Fleeting Realms Vol. 2

Chamber Works

Isak Roux composer
Mark Zanter composer
William Toutant composer
James Shrader composer
Fabio Antonelli composer
Marvin J. Carlton composer

Release Date: May 14, 2021
Catalog #: NV6348
Format: Digital & Physical
21st Century
Chamber
Piano Trio
String Quartet
Voice

Even the briefest moments can burn themselves into memory, inspiring feelings that last a lifetime. On FLEETING REALMS VOL 2, works in chamber settings tap into our innermost thoughts and emotions, stirring the senses and sparking imagination.

The album’s composers—Fabio Antonelli, Isak Roux, Marvin J. Carlton, James Shrader, William Toutant, and Mark Zanter—draw upon classic literature, contemporary culture, elemental energy, and historical tragedy to analyze and question the foundations of human experience. United by their inquisitiveness and exploration of the heart and mind, each seamlessly expresses their vision with unique chamber arrangements that further bind together the philosophical themes.

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"Essential listen for the chamber friendly ears of past and present"

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Track Listing & Credits

# Title Composer Performer
01 Piano Trio No. 1 "Music for an Imaginary Film": I. Scenes from the Boulevard Isak Roux Gramercy Trio | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano 5:16
02 Piano Trio No. 1 "Music for an Imaginary Film": II. The Lonely Lady Isak Roux Gramercy Trio | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano 4:04
03 Piano Trio No. 1 "Music for an Imaginary Film": III. At Night Isak Roux Gramercy Trio | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano 3:04
04 Piano Trio No. 1 "Music for an Imaginary Film": IV. The Fury Isak Roux Gramercy Trio | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano 4:11
05 Earth Endures, Stars Abide Mark Zanter Ergon Ensemble | Kostas Tzekos, clarinet; Stefanos Nasos, piano; Dimitris Travlos, cello 7:22
06 Remembrance William Toutant Pedroia String Quartet | Jae Cosmos Lee, violin; Rohan Gregory, violin; Peter Sulski, viola; Jacques Wood, cello 9:10
07 Frogs Always Get You in the End James Shrader James Shrader, conductor; Aliana de la Guardia ,soprano; Brian Church, baritone; Jessica Lizak, flute; Yhasmin Valenzuela, clarinet; Ming-Hui Lin, cello 7:43
08 Sonata per violino e violincello in due spazi Fabio Antonelli Peter Sulski, violin; Jacques Wood, cello 2:59
09 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 1, Strings in the Earth and Air Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 2:33
10 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 2, The Twilight Turns from Amethyst Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 1:49
11 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 3, At That Hour When All Things Have Repose Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 2:56
12 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 4, When the Shy Star Goes Forth in Heaven Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 2:11
13 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 5, Lean Out of the Window Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 2:42
14 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 6, Winds of May Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 1:42
15 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 7, Bright Cap and Streamers Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 1:45
16 James Joyce Song Cycle: No. 8, Bid Adieu Marvin J. Carlton Stephen Marotto, cello; Yoko Hagino, piano; Aliana de la Guardia, mezzo-soprano 1:31

PIANO TRIO NUMBER 1
Recorded June 22, 2020 at Futura Productions in Roslindale MA Session Producer Brad Michel Session Engineer John Weston

EARTH ENDURES; STARS ABIDE
Recorded February 24, 2020 in Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall, Megaron Recording Center in Athens, Greece Session Producer Tasos Rosopoulos Session Engineer Nikos Espialidis

REMEMBRANCE
Recorded October 23, 2019 at Futura Productions in Roslindale MA Session Producer John Page Session Engineer John Weston Assistant Engineer Jacob Steingart

FROGS ALWAYS GET YOU IN THE END
Recorded April 21, 2017 at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport MA Session Producer Brad Michel Session Engineer Tom Stephenson

SONATA PER VIOLINO E VIOLONCELLO IN DUE SPAZI
Recorded October 23, 2019 at Futura Productions in Roslindale MA Session Producer John Page Session Engineer John Weston Assistant Engineer Jacob Steingart

JAMES JOYCE SONG CYCLE
Recorded July 18-19, 31, and August 1, 2020 at Futura Productions in Roslindale MA Producer & Session Engineer John Weston Co-Producer Lucas Paquette

Executive Producer Bob Lord

Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
A&R Morgan Santos, Jacob Smith, Chris Robinson

General Manager of Audio & Sessions Jan Košulič
Recording Sessions Director Levi Brown
Audio Director, Editing & Mixing (6-16) Lucas Paquette
Editing & Mixing (1-4) Brad Michel
Editing & Mixing (5) Jan Košulič
Mastering Shaun Michaud

VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland, Sara Warner

Artist Information

Isak Roux Headshot

Isak Roux

Composer

Isak Roux (1959*) was born and raised in the colorful city of Durban, South Africa. The cosmopolitan nature of African folk music fascinated him from an early age. His pianistic career began by playing gospel music at his local church community. As a teenager, this prompted him to embark on vocal arrangement and composition of sacred works. His later close collaboration with Joseph Shabalala and Jake Lerole further influenced his personal stylistic development. As a solo recording artist, he has produced three piano albums to date.

Mark Zanter

Composer

Mark Zanter has appeared on NPR’s Live at the Landmark, WILL, IPR, WVPN’s In Touch With The Arts, is published by Les Productions d’OZ, Schott European American and MJIC, and his works have been performed nationally and internationally at festivals including, MUSIC X, June in Buffalo, Soundscape, NYCEMF, Echofluxx, SEAMUS, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Generative Art International, Seensound, MIUC, Melbourne, and SPLICE.

William Toutant

Composer

William Toutant was born in Worcester MA. He received his B.A. and M.A. from George Washington University and his Ph.D. in music theory and composition from Michigan State University. He joined the music faculty of California State University, Northridge in 1975. During the next 38 years he not only taught in the Department of Music, but he also served in a variety of administrative positions including Dean of the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication.

James Shrader

James Shrader

Composer

James Shrader is a composer, conductor, author, and retired academic administrator. He holds degrees from Bradley University (Music Education), The Cleveland Institute of Music (Opera Direction), and Texas Tech University (Fine Arts/Conducting). He was Director of Music and Fine Arts at The First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland, Associate Director of Choral Activities at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State Universities, Chair of the Music Department and Director of Choral and Opera Studies at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and Head of the Department of Music at Valdosta State University. He was Chorus Master for Tulsa Opera where he prepared nine productions.

Fabio Antonelli

Composer

Fabio Aantonelli was born in Rome in 1966 and studied musicology and composition with great Italian composers like Ivan Fedele, Mario Garuti, and Gabriele Manca. He graduated in Musicology at the University of Pavia (Italy) and in Composition from The Como Conservatory of Music (Italy), then he graduated with a Master’s in Composition from The Milan Conservatory (Italy). He’s achieved advanced degrees in Astrophysics and Cosmology from the University of Bologna (Italy). With his work, Antonelli tries to represent the silence of the universe. His music consists of fragments that are isolated and suspended in the Void.

Marvin J. Carlton

Composer

Marvin J. Carlton is an American composer of opera, art song, symphonic works, choral works, and chamber music. His micro-opera 3D's DANCE HALL won the audience choice award at The Atlanta Opera's 24-Hour Opera Project in 2013, while his opera PIE, PITHE, AND PALLETTE won the judge's award in 2016. His music has been heard in concerts by Belleville (IL) Philharmonic Chorale, Centralia (IL) Philharmonic Orchestra, The Atlanta Opera, International Double Reed Society, St. Martin Chamber Players, Heart of Illinois Woodwind Quintet, The American Patriot Wind Ensemble, the Southern Illinois Grade School Vocal Music Association, and One Ounce Opera (Austin, Tx).

Aliana de la Guardia

Soprano

The Arts Fuse lauds de la Guardia’s sound as “lovely, natural” and “as clear and powerful as grain alcohol.” As an active soprano vocalist, Aliana de la Guardia has garnered acclaim for her “dazzling flights of virtuosity” (Gramophone) in “vocally fearless” performances that are “fizzing with theatrical commitment” (The Boston Globe). A graduate of the Boston Conservatory and consummate interpreter of new classical concert repertoire, she has enjoyed collaborations with many ensembles featuring today’s most eminent composers including “Scenes from a Novel” and “Kafka Fragments” with violinist Gabriela Diaz by György Kurtág, “Aspen Suite” by Salvatore Sciarrino,“Nenia: the Death of Orpheus” by Harrison Birtwistle conducted by Jeffery Means, and the world premiere of “Earth Songs” by Ronald Perrera with New England Philharmonic, among others.

Ergon Ensemble

Ergon Ensemble

Ensemble

Ergon is an Athens based contemporary music ensemble created in 2008 for performing works by living composers as well as masterpieces of the 20th and 21st-century avant-garde. Noted for its exciting interpretations and meticulous preparation, it has received praise from critics and audiences alike, making it the leading ensemble of its kind in Greece. An extremely flexible and versatile ensemble, Ergon is based on a core formation that is further reinforced, depending on the project, by a great number of guests and exceptionally talented musicians. Directed by a five-member musician team, responsible for planning, and collaborations, its original and adventurous programming includes chamber and orchestral music, musical theatre works, dance, contemporary opera, and cinema.

Notes

Isak Roux’s chamber works are for the most part programmatic. They are inspired by people, animals and natural surroundings. Indeed they all tell a story. In this respect his Piano Trio No 1 is no exception. Whereas his earlier works focused on African themes, the trio is more European in style. The sub-titles suggest scenes and sequences from an imaginary film based on the life of a film celebrity. The listener is invited to give his/her fantasy free reign as to her story. In terms of tempo, structure and mood the four movements correspond to those found in a typical classical trio. This composition is dedicated to the famous French actress Catherine Deneuve, whose work the composer has always admired.

— Isak Roux

In Earth endures; Stars abide (2016) I explore concepts garnered from John Beaulieu’s Music and Sound in the Healing Arts, in which he correlates the Greek elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Ether with musical intervals, tempi, and timbre; and uses them as a metaphor to describe musical affect and as a diagnostic tool in his practice.

In Beaulieu’s paradigm elements have individual qualities, which are altered when two or more are combined. As one explores the concept, it is readily apparent that though the mappings of the elements are easy to grasp, the possibilities are rich especially when one begins combining the individual elemental qualities in a musical context. My application of the concept had profound implications with regard to the musical material, and the structure of the work from the watery texture of the opening, the slow steady rise of the earth theme, the energy of fire and air and so on.

At first I wanted to title the work Earth Song after Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem, but the poem didn’t quite fit; so instead I used a line from the poem which seemed to capture the essence of the music.

— Mark Zanter

In early 2019, my wife and I spent a month in Southeast Asia. While in Phnom Penh we visited the Toul Sleng S-21 Genocide Museum where the Khmer Rouge imprisoned and tortured as many as 20,000 Cambodians. After being tortured at S-21, the victims were sent to the nearby Choeung Ek “killing field” for execution and burial in mass graves. After walking among the gravesites at Choeung Ek, we visited the Memorial Stupa, where, behind the glass walls of this 17-story structure are the skulls of several thousand of the Khmer Rouge victims, organized by age and gender—all nameless. This piece is my reaction to these emotional experiences.

— William Toutant

Frogs Always Get You in the End is the latest in a series of Really Short Chamber Operas by composer James Shrader. The libretto is by Ian Ruthven. It is scored for soprano, baritone, flute, clarinet, and cello. The original production was funded, in part, by a grant from the College Music Society.

The story is a new look at the familiar Princess and Frog fable – with a twist! The Frog is desperate for a kiss from the Princess in order to be returned to his former life. However, the Princess is not quite so gullible.

When the Frog offers to turn into a Handsome Prince, her reply is that she rules her own kingdom quite successfully and has no need of a Prince. The Frog then offers Great Fortune to which she replies that she maintains a balanced budget with good economic growth and needs no assistance. Becoming frustrated, the Frog offers Dazzling Beauty. Insulted, the Princess points out that beauty is not everything – personality counts! Finally, the Frog gives up and asks her what she really wants. Her thoughtful, sincere reply is, “I want to be Happy!”

The Frog’s response puts a topsy-turvy finish to this new age fable.

— James Shrader

Scores

Earth endures, Stars abide (excerpt)

Mark Zanter

Remembrance (excerpt)

William Toutant

Frogs Always Get You In The End (excerpt)

James Shrader

Sonata per Violino e Violoncello in due Spazi

Fabio Antonelli

James Joyce Song Cycle (excerpt)

Marvin J Carlton

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