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Harmonium Music

by Michael Calabris - Composer

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carsoncooman
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1.
Prelude 03:45
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2.
Margaretha 02:55
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3.
Little Harmonic Labyrinth 03:44
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4.
Painted Leaves 03:26
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5.
Little Harmonium Piece for Sofia 02:29
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6.
Contrast/Chromatic 06:50
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7.
Little Harmonium Piece for Nicole 02:35
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8.
Thanksgiving 04:45
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9.
Processional 04:54
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10.
Harmonium Sonata (I) 08:34
11.
Harmonium Sonata (II) 07:11
12.
Harmonium Sonata (III) 10:21

about

This album collects recordings of all the works I composed exclusively or primarily for the harmonium (as opposed to works that were intended for performance on either the harmonium or manuals-only) from 2021 - January, 2024.

The album features a rousing "Prelude," several shorter pieces composed as gifts for family and friends ("Little Harmonium Piece for Nicole," "Little Harmonium Piece for Sofia," and "Processional"), the sensual "Margaretha," two works of a nostalgic character ("Painted Leaves" and "Thanksgiving"), as well as three works in the concert tradition: "Harmonic Labyrinth," "Contrast/Chromatic," and my premiere recording of "Harmonium Sonata." Purchase of the album includes two bonus tracks, copies of the front and back cover artwork, and a PDF liner notes booklet.

American composer and concert organist Carson Cooman writes of "Harmonium Music:"

"Michael Calabris’s album 'Harmonium Music' features a once-popular musical instrument whose heyday is long in the past and whose ubiquity declined precipitously during the first half of the 20th century. This is a tremendous shame, since although the harmonium (or reed organ) shares properties with other keyboard instruments (especially the pipe organ and the accordion), it has a unique sound and character that is all its own. The harmonium, first encountered by Calabris at a young age, proved particularly influential and formative for him, and while he has written much music in other genres in the decades since, this album of music conceived and composed over several years expressively for the harmonium’s unique expressive properties serves as a kind of musical 'love letter' to this instrument for which he has great affinity. The pieces vary widely in character: miniatures written as gifts for family and colleagues, an abstract concert piece ('Contrast/Chromatic'), and several pieces in a style of 'nostalgic reminiscence' for which the composer has a particular affinity in his keyboard music. Across these shorter pieces, one is treated to the great variety of the harmonium’s expressive moods, explored in focused quasi-miniatures. The real highlight of the album, however, is the final work—the composer’s sonata for harmonium, a three-movement piece of more than 20 minutes in length. The work is a spiritual successor to the two harmonium sonatas by Sigfrid Karg-Elert. Although he is most well-known for his organ music, Karg-Elert’s personal favorite instrument was the 'Kunstharmonium,' and his two sonatas, written in the first decade of the 20th century, were enormously substantial works for the instrument. Calabris’s sonata takes on the full seriousness of those pieces while employing his own style and approach. It is a piece of strong musical content and development, and the overall effect shows the remarkable musical power of which the harmonium is capable. This is a unique album in today’s world and makes a strong case for both the harmonium as an instrument and Calabris’s musical voice."
— Carson Cooman, 2024

credits

released January 24, 2024

Performed & recorded by Michael Calabris

© Michael Calabris Music (ASCAP), 2024. All rights reserved.

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Michael Calabris - Composer Massillon, Ohio

Michael Calabris is a Northeast Ohio-based composer. His compositions include electronic, computer-realized, and electroacoustic works; scores for Silent Era films, and compositions for solo keyboard instruments. In addition to music in the concert tradition, Calabris also writes and records rock, pop, and jazz instrumentals. ... more

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