COMPOSER
A Smile and a Sigh – song cycle for soprano and piano
Text by Christina Rossetti
1. Song of Flight, 2. Echo, 3. Long These Days
Available for purchase: SheetMusicPlus, Sheet Music Direct JW Pepper
Last week, clarinetist Garrick Zoeter sent me this wonderful live performance recording of my piece “All Rivers at Once” for two clarinets, featuring him and Wojtek Komsta. I wrote this version of the piece back in 2020 and was very delighted to see and listen to their performance last week on their faculty recital. They did an awesome job capturing the fun and adventurous atmosphere and loved to see them smiling and laughing at the end of it. 😊
This was inspired by a section of a Rumi poem of the same title:
What is the body?
Endurance.
What is love?
Gratitude.
What is hidden in our chests?
Laughter.
What else?
Compassion.
– Rumi
I created violin and piano versions of three of my songs for my concert at Virginia Tech October 1, 2024.
Song of Flight – violin and piano version of my song from cycle, A Smile and a Sigh
Echo – violin and piano version of my song from cycle, A Smile and a Sigh
Night Song – violin and piano version of my song, Noche, from the song cycle, Cuatro Canciones de las Últimas Horas
I performed my piece “A Grey Dream” with violinist John Irrera on October 1, 2024 at Virginia Tech as a part of their New Music & Technology Festival.
My composition “Dream of a Falling Star” for flute and vibraphone/crotales (plus some piano notes) was premiered on Thursday, October 18th at WSU Pullman featuring Sophia Tegart (flute) and Chris Wilson (percussion). I also joined them on stage to play the piano notes. They played it beautifully!
For your GRAMMY Consideration
If you are a Voting Member, please consider my album for the following:
BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION
BEST NEW ARTIST
Jennifer Bellor, Long These Days
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL
Jennifer Bellor
“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.”
– Lexicon Classics
On October 1st, my music was featured at the Virginia Tech New Music & Technology Festival. It was a wonderful experience being there to rehearse with the artists and perform five pieces on the program.
Score is available for purchase: Sheet Music Plus, Sheet Music Direct, and JW Pepper
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.
song cycle for bass, piano and *optional electric guitar
Text: Four sonnets by Pablo Neruda
Click HERE to view text and translations.
Duration: 19′
1. Mañana
2. Mediodía
3. Tarde
4. Noche
Version for Bass and Piano available for purchase: Sheet Music Plus, Sheet Music Direct, and JW Pepper.
Version for Bass, Piano, and Electric Guitar available for purchase: Sheet Music Plus, Sheet Music Direct, and JW Pepper.
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):