Carter Lawrence Larsen is an American classical pianist and composer, known mostly for his European performances in the 1980s. He focuses on piano and orchestra composition and has composed more than 600 pieces, including work for film scores.[1]
Early life and education
Larsen was born in San Francisco, California. He began piano studies at the age of six and started composing music in his teens. He graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and pursued a career as composer and pianist. He studied composition under John Adams and piano under Milton Salkind (Conservatory president) and Mack McCray. After studying at Conservatory, he worked with Peter Feuchtwanger and Ruth Nye in London, and Vlado Perlemuter in Paris.
Musical style and compositions
Larsen is credited with having created a new style of 21st-century romanticism, which combined 19th-century romanticism with 20th century influences such as jazz, minimalism and world music. He is deemed a prolific composer, with more than 600 piano and orchestra works including Fantasia Suite, The Cosmos Symphonic Suite and Symphonies on The Lake to his name.[2]
Andrea Van de Kamp, Chairman Emeritus of the Music Center in Los Angeles, said “Fantasia Suite" was "the music of the future." She described Larsen's 21st century, Neo-Romantic approach as a "breakthrough", and said he had embraced the best of classical culture while exploring other forms of creativity. Scott Epstein complimented Larsen's music, describing it as "personal, deeply felt and sophisticated", and said Larsen had resisted conventional labels and pursued his own path.[3] Larsen's approach to the piano, though modern and individual, has been influential in the compositions of classical and romantic composers.
Performances and appearances
Larsen became known in Europe for his piano performances of the High Romantics. His interpretations of Liszt, Grieg, Rachmaninoff and Saint-Saëns won acclaim from audiences and critics.[4][5][6] He both conducted and performed as a soloist in major concerts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra[7] and the London Symphony Orchestra.[8] In 1986, his performance in London of Chopin's music was broadcast on BBC Television's "Omnibus " program.[9] He performed several world premieres and recordings of previously unknown works of Liszt and Saint-Saëns. In 1989, he became the first pianist to make a complete CD recording of Saint-Saëns' solo piano music. He established himself as a composer, and premiered four original compositions alongside the classics, which were first broadcast in 1994 on the UK's Classic FM "Platform Live". He served as conductor in the 70th Academy Awards.
Larsen performed in China at the Shanghai Grand Theatre during Shanghai Expo 2010. At the closing night of the International Film Festival and the Shanghai Music Festival, he performed classics, original compositions and improvisations. The concert was covered by two television stations broadcasting to a total estimated audience of 500 million, and was the first time CNN had interviewed an artist for the Grand Theatre. The Shanghai International Channel and the Shanghai Arts Channel filmed a documentary of the concert.[10]
Larsen's Volumes
Volume 1 Arcadia
Since 1973, Larsen has written over 600 piano and orchestra works in Fantasia Suite and The Cosmos Symphonic Suite.
Volume I – ARCADIA – Solo Piano
Volume II – NEXUS – Solo Piano
Volume III – EMERANCE – Solo Piano
Volume IV – ODYSSEY – Solo Piano
Volume V – KALIDA – Solo Piano
Volume VI – ALTURAS – Solo Piano
Volume VII – SENZI – Solo Piano for Kids
Volume X – BRIDGES AND BEYOND – Piano and Orchestra
Volume XI – LEGENDS OF THE COSMOS – Piano and Orchestra
Volume XII – DIVINATION – Piano and Orchestra
Volume XIII – FANTASIAS – Piano and Orchestra
Volume Xa – BRIDGES AND BEYOND – Two Pianos
Volume XIa – LEGENDS OF THE COSMOS – Two Pianos
Volume XIIa – DIVINATION – Two Pianos
Volume XIIIa – FANTASIAS – Two Pianos
Volume XV – FAROS – Orchestra
Volume XVI – REISCHEN – Orchestra
Volume XVII – PARSCHADA – Orchestra
Volume XVIII – VIAMALA – Orchestra
Volume XIX – ZILLIS – Orchestra
Volume XX – STARLERA – Orchestra
Volume XXI – RHEINWALD – Orchestra
Volume XXII – AVERS – Orchestra
Volume XXIII – WERGENSTEIN – Orchestra
Volume XXIV – CRESTA – Orchestra
Volume XXV – MADRISCH – Orchestra
Volume XXVI – BARENBURG – Orchestra
Volume XXX – CIRCADIANCE – Instrumental
Music in film
Larsen has written film and television scores, including music for major Hollywood studios. He composed music for various films, including Paramount's Star Trek,Nosferatu,Masterpiece Theatre, and The Mark of Zorro. Larsen's films "Innocents Mission" and Love Bytes premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and his feature Big Shots premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
List of compositions
Fantasia Suite
Arcadia
Flight, Op. 7
Reverence, Op. 36
Lumiere, Op. 28
Soliloquy, Op. 10
Bridges, Op. 3
Elegie, Op. 1
Brunella, Op. 22
Someday, Op. 2
Celebration, Op. 21
Spirit of Auriel, Op. 18
Seagulls of Capri, Op. 5
Gypsy’s Waltz, Op. 13
Carousel, Op. 25
Eternal Rhapsodie, Op. 4
Nexus
Ethereal Nights, Op. 6
Innocence, Op. 17
Raging Light, Op. 33
Solstice, Op. 12
Circus Waltz, Op. 31
Dernier Voyage, Op. 37
Dragonfly, Op. 46
Moonlit Nostalgia, Op. 26
Spinato, Op. 68
Esprit, Op. 38
Lament, Op. 8
Mass Ascension Op. 9
Emerance
Seacliff, Op. 27
Elysia, Op. 29
Cirrus, Op. 11
To the Wind, Op. 41
The Game, Op. 67
Leonora, Op. 42
Spectrum of Triumph, Op. 16
Dimanche, Op. 32
Mercurious, Op. 73
Santorini Op. 35
Odyssey
Sirens in Trancoso Op. 62
Tale of Velasco Op. 72
Iris Op. 107
Call Of Asturias Op. 66
Realization Op. 63
Firestorm Op. 69
Prophecy Op. 49
Delphi Crystals Op. 79
Esaltante Op. 105
Euphoric Odyssey Op. 45
Reminiscence Op. 20
Ratanga Op. 61
The Gift Op. 14
Enrique’s Song Op. 59
Lance of Soleris Op. 95
March To The Cosmos Op. 44
Kalida
Sapphire Op. 47
Reflect Op. 48
Amore E Destino Op. 34
Kai Op. 19
Folletta Op. 75
Spectre Op. 40
Valse Pensif Op. 51
Alexei’s Mission Op. 86
The Vision Op. 30
Scherzana Op. 52
Rainbow Op. 24
Mirage Op. 15
Alturas
The Story of Glory Op. 126
Fate Op. 114
Fly with Me Op.127
Walls Of Troy Op. 14
Solemnity Op. 132
Celeste Op. 64
Passion Op. 118
Harp Whispers Op. 135
Resurrection Op. 122
Forest Mist Op. 124
Eternal Love Op. 140
Zampilli Op. 117
Azure Op. 98
Luna Romantica Op. 139
Danza Triste Op. 134
Sweet Sorrow Op. 121
Silence Of Love Op. 101
Dream Of Verona Op. 43
Fall River Op. 138
Innocence Op. 136
Full Sail Op. 148
Scarecrow Op. 149
Window to Kaja Op. 143
The Nomad Op. 142
Love At Sunset Op. 131
Lago Misterioso Op. 133
Land Of The Free Op. 130
Crystal Heart Op. 23
Bridges and Beyond
Bridges Op. 148
Gipsy's Waltz Op. 149
Elegie Op. 150
Eternal Rhapsodie Op. 151
Legends of the Cosmos
Lemuria Op. 152
Pyramids Of Atlantis Op. 153
The Gift Op. 154
Twilight Of Sitara Op. 155
Divination
Spring Vision Op. 77
Transcendence Op. 78
The Maverick Op. 79
Dawn Of Freedom Op. 80
Fantasias
Ethereal Nights Op. 156
Solstice Op. 157
Spectrums of Triumph Op. 158
Labyrinth in the Stars
Emanation Op. 161
Utopia Illuminated Op. 162
Holograph Op. 163
Nemesis of the Spheres Op. 164
Golden Galaxy Op. 165
The Cosmos Symphonic Suite
Faros
Artasia Op. 233
Heimdall’s Ruins Op. 227
Of Hope and Sorrow Op. 197
Circles Of Time Op. 173
Silent Gates Op. 210
Columns Of The Universe Op. 175
Reischen
Rohllor Op. 198
Statues Of Dust Op. 223
Silver Wizard Op. 208
The Golden Cathedral Op. 217
Swords Of Fire Op. 222
Parschada
Divinity And Phantasos Op. 199
The Sacret Stone Op. 220
Cosmic Juggler Op. 207
Ascension Op. 185
Gates Of Paradise Op. 228
Viamala
Arcasius Op. 232
Terror Of Ragnus Op. 224
Angels and Death Op. 212
Twisted Velocity Op. 204
Call Of The Warriors Op. 181
Zillis
Hillor Op. 203
Cristal Prophecy Op. 201
Volsina And The Harlequin Op. 215
Ephifany of Ersani Op. 205
Storms and Zephira Op. 174
Starlera
Balderia Op. 192
The Secret Veil Op. 206
Freya And The Kaleidoscope Op. 182
The Hour Glass Op. 202
Angel Warriors Op. 184
Rheinvald
Eyron Op. 172
Transmigration Op. 226
March Of The Kingdom Op. 186
Sky Whispers Op. 209
Archillusion Op. 231
Force Of Destiny Op. 191
Avers
Thorus Op. 190
Wizard And The Spyglass Op. 193
Aurora Borealis Op. 211
Echos From The Galaxy Op. 176
View From Above Op. 179
Wergenstein
Splendor Of Arasma Op. 213
Rainbow Messanger Op. 219
Astral Voices Op. 187
Celestial Jokers Op. 229
The Abyss Of Tharsis Op. 178
Return Of The Kings Op. 189
Cresta
Uuniverse Of Esoss Op. 218
Tears And Sifius Op. 214
The Illusionist Op. 221
Voices Of Time Op. 183
Warriors In White Op. 180
Madrisch
Andalos Op. 188
Salina And The Conquistador Op. 177
Myth Of Kratos Op. 225
Spanish Masquerade Op. 216
Zodiac Fiesta Op. 171
Bärenburg
Heralon Op. 200
Wisdom Of Omega Op. 195
Terina’s Castle Op. 230
Eternal Reflection Op. 194
Skydust Op. 196
Final Triumph Op. 170
Symphonies on The Lake
Stresa
Isola Bella
Laveno
Pallanza
Lesa
Isola Madre
Arona
Santa Caterina
Feriolo
Angera
Isola dei Pescatori
Belgirate
Recordings
Romantic Rarities – Solo Piano LP Vinyl , Audio Cassette 1984 – CD 2023
Music for Piano – Camille Saint-Saëns - 1989
Scoring Selections for Piano and Orchestra– 1995
Melodic MontageSolo Piano – 1999 – 2023
Film Scoring for Piano and Orchestra - 2001
Original Music for Film and Television - 2003
Film Scoring for Piano and Orchestra - 2004
Live at St. Martins In The Fields – Solo Piano – 2010
Fantasia Suite – Solo Piano, Double CD – 2010 – 2015
