Cinematic and inspirational neoclassical – Lunchtime Playlist April 17

David Baron – “Under Rain”
-Even if you are not a typical neoclassical “fan,” you will enjoy this piece. It has some of the most amazing, evocative lines I have heard in the genre this year. The cinematic strings rise and swell literally like a film, while the constant roll of the piano work keeps it interesting. The whole composition is exceptional and I’m glad to have it in our neoclassical collection.

Joel Humlen – “I skugga”
-This Swedish pianist has created something breathtaking. On the surface, the minimal piano composition may not seem that different than others we’ve covered here. But just listen. Be patient. In a world of instant gratification, it takes dedication to await the full development of a heart-filled piece like this one. You’ll be a few minutes in before the colors turn brighter and life feels a little lighter. Trust us.

Bogdan Belyaev – “Burevisnik”
-One of the wonderful things about covering neoclassical music is that we don’t have to worry about the language of the artist. This piece speaks volumes to any listener regardless if you even understand the title. The punctuation on the piano lines is really incredible, bouncing and moving with perfect precision. I love the sense of movement in each phrase. This is ideal music for studying or reading to engage the mind and spirit at once.

Sebastian Zawadski – “Orknojon”
-Zawadski is a Danish composer. We don’t often cover neoclassical music with such complexity. It is, frankly, sometimes hard to follow. But something about the clash of the piano and the violin on this song felt perfect. Not all instrumental music needs to be soothing; there can be conflict too. The cinematic layering here makes the listener ponder what has caused such strife. It is beautiful in its realness.

Jeffrey Gilliam – “The Friend”
-American pianist Jeffrey Gilliam brings a song that feels like a story. There’s something about the main melody that reminds me of some of the patterns from old fashioned ragtime. But yet the sound is unequivocally present day. There’s a hesitancy in some of the moments captured in the piece that feels quite like dialog. When you take the whole composition together, it is brilliant in passing conversational elements from the right hand to the left, as well as a pacing that keeps the melody fresh and pulls the listener into the tabula rasa storyline.