An album of Soundtracks and Contemporary music composed and performed with Harp and Electronics by Floraleda.

“Often I was asked why I play the harp. I think this fully joins my contrasts. Restlessness and curiosity accompany me and thus the Darklight (not an oxymoron, but an extreme perception of eyes and mind) is a state of flow.

In this state of mind, I compose or arrange combining acoustic and digital means, without distinguishing where it ends a delay and starts a pad created with a violin bow on the strings of the harp; without caring where it acts a digital filter or a rubber damper on the strings, which one is an harmonic or a compressed sample. I worked with open mind simply trying to recreate the music in my head.

I find it fascinating to work with an acoustic instrument and electronics (a form of handicraft that requires hours of dedication as needed to play a musical instrument) and the combination gives an incredible means to create something extremely personal.

This collection includes many famous pieces and is young: the oldest music is 16 years old.
Fortunately it is difficult to place this album in a genre.”
Floraleda Sacchi

TRACKLIST

Andras
Temple of Sound
Hammers
Requiem for a Dream
Welcome to Lunar Industries
Adagio for Strings
Said and Done
Europe After the Rain
Silencio du Park Guëll
Antartica
The Beatitudes
We arrive from far Away
Till the End
Near Light
[65:00]

CREDITS

Music: All arrangements/compositions, electronics and sampling by Floraleda Sacchi
Recording and Mixing: Filadelfo Castro
Photo: Marco Coppola
Label: Ⓟ & © Amadeus Arte, Cat. No. AA17003
Distribution: NAXOS of America
Thanks to:
Schertler
Lyon & Healy Harps
Harpsicle Harps

The release comes with a 72 pages book (text in Italian and English).

REVIEWS

Another bold journey, in the geographical places and in the colors of eight different authors – including the performer. The multiple sound possibilites of the electric harp unite different styles and mutually heretic languages, all absolutely contemporary drawing a colorful “map” made of unusual rhythms and spices.
La Repubblica

La ricerca dell’equilibrio.
Protagonista del disco è il suono. Le composizioni sono di autori importanti, anche dell’arpista stessa, ma è l’ambiente sonoro la novità portata da Floraleda Sacchi. Fruscii e interferenze; la delicatezza dell’arpa che si fa aggressiva grazie all’elettronica; l’elettronica che a sua volta rende più morbida la percussione feroce sulle corde. L’equilibrio personale cercato è frutto di un lungo lavoro di sperimentazione, ma anche di riflessione, come mostrano alcune massime riportate nel libretto.
L’Avvenire

Floraleda, #Darklight ★★★★☆
Already renowned for her interpretations of John Cage and Philip Glass, on #Darklight Italian harpist Floraleda Sacchi working solo with acoustic and electric harps, electronic devices and ambient recordings, her compelling interpretations expose the enigmatic quality of the compositions.
The Independent

Se attraverso uno strumento musicale si può scrivere un manifesto visionario, questo è l’arpa di Floraleda Sacchi, giunta, dopo anni di ‘militanza’ – mai ideologica – nella musica classica a disegnare in “#Darklight” (cd per Amadeus Arte, etichetta da lei fondata nel 2011) il proprio paesaggio sonoro, privo di quell’ansia di porre confini e limiti che sembra segnare il nostro tempo.
AGI – Agenzia Giornalistica Italiana

E’ davvero senza confini la musica avventurosa proposta da Floraleda in #Darklight (Amadeus Arte: arpa elettrica ed elettronica, suonata anche ad archetto, a sondare mille sfere sonore. Un caos assai vitale.
Il Manifesto