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Eric Whitacre

Composer, Conductor, Lecturer

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Paradise Lost Demo Album Online!

November 16, 2008 at 3:11 am UTC

That’s right. I totally posted it.

You can listen to all of it on my Facebook fan page right now, or if you’d like to wait, I’ll post it all here in the next couple of days.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever make this for sale, as it’s really just a demo. That being said, I think it gives a nice impression of the production we mounted in Pasadena last year.

Woo Hoo!

  • Connor

    If you aren't going to make it for sale… would you release it for download? There are a lot of us who would like it on our ipods. Haha! If not, I understand, it is your music.

    By the way- I am coming to your DCNY concert in June and I cannot wait. But, I have a couple of questions I'd like to email you about… yet I do not know how to contact you. I am from Arlington High School (well, at least I am traveling with them, I actually go to Martin which is right down the street) and Dinah Menger and I are really close, so I might be able to get contact info from her. But, if you would be so kind as to email me, [email protected], I would be so grateful. I love your music and I speak nothing but praise to all of my friends about you.

  • Will

    Thank you!

  • Dustin Morningstar

    AAAAHHH!!! Thank you so much, Eric! I've been waiting for this ever since I first heard about it.

  • Kiel Beardshear

    I would so advertise you all over the campus if you sold this. I would do it for free. This music is just amazing, and I'm still just in shock of how great all of the singers sang your songs, just amazing. Please sell this or something, I wouldn't give it out free because all that copyright stuff, but I would buy the album, maybe buy four or five because of how great it is. You inspire me to want to be a composer, and I hope I can write a song as half as you can.

  • Corey Smith

    You good sir, officially win. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR THE AWESOME DEMOS!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!

  • chrisdonia

    And if there's no be no official release and no world tour we definitely need a DVD release for those of use who were unable to reach the live performances. Please?

  • James

    It's finally here! Woohoo!!!!!!

    Wow, great music here, and truly awesome innovation.

    Plus, I love the references, such as "and if you close your eyes". Very cool!

    Thanks for posting these Eric!

  • chrisdonia

    Hey what happened to the Echo song!?

  • andy p

    that is just absolutely HOTT! i for sure want it on my ipod somehow!

  • Zach S

    I just became aware of your music a few weeks ago when I found out that the New York All-State Choir will be performing Cloudburst this December 7 in Rochester. Since then, I've bought Polyphony's Cloudburst album and borrowed a copy of the Five Hebrew Love Songs from a friend of mine.

    I've never become so quickly attached to a single composer, but when I discovered this website, I felt compelled to immediately share my feelings with you.

    Thank you for your emotional devotion to your craft. After listening to When David Heard a few times through, I read your personal comments on the piece from your website. Hearing your thoughts on it gave me an even greater appreciation for how emotionally taxing it truly is.

    I've only listened through half of Paradise Lost so far, but since I've only heard your choral music up until now, the demo impressed me just as much as the other pieces I've heard. It sounds like a mix between dance music, an opera, and metal. I love it!

    "Butterflies" is enchanting. I had to play it more than once, just because it has so many different aspects to it. I love the bass track; I'm a techno-junkie, and the beats seem to sit right at home with the operatic vocals. I don't know anything of the story outside of what's in the Prologue, but many of the songs are still powerful as single tracks.

    I agree with everybody else in that I would absolutely buy this as a CD or from iTunes. I'd love to have it on my iPod. I'll put it in my Eric Whitacre playlist. :-)

  • RSrichie

    I saw the show twice and was BLOWN AWAY by the music and it's sound in the theatre, Bliss nearly lifted me out of my seat, it was sung so beautifully but this demo doesn't do it justice. You once mentioned doing remixes of Bliss, which would be closer to the way it was performed, this song is so fantastic I'm hoping, no praying that you'll release another version like it was in the show!!!!! Thanks for an AWESOME theatre experience I'll treasure forever!

  • Geoff Adams

    So, I was listening to the demo on Facebook. This is a recording I'd love in hi-fi for my sound system. It's a combination that is wonderful, and I'm curious that no one has explored it as fully. This musical is absoulutely fantastic, and I would love a soundtrack somehow, either in CD form or iPod form.

    Just my two cents on that. All in all, wonderful music.

    Oh…One slight question. In Lux Arumque, the piece starts, it's going and going, and then there's this chord that just seems to resonate in any place I've heard it in. I'm curious why the chord is only there for a few seconds, then goes away, with I believe the altos coming in there. It's a powerful moment, and I'm curious why you didn't extend it further.

    Anyway, thank you.

  • Tessy

    I woke up this morning and had just enough time to check out what's happening in the blog. I was so ecstatic when I saw the news! :) A nice treat that'll get me through the week. :D

    ps – The demo was spectacular! I almost during Little One and the beginning of Close Your Eyes (and yes I noticed that you took the chords for "and if you close your" from Water Night ;) )I too would advertise you around the campus! Best wishes to you and your next endeavor.

  • Tessy

    Haha, that should have read "I almost cried".

  • Paul S. Banninga

    Currently Listening to it, and liking what I hear. Absolutely beautiful, mixing electronica with operatic and musical theatre tendencies and nuances really brings music to a new level. You rock, Whitacre!!!

  • John

    Please please please please please make these tracks available for download over at BCM International!

    I know they're just demos, but I would KILL to have these to listen to on my iPod/iPhone.

    Are there still plans to release a bonafide soundtrack/cast recording?

  • Brandon

    "Close Your Eyes" will definitely be on my list of songs to listen to over and over for a good while.

  • Stacey

    I've been dreaming of this day……
    :D

  • Tim

    I am so glad that these tracks are finally posted! I would love for them to be on CD or iTunes or something! Just someway that I can enjoy it away from my computer!

    Speaking of Paradise Lost, the other day, my college choir performed at the Collegiate Choral festival in Birmingham, AL. Our choir is singing Sleep this semester (which might I say is, of course, too beautiful to express with words!) and we were just goofing around on the bus singing different parts and whatnot and one of my friends said "Wouldn't it be awesome if Eric Whitacre wrote a show?" and of course people were like "YEAH that would be sweet!" I, being the slight Eric Whitacre fanatic / fanboy that I am, said, "He already did!" and they were all like WHAT?!? I said "yeah! it's called Paradise Lost and it is AMAZING! Yall should totally check it out!" and then they proceeded to ask me how I found out about it and whatever and I made a shameless plug for SoaringLeap.com and Paradise Lost! So I know a ton of people who would be very interested in a CD for Paradise Lost! Just throwing that out there.

    But again, thank you for posting the demo tracks and for keeping us posted on all that you are doing. You are fantastic and are a HUGE inspiration!

  • Brenna

    I would just love to have these on my iPod. (just sayin'…)

  • Tony Ramirez

    I need this on a cd, on my ipod, in my car, in my head!!

  • edwinahebert

    Holy Crap E Dub, the tracks are awesome!! xoxo, edwina from kantorei

  • http://www.soundclick.com/updateband/songInfo.cfm?bandID=501445&updated=6279372&name Tyler

    Well, to be different, I'll complain. (even though I've been listening to this exclusively for the past 4 days now.)

    Where's Gravitas' "theft/talent" song? I wanted to hear his incredibly rumbly voice again. I still love his "Explain it slow" line though. =D

    Would you ever disclose which programs you used for your techno/electronica composition? I'm currently using FruityLoops and would like to be able to produce those kinds of sounds…

    Thanks again for your art.
    -Tyler

  • Debby Struempler

    Hey Eric,

    It's been too long – I took a listen on your facebook page, and musically it sounds as though things are as *fabulous*, as they have always been.

    How are other things? You know how to get in touch, would be good to hear from you. You can always use Gavin's e-mail, you know he's good about writing back ;)

    I've missed a musical connection this last year, but I have some ideas in the works and maybe someday we will put some plans together as a team….

    Love ya – Debby & Family

  • Brandon

    If I were to guess I'd say he's using Apple 'Logic'. I think he said in an interview somewhere that's what he uses but don't quote me on that.

  • http://www.myspace.com/rob256 Rob Henderson

    Yeeeeessssss!!!!! Now hurry up and get the production for sale!!!!

  • http://www.myspace.com/beyondmeremusic spudbass

    Hey Eric, quick question – have you had "The Stolen Child" published yet? I've been searching around online for it for a while but can't find it anywhere. If you have, could you let me know where I could get it please? If not, please do!!

    All the best,
    Simon Smith x

  • Kristina M

    Thank you so much for posting the demo. Words cannot describe the emotions I felt during the final song "Bliss". Thank you so much for creating music that speaks directly to the soul. I have been a fan of your music for about 7 years, and appreciate you making this, and yourself be so available to your fans. Again, I cannot express enough how much your music has helped/inspired/encouraged/just meant to me since I first heard it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    BTW: Your wife sounded wonderful in the demo. Please let her know she is admired!

  • Liz R

    Eric,

    I am writing a paper about your Choral works and your style of writing choral music and I thought it would be interesting to actually hear from YOU PERSONALLY about how you would describe your own style. The paper is about our favorite composer and I am so in love with your work, it is so powerful and moving, I am very excited to write about your style and why I love it so much. I have two weeks to do research and write the paper, so if you could get back to me and say a few words about your style in your own words, I would really appreciate that.

    *Anyone else who reads this, I will be checking back here frequently, and if you would like to leave any posts about how YOU would describe Eric’s style I think that would be cool. Thanks.

    ~Liz

    I am obsessed with Paradise Lost!! I know my post is unrelated to that, but this is the most viewed blog right now, so I am hoping people will see it, but I am so blown away by Paradise Lost I’ve been listening to it on the facebook group everyday! :)

  • Craig Belpedio

    Wow, thanks so much Eric! The demo is really awesome; many of the songs bring me right back to Northwestern almost 3 years ago to that awesome concert. I also really like some of the newer tracks, especially "All Alone".

    Would it be possible to post a character listing for each track? I'm having trouble keeping character voices straight from song-to-song.

    Looking forward to more news from the world of Paradise Lost!

  • Melissa

    I think “Paradise Lost” needs to tour… and maybe stop in Utah or Idaho. That would be *AMAZING*!

  • Amanda

    I just listened, and it is definitely in my Top 5. Please, PLEASE make it available for download!! I would also LOVE to see the production. I would paper the streets if necessary, and I know here in Atlanta you would easily get enormous response. =)

  • Christina Johnson

    Paradise Lost is the best musical/opera out there In my opinion ^_^. I was curious as to whether or not you are pursuing broadway? I am going to The American Musical and Dramatic Academy this fall, so I was wondering if one day I might get the opportunity to audition for Paradie Lost? It would be a dream come true!

    If you have any info on the broadway status could you post it or email me? [email protected]

    I love your music! Thank you so much, keep writing! ^_^

  • http://www.angelavicente.com Angela

    It's always difficult to decide where one's time and effort is best spent. But your electronic opera is culturally important. It's a fusion of so many cult followings. The anime, martial arts, video game, opera, electronica, and theatre elements all curiously interwoven–I don't know of anything else like it. So much effort and time went into the production in its various iterations, at CSUN and Boston Court (and elsewhere?), and a beautiful production was cultivated for the crowds that gathered for each run. But so many more people who would adore this work didn't get the opportunity to see it performed. I saw a performance at Boston Court, and, being smitten with the 1-2-3-4-5-flat6-flat7-8 scale, upon which the opera is based, have been awaiting the release of a CD and/or DVD ever since the website indicated that one would indeed be released. I'm happy to listen to the music once more on Facebook–I was saddened when some songs were removed from your Myspace–but I hope that Paradise Lost is not lost to its fans and the countless potential fans. I've noticed that every high school choir student who has sung your work falls in love with it (as I did a decade ago), so you've got the choral programs of American on your side as well as each cult following mentioned above. I'm really rooting for a DVD so as to experience and share the whole thing, complete with dialogue (and honestly think that in an age of so many video game movies being made, this would make an excellent indie film). But any commercially available media from Paradise Lost, really, would be a good way to immortalize all the work you've already done, reach new audiences, and satisfy your ever-hopeful current audience. It would also address the words still posted on the Paradise Lost website suggesting that a CD is coming. However, if that is still the case and I've misinterpreted this blog, I apologize for the long plea. I'm enjoying the music on your page at the moment, thank you for posting it!

  • Michelle Painter

    Mr. Whitacre~
    I am a first-year student at Hanover College. As part of one of my classes I was asked to choose my favorite composer who wrote compositions for movies. I decided to ask my professor if I could do my project on you since you wrote an opera. He agreed and I am wondering if there is anyway to get a few songs from Paradise Lost. He said it would be inappropriate for me to use facebook and I would really like my project to be on you. If not, that is okay, I will use facebook anyways and not tell him. You are amazing I sang Lux Arumque and With a Lily in Your Hand in my high school choir and now I am playing October in my college band. Thank you for your time, I really apreciate it! Have a great day!

    ~Michelle Painter~

  • Cory Davis

    I know I'm probably embarassing myself in asking but is there any way I would be able to buy a copy of the music or a lead sheet for All Alone? I really enjoy your music and was interesting in maybe performing that song in a non profit recital.
    Please let me know.
    Thanks,
    Cory

  • lenaheero

    Eric,
    Its been almost two years since Paradise Lost was here in Pasadena. Wow I still am able to remember it just like if it was yesterday *shakes head*. I know you wont put the songs up for purchase or download *shakes fist* (lol) I'm wondering if there is anything going to happen in the recent near future for this production? I really loved this play and I want to see it again/ listen to the CD!!!:P (But for real) my friend who didn't even know about you until I asked her to go with me asked me just the other day if you were having the play in LA soon becuase she wants to see it again! So I hope there's something coming in the next year *crosses fingers* so I can tell her that we're going!
    have a great day! See you at the Walt Disney concert hall!! (cant wait!)

  • http://Www.bookbrewery.com Bjarne Bjerklund

    Dear mr. Whitacre,

    thank you for creating this wonderful piece of art. Although I understand that you are hesitant to capitalize on 'demo' material, consider this: your demo is better than most the rendered material spewing forth on the radio. I implore you to release a rendered cd of the songs, as I am sure it would catch on with a wider audience if it were more readily available.

    Furthermore I'd like to know if there are any plans of translating the show to other languages. I've been in contact with several interested parties in Norway who would love to put up a professional version in Norwegian.

    Oh well, I'm not sure you even have the opportunity to read this. But I'll be awaiting your reply with Glee.

  • maeowe

    I WOULD BUY IT IF IT WERE FOR SALE! HECK I'D BUY 50 OF THEM! I've never gotten to see the show an dI am completely in love with it! can't wait to hear more music!

  • Joseph

    Do you think you could reupload the tracks, because I can't find them anywhere, and facebook won't let me play the ones you have there and I so want to listen to them!

  • Jesse Warren

    Might I just say, you are a genius Mr. Whitacre!

  • John Kendall Bailey

    Yes, I missed hearing these tracks too – any chance of posting them again? I would love to hear the whole opera (missed the NY performance, as I'm in CA!). When I heard Butterflies on Hila's myspace page a while back, I was transfixed. I do hope the entire work will receive a CD release in the near future.

  • Robert Smith

    Please do a CD release. I saw it in Pasadena and have been waiting for one since I saw the production!

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About Eric

Eric Whitacre is one of the most popular and performed composers of our time, a distinguished conductor, broadcaster and public speaker. His first album as both composer and conductor on Decca/Universal, Light & Gold, won a Grammy® in 2012, reaped unanimous five star reviews and became the no. 1 classical album in the US and UK charts within a week of release... full bio

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