Lubomyr Melnyk (b.1948) composes piano pieces whose sound waves are in a constant state of flux and generate fascinating momentum. This language, which he calls “Continuous Music”, is his own invention, combining and blending influences from American minimal music with late-romantic harmonies and melodies.

Since the early 1970s he has produced an astonishing oeuvre of more than 120 works, usually for solo piano or piano duo, and has blazed wholly new paths in contemporary music. He has thrilled live audiences throughout the world - mostly younger people in non-classical venues. Previous albums were released by small, mainly digital labels, most recently by independent record label Erased Tapes.

Born to Ukrainian parents, Melnyk grew up in Canada, where he studied Latin and philosophy before beginning to develop his “Continuous Music” at the Paris Opéra during a collaboration with the dancer-choreographer Carolyn Carlson (1973–75). Today he lives in Sweden.

Melnyk claims to have set several world-records on the piano, notably in Sweden in 1985 where he was recorded playing at over 19.5 notes per second, making him one of the fastest pianists.

“Illirion” features five works that he has composed and recorded himself. They display the beauty, magic and complexity of “continuous music” in all its many facets.

The works are between four and 16 minutes long, and the notes, sometimes played with uncanny velocity, blur to create an unbroken stream of sound, often inducing trance-like states and ineluctably holding listeners spellbound.