"gallery" - tom rasely

TOM RASELY began his musical path with piano/theory lessons at age seven, and an academic adventure culminating with a Bachelor of Music degree from SUNY Fredonia. His career as a Guitarist/Composer is marked by an extensive discography of vocal and instrumental albums and a catalog of over 1400 compositions, including the sixteen tracks from the “Gallery” album. Two performances at the White House are highlights of Tom’s distinguished performance history. Visit rasely.com for more information.

During his time in Southern Indiana, we brought him in to play for, clinic, and write for my Concert Choir at Salem High School. We kept in touch after he moved back east.

“Gallery” is a present-day “Pictures at an Exhibition”; most of those sixteen songs were tone paintings based on famous artworks, from which the six segments of this Suite originate. 

The Great Wave of Kanagawa refers to Hokusai’s celebrated woodcut print. Paint Bubbles is not based on any painting, but you can get the idea by looking at any work by

Jackson Pollack or Georges Seurat. La Gioconda is inspired by da Vinci’s Mona Lisa - her real name being Lisa Giocondo (Mona is a title meaning Madam). Floating Men in Derbies refers to Magritte’s Golconda, and Zodiacal Dust is an impression of the vastness of outer space which paints the cosmos without human help. Lastly, Sunflowers refers to the famous work by Vincent Van Gogh.

First conceived as Guitar selections, this arrangement develops themes from Tom Rasely’s “Gallery” collection. It’s not quite a concerto grosso, but it does feature a strong Electric Guitar soloist and an independent Rhythm Section accompanied by the Orchestra. The Rhythm Section is granted considerable freedom and is encouraged to add their own interpretation.

visit Tom Rasely’s website: http://www.rasely.com

also: http://www.youtube.com/user/tomrasely

and http://www.facebook.com/trasely