ETERNAL (2015)
Eternal is a collection of songs which come from Steve’s heart and the deepest of emotions. These titles are a reflection of the wide spectrum of joy, sorrow, and love from his life experiences.
Steve’s faith in God and the gratefulness of the gift He has given Steve is the foundation of this music and the hope is that you will experience emotions unique to your life as you listen and reflect.
ALBUM NOTES...
I love writing and arranging music because it’s an extension of who I am and it gives me the opportunity to create music which is all my own! Composing the music for Eternal was a wonderful journey over a span of several years that was both a challenge yet so much a rewarding experience. The inspiration for these songs came from memories of my lifetime, family, and relationships. The concept of this recording project was to create a story with each song and have the listener feel the music as it might apply to their lives. Songs such as Eternal, Reminiscence, Throughout Time, and Peaceful Seashores can all be interpreted differently specifically to the person listening. As you read about what each song means to me, you will understand the vast range of emotions this album consists of. Writing these songs was definitely a result of my own personal feelings of love, joy and the struggles in life. The album, Eternal has sweeping melodies, upbeat rhythms, soft and tender selections, a variety of styles, and beautiful orchestration that accompanies many of the songs. When the day arrived for the piano and orchestra to come together in the studio it was an unforgettable experience to hear the arrangements come to life. It was an honor to work with the best musicians in Nashville as you will hear!
TRACK NOTES...
Eternal is the title track of the album and it’s a love song to my beautiful wife. It was composed and dedicated to her for our wedding and a string quartet played a beautiful performance of the song during our ceremony. As the title suggests, my love for her is forever. Eternal has also taken on an additional meaning for our family as we have realized the hope and peace we have to one day reunite with our loved ones who have gone before us.
Adoration is somewhat of a dramatic track that has the verses written in minor and the choruses written in major. The concept of the song is the love and respect we have for someone and then the chance someday to express ourselves to that person. The song begins with a soft, mysterious intro then builds from there on throughout the rest of the song. The bridge goes back into a mysterious feel before a dramatic transition into the final chorus highlighted by the strings which were written similar to an intense scene of a movie and then concludes the same as the song begins.
Peaceful Seashores represents the experiences I have had living and spending many great times with family and friends on the beaches of California. This song was originally named ‘Pacific Shores’ but was changed to make it a more universal title to fit other experiences at the shore. It’s a piano solo and the quietest song on the album. During the composition, I had to resist the temptation to add more notes which would have taken away from the simple and peaceful times I have had while watching the amazingly beautiful sunsets over the ocean. Of course, this song can translate into various other meanings of peace and tranquility.
Reminiscence is an upbeat song with a driving rhythm and electric guitars! It’s the type of song that you can listen to without the need to be caught up in changing tempos and dynamics. The song has a consistent melody and a jazz, contemporary feel. It’s fun and exciting to reminisce about days gone by with family and friends!
Sheree is a special song that I wrote specifically for my daughter, Christa, whose middle name is the title of the song. The word, Sheree comes from English and French origin meaning Dear or Darling. It was written for Christa (My Little Darling!) when she was 12-13 years old who has now grown into a beautiful and talented woman. The song is a piano solo with a considerable amount of emotion.
Throughout Time is a song about a special love that blossoms. Over the years we grow with a person who begins as a friend and as that relationship grows it becomes as clear as a perfectly sunny day that this is the love of your life! The orchestra in this arrangement was beautifully written in my opinion because the orchestra fades in and out at the perfect times leaving just the piano to play the tender solo parts.
Gift of Grace is a piano solo about forgiveness and unconditional love. Ultimately, it’s about God’s grace that He freely gives us and the love He has for each person. God knows our struggles and understands us more than anyone else can. The gift that He provides for us is what we can in turn offer to each other.
Artemis is a significant song for me because it honors my Mom and our heritage. My Mom’s maiden name was Artemis Diane Pandeli. My grandmother (Yaya) came from Greece and my grandfather (Papuli) came from Albania. They met after immigrating to the United States. My upbringing was full of Feta Cheese, Kalamata Olives, the best Spanakopita made so well by my Papuli, and of course the music! This song is the most colorful and exciting piece on the album as it begins with an unmistakably haunting ethnic melody with beautiful orchestration and hints of Greece. The song arrives at a point where everything stops and then the fun begins with the slow dance progressing faster and faster until all of the bells and whistles emerge! An incredible accordion performance puts the icing on the cake and then the song climaxes into the original melody and ends softly with a faint mandolin in the background.
Seasons of Anticipation is the happy song on the album! I wrote this tune during the Christmas Season preparing for a concert. As the title suggests, there are seasons and events in our life which we eagerly anticipate from when we are little children to grown adults. My hope is that as you hear this song it brings back fond memories along with a fresh excitement for the future.
Serenity is another quiet piano solo which focuses on our times of meditation and reflection. Whether we are communicating with God or thinking about our loved ones, this song offers a break in our busy lives for calm and stillness.
The Dawning is the final song on the album and it leaves a message of new beginnings. The excitement of a newly married couple or the birth of a child are examples of new chapters in our lives. Renewal of relationships with each other and with God can give us a new start and a spirit of rekindling. I love the music of Debussy and you will notice the similarity to the great classical composer.