Breaking the boundaries of classical and electronic music
Poetry and symbolism inspire these rich instrumental cycles in which the boundaries of classical form expand to create music that transcends the acoustic domain. From the layered piano cycle Iconography to Precinct. Rochester, a dreamy excursion into Imagist poetry through music, here is music to guide us to new ways of listening.
“Sternau uses Classical structures in her symphonic synth pieces. Stately and quite lovely—similar to the film soundtrack work that Vangelis and Tangerine Dream have done.”
—Rhapsody.com
The Green Earth cycle was inspired by Pablo Neruda’s poem “Ode to the Color Green” and “Tomo Gésheé Rimpoché’s Vision” from The Way of the White Clouds by Lama Anagarika Govinda. Mixed electronics (keyboard and wind controller), 25 min., 2007.
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Iconography is a layered piano cycle that draws on The Twelve Icons, a translation into music of twelve spiritual icons where the First Icon explores the key of C and then makes a natural progression up the twelve-tone scale. The Twelve Icons, representing more than eight hours of music, was composed in 1993-94, and edited and re-recorded in 2007 to create Iconography. Layered piano (keyboard), 48 min., 2007.
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Meditations is a cycle of twelve works expressing the transcendent spiritual presence through music. Elegies draws upon Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem cycle, The Duino Elegies, to ask in music, “Who, if I cried out, would heed me admid the host of the Angels?” Mixed electronics (keyboard), 31 min., 1996-1997. Released as a self-published CD and digital download in MP3 format in 1999.
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You can buy MP3 files for this album on iTunes or almost any online music site.
Precinct. Rochester is a dreamy seven-part electronic symphonic poem inspired by Amy Lowell’s poem “Precinct. Rochester” (Sword Blades and Poppy Seed, 1914). Mixed electronics (keyboard and wind controller), 19 min., 2013.
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The Return of Orpheus cycle was inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Sonnets to Orpheus.” Mixed electronics (keyboard and wind controller), 18 min., 2008.
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The Rumi Dancing cycle mirrors in music the poem “The Turn: Dance in Your Blood,” from The Essential Rumi. Mixed electronics (keyboard), 29 min., 2004.
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The Sibylline Oracles Cantata, a work for soloists, mixed choir, and pre-recorded electronics, takes its title and text from a sixth-century AD Greek work considered to be spurious Old Testament prophecy. The Sibylline Oracles Cantata was first composed in 1995 and completely rewritten in 2000. The all-female voicing of the 2000 version has been changed to mixed voices (choir and soloists) for this 2013 revision. 30 min.
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The Bells of Paroquia is an art song cycle for tenor and pre-recorded electronics. The twelve songs are drawn from the poetry of David Mazer, Cynthia Sternau’s grandfather. 30 min., composed in 1994 and revised in 2013.
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