FIREFLY SONGs

Planet M Records (2021)

Violist/composer Melia Watras presents an album of her own compositions: Firefly Songs, on Planet M Records, with performances by the ensemble Frequency (Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin and voice; Melia Watras, viola and voice; Sæunn Thorsteinsdottir, cello), and voices Catherine Connors and Vina Vu Valdés, as well as excerpts of recorded viola lessons given by Atar Arad. Firefly Songs, for various instruments and voices, was composed by Watras from 2015-2018, and is a reflection on stories, artistic influences, and people that are interconnected points of light from her personal folklore. These compositions celebrate community, and the art and nature in our world that help bind us in shared experiences.

 
 
 

Frequency:
Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin and voice ● Melia Watras, viola and voice ●  Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir, cello

Atar Arad, voice ● Arturo Alto, voice ● Catherine Connors, voice ● Vina Vu Valdés, voice

Producer: Judith Sherman ●  Engineer: David Sabee ● Engineering assistant: Dave West ● Editing: Judith Sherman and Jeanne Velonis ● Editing of vocal tracks on The Lesson: Doug Niemela

Melia Watras (b. 1969)
Firefly Songs for various voices and instruments (2015-2018)

① Mozart Doesn’t Live in Seattle for voice (2017) 1:29
Vina Vu Valdés, voice

② Vetur öngum lánar lið for violin and cello (2017) 2:52
Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin; Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir, cello

③ Berceuse for violin and viola (2015) 2:51
Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin; Melia Watras, viola

④ The Lesson for recorded voice, violin and viola (2017) 6:09
Atar Arad, recorded voice; Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin; Melia Watras, viola

⑤ Lament for viola solo (2016) 4:03
Melia Watras, viola

⑥ O. Reverie for narrator and violin (2018) 4:14
Melia Watras, narrator; Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin

⑦ (one) for voice(s), viola and cello (2018) 4:17
Michael Jinsoo Lim, voice; Melia Watras, viola; Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir, cello

⑧ William Wilson for voice and violin (2016) 3:51
Michael Jinsoo Lim, voice and violin

⑨ Wise Tentacles for violin and cello (2017) 2:34
Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin; Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir, cello

⑩ Lontano for violin and viola (2017) 3:43
Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin; Melia Watras, viola

⑪ Viola for narrator and viola (2017) 4:10
Arturo Alto, narrator; Melia Watras, viola

⑫ Remembrance of O. Reverie for violin solo (2018) :57
Michael Jinsoo Lim, violin

⑬ Firefly for voices and cello (2018) 4:03
Melia Watras, voice; Michael Jinsoo Lim, voice; Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir, cello

⑭ Seeing Cypresses with Catherine C. for recorded voice (2017) 5:19
Catherine Connors, recorded voice

World premiere recording