A Little Dark Music 2

A Little Dark Music 2 album by Frank Horvat

It’s a message of hope many of us can use during this dark time.

– Andrew Timar
WholeNote Magazine
  1. Earth Hour 2 Frank Horvat (piano) 1:00:00
  2. Heat Island Frank Horvat (piano) 09:57
  3. Life For Mars Frank Horvat (piano) 05:28

Composer and pianist Frank Horvat returns a decade later with a follow-up album to his original instrumental ode to the planet. A Little Dark Music 2 is introspective and powerful, a very personal reaction to the current state of our environment ten years on. Angry yet full of hope and beauty, this album also features a sequel to Horvat’s frequently performed 60-minute composition Earth Hour, a solo piano piece always experienced in the dark. Earth Hour 2 is similar in concept to the original but creates a very different in-the-dark experience. More meditative and self-examining it gives listeners time and space to become grounded within themselves.

The album also includes two shorter works. Heat Island’s rumbly and murky start emulates the oozing heat-from-pavement effect we experience in our concrete jungles. As the piece progresses, a calm emanates from the piano signifying our ability to return the planet to a more natural state, allowing us and the Earth to breath once again. The album concludes with Life for Mars (named after a person, not the planet or Bowie song), a soothing statement on the positive impact of connecting to ourselves and our surroundings.

…it’s an important piece of musical art that needs to be heard.
– MainlyPiano.com

YouTube

From the 2020 solo piano album A Little Dark Music 2, this decade-later sequel is Canadian composer Frank Horvat's introspective ode to the planet. Released on I Am Who I Am Records. LISTEN: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bXktMRKngLcoPGeT8oB3w Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/a-little-dark-music-vol-2/1502423036 When you first hear the term “Heat Island,” you might picture images of sun-drenched tourist destinations or a title for a cheesy reality TV show. But the reality is far more urgent: the Heat Island Effect is a significant and dangerous consequence of man-made climate change. On any hot summer day in an urban area, temperatures are often even hotter than they should be, simply because of the sun’s reflection off the vast expanses of concrete and building surfaces. The Heat Island Effect is not just a visual phenomenon, like the shimmering waves rising from pavement—it can be deadly. Fortunately, some cities have started taking steps to mitigate its impact, such as requiring new buildings to have green roofs and incorporating more green space into urban planning. But much more needs to be done—and quickly—if we are to have any hope of curbing the devastating effects of climate change. The opening of this composition, with its rumbling and murky tones, seeks to evoke the sensation of the earth radiating heat from the pavement. As the piece unfolds, it gradually ascends to higher registers with a calmer tone, symbolizing my hope that we have the capacity to restore the planet to a more natural state, reducing its heat emissions. The beginning of the piece is dark and foreboding, mirroring the intensity of the crisis. By the end, it becomes peaceful and soothing—Earth, once again, is breathing freely. – Frank Horvat PERFORMER: Frank Horvat (piano) INFO + SHEET MUSIC for Heat Island: https://frankhorvat.com/composition/heat-island VIDEO: Director/Editor: Lisa Horvat ALBUM: Listen: http://frankhorvat.com/discography/a-little-dark-music-2 Produced by Frank Horvat Engineered by Jeremy Darby Recorded 2019 at Canterbury Music Company, Toronto, Canada ABOUT Frank: Frank Horvat is a multi-genre composer whose compositions take listeners on a journey through the depths of emotion. Horvat has carved a niche for himself among today’s composers, wearing his fragile heart on his sleeve (CBC Classical). Frank Horvat is one of the most inventive songwriters to come out of the contemporary scene in Canada (WholeNote Magazine). He explores different themes, ranging from love to the environment and mental health. In this fast-paced world, his music invites audiences to pause. Each note reveals deeply personal stories while leaving room for listeners to ponder their own. Frank’s music is featured on over twenty albums and has premiered on concert stages spanning five continents, resonating through theater, film, and the airwaves. From BBC Radio 3 to CBC, Discovery, HBO, NBC, Netflix, and Vice, his music has woven its way into the fabric of our cultural consciousness. FOLLOW Frank: https://frankhorvat.com http://www.facebook.com/frankhorvatofficial https://www.instagram.com/frankhorvatofficial http://www.linkedin.com/in/frankhorvat https://x.com/frankhorvat JOIN Frank's Mailing List: https://frankhorvat.com/subscribe/ 9:58
Heat Island - composed by Frank Horvat

From the 2020 solo piano album A Little Dark Music 2, this decade-later sequel is Canadian composer Frank Horvat's introspective ode to the planet. Released on I Am Who I Am Records.

LISTEN:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4TeeNotXRTtWX4398VSbKM
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/a-little-dark-music-vol-2/1502423036

When you first hear the term “Heat Island,” you might picture images of sun-drenched tourist destinations or a title for a cheesy reality TV show. But the reality is far more urgent: the Heat Island Effect is a significant and dangerous consequence of man-made climate change. On any hot summer day in an urban area, temperatures are often even hotter than they should be, simply because of the sun’s reflection off the vast expanses of concrete and building surfaces.

The Heat Island Effect is not just a visual phenomenon, like the shimmering waves rising from pavement—it can be deadly. Fortunately, some cities have started taking steps to mitigate its impact, such as requiring new buildings to have green roofs and incorporating more green space into urban planning. But much more needs to be done—and quickly—if we are to have any hope of curbing the devastating effects of climate change.

The opening of this composition, with its rumbling and murky tones, seeks to evoke the sensation of the earth radiating heat from the pavement. As the piece unfolds, it gradually ascends to higher registers with a calmer tone, symbolizing my hope that we have the capacity to restore the planet to a more natural state, reducing its heat emissions. The beginning of the piece is dark and foreboding, mirroring the intensity of the crisis. By the end, it becomes peaceful and soothing—Earth, once again, is breathing freely.

– Frank Horvat

PERFORMER:
Frank Horvat (piano)

INFO + SHEET MUSIC for Heat Island:
https://frankhorvat.com/composition/heat-island

VIDEO:
Director/Editor: Lisa Horvat

ALBUM:
Listen: http://frankhorvat.com/discography/a-little-dark-music-2
Produced by Frank Horvat
Engineered by Jeremy Darby
Recorded 2019 at Canterbury Music Company, Toronto, Canada

ABOUT Frank:
Frank Horvat is a multi-genre composer whose compositions take listeners on a journey through the depths of emotion. Horvat has carved a niche for himself among today’s composers, wearing his fragile heart on his sleeve (CBC Classical).

Frank Horvat is one of the most inventive songwriters to come out of the contemporary scene in Canada (WholeNote Magazine). He explores different themes, ranging from love to the environment and mental health. In this fast-paced world, his music invites audiences to pause. Each note reveals deeply personal stories while leaving room for listeners to ponder their own.

Frank’s music is featured on over twenty albums and has premiered on concert stages spanning five continents, resonating through theater, film, and the airwaves. From BBC Radio 3 to CBC, Discovery, HBO, NBC, Netflix, and Vice, his music has woven its way into the fabric of our cultural consciousness.

FOLLOW Frank:
https://frankhorvat.com
http://www.facebook.com/frankhorvatofficial
https://www.instagram.com/frankhorvatofficial
http://www.linkedin.com/in/frankhorvat
https://x.com/frankhorvat

JOIN Frank's Mailing List:
https://frankhorvat.com/subscribe/

YouTube Video UExYRDJ1NjZmTERJck5HdVJoa1RnWUEyMkJlRjY2c1Jtei41NkI0NEY2RDEwNTU3Q0M2
From the 2020 solo piano album A Little Dark Music 2, this decade-later sequel is Canadian composer Frank Horvat's introspective ode to the planet. Released on I Am Who I Am Records. LISTEN: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bXktMRKngLcoPGeT8oB3w Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/a-little-dark-music-vol-2/1502423036 I’ve had the opportunity to see Vancouver pianist and composer Vlada Mars perform several times here in Toronto. Each time, I marvel at her ability to convey the simple beauty of life through the sound of the piano. As Vlada and I became friends, the idea emerged of me composing something for her. The sound of her music, along with a beautiful poem I saw posted on her Facebook wall (see below), inspired this composition. The title Life For Mars is a tribute to Vlada’s love of David Bowie’s music, but it is not a remake or adaptation of Bowie’s song Life on Mars. How wonderful it would be if we could all just float away into space—and with Vlada’s music, we can! – Frank Horvat To run away from our own thoughts and emotions is like trying to run away from our own shadow So let them be Relax in them Laugh at them And if you can do that It’s called self liberating your thoughts and emotions Self liberation means liberating on its own So therefore, there is nothing to do Just to relax Just to be happy Just to be lazy There is nothing to meditate Let us celebrate And that celebration is the dedication. – Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, in “Pointing out the Dharmakaya”, La Petite Pierre, France, 2008, transcribed by Dylan Vaughn PERFORMER: Frank Horvat (piano) INFO + SHEET MUSIC for LIFE FOR MARS: http://frankhorvat.com/composition/life-for-mars VIDEO: Director/Editor: Lisa Horvat ALBUM: Listen: http://frankhorvat.com/discography/a-little-dark-music-2/ Produced by Frank Horvat Engineered by Jeremy Darby Recorded 2019 at Canterbury Music Company, Toronto, Canada ABOUT Frank: Frank Horvat is a multi-genre composer whose compositions take listeners on a journey through the depths of emotion. Horvat has carved a niche for himself among today’s composers, wearing his fragile heart on his sleeve (CBC Classical). Frank Horvat is one of the most inventive songwriters to come out of the contemporary scene in Canada (WholeNote Magazine). He explores different themes, ranging from love to the environment and mental health. In this fast-paced world, his music invites audiences to pause. Each note reveals deeply personal stories while leaving room for listeners to ponder their own. Frank’s music is featured on over twenty albums and has premiered on concert stages spanning five continents, resonating through theater, film, and the airwaves. From BBC Radio 3 to CBC, Discovery, HBO, NBC, Netflix, and Vice, his music has woven its way into the fabric of our cultural consciousness. FOLLOW Frank: https://frankhorvat.com http://www.facebook.com/frankhorvatofficial https://www.instagram.com/frankhorvatofficial http://www.linkedin.com/in/frankhorvat https://x.com/frankhorvat JOIN Frank's Mailing List: https://frankhorvat.com/subscribe/ 5:28
Life for Mars - composed by Frank Horvat

From the 2020 solo piano album A Little Dark Music 2, this decade-later sequel is Canadian composer Frank Horvat's introspective ode to the planet. Released on I Am Who I Am Records.

LISTEN:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4TeeNotXRTtWX4398VSbKM
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/a-little-dark-music-vol-2/1502423036

I’ve had the opportunity to see Vancouver pianist and composer Vlada Mars perform several times here in Toronto. Each time, I marvel at her ability to convey the simple beauty of life through the sound of the piano. As Vlada and I became friends, the idea emerged of me composing something for her. The sound of her music, along with a beautiful poem I saw posted on her Facebook wall (see below), inspired this composition.

The title Life For Mars is a tribute to Vlada’s love of David Bowie’s music, but it is not a remake or adaptation of Bowie’s song Life on Mars. How wonderful it would be if we could all just float away into space—and with Vlada’s music, we can!

– Frank Horvat

To run away from our own thoughts and emotions is like trying to run away from our own shadow
So let them be
Relax in them
Laugh at them
And if you can do that
It’s called self liberating your thoughts and emotions
Self liberation means liberating on its own
So therefore, there is nothing to do
Just to relax
Just to be happy
Just to be lazy
There is nothing to meditate
Let us celebrate
And that celebration is the dedication.
– Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, in “Pointing out the Dharmakaya”, La Petite Pierre, France, 2008, transcribed by Dylan Vaughn

PERFORMER:
Frank Horvat (piano)

INFO + SHEET MUSIC for LIFE FOR MARS:
http://frankhorvat.com/composition/life-for-mars

VIDEO:
Director/Editor: Lisa Horvat

ALBUM:
Listen: http://frankhorvat.com/discography/a-little-dark-music-2/
Produced by Frank Horvat
Engineered by Jeremy Darby
Recorded 2019 at Canterbury Music Company, Toronto, Canada

ABOUT Frank:
Frank Horvat is a multi-genre composer whose compositions take listeners on a journey through the depths of emotion. Horvat has carved a niche for himself among today’s composers, wearing his fragile heart on his sleeve (CBC Classical).

Frank Horvat is one of the most inventive songwriters to come out of the contemporary scene in Canada (WholeNote Magazine). He explores different themes, ranging from love to the environment and mental health. In this fast-paced world, his music invites audiences to pause. Each note reveals deeply personal stories while leaving room for listeners to ponder their own.

Frank’s music is featured on over twenty albums and has premiered on concert stages spanning five continents, resonating through theater, film, and the airwaves. From BBC Radio 3 to CBC, Discovery, HBO, NBC, Netflix, and Vice, his music has woven its way into the fabric of our cultural consciousness.

FOLLOW Frank:
https://frankhorvat.com
http://www.facebook.com/frankhorvatofficial
https://www.instagram.com/frankhorvatofficial
http://www.linkedin.com/in/frankhorvat
https://x.com/frankhorvat

JOIN Frank's Mailing List:
https://frankhorvat.com/subscribe/

YouTube Video UExYRDJ1NjZmTERJck5HdVJoa1RnWUEyMkJlRjY2c1Jtei4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy
Canadian composer Frank Horvat discusses and performs "Life for Mars," an original piano composition from his concert film and documentary Piano Therapy Virtual Tour — a deeply personal exploration of mental health, meditation, and the healing power of music. 🎹 Watch the full film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86PRHx0ms8c 🌐 Learn more: frankhorvat.com/ptvt FOLLOW: https://frankhorvat.com http://www.facebook.com/frankhorvatofficial https://www.instagram.com/frankhorvatofficial http://www.linkedin.com/in/frankhorvat JOIN Frank's Mailing List: https://frankhorvat.com/subscribe 6:27
"Life for Mars" – Frank Horvat on Meditation & the Music It Inspired | Piano Therapy Virtual Tour

Canadian composer Frank Horvat discusses and performs "Life for Mars," an original piano composition from his concert film and documentary Piano Therapy Virtual Tour — a deeply personal exploration of mental health, meditation, and the healing power of music.

🎹 Watch the full film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86PRHx0ms8c
🌐 Learn more: frankhorvat.com/ptvt


FOLLOW:
https://frankhorvat.com
http://www.facebook.com/frankhorvatofficial
https://www.instagram.com/frankhorvatofficial
http://www.linkedin.com/in/frankhorvat

JOIN Frank's Mailing List:
https://frankhorvat.com/subscribe

YouTube Video UExYRDJ1NjZmTERJck5HdVJoa1RnWUEyMkJlRjY2c1Jtei41MjE1MkI0OTQ2QzJGNzNG
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America Earth Hour 2 · Frank Horvat A Little Dark Music, Vol. 2 ℗ 2020 Canadian Music Centre Distribution Service Released on: 2020-03-27 Artist: Frank Horvat Composer: Frank Horvat Auto-generated by YouTube. 1:0:01
Earth Hour 2

Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America

Earth Hour 2 · Frank Horvat

A Little Dark Music, Vol. 2

℗ 2020 Canadian Music Centre Distribution Service

Released on: 2020-03-27

Artist: Frank Horvat
Composer: Frank Horvat

Auto-generated by YouTube.

YouTube Video UExYRDJ1NjZmTERJck5HdVJoa1RnWUEyMkJlRjY2c1Jtei4wMTcyMDhGQUE4NTIzM0Y5
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America Heat Island · Frank Horvat A Little Dark Music, Vol. 2 ℗ 2020 Canadian Music Centre Distribution Service Released on: 2020-03-27 Artist: Frank Horvat Composer: Frank Horvat Auto-generated by YouTube. 9:58
Heat Island

Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America

Heat Island · Frank Horvat

A Little Dark Music, Vol. 2

℗ 2020 Canadian Music Centre Distribution Service

Released on: 2020-03-27

Artist: Frank Horvat
Composer: Frank Horvat

Auto-generated by YouTube.

YouTube Video UExYRDJ1NjZmTERJck5HdVJoa1RnWUEyMkJlRjY2c1Jtei4xMkVGQjNCMUM1N0RFNEUx
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America Life for Mars · Frank Horvat A Little Dark Music, Vol. 2 ℗ 2020 Canadian Music Centre Distribution Service Released on: 2020-03-27 Artist: Frank Horvat Composer: Frank Horvat Auto-generated by YouTube. 5:28
Life for Mars

Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America

Life for Mars · Frank Horvat

A Little Dark Music, Vol. 2

℗ 2020 Canadian Music Centre Distribution Service

Released on: 2020-03-27

Artist: Frank Horvat
Composer: Frank Horvat

Auto-generated by YouTube.

YouTube Video UExYRDJ1NjZmTERJck5HdVJoa1RnWUEyMkJlRjY2c1Jtei4wOTA3OTZBNzVEMTUzOTMy
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Horvat’s music is always an excursion into the soul of an artist who has much to say about the state of our world and its inhabitants.
– MainlyPiano.com

Download

Spotify

Apple Music

TYPE
Contemporary Classical Piano

MUSICIANS
Frank Horvat (piano)

COMPOSED & PRODUCED BY
Frank Horvat

RECORDED AT
The Canterbury Music Co. 
by Jeremy Darby

MASTERED BY
Dennis Patterson

COVER PHOTO
Louis Maniquet

COVER DESIGN
Lisa Horvat

LABEL
I Am Who I Am Records

RELEASE DATE
27 March 2020

Earth Hour 2 is a masterpiece, far exceeding its progenitor…deeply moving and beautiful; this is my favourite work by Frank Horvat.
– David Dalle, CKCU FM

Story behind the tracks

01 Earth Hour 2
02 Heat Island
03 Life for Mars

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