Now this is a remarkable discography to embark upon. With the knowledge of the massive resume of Dale Cornelius, with over 90 remarkable film credits from movies including Mary & Max, Backtrack, and Till Human Voices Wake Us, as well as television shows including The Doctor Blake Mysteries, comes a whole new appreciation of this discography. Released on the 2nd of October, “What Is Carried, What Is Left Behind?” is a complete representation of a master cinematic composer stripping away the visuals and baring his own soul. Now that takes an incredible virtuoso to go from composing for large-scale visuals to composing a six-track modern classical album that can speak for itself through its very visual nature. The way Dale incorporates the intricate patterns of felt piano, the warmth of analog synth, and amazing arrangements for string quartet, especially in that incredible Dolby Atmos mix, creates an audio journey that you won’t forget once it’s over.
The record begins with “In This Moment, What Matters Most?” Unlike other records where the opening comes as a dramatic entrance, This Moment starts with an intriguing ambient acoustic pattern consisting of low piano chords sustained softly and ambient field sounds. There is no explicit verbal lyricism in the song since the music speaks to us through this magical collection of instruments, and these “lyrics” of the song are revealed through its narrative construction and ask what really needs to occupy space in our minds when all the noise of daily existence is removed. We need to compare the present reality with our baggage. Music-wise, This Moment does not have a complicated structure since it consists of minimal piano keys combined with lush synths and strings. Without vocals, the lead melody takes up the role of the voice, which rises and falls in expressive lines. It leaves the listener with an immediate effect of deep, mental breathing that makes one dive into the present moment completely.
“What is Carried, What is left Behind?” In the title track, the opening starts with the sounds of heavy wind blowing before a very slow, methodical solo piano arpeggio, and an ambient drone and string harmonies slowly enter into the mix. The music itself is large-scale and cinematic. In the beginning, the solo piano melody slowly develops into a rich and layered arrangement with strings harmonized by soaring violin melodies and synth sounds made with an old analog style sound. The composition creates a structure akin to moving a heavy object through a difficult ascent before reaching a cathartic release point. Listening to this piece leaves you with a reflective yet bittersweet experience.
The third track, “Innocence”, begins with a dark and dramatic synth sound that is fused into a piano tune performed in a high register without any reverb or other artificial effects applied to it, but only with its natural purity and innocence. With no lyrics to carry the narration, the song uses its calm tempo and vulnerable descending intervals to create the impression of innocence and desire to see the world without distortions that will come later. Musically, the song presents an intimate acoustic performance in which each mechanical sound produced by the keys and pedals can be heard along with some ambient room sounds. The change in touch is used to substitute for the lack of lyrics and to give the voice to the instrument.
“Whispering Dawn (Spencer’s Lullaby)” is the next song. In terms of music, the melody begins with a very quiet, swaying two-note piano pattern which sets a very rocking rhythmic mood, while in the background one can hear a faint and breathy cello line. In relation to the theme, the instrumental piece conveys feelings of protection and safety, expressing the idea of going from night to dawn through the process of changing from lower chords to brighter high harmonies. Concerning the music itself, the composition combines a soothing lullaby rhythm and smooth violin lines that wind around the main piano line. Thanks to the lack of lyrics, the listeners feel safe, as if being hugged by the warm sounds of strings.
Number five on our list is “Under an Impersonal Sky There is Hope.” The track begins with a long sustained note on the piano at a low frequency, along with an isolated middle register motif that appears to be small within a very big setting. Its storyline consists of a contrast between a big, unfeeling environment and the determination inside, which is portrayed through the central melody of the piano that always keeps its tune amidst thick string harmony. The track’s instrumentation goes from the sound of the solo piano to the sound of strings in a very wide setting, where dynamic swells drive the melody further with warmth.
The last track entitled “Bloom” begins with fast-moving piano notes that quickly develop into a joyful melody with major chords accompanied by soft string plucks. As the resolution of the album, the music track is an expression of rejuvenation and liberation through harmonious changes and a fast-increasing tempo. On a musical level, the track incorporates dynamic phrasing on the piano, soaring violin notes, and a happy rhythm that leads to the ultimate climax of the piece. In the absence of any vocal lyrics, the spirited performance of the chamber orchestra ensemble makes one feel like a new person. The end result of listening to the track is revitalizing, clarifying, and complete closure.
At the very center of this incredible collection lies “A Whispered Dawn (Spencer’s Lullaby),” a beautiful and incredibly intimate piece of music composed originally by Dale in 1999 for his then-baby son, Spencer, through the anxiety and wonder of a prematurely born child. Housed in silence for a full two decades and six years only as a manuscript, its first recording is, without any doubt, a successful musical comeback—an emotional link between past and present that gives a breath of life to the fatherly affection in the world of modern classics. Adding to all this, Dale shows again his unique artistic ability to find inspiration in the spontaneous beauty of the nature around him with his ingenious concept based on an accidental acoustic recording of a metal door blown in the wind outside the beautiful Concattedrale di San Salvatore in Montalcino, Italy. In converting a simple natural sound into a magnificent musical motif, Dale shows himself once again to be a real architect of the ambient greatness and allows us to experience one of the most soul-touching releases of his musical career.
What is Carried, What is Left Behind? is a profoundly personal, beautifully arranged, six-track modern classical album created by Dale Cornelius with deep explorations of themes of memory, human vulnerability, grieving, and spiritual rebirth. Merging together beautiful arrangements of the string quartet, rich analog synthesis, and unusual found sounds, the album smoothly transitions from the intimate narration to the large cinematic space, all enhanced by the amazing spatial mix in Dolby Atmos. Starting from the very first gentle resonance up until its last decaying one, listening to this album has turned out to be an incredibly refreshing and enlightening experience that leaves its mark in the mind forever. Dale Cornelius has created a truly outstanding album and has once again proven himself to be an extraordinarily talented composer whose future albums will be highly awaited by everyone, especially me.
Stream the “What Is Carried, What Is Left Behind” album on Spotify.
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