Fernando Sor (1778-1839) was one of the most prolific composers for and promoters of the guitar as a concert instrument. He paved the way for other artists who helped to bring about the immense popularity and respect that the instrument enjoys today.
Sor was a performer of the highest caliber and technical ability who concertized in his native Spain as well as throughout Europe. It is said that everywhere he went the guitar's popularity spread like wildfire.
Sor is best know for his guitar compositions but he also wrote for opera, orchestra, string quartet, voice, ballet, and piano. This recording includes some of the better-known guitar pieces as well as 12 recent transcriptions by Byron Fogo of Sor's piano "salon pieces" intended for smaller, intimate settings.
North Carolina Film Composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Doug Kaufman has returned with The Valley Below, an album that unfolds in pure magical melancholia. It's delicate piano and guitar compositions, lavishly textured by gorgeous string arrangements and haunting airy synths, spawn wistful and hope-filled melodies that soar and subside in cinematic grandeur.
"The Valley Below" echoes the same masterful strokes as Kaufman's 2014 release "Fear And Curiosity" with its expansive ambient electronica laid out like a sumptuous blanket but it's the addition of guitar to the forefront and improved songwriting that makes this a far more compelling listen. The creative process explains Kaufman was completely different.
"Whereas "Fear And Curiosity" was for me a musical representation of processing some psychological questions of our motivations, and hope and tragedy, "The Valley Below" was more of a purely musical exploration; following the emotional trajectory of each sound as I tried some different directions. "Memorial" was recorded on an old upright piano, but then I experimented with a lot of sampled percussion and synth patches. The second track, "To Face the Unknown", was an attempt at more of a pure guitar-driven post-rock sound. Later in the album, I incorporated some string arrangements from a group in Saint Petersburg I worked with, as well as some more purely ambient concepts. So kind of working backwards - starting with musical concepts and seeing where that led as opposed to starting with a concept and writing for it".
The Valley Below is an intimate listen with a nostalgic desire, each piece touching an emotional nerve and resulting in a stirring score yearning for a film, with tracks like "Memorial", "Eyes Aglow", "Cerro Torre" and "Through Black" striking deeply and deserving to be graced with the larger than life treatment of the silver screen.
Description:
acoustic and electronic rock guitar music with a contemplative character
Circular (2016) showcases a passion for both the acoustic and electric guitar. The album is a contemplative work that invites the listener to embrace the moods and emotions of the changing moments of life. Andy brings forth a unique and immediately identifiable artistic style through the seamless blend of genres including instrumental guitar, folk rock, and electronica. This is the artist's third album but the first that has been largely distributed.
Jeff in the future : Season 1 Episode 3
The Department of Experimental Justice
Jeff has been arrested for hacking into and disabling his Social Responsibility implants. Having his case referred to the newly commissioned Department of Experimental Justice he is convicted and sentenced to 6 months in 20th century England with relationship issues, trouble with the police and a drink problem.
The Players:
Leo Baroni - guitar
Mike Deakin - piano and guitar
Valerie Gardens - drums and percussions
Barry Jones - bass, piano, vocals and guitar
Robin Hill - voice
Glyn Williams - piano
The Department of Experimental Justice combines jazzy and experimental sounds with a narrative. So get ready for a unique listening experience and marvel at the creative juices that flowed abundantly during the creation of this album!
Description:
deeply relaxing, inspirational electronica in the style of Stiller or Enigma
"Decade" is the essential of the last 10 years of Danyel's work as a music composer. The year 2007 marked the start of a new episode in his life and in many ways a new beginning: he had some things to learn, to discover, and to recapitulate his past, present and future.
Every song on this album tells a story from Danyel's journey. His music is as much about his feelings and thoughts, as it is about the relationships between his family, friends and himself. And while some people describe it as relaxing and emotional, others feel that listening to the songs helps them reflect on their life. It is in fact Danyel's mission to instill good vibes with his music and to have a healing effect on people!
Danyel composed the music for this album in the classic way, with physical electronic but also virtual software instruments. He used several hardware synthesizers such as the Yamaha CS-80. Other sounds were produced by software instruments like Kontakt or Omnisphere. That's the way how Danyel creates his music: he perceives making music with these modern tools like exploring new worlds; they give him the power to create a real listenable dream.
To quote Danyel: "I hope hat you will like my sound, and perhaps it will take you on a personal adventure trip with your own inner universe. :-)
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This album is dedicated to my family & friends and all the people loving Chillout and Electronic music. A very special thanks goes to Mathias Willvonseder (Copenhagen) for his long term friendship and usage of his outstanding studio capabilities for a few songs. I also have to thank Bernd Scholl (Moonbooter) from Mellowjet Records for his excellent Audio Mastering of this album."
Domenico Cimarosa (1749-1801) was an Italian composer who wrote more than eighty operas during his lifetime, as well as numerous instrumental works, both secular and religious in nature. In his time Cimarosa was both celebrated and handsomely rewarded for his works. When he replaced Salieri as kapellmeister at the court of Leopold II, for instance, the Emperor bestowed on him today's equivalent of $450,000.
It was shortly thereafter that Cimarosa completed his most famous work, Il matrimonio segreto, a comic opera full of invention and wit. The performance in Vienna greatly pleased the Emperor after which he provided supper for the entire cast and asked them to perform the opera again that same evening. Leopold II also gave the composer what would now be about $75,000.
The transcriptions for guitar on this recording are from his 88 one-movement sonatas for keyboard.
