The first song cycle, also titled "Breathing in the Shadows," incorporates diverse musical languages, including early 20th-century dodecaphony, neoromanticism, and subtle elements of Rock.
Recording & Production
This recording project and a portion of its creation were generously funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council.
Recording & Production
A portion of the album was recorded in Canterbury Music's studios in May 2019, and the remainder at Humbercrest United Church in March 2020.
Composer Biography
Saman Shahi, the composer, is an award-winning composer, pianist, conductor, and educator based in Toronto, active in classical, new, Iranian traditional, rock, and electronic music.
Composition History
The second cycle, 'Orbit,' won second prize in the inaugural composition competition sponsored by CAMMAC (Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens amateurs du Canada) in 2019.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album "Breathing in the Shadows" is a collection of three song cycles by Saman Shahi that explore themes of marginalization, identity, belonging, and loss.
Composer Biography
Saman Shahi is a founder and executive director of the Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT), an arts organization bridging cultures through music and art since 2011.
