If you are interested in purchasing any of the arrangements below for any non-personal use, please email niko@nikorakos.com
Original Compositions
Musical Theatre
Back to the Start
Following the 2018 harassment and abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein and the "Me Too" Movement, writing duo, Niko Rakos and Yasmine Marashi wrote a short musical called "Off Camera" the plot follows reality TV stars on set and their experiences with an abusive director. In the song "Back to the Start" one of the stars, May, sings about her abuse story with regard to the director.
Let's Run Away
"Let's Run Away" is a song from a not-quite-finished-yet song cycle with music and lyrics by Niko Rakos. The song cycle, titled "Run Away With Me", tackles the musical theatre subgenre of "the run away with me song", songs where one character begs or encourages another to run away. In the song "Let's run Away" (set in the year 2000) Isabel, age 17, sings to her lover, Emma, also 17, about running away. Having grown up together in Perryton, a small (and very conservative) town in the northernmost part of Texas, Isabel and Emma's relationship is not accepted by the rest of the community. Isabel urges Emma to run away with her to Boulder, Colorado, where they (being lesbian) might be accepted. Emma, however, is not convinced that the long journey to Boulder (and potential repercussions of running away from home) will be worth the trouble. As it is not the first time that Isabel has tried to encourage Emma to leave, Isabel's bringing up the topic angers Emma, and Isabel sings to comfort her. The song quickly devolves into another one of her tangents about running away however this time Isabel wins over Emma and she agrees to run away with her.
A Night in Manhattan
"A Night in Manhattan" (2017) is a short, one act musical with music by Niko Rakos, lyrics by Niko Rakos and Zoë Ferguson. The story follows two characters, Alex and Ethan, through three years of their lives and their eventual relationship. Click below to see a perusal copy of the score.
A Night in Manhattan FULL SCORE
I Do (song)
"I Do" is a song from the short musical by the same name. The show follows the inner thoughts of a bride and groom on their wedding day, music and lyrics by Niko Rakos, perusal copy.
McMurphy's Dilemma (song)
"McMurphy's Dilemma" was a pitch for a larger musical concept. Words by Cole Sisser, Lyrics by Niko Rakos, perusal copy.
"McMurphy's Dilemma" (song) SCORE
Just Another (reprise)
A cut song from "A Night in Manhattan". Music and Lyrics by Niko Rakos, perusal copy.
Arrangements
Instrumental
Snow
"Snow" for small house-band. Originally from "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin, designed to be played along with the piano/conductor score, perusal copy.
Happy Holiday
"Happy Holidays" for small house-band. Originally from "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin, designed to be played along with the piano-conductor score. perusal copy.
Choral
Soma Christou
Origional four-part SATB arrangement of the Greek-Byzantine hymn.
Byzantine
Agni Parthene
The Greek-Byzantine hymn for byzantine style choir, perusal copy.
"Agni Parthene" western notation
Kyrie Eleison
Verses for Byzantine style Kyrie, perusal copy
'Kyrie Eleison" western notation
Kyrie ton Dynameon (Lord of the Powers)
Western transcription of the Byzantine hymn, perusal copy
"Kyrie ton Dynameon" western notation
Soson Kyrie (Save your People)
Western transcription of the Byzantine Hymn, perusal copy
"Soson Kyrie" western notation