Release Date: July 24, 2020
Catalog #: RR8039
Format: Digital & Physical
21st Century
Chamber
Vocal Music
Piano
Voice
Download Album Cover*

Melancholy is Like a Plume of Smoke

Gordon Eagle composer

Aliana de la Guardia soprano
Maja Tremiszewska piano

“A poet who composes,” Chinese artist Gordon Eagle presents cross-cultural sounds and styles in his music for soprano and piano. MELANCHOLY IS LIKE A PLUME OF SMOKE features a collection of five songs with music and lyrics penned by Eagle. This new Ravello Records album mingles ancient Chinese poetic traditions and Western sounds in one forward-thinking recording.

MELANCHOLY IS LIKE A PLUME OF SMOKE presents five concise poems, most divided into quatrains with lines no more than a few words in length. This brevity belies the imagery bursting from each word. Eagle’s lyrics reflect Chinese poetry styles which favors harmony of tone, evocative images, and creating a state of mind. Each reflection on life, relationships, and the past is framed by the performances of soprano Aliana de la Guardia and pianist Maja Tremiszewska. Their deft handling of the tonal, melancholic melodies and short but image-packed phrases completes the atmosphere of this album.

Eagle’s debut Ravello Records album brings together old and new, East and West, poetry and music, all in one successful release.

Listen

Hear the full album on YouTube

Stream/Buy

Choose your platform

Buy Album: Amazon (CD & download) Qobuz (24-bit download)

Track Listing & Credits

# Title Composer Performer
01 Blear Pity Gordon Eagle Aliana de la Guardia, soprano; Maja Tremiszewska, piano 3:46
02 Feeling of Dreams Gordon Eagle Aliana de la Guardia, soprano; Maja Tremiszewska, piano 4:30
03 Melancholy Is Like a Plume of Smoke Gordon Eagle Aliana de la Guardia, soprano; Maja Tremiszewska, piano 4:10
04 Sister's Awareness Gordon Eagle Aliana de la Guardia, soprano; Maja Tremiszewska, piano 4:19
05 Tenderness That Passes Through Ages Gordon Eagle Aliana de la Guardia, soprano; Maja Tremiszewska, piano 3:38

Recorded February 9-10, 2020 at Futura Productions in Roslindale MA
Session Producer & Engineer John Weston

Executive Producer Bob Lord

Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
A&R Jacob Smith

VP, Audio Production Jeff LeRoy
Recording Sessions Director Levi Brown
Audio Director, Editing, Mixing & Mastering Lucas Paquette

VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland, Sara Warner

Artist Information

Gordon Eagle

Composer

A poet who composes. Refines Chinese ancient essence, which combines with western civilization. Also a writer for film, TV and others, right now looking for someone to mediate.

Learn More

Lyrics

By Gordon Eagle

Theatrical tales faded
Along with their meaning
Hard to chase a missing page
Only surprise left

Who can cross the phantom’s rim?
Break through realities
Who may say how things are triggered？
And define possibilities

Can you tell the truce of history?
The fate and opportunities
If nothing has ever been changed
Why pity remains in chest

Could you do penetrate simulation?
Of darkness and the rosiness
If nothing has ever been changed
Why pity remains in chest

The intentions increased
Were seeds attempting to burgeon
Although limits were effected to
Impassable nets

This desire multiplies
Was fire smolders in charcoal
Although limits were imposed to
Insulated walls

There I breach barriers
Edges of fragile fantasy
Then I realign fragmented hints
To waken a shell

By Gordon Eagle

Dreams in last night suspended
Seem to remind some affairs
Till daylight dispels shadows
Situations had lost
Whatever plays refer
Feeling of dreams continues

There must be a theatre
performing in my head
When I repose unconsciously
It came out to display
Though cannot remember clearly
I can still distinguish
Even frames had dissolved
Sensation circulates

Bad sleep last night intermitted
Nothing was made or annihilated
When I revive into consciousness
Memories seem slip away
Whatever recall or not
Feeling of dreams continues

There must be a theatre
performing in my head
When I repose unconsciously
It came out to display
Though cannot remember clearly
I can still distinguish
Even frames had dissolved
Sensation circulates

By Gordon Eagle

Console my brittle heart comfortless
Sublime uneasy soul torturous
Lighten injured body off pressure
Reward hyaline wings

Like a plume of smoke
Without fetters on earth
Tangle becomes beneath
And hope was lissome

Discard meaningless stuff
Flow to uncertain far
Heal cureless wounds
Refine polluted guts

Release old trifles
Send off departed roles
Exploit unknown areas
Open bright futures

Like smoke in air
Quickly rises and leaves
But the vivacious life
Is still reachable there

By Gordon Eagle

Sister she changed her note acted humbly
Seemed like I was never familiar with her
Why you did ruin the kinship with arrogancy
and still do not connect with genuine heart

Humbleness is not the view I want to see
Vanity is not the goal I like to gain
Primary teacher of literature you are
But no value shows in aimless life

There used to be a little blackboard I painted on the wall
and we were called sister and brother brinjals
Surely you waywardly prefer conceit to reason
So, the result is also your will to bring about

A false conception had been formed
Which did not turn wildness into culture
Justice and intelligence are not promoted
One quickly falls into inertial force

On what day，will you see
At what time，can it change
All at once，regenerate
In the end，joy is regained

By Gordon Eagle

From disappearance of past
Emerges indelible emotion
Deplete rarefaction of hope
Erase passivity of tears

A thing can’t last forever
No youth will maintain longer
All wane in bygone currents
Gradually decay

Can the tenderness be spread?
Seems unfold a perfumed fan
Bless an occult refreshing sense
To surround and vouchsafe

Forgive no perfection is certain
In the uncontrollable world
Even the time you have spent was in vain
Even your love released was wasted

Can the tenderness be spread?
Seems unfold a perfumed fan
Bless an occult refreshing sense
To surround and vouchsafe