Joseph Seif - Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 1 (2020)

Seif's compositions blend the classical hallmarks of the Late Romantic era with more modern cues from composers such as Nils Frahm, Max Richter, and Yann Tiersen. His playing is demanding, intricate, and deeply influenced by the likes of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Gustav Mahler, and Franz Liszt. His sound can be described as atmospheric and highly textured — an attempt to create new tonal tapestries that interweave a soaring, ornate, romantic sensibility with a modern, cinematic haze.

"My intent is to combine the emotive nature and technical intricacies of Late Romantic classical music with tactile, atmospheric styling that is both painterly and organic in feel," says Seif. "Though many of my influences are modern, I am not a minimalist in my approach. I compose from my heart, at the very edge of my technical ability, and with a sense of great urgency."

With Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 1, Seif returns to his first love, the piano. Raised in multiple countries and now firmly rooted in California, Seif was a classically trained pianist prior to shifting into the visual arts to become an accomplished professional cinematographer and celebrity photographer (josephseif.com). He plans to perform the sonatas in multiple cities in 2020, while simultaneously promoting his recently published fine art photography book, ONWARD.