From La Société Expéditionnaire: GothBoiClique founder Wicca Phase Springs Eternal remixes Lewis & Clarke's elegy to Elijah McClain, a black American murdered at the hands of Aurora Colorado authorities. Wicca Phase recasts Lewis & Clarke's slow-burning chamber-folk into uncharted territory. Stripping away orchestral elements, he conjures an atmosphere both deliberate and meditative.
New Single on Folk Radio UK in honor and tribute to Elijah McClain.
I’m the kind of person inclined to say “this is my art, have at it”. Explaining is tedious, didactic even, and I want the music to speak for itself. But in this case, context is everything. Aurora 15:34 is both a eulogy to an individual and a rallying cry against the systemic violence and racism that pervades our society.
Read MoreA live version of “Arrival”, (the first movement of Cathedral) is being hosted by the fine folks at Folk Radio UK, along with some words from my Delaware Water Gap quarantine lens. It can be viewed here.
The transition from winter to spring seemed to be in suspended animation this year, as if the seasons themselves were on hold until further notice….
Read MoreCertain spaces contain the various energies of previous occupants, where stories are to be revealed simply by entering and being receptive. Susquehanna Studio is the home, workplace, and painting studio of my dear friend Robert Stark. Located in the Endless Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania, his place is both a beacon and a sanctuary. For forty years and counting, the Art Exchange at Susquehanna Studio has been host to countless artists of every discipline and medium.
Read MoreHappy New Year! The re-scheduled date for my record release show is Sunday Jan 12. We have an incredibly special evening planned: Christian Frederickson will perform a solo set in addition to joining us for the performance of 'Cathedral'... and poet Ben Evans will be reading.
Tix: $15 advance only:
(address provided upon purchase)
https://bit.ly/35uE1Hx
'Cathedral' LP/CD/DIGI:
ffm.to/lou_rogai_cathedral
I recently went in-depth about the creation and process of Cathedral. Eric Schlittler conducted the interview for the music site Highway 81 Revisited. He’s the owner and founder of Summersteps Records, a miner of outsider art, and a musician and enthusiast in his own right. I’m appreciative of how the conversation rolled.
LOSS, MOVING FORWARD AND ‘SHAKING THE SNOW GLOBE’
Read MoreAvailable via Veriditas Recordings
Vinyl LP/CD/Stream here
Cathedral is an experimental elegy for chamber ensemble in three movements. The passages of this 17 minute piece are exercises and expressions on a theme. Orchestrations of classical guitar, woodwinds, brass, synthesizer, vocals, and piano are woven with tendrils of string movements and field recordings.
Read More“Acceptance” is the central movement of Cathedral, streaming now at The 405 and available for pre-order on LP/CD here. You may also stream it on Spotify. This movement the anchor of three variations for woodwinds, brass, strings, voice, piano, and field recordings. Acceptance is letting go, the most powerful act of non-action. The letting go is an act of flow, never to be confused with defeat.
Cathedral is new music for chamber ensemble which will debut at COToA 2019. A variation in three movements, an elegy for the soul of our nation and our individual spirits. The night includes a host of incredible artists for the opening celebration of the 42nd annual COTA festival.
Read MoreUpcoming performance collaboration with Christian Frederickson, improvisational music for dance at the Totts Gap Institute here in Eastern Pennsylvania. I had the pleasure of working with Christian in several sessions presented by SITI Company for their viewpoints training workshops that take place every summer on the Skidmore campus in Saratoga Springs, NY….
Read MoreEssere Amato, a horror short by Nathalia Bas-Tzion Beahan. I had the privilege of composing theme music and an orchestral score based on Italian classical and folk songs passed down to me from my great-grandfather. Collaborators on this soundtrack include John Taylor, David Scott Stone, and Paul Beahan. Released via Calabasas Records.
Read MoreA discussion with Erika Funke at WVIA Public Media regarding the process of creating “Implications in D Major”, Moondog, The Poconos, and the upcoming COToA performance on Sept. 7.
https://soundcloud.com/wvia-public…/lou-rogai-august-21-2018
Gracious thanks to John Schaefer at WNYC for featuring “Implications in D Major”
“Lou Rogai, who frequently performs as Lewis & Clarke, is known for his avant-folk-pop, but has stepped out to compose an instrumental piece for a slightly altered string quartet…
Thanks to Andrew Hannah at The Line of Best Fit for sharing the audio + video premiere.
“It's almost four years since Lou Rogai’s Lewis & Clarke project released any new music, but today the Pennsylvania-based musician is back with a mighty suite of music…
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