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

Jonathan Grow

(modern classical, cinematic)

American pianist and composer Jonathan Grow’s second single release from his new EP, is a romantic, modern classical composition of high cinematic value, ideally balancing melancholy with hope! 

“Jonathan Grow is an American pianist and composer. Composing primarily piano and orchestral composition for production libraries and solo projects, he also works in tv, advertising, and occasional film scoring. His passion is telling stories through the medium of music. ” (Jonathan Grow)

Raffael Seyfried

(neoclassical, ambient)

The 1st single of Raffael Seyfried’s next full length album ‘Lines Of Flight’ is a transcendent blend of ambient-electronic soundscapes with neoclassical beauty, full of glowing quality, leading to remarkable, anthemic crescendo!!

“Raffael Seyfried’s work takes place on the border between acoustic and electronic material. He explores the dynamic processes and characteristics that are present in both media. By subtly mixing these elements, he creates warm and unusual soundscapes, free from the constraints of a particular genre. His live performances focus on the interaction between piano and modular synthesizer, sounds that change and influence each other. The result of this multifaceted process is a multi-faceted sound world, sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneous and improvised. (Raffael Seyfried)

Arrowsmith

(neoclassical, contemporary music)

According to the artist ‘Soar’ “is the latest release in a series of pieces composed around the modern relationships beginning, middle and increasingly common end”, unleashing a compelling, “melancholic positivity”! 

“UK-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Arrowsmith (aka Jack Arrowsmith) has stepped into the Neo-Classical genre with clear presence. Following the recent success of his single, Inhale (Live), Arrowsmith’s music has continued to gain traction to a growing audience worldwide.

Arrowsmith has always felt connected to the world of Neo-Classics, listening to serene music from a young age. Classically trained as a flautist from the age of seven, Arrowsmith has continued to refine his craft, earning a bachelor’s degree in Music Production followed by a master’s degree in Musicianship.

Most notably, Arrowsmith travelled to a northwest coastline beach in the UK with his Una Corda piano, where he composed and captured a live recording of Runswick in one take, with the production including ambient sounds of the ocean.

In a World filled with chaos and a pace that knows no end, Arrowsmith’s unique take to composition encourages listeners to discover solace and tranquillity as each song unravels a world of emotion that is entirely open to interpretation.” (Arrowsmith)

Andrei Poliakov

(neoclassical, solo piano)

Swiss professional musician, composer and producer Andrei Poliakov’s ‘Noires Et Blanches’ is a spotless solo piano composition, tenderly performed, written to commemorate Piano Day celebration in 2022. 

“Andrei Poliakov is a professional musician, composer and producer, who received a fundamental classical music education as a pianist and an oboist in Russia, continued with the professional musical career performing with world-renowned orchestras, later diversifying his musical taste and capacity into jazz, rock, and pop genres, performing and recording with various bands and solo.

Since 2012 Andrei has been living in Switzerland, Geneva, engaging into various professional activities both in artistic and business domains.” (Andrei Poliakov)

Oscar Jeffery

(neoclassical, solo piano)

Oscar Jeffery’s solo piano “bijou” is more than ideal for calming and chilling during the lazy, Sunday evenings… Alluring one!

“Oscars love for playing the piano began at 14 years after discovering the works of Ludovico Einaudi and John Carpenter. He attended piano lessons locally for a year before he started composing himself.

After showing some of his compositions to his piano teacher Oscar was advised to continue writing as there was a clear talent for composing in his music. In 2018 he was invited by his piano teachers company to attend studio sessions to begin experiencing the techniques and pressures of recording solo piano.

In 2019 Oscar studied music performance at college in Hampshire to develop a deeper understanding of the music and performance industry. He continued to compose in and out of college and when he completed his diploma in 2021.” (Oscar Jeffery)

Koltbach

(neoclassical, ambient)

This appealing ambient-neoclassical piece is German independent acoustic-electro artist Jan-Christian Groth aka Koltbach’s thank you for this year’s #pianoday2022. 

“Jan-Christian Groth alias Koltbach is a German independent acoustic-electro artist whose music thrives on minimalist musical gestures and unconventional arrangements. He focuses on programmed tracks and sculpted sounds combined with live recorded acoustic instruments. Koltbach studied music and originally started out as classical guitarist. Deeply impressed by acts like Jon Hopkins, Kiasmos, Nils Frahm or Christian Löffler and the unique, soulful neoclassical-electro scene around Berlin and Iceland itself, he got into electronic music. In his compositions you can still hear his classical music background as both acoustic and electronic elements struggle peacefully for recognition and meaning, trying not to drown in profanity. Out of his artistic conviction he makes many of his works freely available for open use.

His first release was „Debut“ (EP) in 2016. In 2018 he released two EPs „Orange People“ and „Der Vogelmann & Frau Gold“ via German independent label Springstoff. He also caught the attention of several radios (Deutschlandfunk Kultur, ByteFM) and music blogs (Tonspion, Acid Ted, Stereofox). For years Koltbach played with several bands as a live musician including Nils Frahm in his early days.

Apart from this release Koltbach is also preparing to perform live for the first time and releasing remixes by various artists of his selected works from 2016-2021.” (Koltbach)

Soinà

(neoclassical, solo piano)

How much beauty and expression may fit in just 124 seconds? The answer is Soinà’s ‘Hypnosis 03’….

“Irina Bouzmakova, Russian pianist and accordionist, Francesco Sgroi Baritone sax, tenor, alto and soprano. The Duo, thus composed, was born in 2018, from the meeting of the Russian pianist Irina Bouzmakova and the Italian saxophonist Francesco Sgroi. Contemporary, fluid and intriguing music project, first as a cover by artists such as Piazzolla, Galliano, Nyman, glass, Einaudi, Tyrsen and others, to develop a personal style and a repertoire between Jazz, contemporary and classic (we remember the collaboration in 2020 with the philosopher writer Marco Rocca in the context of the reinterpretation of the figure of Giacomo Puccini). In the winter of 2020 the vinyl recording “01 Metempsicosi” creates great attention in the field of “cultured independent” music A new album of originals will be released in the winter of 2021 and will then be distributed on these platforms. As a side project, the “HouseDanz 01” project consisting of electronic music produced and distributed under the same label.” (Soinà)

The Music

Christos Doukakis