Fall River native Nicholas Quigley releasing second album

FALL RIVER -- A couple days before he turns 24, Fall River native Nicholas Patrick Quigley is celebrating the release of his second album, “Interventions 6-10.”

Quigley, who is finishing his master’s degree in music at Boston University, composed the pieces for the album, which falls under the genre of classical crossover with layered compositions of different interludes.

Using digitally synthesized sounds and environmental soundscapes, Quigley said he “invites listeners to imagined spaces” on the new album, due for release on July 20.

On the first song on the album, “Interlude No. 1a” Quigley places the brassy euphonium in a cityscape, an unexpected environment for the listener. Later in the album, the euphonium returns again, this time in a forest setting in Interlude 1b. The tuba-like sounds of the euphonium, played by fellow BU music student Lauren Casey-Clyde, return for a finale closing out the album in “Interlude 1c” set at the beach.

Quigley, who plays the viola and guitar, doesn’t play either instrument on the album, but he does contribute vocals on the melodic song “Intervention No. 7.”

The album also features fellow BU students Alexander Thomas on piano and Samuel Kelder on viola.

Thomas also played on Quigley’s first album, “Interventions 1-5,” a concept album that presents music as a gallery exposition.

In composing the songs for this album, Quigley said some components came to him as melodies he heard in his head and others stem from improvisation on guitar and piano. The composition process for the album took about a year, completed at the same time Quigley was working on his master’s thesis and teaching music.

Growing up in Fall River in a single-parent home, Quigley said his mother, Carole Quigley, inspired his love of music. “One of her favorite bands was U2 and they became my favorite band – they’ve been extremely influential on me. Even though she’s not a musician, my first love of music came from her,” said Quigley.

He started playing viola in elementary school through Fall River Public Schools’ music program. In middle school, Quigley added guitar to his musical repertoire. Shortly before heading off to the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Quigley said he changed his intended major of psychology to music at the suggestion of Gary Bigelow, his high school music teacher at B.M.C. Durfee High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree there in music business before heading off to Boston University for a master’s degree in music education.

In high school, Quigley was in a band with a couple friends and looking back now, he said his musical identity started back then when he was always writing songs. Today, he’s inspired by the work of electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk and composers Brian Eno, Steven Reich and Philip Glass.

“Interventions 6-10” will be available July 20 on iTunes, Amazon and other music sites. Find out more about Quigley at www.nicholaspquigley.com.

Email Linda Murphy at lmurphy@heraldnews.com.