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September Salon previews

Sheila Bristow

"The Finding" and "Leap into Love", for mezzo-soprano, cello, and piano

Two songs from a cycle-in-progress, using poems about ecstatic dance from many cultures. "The Finding" is a contemporary Canadian poet's vision of a Sufi dance experience; "Leap into Love" is from the writings of 13th century mystic, Mechthild of Magdebourg. Performed by composer/pianist Sheila Bristow, mezzo-soprano Melissa Plagemann, cellist Nathan Whittaker.

sheilagailbristow.com

Carson Farley

Contrasts for piano, violin, flute, and cello

carsonicsproductions.com

Jessi Harvey

"Pieces of the Puzzle" is the second movement of my piano work, Eden Untamed, inspired by a speech about the issues faced and burdens borne by the 20th century composer and dedicated to Scott Muller. Continuing on from the first movement, "Themes Amuck", one of the original themes is warped and split into multiple pieces, recombined, and put back together.

soundcloud.com/masterjgeorge

Ian McKnight

Airship Pirates!

I composed my newest piece as if it were the score to a movie set in the steampunk universe. Steampunk is a recent fantasy and alternate history genre that imagines what would have happened if technology had progressed faster during the Victorian era. It is characterized by crazy inventions and flying contraptions usually powered by steam.

This piece imagines a flying pirate airship. The piece starts quietly at the dock as the pirates prepare the ship. The sounds of machinery and workers become louder as the ship becomes ready to take flight. When the ship finally breaks above the clouds there is a moment of peace as the airship floats through the air. The pirates come upon another unsuspecting airship. The music becomes increasingly intense as they approach the other ship and attack. At the end, the pirates celebrate their victory with a drunken dance.

ianmcknight.bandcamp.com

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