Just completed one of the biggest and most complex chamber music pieces I’ve ever done. It spans over 50 pages of hand-written sketches. The piece is in the form of variations and has been written for a Guitar Trio. It contains 35 (!) variations followed by a three-voice, full-size Fugue.
Five traditional polish carols newly arranged and re-harmonised has been recorded on baritone guitar in 'Half Nashville Tuning’ by Oliver Moore and Philip Woodfield
From my earliest recollections, the cosmos has held an enduring fascination for me, particularly the American spaceflights of the Apollo program, culminating in the historic moon landing. In January ’23 I fulfilled my lifelong dream: visiting NASA’s Space Center in Houston.
One of the attractions at Space Center Houston is the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility and Lunar Samples Vault. This facility hosts the largest display of Moon rocks on public view in the world. One of the incredible experiences is undoubtedly touching a fragment of the moon. Only eight lunar rocks are available for the general public to touch worldwide. The particular one I touched in Houston was brought back to Earth by the Apollo 17 crew in December 1972 and is 3.8 billion years old. Astronauts Schmitt and Cernan collected the sample in the Valley of Taurus-Littrow, located on the edge of the Sea of Serenity (Mare Serenitatis) in the upper right quadrant of the Moon as viewed from Earth.
A few months after returning to the UK, my friend Carl Petersson—an outstanding Swedish pianist currently living in Canada—reached out to me with a request to compose a solo piano piece for a rather unconventional album. The recording project would feature piano pieces inspired by the moon. My visit to Space Center Houston and the inspiration drawn from the place will be translated onto the musical score.
The primary inspiration shaping Serenitatis for me was the idea of depicting the moon’s gravity (1.62 m/s²) in a musical manner. I decided to create something resembling fluid or moving harmony (the vertical texture of the piece) and embellish it with a continuous rising and falling motion (the horizontal texture of the piece), often-in opposing directions.
The harmony of Serenitatisconstantly migrates. Sometimes very imperceptibly (already in the theme presentation with half-tones), and sometimes very radically (the cascading opening arpeggios, arpeggio ranges closing the composition, and the transformation of the composition itself). To capture the atmosphere of the night, but above all the vast shades of grey, silver, and finally black (which the moon reminds me of), I decided to construct nearly 80% of Serenitatis’ harmony from pure minor chords that constantly clash and complement each other.
Serenitatis is also a distant reminiscence of the form of nocturne – music of the night. An echo of the typical theme texture (melody) that appears especially in the nocturnes of Frédéric Chopin. Hence, the main theme of Serenitatis has a very chromatic, fleeting, and lyrical character. The theme itself gravitationally changes—each successive presentation (increasingly fuller) drifts in half-tones.
Gravity is also reflected in the rhythm. Based on initial static triplets (the left-hand texture recurring as a 'nocturnal’ accompaniment in the left hand), the main theme and its development seem to continually appear in an open (rhythmically and harmonically), almost ethereal character.
Despite the nocturnal character of the theme itself, Serenitatis is a virtuosic, lively, and energetic piece. It starts from the highest register of the piano but also concludes with a tremendous ascent from the lowest to the highest possible piano notes.
I hope that Serenitatis will take you and future performers on a short journey to the moon. The piece was commissioned and is dedicated to Carl Petersson.
◾ GENESIS This composition was commissioned by and dedicated to ACG (Austin Classical Guitar, for which I was appointed Artist in Residence for the year 2022-23. I was asked to create a piece that largely reflects the theme of ACG’s 2022-23 artistic year, which was 'HOME.’ I also knew that this composition had to be written for five separate groups of guitarists. Each group could independently prepare their assigned portion of the larger whole, but, more importantly, they were to perform that section and treat it as a finished and stand-alone piece.
These two factors (’HOME’ and the five independent guitar groups) directed my inspiration towards the philosophy of go-dai, which I had used previously when composing the 'Go-Dai Concerto’ for guitar and orchestra in 2012.
◾ 'GO-DAI’
The philosophy of Go-Dai is a Japanese concept of five elements known as godai, or the „five great”: air/wind (Japanese: 風, fū or kaze), fire (Japanese: 火, ka or hi), water (Japanese: 水, sui or mizu), earth (Japanese: 地, chi or tsuchi), and void/sky (Japanese: 空, kū or sora).
◾ 'HOME’
For me, „HOME” broadly refers to our planet as our shared home, regardless of where we live. Therefore, my initial intention was to reference weather conditions through the elements of the Go-Dai philosophy.
◾ ELEMENTS
The first step in the composition process was to develop the main themes for each of the five Go-Dai elements. Each of these themes, along with their harmonization, development, and adaptation to specific guitar groups, was shaped by the character of each element. This way, the music not only conveyed the essence of each element but also visually and suggestively impacted the listener. The choice of expressive techniques, compositional solutions, and structural elements such as meter, harmony, rhythm, tempo, and structure were closely tied to each of the five elements during the composition process.
◾ FORM / ORCHESTRATION
Despite there being five independent compositions (elements), I strongly wanted to avoid a suite-like form with clear and distinct parts. My goal was to integrate all five elements while maintaining their individualism, much like in nature. During the creation of THE ELEMENTS, I was given the choice to write a solo part for the guitar. This inspired me to consider additional solo parts on various instruments. First, I chose the cello as an instrument that blended well with the guitar’s sound. The second addition was a solo part for a percussionist who was to handle over twenty percussion instruments, which I felt naturally relates to the fundamental elements of nature.
The piece begins with abstract, low, and primal sounds symbolizing darkness. Within the structure of the triple concerto, THE ELEMENTS features three main solo cadenzas: solo (timpani), duet (guitar and cello), and trio – fugue (guitar, cello, and marimba). The entire composition is interspersed with abstract moments that serve as links between the various elements. These abstract segments contrast with meticulously developed motifs for each of the elements.
The composition concludes with a bright, cheerful finale, symbolizing transformation: from emptiness and darkness to brightness, fullness, and hope.
Brand new version of my SIX FOLK MELODIES : suite for Clarinet in B flat & Guitar, based on Polish folk melodies, has just been premiered by phenomenal duo: Vojin Kocic (guitar) & Matthias Müller (clarinet).
Premiere took place last Sunday during the 87th Musikwoche Braunwald in Braunwald, Switzerland.
Fantastic acoustic – baritone guitar, a true work of art, one of a kind instrument made by one of the best guitar makers: Philip Woodfield and his son, Oliver.
Revised and completed version of (SZOPEN) RE:MEMBERING III for piano solo just flying to Canada to the brilliant Carl Petersson, to be among a few solo piano pieces he will soon record.
Edition Type: PDF (ready-to-print) full score + guitar parts & composer’s program notes | Publishers: SLE London Catalogue Number: SLE086 | Date Published: 09 June, 2023 | published in the UK
order your copy now contacting us directly via ✉️: slepayment@gmail.com
Edition Type: PDF (ready-to-print) full score + guitar parts & composer’s program notes | Publishers: SLE London Catalogue Number: SLE087 | Date Published: 10 June, 2023 | published in the UK
order your copy now contacting us directly via ✉️: slepayment@gmail.com
My LE PARNASSE SILESIENNE – in Memory of Sylvius Leopold Weiss: suite of baroque dances for Solo 13-course Baroque Lute has been recently recorded by Polish lute player Anna Wiktoria Swoboda
Standing ovation after sold-out concert in Poland during the 39th edition of Music Festival ’Muzyczne Święta Kwitnących Azalii’ at Moszna Castle / w Mateusz Kowalski. The program included Polish premiere of EX NIHILO (NIHIL FIT) in original version for two guitars.
Together with outstanding Mateusz Kowalski, we will premiere: (SZOPEN) RE:MEMBERING II and DODECAPHONIC PRELUDE AND FUGUE III, both brand new versions for two guitars. We will also give Polish premiere of my EX NIHILO (NIHIL FIT) II for Two Guitars and Large Guitar Ensemble w/ the students of the Chopin University, conducted by Ryszard Bałauszko.
THE ELEMENTS II: Triple Concerto – version for Two Guitars, Cello and Guitar Octet has been premiered! w/ incredible: Gen Li (cello), Mark Ashford (guitar) and Guitar Octet (eight amazing RBC students) under conductor Mark Eden, at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
I’ve been lucky over many years now, to make music with extraordinary people, however this is one of a kind, once in a lifetime project. This summer I’m going to compose and record music with living legend, composer I admire very much: Carlo DOMENICONI. I will compose together with Carlo large multi-movement piece for two guitars.
The very first rehearsal and masterclass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Premiering THE ELEMENTS: Triple Concerto – version for Two Guitars, Cello and Guitar Octet with fantastic Gen Li (cello), Mark Ashford (guitar) and eight students under conductor Mark Eden.
EX NIHILO (NIHIL FIT) II officially premiered! w/ Aniello Desiderio & Zoran Dukic (soloists), Thomas Offermann (conductor) and brilliant student’s ensemble from Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock during Berlin International Guitar Academy & Festival
Giving master-classes, lecture and premier of EX NIHILO II during this year’s XI Berlin International Guitar Academy & Festival w/ Thomas Offermann, Edin Karamazov, Pavel Steidl, Zoran Dukic, Aniello Desiderio and more!
THE ELEMENTS: Triple Concerto for Guitar, Cello, Percussion and Guitar Orchestra and SUSURRUS VI for Guitar and Percussion has been premiered! w/ Thomas Burritt (percussion), Bion Tsang (cello) and Joe Williams (conductor). commissioned by Austin Classical Guitar, performed at the Aisd Performing Arts Center, Austin, TX (pictures by Jack Kloecker)
final rehearsals of THE ELEMENTS: Triple Concerto for Guitar, Cello, Percussion and Guitar Orchestra w/ amazing soloists: Thomas Burritt (percussion) Bion Tsang (cello), conducted by Joe Williams. Commissioned by Austin Classical Guitar, premieres: 18th of February at Aisd Performing Arts Center, Austin, TX
rehearsing Triple Concerto: THE ELEMENTS, for Guitar, Cello, Percussion and Guitar Orchestra w/ Thomas Burritt and Bion Tsang. Commissioned by Austin Classical Guitar, will be premiered this Saturday, 18th of February at AISD Performing Arts Center, Austin, TX
What an incredible 6h long recording session! I’ve been blessed to record over 60 min of my music with phenomenal musician and wonderful person: Thomas Burritt. New album followed by full videos soon!
EX NIHILO (NIHIL FIT) 2: for Two Soloists and Large Guitar Ensemble (extended version) now on all major platforms! w/ Pia Gazarek Offermann, Thomas Offermann and 15 amazing guitarists in Rostock, Germany // sound engineer Carsten Storm / editor: Shushan Ghazaryan
Edition Type: paper-book, full score: solo guitar & composer’s program notes (12 pages) | Publishers: SLE London Catalogue Number: SLE081 | Date Published: 20 December 2022 | printed in the UK
order your copy now contacting us directly via ✉️: slepayment@gmail.com