Nay's News September 2024
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I hope you are finding beauty in these waning summer days. I am finding new ways to cook green beans (as they are basically exploding daily in the garden) and savoring every moment of sunshine!
There is so much to share with you! To kick things off... how about a replay of a live radio interview I did last week with Christa Wessel at All Classical Radio 89.9 FM...? This was part of their "Music Heals" fundraiser, and it was such a fun conversation. We revisited the Saving His Music project, talked all about Lucente Skye and "Discovering Peace," the Oregon Symphony Lullaby project and my lifelong love of Chopin.
NEW MUSIC
Just released on August 23, "Reunion" by Lucente Skye and Astrid Sky.
Lucente Skye is my moniker for solo piano music, and Astrid Sky is a moniker of Maneli Jamal, an international guitarist with impressive streaming numbers, playlist curations, YouTube videos, online courses, and naturally - really beautiful recorded music! We connected on Submit Hub (a website for playlisters) when Maneli reached out to me to collaborate after playlisting my Lucente Skye songs. Astrid Sky songs are basically other pianist's renditions of songs that Maneli creates on guitar. He emailed me a guitar recording, I created a piano recording based off what he played, I emailed it back to him, and that recording became "Reunion," now with over 10k Spotify streams! Check it out on all the platforms!
Releasing THIS FRIDAY on September 13, "Midnight Andante" by Lucente Skye and Reece Marshburn.
"Midnight Andante" is a duet I co-composed with my good friend Reece, and the full range of the piano is used between 4 hands. Reece played the lower part and I played the upper part. It's so fun to create music with talented friends! Keep your ears ready for this song on Friday. Here's a pre-save link.
However, IF you'd like to hear the song now, before the rest of the world, join my Patreon community! Patrons hear everything early, receive behind-the-scenes info and all sorts of perks. I just shared with them what's next with Lucente Skye (after these releases), and I'm so excited about it! Join now and you'll get access to over 6 years' worth of posts, with songs, videos, scores.... there's a lot of content!
My new full-length Lucente Skye album "Discovering Peace" has now received over 130k Spotify streams! Thank you to everyone for listening. I hope it is helping you discover peace with every listen. :)
Spotify listeners can give a click of support by selecting "Follow" over at Lucente Skye on Spotify. "Discovering Peace" physical CDs are available for order at my SHOP.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
"Luigi Sings: Bittersweet"
DATE: October 20 @ 7:30 PM
Luigi Boccia presents a concert inspired by Susan Cain’s book Bittersweet, I am thrilled to be the pianist for the evening! The program is a wide selection of popular music inspired by the book’s premise that sorrow and longing make us whole.
The Old Church
1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Get tickets here:
https://www.luigiboccia.com/events
Oregon Repertory Singers Fall Concert: Homegrown
DATES: October 26 & 27 @ 4 PM
ORS Homegrown celebrates works by Portland area composers Joan Szymko, Sydney Guillaume and Stacey Phillipps, and it will be a gorgeous program. I'm thrilled that my latest choral composition Racing the Moon will receive an encore performance. It will be the final piece of the show!
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
12625 SW Crescent St., Beaverton, OR 97005
Get tickets here:
https://www.orsingers.org/ors/homegrown
CHORAL COMPOSITIONS FOR WINTER/HOLIDAY CONCERTS
NEW SATB! "Love is Love (The Christmas Eve Song)" newly arranged for SATB/Piano! A song about the beauty and joy of the holiday season, and a reminder to share love with refugees and houseless.
(So new it's not even built into my website yet! But the score is ready...ask me for a free preview! Originally SSAA. SAB also available. Order scores: www.naomilmusic.com/purchase)
"Winter Solstice" - lyrics and music by Naomi LaViolette. Non-religious winter music about a traditional Solstice ceremony. SATB unaccompanied.
"Winter Solstice in particular demonstrates LaViolette’s mastery of choral writing, using beautiful suspended chords and ethereal high pedal notes to evoke a ruminative atmosphere." - Lowry Yankwich, Fanfare Magazine
"Night of Silence" - Poetry by Amy Larsen, music by Naomi LaViolette.
A song about how the holidays can be a difficult time for many of us. SATB with piano and optional cello. (SSA and TTBB options also available)
Browse more scores here: www.naomilmusic.com/compositions
I have space for 1 more commission in the upcoming year... please reach out if you'd like to discuss a new composition together! As always, I love hearing from you. Thanks for being connected to my work as a composer!
Yours in song,
Naomi