Neoclassical Suite is a column that will present 7 recent, distinctive tracks of the neoclassical-modern classical-contemporary -and beyond!- music field.
Note: All Bio/about sections provided/written by the artists.
The Players
Star Age
(neoclassical, new age, solo piano)
The debut single by New York based artist Star Age is an alluring, new age/neoclassical experience, ideal for peaceful evenings…
“New York based artist who has played on Broadway, in five-star hotels, recorded for artists and created award-winning music as a composer.” (Star Age)
Tom Rogerson
(neoclassical, contemporary music)
A breath-taking contemporary music composition with an exceptional, virtuosic piano performance, which is the center-piece of Tom Rogerson’s upcoming album, out on March 25th, via Western Vinyl…
“Tom Rogerson is a pianist, keyboardist and composer based in Suffolk.
He releases his debut solo album Retreat To Bliss in March 2022 on Western Vinyl records.
Tom studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music before moving to New York City. He recorded his first album with Reid Anderson (Bad Plus) and Mike Lewis (Happy Apple, Bon Iver), which was entirely improvised.
On returning to London, he set up an improvisation group that became the basis for the Three Trapped Tigers electronic-rock group. TTT released several highly acclaimed albums between 2008 and 2016 and toured the world with Deftones, Dillinger Escape Plan, and 65 Days of Static. They also collaborated with Brian Eno, Karl Hyde (Underworld) and Stale Storlokken (Supersilent), gaining a reputation for their intense live performances.
In 2017, Tom released a collaboration with Brian Eno Finding Shore on Dead Oceans.
Since 2013, he has performed at and curated his night called Proof Positive in East London, where performers have included Talvin Singh, Sam Amidon, Matthew Bourne, Leo Abrahams, Pete Wareham, Ruth Goller and Liam Byrne.“ (Tom Rogerson)
arnot
(crossover classical, solo piano)
An out-of-the-box solo piano, classical composition, with an intense, baroque vibe, that will fully reward the patient ones with its epic melody unleashing some vital, addictive drama, after 2.30 mark…. Eternal!
“I am searching for my home, a comfy place where one can sit and mourn. Where the spirit would be free, where you can lay legs carelessly on the table. I am searching for hallways carved in a crystal, where you can see yourself in a crystal mirror and mutter to yourself contently, that you are special, that you are an original jewel. But it is of course just an illusion. No mirror can actually change wickedness, that comes from within..” (arnot)
Juliano
(neoclassical, solo piano)
An intimate solo piano piece by German composer Juliano, whose aim was to capture/unleash the concept of eternity… And he did with this splendid work of art!
“Hi, I’m Juliano a German born composer who loves to write music. During my lifetime I worked with different bands and orchestras and had a lot of fun arranging new songs for them. But again and again I was drawn back to the piano to create my own new melodies and carry them into the world. My music is inspired by different moods, the nature and also influenced by different genres lile Neo Classical music or cinematic music.” (Juliano)
Felix Rösch
(Feat. Mondëna Quartet)
(neoclassical, cinematic)
Felix Rösch’s ‘Berceuse’ rework with Mondëna Quartet is a blissful composition with seductive strings and electronics, that will comfort you with its exceptionally rich sound….
“Berlin-based composer Felix Rösch blends his years of experience as a classical composer and his passion for experimental electronic music into colorful, carefully constructed arrangements and contemplative ambiences.
His music is inspired by contemporary classical composers like John Adams, Henryk Górecki, and Anders Hillborg as well as artists like Rival Consoles, Max Richter and Ben Frost.
His latest EP ‘Piano’ — out May 28 — meshes fluid piano improvisations with carefully constructed layers of analog synthesizers and delicate string arrangements. The EP was entirely produced live on YouTube. On Feb 3 the second single ‘Interlude II’ from ‘Piano’ was released. “This track started as a piano improvisation, where I was fascinated by the idea of stoically repeating the most rudimentary two-note chord possible. That simplicity felt very liberating like I just hit the bottom of something I still can’t really describe. From there everything else fell into place pretty quickly. This is probably my favorite piece on this EP.” Felix says.
‘Piano’ follows 2020’s ‘MYA’ and ‘str:orchestra’, which were featured in Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Classical New Releases, and Not Quite Classical playlists, and were licensed to a global Burberry advertisement campaign.
Over the past ten years, his orchestral compositions have frequently been performed and recorded by world-renowned orchestras like the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg and the WDR Symphony Orchestra & Choir. He has won several awards and scholarships and his music can be heard in countless theater performances, audiobook soundtracks, and film scores.” (Felix Rösch)
Spencer Zahn
(neoclassical)
The first single from Spencer Zahn’s upcoming full-length out on May 13th via Cascine, is an alluring composition with immediate melody unleashing elegance & warmth!
“If you’re inclined to over-interpret such things, you might hear a profound message in the subtle grace of Pale Horizon. This is an album that flattens hierarchies, warps temporality, and privileges quiet grace over searing technique. These are qualities we need right now, as I write this at the tail end of a global pandemic. Though the sounds on this album reach toward timelessness, they are the products of the unavoidable reality check of 2020 and 2021. With the New York City music scene at a standstill, Zahn relocated to Kingston, NY, where he found the Old Dutch Church, “the cathedral of Kingston,” its organ and choir silenced by the pandemic, its pews empty. Zahn and Highmore recorded the first version of Pale Horizon there in December 2020, and two months later re-recorded the tracks with Phil Weinrobe at Figure 8 Studios in Brooklyn. Even on the final version, I can still hear the impact of that space, at that time. The two musicians seem to improvise with the echo, creating a meditation on solitude and stillness when a busy world suddenly stops. – Nate Sloan, writer and host ‘Switched on Pop’.” (Spencer Zahn)
Alessandro Ligi
(neoclassical)
Italian born pianist and composer Alessandro Ligi is genuinely accompanied by 2 violins, a viola and a violoncello for his latest single ‘Three Bridges’, which is among his most powerful in the recent years! Vital FFO of Max Richter & Luigi Einaudi…
“Alessandro Ligi is an Italian born pianist and composer residing in Rome. His compositions are inspired by the new classical style of Ludovico Einaudi, Philip Glass and Max Richter. His works have been featured on playlists such as New Classical, Soundtrack and Music for Concentration. His songs have over 1,2M streams on Spotify. Under contract to the music label Believe since 2021. Some of his tracks have been part of the documentary “Abbattiamoli” ‘s soundtrack edited by Massimo Giletti and aired on the 10th of June 2021 on the Italian channel LA 7.
www.alessandroligi.com .” (Alessandro Ligi)
The Music
Christos Doukakis