This might not be a record for everyone, but that only augments its charm, in our opinion. As described by its author, American composer David Lilly, “This is my intended ‘breakthrough’ piece as I pursue a career in orchestral film music”. What a start. There’s a lot one could appreciate in ‘AWAKENING’. Essentially, it’s classical music, a long orchestral symphony divided into four movements, each one sharing a distinct and specific identity. It could be easy to classify the whole record as ‘cinematic’, but we fear it’s too simplistic. It is so much more: a nuanced and expressive dive into Lilly’s love for classical compositions, together with his wide knowledge of the environment he’s moving through.
Furthermore, David explains how there’s a constant tension between a more traditional symphonic approach – with a wealth of melodies and countermelodies spanned across the whole orchestral spectrum – and a more modern atmospheric intention, perhaps more akin to what we’d actually consider as ‘cinematic’.
The last two movements, ‘Rebirth’ and ‘In Passion, Pulse, and Power’ are decisively more soundscape-ish, perhaps signalling Lilly’s willingness to embrace that very same world, finding his place as a score composer. As he explains: “The work breaks the mold of a traditional symphony in its cinematic writing style while telling a story without the aide of picture.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Awakening’ on Youtube and Spotify:
