BRANISLAUS: Press

PRESS RELEASE

Erie Musical Artist Recognized by International Contest


Erie native Branislaus recently received the honor of being named a winner by the Song of the Year (http://www.songoftheyear.com/) songwriting contest. Song of the Year is an international songwriting contest supporting VH-1’s Save the Music Foundation. The Song of the Year judges are some of the biggest names in music including many Grammy Award winners.

Song of the Year is excited to recognize Branislaus for his exceptional songwriting ability for the song “Love Theme”. Branislaus competed against songwriters from all over the world for this honor. When asked what inspired this song Branislaus
commented that “It was improvised in an altered state of mind while contemplating on a personal love affair.” He also went on to say: “The opening alludes to the passing of time until love arrives and transcends reality into pure feeling without thought.”
Currently Branislaus is concentrating on recording and publishing the 5th CD of his career while hoping to give a series of “Classical Piano Recitals” in conjunction with local charities. You can find more information about Branislaus by visiting branislaus.com

This music is beutifully played and written by this composer.
Reviewer: Auralis (Composer on CDBaby) (click for website)
I am a composer/arranger and trombonist and I have written piano music. If I wanted some pianist to play my works, it would be this man. His playing is masterful and studied. It is obvious that he has studied composition at a high level, because we can hear this in his beautiful rich harmonic, tuneful, evocative sound poems written for the piano, an instrument he understands very well, that's because he is a virtuoso of high quality. There are not many concert pianists who compose around today. Pianists today all appear to be performers and don't or can't compose, but this performer can. He follows in the shoes of Chopin, Liszt and others and keeps that lost tradition of the piano performer virtuoso/composer alive. Quite brilliant and musical. Auralis (CDBaby artist)

88 ERIE LIFE MAGAZINE APR 08
A Lasting
Impression
Branislaus is sitting in
front of his piano (a limited
edition Steinway), playing
several measures of Erik
Satie’s Gnossienne No. 3. His
fingers run up and down the
piano’s keyboard to deftly
bring the haunting piece to life.
The piano is clearly a musical
instrument, yet the expression
of devotion Branislaus exudes
when he plays makes it seem
more like it is an altar. The
piano is where he comes to
pray and the piano is where he
comes to repent. A wine chalice
from his native Poland rests no
more than six feet away.
You cannot place
Branislaus’ musical style in
one distinct classification.
His live performances feature
a repertoire ranging from
Chopin to Barry Manilow,
with the occasional musical
theme of a movie or television
Pianist
Branislaus looks
to invigorate
audiences with
his original
works and
new twists
on classical
compositions.
Photo: Mark Fainstein Photography
By Mark Toriski
MUSIC
AS SEEN IN ERIE LIFE MAGAZINE APRIL 2008
89
show interspersed. He is heavily
influenced by the masters of
classical composition, particularly
those of Polish descent such as
Chopin and Paderewski, but he
also considers Jimmy Hendrix
and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
inspiration. Over the course of
three albums he has experimented
with a wide array of genres. His
first release, Pure Piano, was
mostly his versions of classic
pieces such as “Fur Elise,” but his
diverse tastes are best reflected in
his original works, found mostly on
his second release, Promised Land.
Drawing inspiration from his
life experiences, Branislaus brings
the listener into his world. “The
Cancer Song” details his own
struggle with the disease nearly 20
years ago. “Pontoon Saloon,” about
a floating bar in the Marina, has an
island jazz feeling to it. “Blonde
on Top” is electronic blues and
contains some suggestive lyrics
inspired by some of the sights he
saw in Los Angeles.
But Branislaus has yet to
feel total satisfaction with his
musical efforts. He continues
searching for ways to grow as
an artist. His next album (which
he is currently working on) will
feature his modern interpretations
of classical pieces. A preview
of his rendition of “Moonlight
Sonata” reveals exactly what the
skilled musician has in mind.
The piece starts off with the
traditional, simplistic opening but
is quickly reinvigorated by his
additions of percussion (his first
musical passion) and electronic
accompaniment. Converting
classical works into electronic
compositions evokes a futuristic
tone reminiscent of Wendy Carlos’
work on the soundtrack to A
Clockwork Orange nearly 40 years
ago. He enjoys adding an electronic
spin as he sees what variations can
be produced. A beautiful overture
or sonata can be interpreted in a
new light, sometimes changing
the overall feel of the song into
something more provocative.
“Once in a while you hear another
artist play a piece you previously
didn’t care for, and it makes
more sense,” he says, while his
“Moonlight Sonata” prepares to
come to its mellow conclusion.
“It just matters what stage of life
you are in and what your mood is
allowing you to be receptive to.”
On any given day Braislaus’
music will change. He considers
his day-to-day work output to be
a “kaleidoscope.” One sunny day
near the beginning of spring, he
wrote a piece that called to mind
his enthusiasm for winter’s end.
Another day, he wrote a sweeping,
melancholy ballad with a nod to the
Peter Gunn theme spliced into the
refrain. He never knows what each
day will present him.
Branislaus is just beginning
to learn how to promote himself.
He performs four evenings a week
at Breeze Steakhouse and Grille,
located on 13th and State and is
setting his sights on the digital
market; his music is already for
sale on iTunes and Broadjam
(where “Blonde on Top” was voted
number-one blues song for several
weeks), and he is planning podcasts
and a possible digital album.
“Music has become my
purpose,” he says. “I like the
creepy, tender, angry feelings I get,
depending on what I am playing.
It’s self-satisfaction and selftorment;
a quest I enjoy because
it doesn’t get old. I can find
something I haven’t done before
and experience it and then share it
with the rest of the world.” *EL
To find out more about Branislaus,
visit www.branislaus.com
AS SEEN IN ERIE LIFE MAGAZINE APRIL 2008