Written by Matt Wong & Staff
“Song For Michael” is a contemporary classical piece for piano and strings composed by Pauline Frechette. Written in memory of her nephew Michael, who passed away at the young age of 19, the piece channels the emotions of beautiful memories and a profound loss.
Frechette utilizes sophisticated harmonies, well thought-out phrasing, and a wide spectrum of dynamics with grace and elegance. The piece is largely a solo piano piece, with the strings entering in on certain phrases, affecting the listener’s deepest emotional response to the piece through textural change.
Frechette's playing is full of dynamics as she moves from a light touch to deeper and heavier moments, building and releasing tension as if the memories dancing through her fingers recall the light of love and the heaviness of losing a loved one. The melodies are both beautiful and tender with some dissonance to add intensity. Anyone who listens to "Song For Michael" will feel the love Frechette has for her nephew Michael on every single note.
“Song For Michael” by Pauline Frechette is beautifully composed piece of music. Through this piece, and her performance, it is evident that Frechette is well schooled in the classical music idiom. She also demonstrates, that she is a contemporary composer, able to write an intricate piece of music, while connecting with listeners on an emotional level.
Listen on SoundCloud.
For more information, visit Pauline Frechette's website or Reverbnation.
About Pauline Frechette
Pauline Frechette is a composer/performer with roots in classical, Broadway and rock. Her Great-grandfather, Josef Vezina, founded the Quebec Symphony and her father was a theater organist. Her recent compositions are best defined as “Neo-classical”which is a genre that utilizes modern techniques within the classical form, composing music that reflects one’s own compositional voice.
Frechette has composed songs for TV and Film. Her rock opera, Ataria, was produced by The Goodspeed Opera House and the Baruch Theatre in NYC. As a singer/performer, she considers herself a 21st Century “troubadour”, a contemporary poet-musician. Her credits include singing on major motion pictures (Aladdin, Rent, Mermaids …) performing/recording with many legendary artists including MUSE for the 2012 Olympics; Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Leonard Cohen, Cher, and duets with Neil Diamond.
In solo concerts Pauline performs all her original material, moving effortlessly from neo-classical piano compositions to romantic jazz songs, humorous theatrical pieces and even an “Ode to Beethoven” rap. Each show takes the audience on an emotional journey that often includes performing her music live to videos of ballet, artwork and other storytelling forms.
Her albums "An Intimate Story” and "Colors of My Heart” debuted on Billboard Top Ten in Classical, Classical-crossover and jazz charts. For the past two years, Frechette has topped the Reverbnation Classical charts at #1. Her songs have well over 6 million hits when adding up Spotify, Soundcloud, Reverbnation and other internet sites. Currently her music is being played in over 175 countries to millions of listeners on instore radio. Reviewer Jack Saint says of Pauline’s music: “…I have never in my life as a professional music critic heard anyone touch my heart the way that she does when I hear her songs.”
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