Long These Days is an art song concept album composed by Jennifer Bellor, featuring soprano Olivia Yokers, bass Norman Espinoza, electric guitarist Tasos Peltekis, and Bellor, herself, on piano.
This album embarks on a journey from the tender hues of dawn to the velvety depths of night, weaving a tapestry of emotion and introspection. Drawing inspiration from the timeless verses of Christina Rossetti and Pablo Neruda, the songs explore themes of love, empowerment, nostalgia, and longing with unparalleled depth and sincerity.
Throughout the album, instrumental interludes, skillfully crafted by Bellor on piano and Peltekis on electric guitar, serve as poignant bridges between the vocal narratives performed by Yokers and Espinoza. From the tender awakening of ‘Dawn’ to the wistful reverie of ‘Eyelids Close’, each interlude enriches the album’s thematic depth.
The four Spanish sonnets by Pablo Neruda are from the book, Cien Sonetos de Pablo Neruda. Each sonnet chosen is listed in the book under the categories Mañana, Mediodîa, Tarde, and Noche.
*An electric guitar part is also available. Recordings of these songs featuring Norman Espinoza, Jennifer Bellor (piano) and Tasos Peltekis (electric guitar) are featured on Bellor’s album Long These Days and released by EMITHA’s Lexicon Classics August 16, 2024. Click HERE for more information about the album.
For both versions, the bass and and piano parts are the same.
Music Video Playlist of the songs featuring Norman Espinoza (bass), Jennifer Bellor (piano), and Tasos Peltekis (electric guitar):
Spotify
Version for Bass and Piano featuring Norman Espinoza (bass) and Jennifer Bellor (piano):
Long These Days (August 16, 2024 by EMITHA’s Lexicon Classics)
Album cover art by Gillian Riesen, EMITHA
Long These Days is an art song concept album composed by Jennifer Bellor, featuring soprano Olivia Yokers, bass Norman Espinoza, electric guitarist Tasos Peltekis, and Bellor, herself, on piano.
This album embarks on a journey from the tender hues of dawn to the velvety depths of night, weaving a tapestry of emotion and introspection. Drawing inspiration from the timeless verses of Christina Rossetti and Pablo Neruda, the songs explore themes of love, empowerment, nostalgia, and longing with unparalleled depth and sincerity.
Throughout the album, instrumental interludes, skillfully crafted by Bellor on piano and Peltekis on electric guitar, serve as poignant bridges between the vocal narratives performed by Yokers and Espinoza. From the tender awakening of ‘Dawn’ to the wistful reverie of ‘Eyelids Close’, each interlude enriches the album’s thematic depth.
Jennifer Bellor, piano
Tasos Peltekis, electric guitar
Olivia Yokers, soprano
Norman Espinoza, bass
TRACKS
Song of Flight (Olivia Yokers, Tasos Peltekis, Jennifer Bellor)
Interlude: Dawn (Jennifer Bellor and Tasos Peltekis)
Mañana (Norman Espinoza, Jennifer Bellor, and Tasos Peltekis)
Interlude: Midday Reverie (Jennifer Bellor and Tasos Peltekis)
Mediodía (Norman Espinoza, Jennifer Bellor, and Tasos Peltekis)
Interlude: Post Meridian Epiphany (Jennifer Bellor and Tasos Peltekis)
Long These Days (Olivia Yokers, Tasos Peltekis, Jennifer Bellor)
Interlude: Daydream Getaway (Jennifer Bellor and Tasos Peltekis)
Tarde (Norman Espinoza, Jennifer Bellor, and Tasos Peltekis)
Interlude: Nightscape (Jennifer Bellor and Tasos Peltekis)
Noche (Norman Espinoza, Jennifer Bellor, and Tasos Peltekis)
Interlude: Eyelids Close (Jennifer Bellor and Tasos Peltekis)
Echo (Olivia Yokers, Tasos Peltekis, Jennifer Bellor)
Postlude: Resurgence (Jennifer Bellor and Tasos Peltekis)
Click HERE for information about Lexicon Classics and purchasing Bellor’s album.
Spotify Playlist: Songs from song cycle, A Smile and a Sigh
Tracks 1, 7, and 13 are songs from Bellor’s song cycle, A Smile and a Sigh, version for soprano, electric guitar and piano. Text is by Christina Rossetti.
Tracks 1, 7, and 13 are from song cycle, A Smile and a Sigh
Spotify Playlist: Spanish Pablo Neruda Songs from song cycle, Cuatro Canciones de las Ültimas Horas
Tracks 3, 5, 9, and 11 are songs from Bellor’s song cycle, Cuatro Canciones de las Últimas Horas, version for bass, electric guitar and piano. Text is by Pablo Neruda and is in Spanish.
Tracks 3, 5, 9, and 11 are from song cycle, Cuatro Canciones de las Ültimas Horas
Spotify Playlist: Interludes from LONG THESE DAYS
For all interludes: Tasos Peltekis is improvising on electric guitar.
Spotify playlist featuring all of the instrumental interludes:
Jennifer Bellor’s album LONG THESE DAYS is available for pre-order. To order album and learn more about the music, click HERE. The album will be released by Lexicon Classics.
A version for soprano and piano will be available soon. Click HERE for more information.
The updated version of these songs were written for soprano Olivia Yokers, electric guitarist Tasos Peltekis and Bellor on piano. They were recorded for Bellor’s new album, Long These Days, and released by EMITHA’s label Lexicon Classics on August 16, 2024. Tracks 1 (Song of Flight), 7 (Long These Days), and 13 (Echo) are featured on the album.
Violinist Ertan Torgul and pianist Carolyn True performed my piece “A Grey Dream” at the Alba Music Festival back in May and here is a clip of their performance. This is an excerpt from the middle part of the piece.
For the full recording, here it is on YouTube featuring the Irrera Brothers:
My new single “Interlude: Eyelids Close” dropped today! This is one of the piano/electric guitar interludes I wrote that links two of the art songs on my new album. I am playing piano, and Tasos Peltekis is improvising on the electric guitar. My entire album, Long These Days, will be released by Lexicon Classics on August 16 and begins with songs and instrumental interludes about dawn and morning and ends with music about night and dreaming.
Music video was shot and edited by Shahab Zargari
Location provided by Alexandria Le
Ron George, recording and mixing
Gil Kaupp, mastering
Coming soon:
July 26: Second single, “Echo” feat. soprano Olivia Yokers, Tasos Peltekis and Jennifer Bellor
August 16: Full album released by Lexicon Classics (feat. Jennifer Bellor, Tasos Peltekis, Olivia Yokers, and Norman Espinoza)
