Cultravard
There is nothing quite like the unique way an orchestra or small chamber, even a trio, can convey emotions, thoughts, images. Perhaps it is rooted in our DNA, but there is a visceral connection to 'classical' instrumentation like piano, bowed strings, woodwind, brass, and orchestral percussion.
Even the room itself has an impact; the music seeming to fill a large space, reverberating and echoing all around us. It's a communal feeling, and humbling.
Cultravard is Paul's recent sortie into the voicings and timbres of this medium, providing a contemporary take on these classic traditions.
Engaging, thought-provoking, amusing, and compelling, Cultravard will delight and intrigue you. Stream or download today, and thank you for supporting truly Independent Artists.
A special thank-you to Derk Hagedorn for his double-bass solo on "Siso", featured here.
Streaming Here or search Paul M Grove on your favorite platform:
A substance that elicits an experience with the 'divine within', an entheogen is an outward path that leads inward. The odd-time marimba can evoke the meditative pace, a touchstone, as the English horn brings to mind our mortal coil. Around this comes the experience of the internal divine within us all, voiced in horns, strings, and organ. It blooms outward, filling space and time, as the 'bones' of the marimba and 'blood' of the English horn remind of us of our home perspective as a human.
I picture Mr. Tatterly as an elderly English man, a bit enigmatic and inscrutable. Tattered and worn by time, the lines in his face tell a story, as does his tired old suit, as he sits by himself on a bench in London, feeding the birds. His story has never been told, never been asked, never been written, but that story is HIS and his alone. The mystery and majesty of it, the shames and triumphs will never be known. Unless we ask and we listen...
Siso is Welsh for seesaw, or teeter-totter. The two outer ends of this seesaw are a very 'classical' progression, the same chords played in different ways on both the beginning and end. In the middle as the fulcrum of the piece is Derk's bass solo, followed by an exploration of a Chinese pentatonic scale, then followed by an exploration of a Balinese pentatonic scale. The result is a siso: two similar but not identical parts with a middle to balance the two.
Notes on other song names from this album:
Harissa Dance- Yes, this is a dance; listen and you can envision a dance. Harissa is a North African sauce or paste, so just think of the mixture; sound, movement, and flavor, all together in a terrific jumble.
Nocturne no. 1- This is a trio for piano, violin and viola. I can print sheet music for anyone interested in performing this piece!
Different Hat (Festina Lente)-Hasten slowly, I think it fits the pace of this piece, at times feeling both rushed and sedate.
Tallum Te- This is just the name that came to me which, for me, fits the piece in some ineffable way.
Gate to the Field of Iaru- From Egyptian lore, this is the field of reeds, a sort of 'heaven', an idyllic and idealistic version of Lower Egypt. Stand at the gate and see Heaven.
Cry No More- Dry your eyes, the World is bigger and we are all here to lift one another through the tough times.
Only They- If this piece had lyrics, the name would make sense. Listen, you'll hear what I mean.
My-onosphere (Lento)- Lento meaning slowly, this name is a play on 'ionosphere'. This is sort of a lullaby, and features lots of choir samples lending both and Earthly and otherworldly feel.
As always, if you are interested in using Paul's music for your production, please use the contact form. You will find a VAST variety of music available to you, including many, many pieces and parts not featured on this website. From needle-drops and incidental music to whole orchestrated pieces and everything in between, Paul has an ever-expending library of music and sounds, including custom pieces, perfect for your project.