Solus is a musical reflection on isolation and its effects on people. Isolation affects us in plenty of different ways. It can be relaxing, meditative, and rejuvenating. It allows us to get in touch with ourselves and reflect on our lives. At the same time, social isolation might make us feel lonely, cut off, and unwanted. Intense loneliness could potentially trouble our hearts and negatively impact our mental health. Despite this, I often find myself craving solitude. It is a time when I feel most inspired. When interruptions are limited, I feel that my imagination is free to run loose. I enjoy that solitude gives rise to both states of peace and chaos. Now I understand why most creative people thrive in it. I intended to capture these different bursts of feelings and emotions in this piece. Solitude is also musically represented by several occurrences of instrumental solos. MSM Symphony Orchestra Kyle Ritenauer, conductor Premiered at Neidorff-Karpati Hall, New York, on April 8th, 2022. To purchase the score, contact me here: alexandros.darna@gmail.com Listen more here: https://soundcloud.com/alexandros_darna

Music for Dance. Collaboration with choreographer Josiah German. Score for Violin, Cello, Piano and Percussion.

For the AXIOM Ensemble, led by its music director Jeffrey Milarsky. Premiere performance at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, on December 4th, 2023. Fables were considered the initial exercise in prose composition and public speaking, known as the "progymnasmata," during ancient Greek education. Students were required to learn fables, expand upon them, create new ones, and ultimately use them as convincing examples in longer forensic or deliberative speeches. Educators had to teach a broad range of fables to students for this purpose, which led to the compilation of collections like Aesop's fables. I have always held a deep admiration for Aesop's fables and have fond memories of reading them as a child. The valuable lessons contained within these timeless tales have stayed with me throughout my life and continue to inspire me to this day.

Minnaloushe - for Violin, Piano and Percussion Composed by Alexandros Darna Carlos Rafael Martinez Arroyo, Violin Seth Schultheis, Piano Will Hopkins, Percussion Minnaloushe was inspired by the poem The Cat and the Moon by William Butler Yeats. In spite of the misleadingly odd marriage of the cat and the moon in the title of the poem, Yeats metaphorically highlights the obvious contrasts between two lovers and their vain attempts to reach for each other. Overall, the poem considers how change affects our lives and whether or not change brings the desired effect. This tendency for change is present throughout the piece. To purchase the score, contact me here: alexandros.darna@gmail.com This recording is from the American premiere performance at Greenfield Hall in NYC - Feb 10th, 2020 Minnaloushe was commissioned and premiered by Trio Ostinato on Monday, 14th of October, 2019 at the House of Cyprus, Cultural and Educational Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Greece. 00:00 I. The creeping cat, looked up 04:40 II. From moonlit place to place 07:55 III. Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?

In Memoriam is a heartfelt tribute to my grandmother, meant to honor her memory. It features a chant from the Greek Orthodox funeral service, which is developed and expanded upon throughout the piece. It also includes personal musical quotes that had special significance in our relationship. This US premiere performance occurred on Monday, 6th of February, 2023 at Paul Hall, The Juilliard School, New York, NY. Katia Waxman, Clarinet Johannah Carmona, Viola Ricardo Ferro, Piano The world premiere occurred on Wednesday, 4th of January, 2023 at Kanthos Arts Center, Nicosia, Cyprus by the «Γιόrkin» Project: Nikola Jianjic, Marilia Andreou, Phaedra Mylona.

Picturesque is a suite for oboe and piano, based on Cypriot and Cuban dance rhythms and idioms. As the title suggests, it is a musical depiction of five scenes with a dream-like and picturesque quality. Aaron Haettenschwiller, oboe Eda Seviniş, piano Performed at Miller Recital Hall, New York, on April 16th, 2022. To purchase the score, contact me here: alexandros.darna@gmail.com Listen more here: https://soundcloud.com/alexandros_darna 00:00 I. Dream 02:13 II. Street Dancers 03:44 III. Sacrifice 07:13 IV. Two Roses 10:26 V. Fiesta