Distant Lands, Battles, Wars
In many ways amid the sadness and sorrow of Covid-19 pandemic, there is also much blessing. We have seen the best and worst in the human collective emerge. However, one of the most salient blessings of Covid-19 is the burst of creativity that has resulted from those in quarantine, those on the front-lines - any place or time where human ingenuity is called upon artistically, scientifically, or practically to raise the human spirit, to solve problems, or to provide positive escapism and inspiration to those in need.
Before the pandemic, I was always praying for more time - time to work and time to create. Well, my prayers were answered. Emotions and reactions to my surroundings usually served as the impetus and inspiration to write music. In January as Mother Nature began sending us warnings about the impending darkness, my response was to prepare for what would be battles for some and a war for all. From February to March I wrote battle music for the first time with an underlying tone of overcoming adversity coupled with the courage and confidence of a superhero. Take a moment to listen to Mongolian Empress Calls, Holy Land Wars, and Imperial Battle March and you will understand what I mean.
License now on Songtradr - http://bit.ly/ImperialBattleMarch-Songtradr
Sheet Music Outlets:
Parts and Score - https://bit.ly/ImperialBattleMarch-PartsandScore
Sheet Music Plus - https://bit.ly/ImperialBattleMarch-SheetMusicPlus
ScoreExchange - https://bit.ly/ImperialBattleMarch-ScoreExchange
Phoenix Rising
With battles and war, death is an inevitability. The pandemic biological war is no different. At the time of this writing, the death toll has far exceeded the death toll of our greatest wars. The pandemic has begun hitting close to home upon hearing of friends fighting to survive the illness and friends who have lost the battle to this insidious disease still shrouded in much mystery. We, who survive this pandemic, are growing and evolving with a newer sense of life, a new normal, and a respect for it. It is our rebirth. Those thoughts and emotions inspired me to write Phoenix Rising for the piano in early April. Phoenix Rising symbolizes the mystical phoenix who resurrects to a new life after dying a burning death to its ashes.
Parts and Score: https://bit.ly/PhoenixRising_PartsandScore
SheetMusicPlus: https://bit.ly/PhoenixRising_SheetMusicPlus
ScoreExchange: https://bit.ly/PhoenixRising_ScoreExchange
Hour of Death
In contrast to the celebration that accompanies rebirth from the song Phoenix Rising, there is the reality of death itself to consider. Death is inevitable. We are reminded of our mortality everyday now. Although death has become so pervasive and unrelenting due to this pandemic, it is an essential step in the circle of life. The pre-pandemic mindset could easily compartmentalize the concept of death, neatly tucking it away for a rainy day, whenever we were ready to cope with its certainty. However, our current reality calls upon us not to run away from death or to deny its role in life. To move forward with life and to cope with it, I found it necessary to embrace it, to acknowledge it, and to befriend it as a part of life. I gave birth to two pieces indicative of this belief and sentiment: 1) Dying Breath and 2) L’ heure de la Mort.
Dying Breath
This song, Dying Breath, is a tribute and pays homage to that special moment when a loved one passes onward to the hereafter. Although this song is sad, it is also contemplative, meditative, and intimately loving. To reflect this special moment, it begins Andante, then slows to Adagio, only to close even slower in Largo with a decrescendo to an ever so quiet pianissimo.
Parts and Score: https://bit.ly/DyingBreath_PartsScore
Sheet Music Plus - http://bit.ly/DyingBreath_SheetMusicPlus
ScoreExchange - http://bit.ly/DyingBreath_ScoreExchange
L’ heure de la Mort
L' heure de la Mort means the hour of death. L’ heure de la Mort allows one to reflect, to contemplate, to grieve, and to ponder one's existence. Musicians, young and seasoned, will find this piece easily accessible and enjoyable for learning and performing. Audiences will identify with the musical emotionality conveyed in this piece as it takes its listeners on a vivid passionate journey filled with much pathos. L’ heure de la Mort not only embraces death but also takes listeners on an epic journey infused with courage, nobility, respect, and courage to overcome our greatest challenges. The piece begins with a dark, foreboding, expressive cello solo motif symbolizing death’s existence. Then it takes an epic climactic build to convey life’s journey with a sense of overcoming adversity as one does throughout life. The strings and woodwinds herald a sweeping triumphant melody while the brass rise gloriously heralding the joys of life. However, the return to the opening theme in the closing represents death’s natural, respectful inescapability, concluding this life as a step to moving onward to the hereafter.
Parts and Score: https://bit.ly/HourofDeath_PartsScore
Sheet Music Plus: https://bit.ly/HourofDeath_SheetMusicPlus
Score Exchange: https://bit.ly/HourofDeath_ScoreExchange
Beautiful Memories
My most recent piece, Beautiful Memories, is a modern classical piano piece in tribute to our beautiful memories. I believe our memories are ours, and ours alone for us to remember whenever we desire. It reflects our individual life journeys and those with whom we have shared all or part of our life stories. Beautiful Memories, sings its haunting lullaby to cherish these memories - memories that have made each of us who we are today.
Parts and Score: https://bit.ly/BeautifulMemories_PartsScore
Sheet Music Plus: https://bit.ly/BeautifulMemories_SheetMusicPlus
"Score Exchange: https://bit.ly/BeautifulMemories_ScoreExchange
Covid-19 Creativity Challenge
We have yet to see the end of this pandemic. Emotions will ebb and flow like the ocean waves as they usually do but with more vehement power during these difficult times. For me, creativity comes in the arms of emotions. I hope to be a positive instrument of inspiration for others with my music - to process the emotions being felt, to bring cathartic closure where needed, to allow one to escape positively through dreams and creativity, and at the very least to bring a sense of relief and comfort that this too shall pass.