Artists Registry

Tom Salvatori

Wheaton IL United States

http://www.salvatoriproductions.com
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Reflecting Absence A musical interpretation of the events of September 11, 2001. Dedicated to our resilient neighbors of New York and to the WTC Memorial.

Presented in three entwined themes, Reflecting Absence is a contemporary classical guitar piece composed by Chicago guitarist Tom Salvatori and offered as a musical expression of the terror attacks specifically directed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

The piece features Salvatori as the guitarist accompanied by Nashville 'cellist/arranger John Catchings and bassist Craig Nelson. It is named in honor of Michael Arad's outstanding and compellingly beautiful architectural design selected to be the centerpiece of the World Trade Center Memorial site.

Reflecting Absence

i. Around Corners - portrays the dark secrets that the terrorists had in mind as they waited in queue to board their flights

  • (0:01-0:41) Understated, melancholic and pleading theme musically depicts the first group of terrorists arriving at the airport to board flight AA11
  • (0:42-1:14) Variation on the initial theme is used to illustrate the second group of terrorists arriving at the airport to board flight UA175

ii. Towers Toll - reflects on the act of terrorism as the hijacked airplanes hit their targets...the immediate effect and the aftermath endured

  • (1:15-1:43) Guitar strumming motif and cello characterizes the sound of the jet engines and tension in the air as the hijacked American flight attacks the North Tower
  • (1:44-2:16) Guitar rasgueado technique and cello presents increased tension in the air as the hijacked United flight made its approach to attack the South Tower
  • (2:17-3:01) ...for whom the bell tolls...this devastatingly sad solo guitar figure renders the eerie silence that must have been heard up in the Towers after the crashes occurred; with the uncomfortable bended note of the classical guitar calling to mind the gut-wrenching decision of those choosing to step off Tower’s edge

iii. Fireside Chat - represents families gathered in living rooms across America as the events of the day delivered more questions than answers in the uneasy shadows of the evening hours

  • (3:02-4:28) Call and response interplay between the guitar and cello musically illustrates family discourse to try to understand the hate behind the attacks
  • (4:29-5:04) A reprise of the Towers Toll strumming motif…this time slowly finger picked in paled, muted comparison…with the intent to be a musical reminder to never allow the memory of these barbaric acts of war fade. The cello soars freely and melodically above the guitar to represent the raising of the lost souls from the site
  • (5:05-6:39) More discourse call and response…this time with bass entering the piece to musically represent the 'beating of the war drums' to portray the coalition commitment to uproot the axis of evil, its terrorists, their leaders and those who harbor them
  • (6:40-6:51) A guitaristic tribute of two light harmonic notes and their ensuing overtones ascending quietly to symbolize the twin columns of blue light beamed into the sky above New York during the religious and memorial services held March 11, 2002 and on subsequent September 11 anniversaries

TOM SALVATORI, GUITAR COMPOSER BIOGRAPHY: • Tom Salvatori: Guitar Composer, Contemporary Classical Guitar • Date of Birth: December 29, 1958 • Record Label: Salvatori Productions, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60187 • Publishing: Salvatori Productions, Inc. (ASCAP) and Les productions D’Oz, St-Romuald (Quebec), CANADA (SOCAN) • Contact phone: (312) 519-6470 Contact e-mail: tom@tomsalvatori.com

Tom Salvatori composes a deeply personal and intimate style of instrumental Classical Guitar music, which is quiet and soothing and helps people relax at the end of the day. Adults and children both listen to and enjoy his music during their quiet time or while they fall asleep at night. Most of Salvatori's music comes out sounding like quiet lullabies; probably because his favorite time to play and to compose is during the late night!

Tom was a First Place Winner of the Illinois Music Association Senior Open in 1973 in the Classical Guitar competition at the age of 15 under the direction of his high school music teacher, Duane Tutaj. Salvatori exhibited a mature strength in restraint in his performance of the Villa Lobos set piece, Prelude #3. Tom continued Classical Guitar studies while in college (Marquette University) with Ray Mueller, head of the Milwaukee Classical Guitar Society. Since college, Tom has chosen a musical path of composing his own uniquely styled works for the contemporary Classical Guitar rather than one of stage performance and the study of the works of the Masters. Published by Les Productions D’Oz, Salvatori hopes to share his sheet music books of Classical Guitar solos with guitarists after they come home from playing their concerts: “I don’t aim to compete with the masters and their virtuoso efforts from the concert stage. Rather, I’d love for my work to be thought of as a resource for quiet enjoyment...a respite at the end of a busy day.”

Salvatori's music is released independently through his own record label (www.salvatoriproductions.com): His work can also be heard on Music Choice, Pandora, Apple Music and Spotify.

Both Late Night Guitar and When Evening Falls made their debut at #2 on the NAR Top 100 Radio Play Charts, with each continuing to hold top radio play honors through the end of their release years. Late Night Guitar was named Winner of a 2002 Children's Music Web Award in the Classic Recording for Children category. When Evening Falls was named Winner of the 2007 NAR Lifestyle Music Award as Best Neo-Classical Album of 2007 and was featured in several Top 10-Best of 2007 lists of prominent music reviewers in the contemporary instrumental music category.