Paul Barnes, Pianist: New Generations

Vision of Paradise program notes

Now touring: Illumination: Piano works based on Byzantine and Jewish Chant

Barnes presents a unique program inspired by the mystical world of ancient chant from the Byzantine and Jewish traditions.

Barnes has collaborated with Philip Glass for the past 28 years and the program will include Barnes' virtuoso transcription of "The Land," Glass's musical treatment of the Native experience from his Piano Concerto No.2, "After Lewis and Clark." Barnes' latest commission from composer J.A.C. Redford "Variations on the Incarnation" will also be performed. The work is based on the beloved Greek Orthodox hymn "I Parthenos Simeron" which Barnes will chant before the performance of the new work. The program concludes with Victoria Bond's Illuminations on Byzantine Chant which Barnes featured on his latest recording of the piano works of Bond released in 2021 by Albany Records.

Join us in New York in December!

Pianist and Greek Orthodox chanter Dr. Paul Barnes presents a unique program inspired by the mystical world of ancient chant from the Byzantine and Jewish traditions at the historic St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine on December 12th, 7:00pm. Barnes will be joined by master chanter Dimitrios Katsiklis and the Byzantine Choir of St. Nicholas performing traditional byzantine hymns from the Nativity in both Greek and English. The evening will feature a performance of Philip Glass's Annunciation Piano Quintet which was used for the newly created video tour of St. Nicholas narrated by George Stephanopoulos. Barnes who has collaborated with Mr. Glass for the past twenty-eight years, commissioned the Annunciation Piano Quintet and gave the world premiere in 2018. Barnes' latest commission from composer J.A.C. Redford "Variations on the Incarnation" will also be performed. The work is based on the beloved Greek Orthodox hymn "I Parthenos Simeron." The program also includes Victoria Bond's Illuminations on Byzantine Chant which Barnes commissioned and featured on his latest recording of the piano works of Bond released in 2021 by Albany Records.

New Release - Fall of 2021: Illumination

Barnes' 14th CD release featuring
a contemplative and cathartic program of piano works
inspired by the mystical world of chant.

"he sings with haunting musicality...and plays with fervid virtuosity...the music is calm and meditative, perfect for these troubled times." - American Record Guide review of Illumination: Piano Works of Victoria Bond

Track Listing & Program Notes »

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Barnes featured on PBS Newshour

New Release:

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CD Reviews:

"The melodic beauty and benevolent fluidity of the first movement instantly seduce before the darkness of the second…"

"Paul Barnes, whose pianistic lines are always clear, is a marvel of dialogue with Brooklyn Rider"

"Glass has clearly entered a third period. A period which saw the enthronement of a style still as personal but with less radical contours. A style that we hardly hesitate today to qualify as classic. This is probably the other "Annunciation" of this disc."

Read the Review...

Upcoming Performances

Date	Description	Venue/Location
2023
Jan 28	Graduate Auditions at Glenn Korff School of Music	Lincoln, NE
Feb 5	Illumination Solo Recital, 7:30pm, Sykes Chapel, University of Tampa Learn more »	Jacksonville, FL
Feb 7	Solo Recital, Jacksonville University	Jacksonville, FL
Feb 17	Undergraduate Auditions at Glenn Korff School of Music	Lincoln, NE
March 17	Performance with Cappella Romana Learn more »	Portland, OR
March 19	St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. Philip Glass Annunciation Piano Quintet and Victoria Bond Illuminations with Cappella Romana, 4:00pm Learn more »	Seattle, WA
March 31	Illumination Solo Recital, Heidelberg University, 7:30pm	Tiffin, OH
April 9-16	Orthodox Holy Week at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church	Lincoln, NE
May 24	The Way of Mountains and Desert by Ron Warren and Sacagawea by Philip Glass. Cutting Edge Concerts performance with Ron Warren, Native flute, Kosciuszko Foundation, 15 E 65th St, New York	New York, NY
July 17-21	Lied Center Piano Academy Learn more »	New York, NY
July 27	World Premiere of Jac Redford's "Variations on the Incarnation" and the Houston premiere of Philip Glass Piano Quintet "Annunciation," University of St. Thomas Learn more »	Houston, TX
Sept 7	Masterclass at Butler University, 2:00pm	Indianapolis, IN
Sept 8	Illumination solo recital at Butler University, 7:30pm Eidson-Duckall Recital Hall, Indianapolis	Indianapolis, IN
Sept 10	Illumination solo recital at University of Indianapolis, 3pm	Indianapolis, IN
Oct 12-13	NMTA Conference at UNO	Omaha, NE
Nov 4	Masterclass for Atlanta area high-school students, 5pm, North Decatur Presbyterian Church	Atlanta, GA
Nov 5	Illumination solo recital at North Decatur Presbyterian Church, 7:30pm	Atlanta, GA
Dec 12	"Celebrating the Incarnation: Piano Works based on Byzantine Chant" (see flier above) at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & Shrine, 7:00pm Buy Tickets & Learn more »	New York, NY
2024
Jan 27	Graduate Auditions at the Glenn Korff School of Music	Lincoln, NE
Jan 31	Retrospective celebration and JAC Redford premiere in Lincoln, Westbrook Recital Hall, 7:30pm	Lincoln, NE
Feb 16	Undergraduate Auditions at the Glenn Korff School of Music	Lincoln, NE
April 21	Illuminations solo recital, Black Hills Chamber Music Society, 3pm, First Congregational Church, 1200 Clark St Learn more »	Rapid City, SD
May 1	12:00noon at Richard Serra’s 'Greenpoint' sculpture on UNL’s City Campus: A tribute recital with piano inside the sculpture, featuring Barnes' transcriptions of the music of Philip Glass	Lincoln, NE
April 27-May 5	Orthodox Holy Week at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church	Lincoln, NE
May 17	Studio recital featuring the students of Paul and April Barnes, 5:00, Westbrook Recital Hall	Lincoln, NE
July 15-19	Lied Center Piano Academy 2024 Learn more »	Lincoln, NE
July 18	Philip Glass recital with Eldred Marshall, 7pm Westbrook Recital Hall,	Lincoln, NE
July 20	Philip Glass "Annunciation" Piano Quintet,7pm Omaha Conservatory of Music,	Omaha, NE
July 20-27	Teaching at Soundwaves summer camp at the Omaha Conservatory of Music Learn more »	Omaha, NE