Mixing Session #2: “Songs in the Dark” and “Air & Angels”

Finished mixing “Songs in the Dark” and “Air & Angels” yesterday, and excited to share!
Jennifer Bellor, composer and vocalist
Christina Wright-Ivanova, piano
Jason Corpuz, synth
Summer Kodama, electric bass

Air and Angels (rev. 2016)
screen-shot-2016-10-01-at-10-43-41-amI re-visited the poem “Air and Angels” by John Donne (1572-1631) here and there over the last few years, and now feel that I have a deeper understanding of the beautiful and ethereal text (i.e. “Love must not be, but take a body too”) in order to give it a more personal interpretation musically. So, I revised the song I wrote back in 2008 for a performance in August, and recorded it!

Songs in the Dark (rev. 2016)
Text by Emily Brontë (1818-1848)
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“Querencia” for Adams State U wind ensemble featuring James Doyle, vibraphone

Querencia for wind ensemble & vibraphone soloist was commissioned by James Doyle and the Adams State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Angela Winter for premiere at the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs on January 26, 2017. The commission was funded by a grant that encourages art based on the culture of the San Luis Valley in Colorado.Duration: approximately 6 minutes. Here are some score excerpt:
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“Songs in the Dark” with the Mivos Quartet

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I premiered the version I wrote of “Songs in the Dark” with the Mivos quartet on September 17, 2016 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for the N.E.O.N. festival concert. It was such an honor working with them! Featured are:
Jennifer Bellor, composer and vocalist
Mivos Quartet (Olivia de Prato and Lauren Cauley, violin; Victor Lowrie, viola; Mariel Roberts, cello)
Tim Jones, vibraphone
Summer Kodama, electric bass

I orchestrated the first two songs of the cycle for this performance: 1) “Frozen” and 2) “Fall, Leaves, Fall.”

Recording of “Bordello Nights”


UNLV Wind Orchestra under the direction of Tom Leslie
Featuring: Eric Marienthal (alto sax); Colin Gordon (soprano sax); Mitch Forman (piano); Kevin Axt (electric bass); Bernie Dresel (drums)

Recording Session Today of “Songs in the Dark”

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 Great recording session today! Recorded the original version of “Songs in the Dark” (voice, piano, synth, electric bass), along with “Air and Angels.” I’m hoping the EP I release later this fall will feature not only these songs, but also the live, raw and uncut performance of the Jazz version from last Sunday’s CD release show (if the mastering works out). 😊