Engaging Classical Music
The music you find here is not stodgy, dry, academic, left-brain-only music. Rather, it is music that is fun and engaging, while preserving those aspects that make classical music deep: counterpoint, rich harmonies, instrumental palette, varied structures, and careful craftsmanship. I am a firm believer that sophisticated/deep/artful music can (and should) still be accessible. Crafting music that is both deep and accessible results in music that is engaging—from the first listening to the hundredth.
These aesthetics reflect my several loves in classical music. I love counterpoint, whether it is a Josquin madrigal, Mozart’s Requiem, or a Schubert piano trio. I love the broad structures composers create. For example, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony starts with a movement that is almost 14 minutes long—nearly unheard of in popular music (with the exception of progressive rock, of which I am a huge fan).
There is so much to love that I can’t help but contribute! This is what led me to composing. If you enjoy what you encounter on these pages, please drop me a line. But most of all, enjoy!
Christopher Lee Fraley
Composer of accessible, yet sophisticated, classical music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, chorus, and solo voice.