Classical composer and audio engineer Shelby Lock, alongside the Venezuela Strings Recording Ensemble, delivers a deeply moving orchestral work with “A Matter of Time: Perseverancia”. The track stands as a testament to resilience, capturing both a personal journey of healing and a shared message of global endurance.
The piece centers around an emotionally charged narrative born from profound personal struggle. In 2019, Lock contracted a virus that led to a diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), leaving her bedridden for years and casting doubt over her musical career. Composing the original piece gradually during her illness, the title reflects the long wait for recovery. Having since regained her health and established her studio, Silver Moon Sound, Lock expanded the composition into a full orchestral arrangement with orchestrator Joe Jaxson. The subtitle “perseverancia” reflects both her own journey and a tribute to Venezuela as the country rebuilds following devastating earthquakes.
Musically, the composition balances intricate classical structure with profound emotional weight. Recorded using a vintage Yamaha C7 grand piano captured via a ten-microphone immersive array, the piano performance feels intimate, rich, and deeply personal. The Venezuela Strings Recording Ensemble adds expansive, sweeping warmth, seamlessly joining the performance despite being recorded across continents. The interplay between the piano’s delicate melodies and the swelling string section crafts a stirring contrast between quiet vulnerability and soaring strength.
What works exceptionally well is the seamless integration of technical engineering and artistic expression. Performing, composing, and engineering the mix herself, Lock ensures that every dynamic shift and room texture serves the narrative arc. The music unfolds with a natural patience, allowing moments of quiet reflection to build organically into passionate, uplifting climaxes that resonate long after the final note.
Ultimately, “A Matter of Time: Perseverancia” is a triumphant piece of contemporary classical music. By transforming years of hardship into a work of art, Lock and the Venezuela Strings Recording Ensemble offer listeners a powerful, universal reminder of hope and endurance.
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