10 Years of "Miniatures" Celebrated with a Special Edition
In 2025, composer Rui Ribeiro will commemorate the 10th anniversary of his solo piano album, "Miniatures I." To mark this milestone, he will release a special edition titled "Miniatures Unreleased," featuring previously unheard pieces that were excluded from the three earlier volumes of "Miniatures."
Back in 2015, Rui Ribeiro launched his debut solo piano album, Miniatures I, hinting that it would be the first in a series. This album, comprising 22 short piano pieces that the composer refers to as miniatures, has indeed become the first of four albums released to date: Miniatures I (2015), Miniatures II (2019), Miniatures III (2022), and the compilation Miniatures Selection (2022). Rui Ribeiro describes these compositions as "brief pieces with limited thematic content," drawing inspiration from two main extra-musical sources: Nature and Life, the latter reflecting his personal experiences.
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of this series of miniatures in 2025, the composer has announced that he is preparing a special edition that will gather several piano pieces, some of which were recorded but not included in previous volumes. Regarding this new edition, titled Miniatures Unreleased, Rui Ribeiro explains, "I would categorize these pieces into three groups. Firstly, there are pieces I recorded temporarily in various locations (at home or in different studios), almost like sketches for a final recording, but which were never completed. Many are unfinished and may never see the light of day (laughs), but I've found others that are complete and I feel they belong in this edition. Secondly, there are a few pieces recorded in final sessions intended for earlier volumes, but for one reason or another, I decided not to include them. Lastly, I've discovered pieces that were genuine surprises, forgotten on old hard drives, and from which I had completely lost track."
The composer further adds, "As I revisit these pieces that I once rejected and which faded from memory, I realize that sometimes we can be overly critical... and I certainly was too harsh on some of these works, unjustly condemning them to obscurity!"
Miniatures Unreleased is slated for release in 2025, with the specific date to be announced.
Team Rui Ribeiro