{real+imagined}

{real+imagined} is a remarkable musical duo, cellist Louise King and composer Stephen Cronin. With busy individual careers and vast collective musical experience, Louise and Stephen have taken time out to explore some new horizons fusing classical poise and elegance with gentle contemplation and peaceful excursions into nature. "Louise is the 'real' and I'm the 'imagined'," says Stephen. "Louise is the brilliant performer who comes to life on the stage. As a composer, I tend to be more behind the scenes, creating my scores and passing them on to the performer to breathe life into them."

{real+imagined} creates music for use. "We want the listener to meditate or just chill out," says Louise. "Our music is designed to quiet the background noise that afflicts our modern life. It encourages the listener to slow down, be calm and allow the psyche to transcend the mundane."

music for calming and healing was the first work created when the duo started collaborating in 2005. "The long slow cello melody is extremely calming to perform," says Louise, "and the physical resonances and vibrations from my instrument are so comforting. When I play the work live, I can feel the audience relax and breathe with me."