Dual Fusion

SKU: BO.B.3542

Staeliana was commissioned by the Fundacio Caixa de Catalunya in 2007 for the inauguration of an exposition of the work of Nicolas Staël at La Pedrera, Barcelona. In this work I wanted to compose homage to a painter who knew how to join together in his unique works both the traditions of the past along with the vanguard of his time. Beginning with figurative works which lead toward abstraction, his body of work can be defined as a contrast between these two concepts which, with extreme simplicity, define his entire artistic conception. Staeliana, an expressive chorale, at times both luminous and dramatic, dissolves into the most minimal expression. From the first joining together of the voices it concludes with utter simplicity of expression. The suicide of the artist in 1955 is representative of the dissolution of his existence as well as of his artistic works. This contrast between figurative and abstraction is reflected in the music by the contrast between stability and tension. I believe that this duality may be found both in his work and in his life, always oscillating between living a creative life or opting for death, which may be seen as a fusion in nothingness with the plenitude of purest simplicity.

SKU: GH.GE-11464

ISBN 979-0-070-11464-6. A4 inches.

Work note by the composer:

When I received the news of this commission, I had no idea what it would lead to. Writing for guitar solo is not the same as composing for orchestra where you have forty voices where you can easily mask an entire section. Here you are very naked to the bone.
The starting point for this work was from J.S. Bach's Chaconne in D-minor that Johannes had performed in concert, originally written for violin but there is a version transcribed for guitar and piano made by Ferruccio Busoni. When I went to Cortona (in Tuscany, Italy) completed the southern mentality of this work.
Arpalineais actually a merged word in Italian language. Arpa means harp, however in a musical context it's more or less resembled with the word arpeggio, which means broken chords. Lineameans line.

The work is divided in three parts.
I. Arpeggio: It starts with an opening chaconne-like sequence and is marked with a certain depth in which the chords starts to separate from the organum note in the bass and it culminates into a section called with rhythmical focus. These sections alternates, variates which each other.
The middle section has a playful and childish atmosphere where the guitarist knocks on the body of the guitar resembling a Spanish folk instrument cajon. This is leading to a section which tends more to a very aggressive fusion-like riff that loses control and reaches its climax at the end.

II. Linea: The static rhytmical pulse is now disintegrated and it forms more or less sort of a free, improvisational state in a rubatolike tempo. The character is described as a very hot day with temperatures rising above 37! C (or 100! F) where you can hardly do anything just sitting dozed off and pespiring because of the extreme heat watching a huge fog coming up in the evening that spreads around the Tuscan atmosphere.

III. Finale: It starts off with fast one-note ostinati then more and more notes pop up like a gradual rain storm with thunder strikes! And eventually it leads to that is a large flood through the streets of an medieval Southern town. The work ends with a short circuit slapped strings along with extremely fast tremolos that reaches higher and louder as possible!

Benjamin Staern

SKU: AD.ADG209

ISBN 9781970178456. UPC: 663389120921. 9 x 12 inches.

As so many keyboards and virtual instruments emulate clavinet keyboard sounds I thought it would be of interest to many keyboard players to write a book containing riffs associated with playing the clavinet, usually featured in Funk, Soul and Rock, Jazz-Funk-Fusion and Reggae styles.
The Clavinet
The clavinet is a 5 octave keyboard manufactured by Hohner from the 1960’s to the 1980’s and its bright staccato sound has been used extensively in the above mentioned styles. The clavinet is often used with wah-wah and phaser effects giving unique sounds reminiscent of how a rhythm guitarist would play. Playing the clavinet is generally different than playing the piano or organ. Usually you are playing very staccato parts similar to how a guitarist would pick a string on the guitar. The left and right hand often play separate syncopated parts that require extensive practice. My suggestion would be to clap or tap the rhythm of both left and right hand. Once the rhythm is mastered go on to play the left and right hand parts separately at a slow tempo and gradually speeding it up to the recommended tempo.
I have created a youtube video showing you the steps that I recommend for learning these riffs.
https://youtu.b e/8tLdPhnA0ng

Each of the 100 riffs has been recorded 3 times:Clavinet with rhythm backing tracks, Rhythm backing tracks, Rhythm backing tracks at a slow tempo.

SKU: GI.G-EH1011A

Llluminare i s Elaine’s first extended work, consisting of five-movements for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra. Using lesser-known sacred Latin, Greek, and English texts, the piece takes us through a season of beauty and goodness that has been disrupted by darkness and confusion. But as Light gradually returns, hope is restored, illuminating our future and guiding us in peace.   Chamber Orchestra Instrumentation: flute, oboe, horn in F (2) percussion (2), piano strings .

SKU: GI.G-EH1011B

Llluminare i s Elaine’s first extended work, consisting of five-movements for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra. Using lesser-known sacred Latin, Greek, and English texts, the piece takes us through a season of beauty and goodness that has been disrupted by darkness and confusion. But as Light gradually returns, hope is restored, illuminating our future and guiding us in peace.   Chamber Orchestra Instrumentation: flute, oboe, horn in F (2) percussion (2), piano strings .

SKU: GI.G-EH1011C

Llluminare i s Elaine’s first extended work, consisting of five-movements for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra. Using lesser-known sacred Latin, Greek, and English texts, the piece takes us through a season of beauty and goodness that has been disrupted by darkness and confusion. But as Light gradually returns, hope is restored, illuminating our future and guiding us in peace.   String Orchestra Instrumentation: percussion (2), piano strings (2.2.2.2.1 min.).

SKU: GI.G-EH1011D

Llluminare i s Elaine’s first extended work, consisting of five-movements for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra. Using lesser-known sacred Latin, Greek, and English texts, the piece takes us through a season of beauty and goodness that has been disrupted by darkness and confusion. But as Light gradually returns, hope is restored, illuminating our future and guiding us in peace.   String Orchestra Instrumentation: percussion (2), piano strings (2.2.2.2.1 min.).