Album Notes

New Classical Music

Brian Sager composes contemporary, listener-friendly new classical music. Melodic, tonal themes embrace a strong and vibrant harmonic framework. Syncopated rhythms coalesce with tuneful melody. Baroque, romantic, and impressionistic compositional styles are incorporated with in a modern musical structure, leading to a dynamic interplay of counterpoint and rhythm.

Senses Rising

"Senses Rising" is a thriteen work, seventy-two minute compilation of new classical music. The CD contains several new works for full orchestra, including the three-movement Symphony #1, "Janus", four movement Symphony #2, "Phoenix", as well as a sonatina for string quartet. Four pieces for solo piano are also on the recording: "Three Impressions" and "Sunlight Breaking." All the works were composed in a melodic, tuneful style, with elements of baroque, romantic, and impressionistic styles incorporated throughout the music.


Symphony #1 "Janus" 25:07

Janus, a Roman deity, was regarded as the guardian of doors, gates, and all beginnings. In ancient Rome Janus was depicted with two faces, on opposite sides of his head, allowing him to simultaneously look both forwards and backwards. This symphony was designed with a similar duality. The structures of all three movements follow a traditional sonata form, weaving together related motifs and building a dynamic tension, yet all three movements also contain modern thematic elements such as extensive syncopation and non-linear rhythmic structures.

Symphony #2 "Phoenix" 28:28

This symphony is titled after the Phoenix, a mythical bird that was said to have lived for 500 years, was burnt to ashes, then arose from the ashes to live again. Te first theme introduced in the fourth movement represents the long-lived melodies of the "First Delphic Hymn to Apollo" (ca. 138BC), interpreted from the oldest complete musical manuscript left to the modern world. Incorporation of this ancient Greek melody into a present-day symphony represents a rebirth of this musical legacy and offers a visceral connection

In addition to Symphony #1 ("Janus") and Symphony #2 ("Phoenix"), this albulm also contains five additional pieces, one for string quartet, and four for solo piano: