Enchanted by Jacqueline Cordes – “Illusions of Amethyst”

Returning today, neoclassical pianist Jacqueline Cordes presents us with “Illusions of Amethyst,” the lead track of her latest album Frozen Star, available everywhere August 8. Already at the age of 22, the pianist once again transcends the boundaries of music, of sentiment, of color—in every conceivable fashion, literally. Being synesthete at birth, Jacqueline perceives music as vivid colors, and the waltz, therefore, belongs to her in purple shades.

In cinematic, gothic style, “Illusions of Amethyst” at the same time feels mystical and lyrical. The song trudges along in minor key, evoking the purple-inspired ideas of the nameless Jacqueline, such as Stephen Flaherty’s “Once Upon a December” and Schubert’s “Gretchen am Spinnrade.” The song has haunted video accompaniment, and it introduces us to Frozen Star’s initial cinematic world: that of “The Puppetmaker,” masked man operating in a desolate, devastated world.

With her first album Singularity, Jacqueline had already emerged as a fearless voice of modern composition, combining ancient and future. Frozen Star will be even more of a kaleidoscopic odyssey through the “Chromaverse,” as she refers to the compilation of conceptual universes of feeling, framed in bold musical colors.

Pomona College graduate Jacqueline has already taken home awards such as the Gordon A. Hogan Memorial Prize and exhibited her scale catalogue system at the 21st Annual Fibonacci Conference. In addition to being a composer, she’s also a digital artist, linguist, and book author.

“Illusions of Amethyst” is a beautiful, enchanting opening of the new volume of her tonal universe—the captivating universe of Frozen Star.