Book of Dreams Shonorities

• Basil Athanasiadis (b. 1970): Book of Dreams II:
• 1 Book of Dreams II 18:04
• 5 Pieces for Voice & Prepared Piano:
• 2 5 Pieces for Voice & Prepared Piano: No. 1, — 02:00
• 3 5 Pieces for Voice & Prepared Piano: No. 2, — 02:11
• 4 5 Pieces for Voice & Prepared Piano: No. 3, — 04:23
• 5 5 Pieces for Voice & Prepared Piano: No. 4, — 03:37
• 6 5 Pieces for Voice & Prepared Piano: No. 5, — 02:06
• Circles:
• 7 Circles 10:21
• Dream of a Butterfly II:
• 8 Dream of a Butterfly II: I. — 02:14
• 9 Dream of a Butterfly II: II. — 02:57
• 10 Dream of a Butterfly II: III. — 01:20
• 11 Dream of a Butterfly II: IV. — 01:40
• 12 Dream of a Butterfly II: V. — 02:12
• 13 Dream of a Butterfly II: VI. — 01:43
• 14 Dream of a Butterfly II: VII. — 04:13
• Eyes Are Now Dim:
• 15 Eyes Are Now Dim 20:06
• Total Runtime 01:19:07

Info for Book of Dreams

A new album of Japanese-inspired music from the cross-cultural ensemble Shonorities will be released by Métier Records later this year. Shonorities, created by Greek composer Basil Athanasiadis, is a diverse group of performers and composers committed to promoting a range of repertoire that encompasses a wide spectrum of musical styles including old, contemporary and traditional pieces. By blending a variety of musical cultures, Shonorities aims to show the potential for cross-cultural collaboration in contemporary music.

Shonorities’ past projects feature works for a variety of instrumental combinations including female voice and traditional Japanese instruments supported by organisations such as the Japan Foundation, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Sawakawa Foundation, Japanese Embassy in Greece, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, British Council and the Greek-Japanese Association.

Greek composer Basil Athanasiadis moved to London to complete his studies. He is the only composer to date to twice receive the prestigious JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2010-11 and 2011-13). During that period Basil was based at the Tokyo University of the Arts as a Special Foreign Researcher, where he composed new works for Western and Japanese instruments with a particular interest on the shō (mouth organ) and the 20-stringed koto.

The group’s first album of music by Athanasiadis (‘Soft Light’ Métier MSV 28584) appeared in April 2018: “Music that hues closely to a Japanese aesthetic based on simplicity of utterance and purity of expression… absolutely intriguing and immensely satisfying.” (Music Notes)

The new album includes a fascinating mix of sounds including a rare appearance in art music of a solo Rhodes piano – an instrument normally found in jazz ensembles – as well as traditional western and Japanese instruments.

Shonorities

Shonorities
is a diverse group of performers and composers committed to promoting a range of repertoire that encompasses a wide spectrum of musical styles including old, contemporary and traditional pieces. By blending a variety of musical cultures, Shonorities aims to show the potential of the cross cultural collaboration in the contemporary music creation. The collaboration with choreographers and dancers, lighting designers and the inclusion of electronics enhance the performance experience. The unity of the concerts is achieved by introducing a theme that underscores the repertoire.

Shonorities’ past projects feature works for a variety of instrumental combinations including female voice and traditional Japanese instruments supported by organisations such as the Japan Foundation, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Sawakawa Foundation, Japanese Embassy in Greece, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, British Council and the Greek-Japanese Association. Past performances include the Tokyo University of Music and the Arts, Sogakudo Hall, Sapporo Kitara Concert Hall, Kushiro Cultural Hall in Japan, Canterbury Christ Church University and Riverside Studios in the UK, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Parnassos Concert Hall, Nakas Conservatoire, Hellenic American Union Theatre and participated in festivals such the Canterbury Festival the Ekon Festival (UK) and the Art Pass Festival (Japan). The group recorded Basil Athanasiadis’ CD ‘Clouds that I Like’ that was released under the UK-based label Saragasso. In 2013 more pieces by Basil Athanasiadis for unique combinations of western and traditional Japanese instruments, were recorded in Japan for new CD releases in 2014 and 2015 (Sargasso) and 2018 (Divine Art Recordings).

Booklet for Book of Dreams