Unveiling Small Wonders & Secret Sorrows

**Album Title:** Small Wonders & Secret Sorrows

**Composer:** Merryjest

**Release Date:** January 9, 2026

**Genre:** Narrative Orchestral / Neo-Classical Fantasy

**Launch Event:**Urban Wonderland

**For Press & Review:** press@glimmerpatch.com | [https://glimmerpatch.com/

Pre-orders being taken now on Bandcamp

A Journey Through Folklore and Memory

On January 9, 2026, composer Merryjest will unveil his album, Small Wonders & Secret Sorrows, a profound collection of fifteen narrative orchestral and vocal works. More than just an album, it's a songbook of fairy tales, each piece a portal to realms of folklore, myth, and deep personal reflection. To celebrate, Merryjest will host a unique immersive launch party within the virtual world of Fantasy Faire on Second Life, directly connecting the music to the community that inspired much of it.

The album is an atlas of imagined and remembered worlds. On this journey of sound it moves listeners from the whispered introductions of faerie courts to the shadowed oaks of Sherwood Forest, through the whimsical madness of Wonderland, and into the quiet spaces of personal tribute. The album's strength lies in its emotional authenticity and the "secret sorrows" are as palpable as the "small wonders." The album is likely to resonate strongly with listeners of modern classical, film scores, and anyone drawn to mythic storytelling. Its deeply personal underpinnings make it a relatable and moving listen.

The tracklist itself reads like a storybook's table of contents:

* Once Upon A Time: The album opens with a mystical piece featuring the recorded voice of Merryjest's late friend, Karl Meyer (Crim Mip), from a 2024 performance, setting a tone of memory and enchantment.

* In Sherwood: A moving musical setting of Alfred Noyes's poem "A Song of Sherwood," capturing the mythical stature of Robin Hood and his band.

* And The Cheshire Grinned: A brilliantly conceptual baroque-style violin concerto depicting a battle of wills between the mischievous Cheshire Cat and the tyrannical Queen of Hearts.

* The Fox and The Rose: A poignant cello and piano meditation dedicated to the composer's mother, exploring themes of love and loss inspired by *The Little Prince*.

* The Missing All: A solemn setting of an Emily Dickinson poem for piano and male choir, composed days after Karl Meyer's passing and dedicated to his memory.

The musical style is "neo-classical fantasy," blending chamber orchestra intimacy with cinematic scope. Merryjest's background as an operatic tenor, trained in a lineage that includes greats like Renée Fleming, informs his approach to phrasing and character, ensuring every instrumental line sings with intention. The work successfully bridges traditional classical forms, contemporary digital culture, and universal narrative themes. It demonstrates how virtual spaces can foster serious, emotionally resonant artistic creation.

This empty stage will soon fill with wonder!

An Immersive Launch

In a fitting tribute to the digital communities that nurtured its creation, the official launch event for Small Wonders & Secret Sorrows will be an immersive experience within Fantasy Faire on Second Life. This is more than a listening party. It is designed to be a journey through the album's landscapes. Guests will explore beautifully designed virtual spaces that reflect the music's themes—perhaps a glimmering fae court, a quiet forest glen, or a mysterious dreamscape. By choosing this venue, Merryjest is bringing the album home to the very artists, builders, and explorers who populate these digital worlds. The event promises to be a shared celebration of collective imagination. This virtual launch represents a modern, accessible way to host a global premiere, allowing fans worldwide to gather in a thematic, interactive space without physical boundaries.

Intimate Inspirations: Stories Behind the Notes

The liner notes reveal the album's deeply personal core. This isn't just fantasy for its own sake; it's folklore interwoven with lived experience. Multiple tracks serve as heartfelt elegies. "The Fox and The Rose" honors Merryjest's mother, Rosa, while "The Missing All" and the opening track memorialize his friend and collaborator, Karl Meyer. Pieces like "The Glimmering Court" (dedicated to the virtual realm of Rosehaven) and "The Dreamcaster's Cauldron" were inspired by and composed for the annual Fantasy Faire in Second Life, a charitable event supporting the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. The album showcases Merryjest's scholarly engagement with his sources. "A Folly" is his contribution to the centuries-old musical tradition of "La Folia," while "Jabberwocky" presents a surprisingly serious and atmospheric take on Lewis Carroll's famous nonsense poem.

Small Wonders & Secret Sorrows is an invitation to wander. It invites you to wander through enchanted forests, through beloved stories, and through the quiet, sacred spaces of memory and friendship. Merryjest does not merely compose music; he crafts acoustic portals.

The virtual launch party on January 9, 2026, is the perfect beginning for this album's journey—a celebration held in the very kind of imagined space it brings to life. It promises an evening where music, community, and digital art converge, offering a first glimpse into a songbook that will linger long after the final note,