Billy Jonas - Build It Back Again - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

If one loves music, one can never be totally unhappy. (Franz Schubert) In his short lifetime Franz Schubert created a considerable amount of works. He composed in almost all genre types lieder works - over 600, operas, symphonies, masses, octets, chamber music, dance music waltzes, ländler, gallops, écossaises... String quartets are part of his works for small instrumental ensembles and are among his most performed pieces. Schubert himself pays special attention to them. In a letter to his friend, the painter Leopold Kupelwiezer, he wrote that he intended to InchpaveInch the path to the Inchbig symphonyInch, composing string quartets in Inchhigh styleInch and with Inchsymphonic proportionsInch. This is entirely true of his later quartets, including the quartet in D minor InchDer Tod und das MädchenInch (1824). The title is derived from the poem of the same name written by Matthias Claudius, and this is the main theme in the second part of the work. The unfinished quartet in D minor InchQuartettsatzInch (1820) precedes the last three quartets and is a kind of introduction to the new expressive techniques characteristic of Schubert's work at the end of his life. The two quartets are performed in this by the Valchev String Quartet - one of the most widely recognised Bulgarian chamber ensembles in the period 1973-1982. It had many concert performances in Bulgaria and abroad Germany, Austria, Hungary, the former USSR, Poland, Belgium, France, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Switzerland, Greece, Syria, Spain and Cuba. The quartet specialised under prominent professors Prof. Vilmos Tatray (Budapest), Prof. Frantz Samohil (Vienna) and Prof. Rudolf Nell (Munich). It's mastership of performing was highly appreciated at prestigious international competitions, where it ranked among the award winners.

Brian Conway - Apple in Winter [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/02/2007

'Get Real' is Billy's 2004 studio follow-up to 'Life So Far'. From matters of the heart, to geo-political intrigue, 'Get Real' invites the listener to climb into a 'percussion-rich' universe (~Dirty Linen Magazine) full of sonic exploration and emotional adventurousness. 'Get Real' is filled with sounds that come from homemade and recycled object instruments ('industrial re-percussion' 5 gallon water bottle, pots & pans, bottles & cans, buckets, garbage bins and carpet tube marimbas), as well as a host of more traditional sounding instruments (guitar, bass, Middle Eastern & African percussions), and LOTS of voices! Jonas' heartwarming work has been enjoyed across North America since 1987. Previously a member of the highly acclaimed duo, 'The Billy's,' he has been featured at prestigious festivals and venues nationwide. Jonas has shared stages with some of the world's favorite acoustic artists, including Patti Larkin, Ani DiFranco, David Wilcox, Richard Thompson, and Pete Seeger. A Billy Jonas performance is an explosion of energy, tempered with moments of lyrical introspection and mellifluous calm. In sing-alongs, bang-alongs, and whisper-alongs, everyone becomes part of a performance that reaches out and '. . . touches even the most hardened of hearts.' (Fayetteville Morning News) Billy Jonas' performances will inspire, inform, and enlighten. His work is born out of respect and reverence, and seeks to honor the creative energy in everyone. Billy provides performances and workshops for adult audiences and/or family audiences.