Elemental FANMAIL

“The music is incredible and the versatility of musical styles and genres is incredible. Your synthesis of style is remarkable… I felt transported to the world of Albeniz, de Falla and Montsalvatge one minute and another I was in a new and unknown realm.
—Orlay Alonso, Seconda Prattica

“An epic work.  This album signifies not only a major musical statement by Composer Frank Wallace, but a much needed sonic statement by Guitarist Frank Wallace.   Elemental delightfully demonstrates what a master guitarist can do with a seemingly unlimited tonal palette.”
—Aaron Green, Luthier

“Your CD is mind blowing… Your evolution as a composer and player continues to astound me.  Your playing is immaculate.  The guitar sounds magnificent.”
—David Isaacs, professor of guitar

“The music is definitely elemental — powerful and poetic!”
—Jonathan Richmond, writer and music critic

“I’m just now listening to your new CD Elemental. God it is good!!!  Really – it is just a terrific combination of composition, performance and recording. Oh and the art work’s not bad either!” 
—Mark Davis, Director of New American Mandolin Ensemble

Elemental arrives

Dear Friends,
I am thrilled to announce my new CD Elemental, the long-awaited volume III of my own new works, is now available at Gyre Music, CDBaby and Strings-by-Mail; and as MP3 downloads at iTunes, Amazon, and Naxos. This album (other than my two sons!) is the most important creation of my life; it is a pure statement of my soul and spirit. The music was written within the last 10 years and contains elements of all my musical experiences, alchemically fused together. Thanks to my late dear friend Edmund Brelsford and his wife Veronica, I was able to record this very special moment on an incredible 1931 Hauser guitar that was built for Andrés Segovia, who in turn gave it to his student Blanche Honegger Moyse.  She eventually brought it to Brattleboro VT where I first encountered it in the hands of Edmund in the mid-1990’s. Enjoy!   —Frank

Frank Wallace – Producer

With the help of our indomitable new assistant Heather Lawless, Gyre applied for a Copland Recording grant last week. I have been in the business of producing recordings for nearly 20 years, and closely involved with the process before that, but I had never written a proper bio of myself in this context. I’m proud of my work for Gyre, so here it is:

Best Wishes to All, Frank

New Releases in the New Year

Gyre is excited to announce the release of several new CDs this winter/spring.

ELEMENTAL  Frank Wallace, classical guitar
The long-awaited third volume of Frank Wallace’s new solo works, featuring an exquisite 1931 Herman Hauser guitar.  Download a free preview of A Heavy Sleep (2013) below.

THE NAKED VOICE   Nancy Knowles, mezzosoprano, bansuri flute
Lullabies, traditional and ancient songs in the time-honored way of women everywhere, a voce sola.  A rare opportunity to hear Knowles’ haunting flute playing as well.

GARGOYLES  Mare Duo and Friends play Frank Wallace
Annika Hinsche (mandolin) and Fabian Hirsche (guitar) from Dusseldorf Germany in a spectacular showcase of Wallace’s compositions… Mark Davis writes, “It is a really good sound… Wow!  This is revolutionary for the mandolin/guitar repertoire!”

New Guitar Solo for #Britten100

Detlev Bork, guitarist

The world celebrates the 100th anniversary of the incomparable Benjamin Britten on November 22, 2013. In honor of the event Gyre is pleased to announce the release of A Heavy Sleep. The work is a 4:30 fantasy commissioned by and written for German guitarist Detlev Bork by Frank Wallace. The world premiere was given November 9, 2013 by Detlev at Kammermusiksaal der Musik- und Singschule Heidelberg, Germany. The title and motivic content of the piece were derived from Britten’s monumental work Nocturnal from 1963.

Go to product page to read more and purchase a PDF or Deluxe Edition of A Heavy Sleep. Read more about events for the Anniversary on Twitter.

An old Star still Shines!

Finally, Gyre has MP3s for sale here on the Gyre Music website. We begin with an old friend, Trio LiveOak’s classic Star Shining on the Mountain from 1980. Music of medieval and renaissance Spain played and sung by Nancy Knowles, John Fleagle, and Frank Wallace.  Pay what you want –  $1-$100 – anything at all.  We appreciate your support and will use funds make other old recordings, and even unfinished records, available to you. For example:

COMING SOON  A compilation EP of lute and vihuela solos from Art of Flemish Song, Ay de Mi, Piva as well as 7 unreleased recordings.

New Products

New Products

• There are two new EPs and one of an old favorite:   Spotlight One includes four recordings of Spanish-lyric songs;
  The Song of Albin  is a six-movement suite that Frank Wallace recorded in 2004 but never finished a full CD; and an old favorite, Trio LiveOak’s first professional LP recording from 1980, Star Shining on the Mountain
• Renaissance Duets for two guitars; original two-part works from the 12th to 16th century, perfect sightreading material with various clefs
• Mandolin section with new works including Blue Heron and Night Owl for solo mandolin
• Three new solo guitar works:   Black Falcon, written for Edel Muñoz and coming soon: White Albatross, for Fabian Hinsche and A Heavy Sleep for Detlev Bork
• New wind quintet: The Bells

Gyre Special Features

Here are some useful guidelines to our new site…

Special Features

• We now offer most products in digital or hard copy versions. The default price for sheet music is a PDF download.
• All digital products, MP3s or PDFs will be delivered via a link in your emailed receipt. Sheet music with parts or combination products of MP3s and PDFs will be in a zip file: simply download to desktop and double click on the file.
• When you order a deluxe hand-made Printed Edition you will also receive a complimentary PDF of the same music. Again, a link to that PDF will be found in your email receipt. We like to keep original editions clean, so this saves the effort of copying for daily use. Please support our work by not sharing PDFs or MP3s with friends – send them to our site instead – only you have the right to print from the PDF.
• The new Video page features performances of Gyre publications; each title has a link to the sheet music if you want to learn more or purchase; send us your video of works by Frank Wallace to include on the page.
• There is audio and video on product pages when possible; some audio is a midi file from Finale / Garritan Personal Orchestra. Although this program does an incredible job (with a little dynamics etc. tweaking by the composer), we need YOUR help to keep updating the listening experience with live performances.