Martin Byrial demonstrates the healing power of music with his new Gratitude Concert — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Conducted by Maestro Henrik Vagn Christensen, the Danish composer’s six-movement symphonic drama — aka his Concerto for Strings and Organ No. 1 — is a heartfelt homage to the millions of individuals worldwide who battle chronic illness in obscurity, and their unwavering quest for dignity, recognition and survival.
Inspired by the incredible stories shared by patients and their loved ones, The Gratitude Concert takes listeners on an emotive journey through the trials and triumphs of those facing conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, Parkinson’s, autism, Meniere’s, otosclerosis, lyme disease and sclerosis. These narratives serve as the foundation for this symphonic rhapsody, expertly crafted by Byrial.
The Gratitude Concert album features the grandiose and romantic performance for organ and 40-piece string orchestra. The music draws inspiration from the likes of Wojciech Kilar, Mahler and Strauss, blending programmatic elements, vivid scenery and sweeping melodies to create a powerful, evocative experience.
“The deployment of the classical orchestra is not an exaggeration of the stories we depict,” says Byrial. “The major sweeps, the harrowing depths and the full force of the organ merely form a humble underscore to the extraordinary battles that these people wage every day.”
In 2015, Byrial’s partner, composer and producer Tonje T.S. Norheim, faced a grave illness that thrust them into a relentless battle for her survival. Their journey mirrored that of millions worldwide: “You take matters into your own hands, and you just have to find a way, when societies’ great institutions turn their backs on your loved ones,” says Byrial. “Millions stand alone, and this concert is for them.”
Byrial is best known as composer, pianist, and lead singer of the symphonic rock band Liserstille, who played a significant role in the resurgence of symphonic post-rock in Scandinavia in the early 2000s. With The Gratitude Concert, Byrial continues his evolution as a concert and film composer, exploring music’s potential to universalize our shared stories, to serve the people of the present.
Check out The Gratitude Concert above and below, and join Martin Byrial on his website, Facebook and LinkedIn.
