Browsing Tag

Classical Piano

Andrew Muntt illustrated the beauty of transience in his neo-classical piano composition, Upstairs & Downstairs

Posted on 22 September 2024

Andrew Muntt, in his latest composition ‘Upstairs & Downstairs’, invites listeners into a world of gentle contrasts and profound subtleties. The neo-classical composer wields the piano notes as a delicate raconteur; with one of the deftest touches in today’s classical landscape, his composition wordlessly interweaves tender optimism with evocative intensity, and nothing is lost in translation.

The piano chords cradle the listener, providing a space to nestle between each note. These brief yet all-enveloping moments of contemplation allow the audience to linger in the ephemeral beauty of our stark reality of transience.

Since his graduation, after studying Music Composition from Barcelona, Muntt has explored the intricacies of sound, initially under various electronic music aliases and now through the piano’s keys. His compositions, though complex, advocate for simplicity and subtlety, inviting listeners to tune into what already resides within them.

In his latest composition, the Spanish artist infuses his cultural roots with a discernible richness that resonates through each note, reflecting the serene landscapes around him. His works, ranging from video game scores to YouTube compositions, reveal a versatility that speaks volumes of his ability to connect with a diverse audience.

Upstairs & Downstairs was officially released on September 20; stream the single and connect with Andrew Muntt on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

French Film Noir Meets Classical Piano in Hayley Morton’s Piece of Instrumental Literature, One Night in Budapest

Posted on 29 August 2024

With classical piano progressions which unravel like the confessions of a romance novelist, each note is a page turned in the latest composition, One Night in Budapest, by Hayley Morton.

The intimately introspective atmosphere of the delicately arranged peace succumbs you into its quiescence which scintillates the shadowy intrigue and existential reflections of French film noir with teasings of excitement to ease the tension and allow One Night in Budapest to resound as a distant, fading dream immortalised through a classical score.

The Brighton, UK-based pianist and composer released her debut album, Seascape, to critical acclaim in 2022; with this narratively affecting single, she re-emerged and reaffirmed her position as one of the most eloquent agents of instrumental literature.

One Night in Budapest is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nick Pike has debuted a neo-classic composition of profound contemplation with the release of ‘Norastoria’

Posted on 12 January 2024

Nick Pike’s instrumental neo-classical piece, Norastoria, is a composition of contemplation, capturing the tenderness of tentative new beginnings as vividly as the tumultuousness of reality which demands resilience to weather life’s relentless storms.

Each note is as accessible as the last in the endlessly inviting piece which keeps its finger on the evocative pulse. Words are surplus to requirement through Pike’s talent in depicting human narratives in humble neo-classic melodies. Pike’s ability to infuse each note with a sense of purpose and feeling is remarkable. The single is a journey through the highs and lows of the human experience, rendered with a sensitivity and depth that only a musician of Pike’s calibre can achieve.

As a London-based producer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, Pike brings a unique blend of influences to Norastoria, the title single prised from his debut solo album, from the classical echoes of Beethoven and Debussy to the rhythmic intricacies of jazz and funk. The title single is a testament to Pike’s versatility and his ability to weave diverse musical threads into a cohesive and engaging narrative.

Norastoria will be available to stream and purchase on all major platforms from January 12^th. Discover Nick Pike’s sound via his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

An-Ting 安婷 keyed into the plaintive slips of optimism in our first pandemic summer in her classical composition, LAST JUNE

Posted on 15 June 2022

Taiwan-born, London-based pianist-composer, An-Ting 安婷 is set to release her first original LP, Songs from My Room, a compositional narration of the complex emotions that manifested during the pandemic times, featuring the standout single, LAST JUNE.

Not another lockdown release, I hear you cry – but this instrumental score operates far beyond the power of the written word by keying into those striking plaintive slips of optimism as the powerlessness in the situation conflates the ennui. LAST JUNE also takes the mixed feelings that transpired from the BlackLivesMatter movement with an overarching sense of uncertainty that amassed around the state of our polarised society.

An-Ting has performed as a concert pianist at Southbank Centre, LSO St Luke’s, King’s Place, Newbury Spring Festival, Deal Festival, Cheltenham Town Hall, and the Akademie der Künste Berlin (Academy of Arts). She also has a broad background which includes a unique mix of science and art with a degree in Chemistry from National Taiwan University and an MMus and PhD in performance from the Royal Academy of Music.

Songs from My Room will be available to stream on all platforms from July 13th, 2022. Last June will be due for release on June 15th. Check out the video via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast