you can spare a few minutes, check out some of my other pieces, tell me what you think!

Cities In Motion

A simple piano solo that illustrates the story of someone very comfortable in their house who given their relaxed state does not wander outside the boundaries of their home. Getting up from his/her armchair to peer on the street below, one notices something interesting and peculiar, as if something had perked the once comfortable and timid imagination.

Upon opening the door a slight chill in the air pushes both physically and mentally ones self back into the comfort of there own home. As I sit there (I being he/she), I can't help but notice the adrenaline rushing through me, woken inside me the adventure deep down in the recesses of my being.

As I rush to the door, I pause for a slight moment, scared for what there is to come beyond the comfort of my home. As I open the door and start walking outside, I feel as if I am in the twilight zone; unfamiliar with the surroundings and feeling as if I should be scared, however, a more relieving feeling is bestowed upon me. 

As I creep further and further away from my safe haven, I can't help but feel panicked and scared. So I rush back to my stronghold and shut the door behind me. As I press myself up against the shut door, my heart is beating abnormal slow. Why? I do not know. But for some reason the urge to go out once more and walk further and faster grabs me and flings me out the door. Running, running, running, I hear my footsteps inside my head till...

It's dark. I wake up inside my home. Puzzled and confused, I try to piece together memories of what just happened... All of the sudden it hits me, like a freight train. There I was back again, running, running faster, running harder, in a different place, far away, from what? I do not know. 

It's dark. A light appears for a moment then fades into a place. Not a scary place but a place of comfort, like I've been there before. It's like it was all a dream, like it never happened, as if realism and idealism fused together.

But something is different. It's like coming back from an adventure and sitting down expecting your life and everything about your life to be the same, but it's not. Upon sitting down at my armchair I notice... something...  

Program notes by: William Nicolaou
Piano soloist: Yvonne Choi

Copyright © 2012. All rights Reserved.

No Stone Unturned

Bookmarks On The Wall

My Submission to The Bleeding Fingers Contest, I used percussion to give another rhythmic element and layering chords in the Choral line.

Enjoy!

Rise - Bleeding Fingers Contest - William Nicolaou 1

Duet for Bb Trumpet/Flugelhorn and Marimba 

Recitative And Allegro Mvt. I

Recitative And Allegro Mvt. II

The Battle of Cannae took place on August 2nd in 216BC in Cannae Italy.  

This battle was between the Carthaginian Republic under Hannibal and the Roman Republic under command of Consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Graius Terentius Varro.  

Hannibal led his troupes through the mountains traveling south towards Italy, they numbered 50,000 men, almost half Rome’s forces. Rome had a staggering 86,400 men and historically beating they opponents down by sheer numbers.   However, the Carthaginian army ended up defeating the Romans by way of tactical victory. Casualties numbered in 13,900 for the Carthaginians but that was minor compared to Rome whose forces got depleted by 53,500 to 75,000.  

 My piece tells the story of the traveling Carthaginian army, first depicted as gathering allies, weapons and cavalry. After the commotion the piece drops off in a calm yet anticipatory quiet section as Carthage marches slowly and carefully through the mountains towards Italy.  Rome, hearing about the Carthaginian advance, respond with the formation and march of their troops to meet the Carthaginian army. They meet on the battlefield at Cannae and as Hannibal predicted, the Romans begin there forward frontal assault trying to claim victory with overpowering numbers. However, Hannibal and his infantry slowly move backwards uncovering their cavalry which attack the Romans on their exposed flanks. Then more cavalry appear and circle the entire Roman army. This section is shown through the ‘Fight’ section at bar 114. Unable to create proper ranks, the Roman army, disorganized and disoriented, eventually fall. The piece ends with the Romans realizing they are surrounded as the main drum figure from the beginning of the piece gets reiterated. 

Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Performers:
-Clayton Peters
-Nathan Miller
-Devon Roulston
-Chris Hull

Battle Of Cannae

Ensemble: Flute, Bb bass clarinet, (1) Percussion, Piano, Violin, Cello

Program notes:

Saturn’s Astrological sign is composed of a cross and a crescent. The crescent represents Greek god Kronos from classical antiquity who is depicted by having a sickle, scythe or harpe. Kronos was also referred by the name Saturnius in the late roman antiquity, who was the god of generation, dissolution, plenty, wealth, agriculture, periodic renewal and liberation. The scythe known for its ability to harvest a large amount to wheat in a single stroke is also referred to as Kronos’ weapon of choice when disciplining his enemies.   

In Greek mythology, Mimas was slain during the war between the Titans and the Olympians. Varying accounts have Mimas slain by Hercules, by Ares, or by Zeus. According to legend, Mimas' serpent legs continued to hiss after his death, seeking vengeance on his killer. The island of Prochyte, which lies near Sicily, is said to rest on his body.   

The main theme of the piece is depicted by of the Moons heavily cratered surface. This is shown by the busy contrapuntal writing as well as heavy bass voices.  The main motif gets repeating many times and represents the continual hurling of space debris that creates more craters on its surface. The main Crater called the Herschel Crater, which is one-third the diameter of Mimas, is the focal point of the moon.  

Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Cross Crescent - Movement IV - Mimas

A piece for Solo Bb Trumpet and Electronics

Using a mixture of Max 7 and Pro tools 11

Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.

Take A Walk

"Tremulous fear, alarm or agitation; perturbation."
"Trembling or quivering movement; tremor."

Chamber work for Messiaen quartet- recorded and performed by the contemporary music ensemble in Orford, Quebec under the direction of Véronique Lacroix.

Trepidation

Commissioned by: Bruce C. Grant
Poem and Text by: Bruce C. Grant

Simply put, the piece is a love song to his wife using the poem he wrote during their time in Seville, Spain. The form and vocal line of the piece lend closely to how Bruce's poem was structured. The form is ABA with a refrain between each section while the vocal line is mostly syllabic. The piece captures the Lieder or French Art Song style with refreshing modern sensibility. It also subtly referencing The Bells of Moscow by Sergei Rachmaninoff. 

In Bruce’s words:
“Something an English gentleman might put together on a grand tour of Europe during the 19th century.”

Seville (2016)

Owl’s whoo from pigeon’s breast
Disturb my Andul’s morning rest
Chickadees staccato replies
Flamenco dance across the skies
Yet something sweet beside me lies
Soft breath, soft skin, soft slumber sighs!

Sevilla’s church bells now joyous clang
And rang and rang and rang and rang
And so this day in March began.

Orange blossoms’ sweet perfume
Surrounds us at the height of noon
And Alc’zar’s garden with myrtle maze
Delight of sight midst languid days
Yet something bright besides me blaze
Clear eyes, clear mind, clear thoughtful gaze!
	
Sevilla’s church bells now raucous peal
We feel and feel and feel and feel
The tumbling sounds, warm day’s appeal 

As Luna’s head she does raise
In plaza guitar strings sing praise
From here Columbus westward sails 
For riches, fame and his’try tales
Yet this splendour woefully fails
Dear heart, dear soul, dear love prevails!

Sevilla’s church bells now call out
And shout and shout and shout and shout
Until sweet slumber seeks you out

Seville

Ethos – meaning the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations – is a piece that explores Greek music from the 3rd Millennium B.C.E. to the folk tunes and dances of the 16th century C.E. Ethos incorporates multiphonics, quarter tones, ancient tonal systems and folk scales to show the differences and similarities between ancient and folk styles. The piece also features the traditional Greek drum ‘Daouli’ and mimics ancient instruments with those in a traditional orchestra. As the piece develops, ancient musical fragments can be heard thought the orchestra, chiefly in string and woodwind passages. The violin, harp, flute and clarinet depict the kithara, lyre, floyera and aulos, respectively. The ever present increase in tempo drives both virtuosic and drone like characters to develop and transform.

Performed by the Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra

Ethos

I'm a composer from Markham/Unionville, Ontario, Canada. Based in Toronto. I hold an Masters degree in music composition from Western University and an undergraduate degree in Music Composition from Wilfrid Laurier University.

William Nicolaou

Popular tracks