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April 14, 2025
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( Image: The "EFTA Suite" album cover, featuring a photo by Nikos Alexopoulos )

Mary Bichner, an American orchestral composer with sound-to-color-synesthesia; and The Vasilicos, an elegant seven-suite boutique hotel perched on the magnificent Caldera of Santorini, Greece; and are pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new synesthesia-inspired string quartet work entitled “EFTA Suite”. Deriving its name from Efta, one of The Vasilicos’ most intimate and romantic suites, “EFTA Suite” captures a series of beautiful moments – a brilliant kaleidoscopic sunset, and a colorful breakfast unexpectedly accompanied by a pair of cheeky sparrows – as experienced by the composer from the cliff-hanging Efta terrace. 

The genesis of this new musical work and collaborative partnership began in late autumn 2023, when Mary was honored to have been named The Vasilicos’ 2024 artist-in-residence as part of the hotel’s “[To Build] A [Temporary] Home” ad hoc residency program. While in residence at The Vasilicos in late May 2024, Mary conducted research and recorded detailed observations for “EFTA Suite” using her sound-to-color synesthesia (a neurological condition that allows Mary to “see” splashes of specific colors when she hears their corresponding pitches sounded). The composition process was complete by September; and in October “EFTA Suite” was recorded by members of The Budapest Scoring Orchestra, in partnership with The Vasilicos.

The work consists of two movements, each conjuring a distinct and special memory Mary recalls from her residency in The Vasilicos’ Efta Suite. The titles for each movement are snippets of verses by the celebrated Greek poet Sappho, found in a dual-language anthology of Sappho’s poetry – If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho by Canadian poet and translator Anne Carson – housed in the Efta Suite’s capsule library.

Movement I, “mingled with all kinds of colors / παντοδάπαις <ι> μεμ<ε>ιχμένα χροίαισιν”, is a tender larghetto inspired by viewing a series of magnificent sunsets from The Vasilicos’ Efta Suite balcony. It was composed in the key of C#-major (pale yellow, pale purple, and pale red) to commemorate the colors found in the sky during Mary’s visit.

Movement II, “quick sparrows / ὤκεες στροῦθοι”, is a sprightly allegro vivace which illustrates a pair of small birds inquisitively hopping around the patio table of a colorful, fruit-laden breakfast. The piece was composed in Eb-major (vibrant blue, vibrant green, and vibrant orange) to match the iconic blue found in The Vasilicos’ signature Burleigh Blue Calico breakfast plates.

"EFTA Suite" will be released to the general public on May 16th 2025 via most audio streaming platforms, while all The Vasilicos guests this summer will be given a special gift to commemorate the release. A live premiere of of the work is anticipated for the future.

More information on The Vasilicos can be found on their official website, and more information on their ad hoc residency program can be found via the “[To Build] A [Temporary] Home” subpage.

Thank you so much to The Vasilicos for this amazing collaboration, and looking forward to May 16th for the release of "EFTA Suite"!