Jeannine Wagar
Multi-talented artist, Jeannine Wagar has been at the forefront of contemporary classical music for almost half a century. Learn what makes her tick.
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Into the Night is now available on CD and in digital formats from:
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Jeannine Wagar: A life steeped in music, Wagar makes her composer debut with ‘Into the Night.’
– Northwest Arkansas Democrat Citizen, 6/15/25
“At over 70 years of age, Jeannine Wagar discovers composition for herself – and delivers a fascinating debut between light and shadow.
Sometimes a great journey begins precisely where others would retreat: in their seventh decade. For Jeannine Wagar, "Into the Night" isn't a belated career leap, but rather a radical statement: After decades of experience as an international conductor, she dares to step into her own dream world—and it sounds incredibly vivid.
Her debut album is far more than just a mere play with sample libraries and virtual instruments. With a precise hand and an open heart, Wagar shapes music that moves between ambient, new music, and cinematic soundscapes. At times fragile, at times expansive, at times with a drama that only an experienced conductor can imbue into sounds.
The nine pieces resemble a nighttime stroll through an inner universe: fleeting emotions, floating harmonies, a quiet rebellion – all embedded in a sound that, despite its digital nature, never seems artificial. This is due in no small part to Wagar's ability to interweave classical sound concepts with electronic possibilities.
The transitions between orchestral intimacy and spherical drift are so natural that you almost forget that there are no real musicians playing. And that's where things get exciting: In this virtual orchestral space, decades of live experience meet the freedom of digitality – and Wagar uses both masterfully.
"Into the Night" is not only a personal meditation on time, darkness, and consciousness, but also a musical plea for the infinity of creative curiosity. Anyone who calls this a mellow age hasn't understood anything – this is avant-garde with an age bonus.”
“In this case we get an album that exist somewhere inside the triangle of neo-classical music, ambient music and cosmic, electronic music. With occasional subtle similarities to a band like Tangerine Dream, although in this case those aren't really defining of the landscapes explored in any substantial manner.
Cosmic, otherworldly and often futuristic sounding moods and atmospheres is a staple here though, created by way of either a more constant synthesizer presence of some variety or other or by a combination of the sounds and effects used. The more defining feature of these compositions are the use of string instrument textures and orchestra textures though, with fluctuating and surging patterns of these being a mainstay and dominant element throughout. In most cases with the movements of these, at least to my ears, drawing in impulses from classical symphonic music more often than not.
As a composer Wagar appear to enjoy exploring the natural tension that comes when applying light toned and darker toned textures, with the string textures in particular providing much of the former here, and to further add ear candy to these creations with get a wide array of electronic effects of different varieties, and then mainly used in a more subtle manner. Slight chaotic intrusions being one of the forms explored on a few occasions.
We also get some instances of more clear cut and dominant expansions of the core traits here that adds another dimension to the compositions. This specific detail being the use of a digital choir, and the result of this being present is to add a more ethereal and sacral feel to the compositions in question. And adding a bit of an emphasis to the perception of these landscapes perhaps being created with more of an otherworldly mood and atmosphere in mind rather than a cosmic one. That being said, I suspect the majority of people who give this album a listen will hone in more on the cosmic association than the otherworldly even if both are very much applicable.
Conclusion.
While not an album that can be categorized within the progressive music tradition as such, the manner in which the artist combines aspects of ambient music, electronic music and classical music on this production results in a tasteful and elegant foray into the realm of cosmic music, and those with an affection for landscapes of this variety that adds a few additional elements and dimensions to what might be described as an ambient electronic music foundation might find this album to be quite the immersive experience.”
Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, June 2025
“These nine conservative but ingenious electronics pieces are the first venture into composing by Arkansas-based musician Jeannine Wagar, but she brings a wealth of experience to the task… Like a skilled cook, Wagar has carefully concocted the ingredients that go into each piece, lending them individual flavors even though the overall method remains uniform—one could easily listen to all nine tracks as a single lyrical flow.”
– Fanfare Magazine, July 2025
"The Into the Night album displays a range of expertly arranged and composed pieces of music that each deep into different moods, cinematic aesthetics, and in almost ethereal flow.
The record ranges in unique and well-rounded digital instrumentation she's utilizing to create soundscapes that are not only alluring but all their own.
With each track, she posed you further into her world and her mind's creations, but each song also delivers a little piece of herself.
... she has built something that feels alive and breathing.
It's amazing how she's able to put all this stuff together, and you can tell that she honestly must have had a great time experimenting and writing these pieces.
They're all coming from someplace real, and she's able to express herself in a very unique manner by putting this record together.
Songs like "Lament" feel incredibly authentic and maybe even cathartic.
The album as a whole gives you a sense of vulnerability in a strange way but it's something that I attached myself to while listening.
I'm sure you will enjoy this. It will take you away from wherever you are and whatever you're doing and put you in her world for a certain amount of time."
— Recording Artists Guild, June 2025