The Squid's Ear Magazine


Franek, John: About The Color Of The Moon (Edition Wandelweiser Records)

An album of evocative electronic and acousmatic soundscapes from German composer, electronic artist and keyboardist John Franek, who performs the four pieces on this album on organ and electronics, interweaving rich harmonics with stark tones, melding his sounds in slowly evolving interaction, like beams of light piercing peaceful atmospheres.
 

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Personnel:



John Franek-organ, electronics


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UPC: 4011778039662

Label: Edition Wandelweiser Records
Catalog ID: EWR 2204
Squidco Product Code: 32072

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: Germany
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels
Recorded in Princeton, New Jersey.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"How does a man decide in what order to abandon his life?"

-Cormac Mccarthy, No Country For Old Men



This album has been reviewed on our magazine:

The Squid
The Squid's Ear!

Artist Biographies

"John Franek (b.1996) is a pianist and composer whose compositions "evoke an epic narrative." (Sonograma Magazine)

John has had premieres of his compositions performed throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia, with notable premieres in locations such as New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Vienna, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Bangkok, Milan, Rome, St. Petersburg, Lviv, Havana, Quito and more. Among these performances he has had his worked performed by ensembles such as The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, The Moravian Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Improvisers Orchestra, KLK Contemporary Ensemble, the Brightwork Ensemble, the Lontano Ensemble, Trio Immersio, Syntax Ensemble, Hub New Music, Unassisted Fold, Quartet Contemporaine and TACETi ensemble.

Maintaining a full-time schedule of composing, he is currently [2022?] looking forward to premieres this coming season with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra & the Estrella Consort, with his music featured further in the St. Petersburg International New Music Festival and Grachtenfestival Amsterdam.

John has had the pleasure of taking part in some of the worlds most prestigious Composition Festivals including the highSCORE Festival, Impulse New Music Festival, the ICEBERG Institute, the International Composer's Institute Thailand, reMusik, Alba New Music Festival, New Hong Kong Philharmonia Composer's Retreat and will take part in the and Sofia Symphonic Summit in the 2021 - 2022 season.

As an active performer, recording artist and electronic music composer, John's output hosts a collection of acoustic and electroacoustic albums featured on the music labels Navona Records, Da Vinci Classics and Donemus Composer's Voice, among others.

As a sought after soloist, John has performed on three continents including concert tours throughout the United States. An avid researcher and performer of Mozart, he began touring his "Franek & Mozart" lecture-concert in 2018 and is currently working on a book about Mozart for popular audiences. His solo album Purely Mozart demonstrates his particular love of Mozart: "John Franek's affinity for Mozart is evinced in his brilliant, subtly-shaded playing which brings forth the composer's work in all of its multivalent sparkle and darkness." (Scott Hawkinson, Double V Digital Recordings)

John has benefited from the private composition and piano instruction of Silvina Milstein, Edward Nesbit, Matthew Kaner, Phyllis Lehrer and Jay Kawarsky. Through his participation in the Level II Master's Composition Program at the G. Verdi Conservatorio in Milan he will undergo private instruction from the world class composers Klaus Lang, Marco Stroppa, George Benjamin, Unsuk Chin and Alberto Posadas."

-John Franek Website (https://www.johnfranek.com/about)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. In All The Cold 16:51

2. As Lapis 12:21

3. Like Wet Stones 14:33

4. Mountains Of Night 18:49

Related Categories of Interest:


Compositional Forms
Piano & Keyboards
Electronic Forms
Solo Artist Recordings
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Ambient & Minimal Music
New in Compositional Music
New in Experimental & Electronic Music
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