MUSIC - FALL OF 2012

THIS IS THE FIRST SONG I HAVE WRITTEN IN EIGHT VERY LONG AND PAINFUL AND VERY INTENSE MONTHS. 

BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS WITH SPEAKERS. 

MY SUBWOOFERS ARE BEING CHALLENGED, WHICH IS SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE AND USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION WITH ANY SPEAKERS LESS THAN TWELVE INCHES ACROSS.

 Second song in eight very difficult months;  for solo organ

for Men's Choir, and Women's Choir, Organ and Strings 

for Men's Choir, and Women's Choir, Organ, and Strings 

 LUIS MILAN  (1500-1561)

 SIX PAVANAS

 Above are all 6 Pavanas in a row, so you don't have to keep changing files at ends of songs.

They really are best listened to all in a row, anyway, I would think?

But, for those of you who don't want to, each single song can be listened to or copied, below.

 FOR ORGAN = NOTE HOW NICE IT SOUNDS ON ORGAN, BUT WRITTEN FOR VIHUELA.

 FINALLY GOT TO EDIT THIS PIECE, BELOW

 I WAS ASKED TO CHOOSE A SONG FOR A SAMPLER ALBUM BEING PUT OUT BY A RECORD COMPANY.

THEY ASKED THAT IT BE SIX MINUTES OR LESS.

SO I HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO USE THE FIRST HALF OR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS SONG,

OR WHETHER TO USE START OF SONG AND THEN JUMP TOWARD END.

I OPTED FOR SECOND HALF, UNCENSORED.

I LIKE IT MUCH BETTER WITH FIRST HALF AS CONTRASTING SECTION, BUT WHO CARES WHAT I THINK, ANYWAY?

 JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH  (1685-1750)

Prelude from Suite 1 of Six Suites for Violincello Solo

Note:  tis is a work in progress;  I have yet to record the final version, but wanted to post this in order to hear just what it is that I am talking about in the blog.  This is an incredibly difficult song to interpret.  The tempo is absolutely crucial.  I have done it at every tempo up to "jitterbug" speed.  Have also tried it slow and mellow.  This version is probably way too aggressive.  But fits my current mood good.  Problem is that when I get up to a certain speed the electronics can't keep up with me.  Then the lines start to blur.  I go through a great deal of trouble while playing to see to it that each melodic line or contour is kept separate and apart from it's neighbors.  So blurring is a really bad thing, where I am concerned.  Hope to get the "perfect" take before too long.  I wonder what the exact tempo will be. 

SARABANDE from Partita Number 2 for Unaccompanied violin 

This is an old favorite of mine.  I played it on guitar for about twenty years and then began playing it on organ and other keyboards, as well as mandolin and violin.  When Bach gets going wih his linear writing it starts to become truly incredible.  It makes my blood pump hard when I hear it or play it.  It is also easy to memorize as a melody to carry around in my head all of the time, which is a good thing in this case.

MINUETS 1 and 2 from Partita Number 3 for Unaccompanied Violin 

Another old favorite which I played on guitar for many years, and nowadays, almost exclusively on keyboards.  Oh, did I forget to metnion mandolin and violin, also? 

As an aside, J.S. Bach started his musical instrumental studies on Violo.  While remembered almost primarily for keyboard composition and orchestral composition, he was by early training a string player.  That is why his string pieces are so strong.  He was taught by his uncle from a family of musicians, and only musicians for the past 200 years, in Germany.  He ended up being the pinnacle of that 200 years of intergenerational effort.

 Here is a nice hypno-trance piece for you. 

To help empty your mind of all thought. 

Turn on.  Tune in.  Drop out. 

"trance, not dance".

 More therapeutic music.  This is for those who just simply refuse to relax (like me).  The pulsating multi-rhthyms against the ethereal backdrop sounds really weird to my ears, but I keep finding myself wanting to have another listen.  Usually a good sign, where songs are concerned.

 for full choir

 JOHN DUNSTABLE  (1370-1453)

Composition on a Plainsong

" --- an astrologian, a mathemetician,, a musician, and what not"

Found on one of his epitaphs.

Considered to be the father of contrapuntal composition technique.  Believed to have been in the service of the Chapel Royal.

During the time that he was present there he composed for the celebration of the victory of the very important and decisive Battle of Agincourt,

It is a classic of the organ literature.  I hope to post the organ version soon.

 Just for fun.

 Another "floating" song.  Written at 3:30 a.m. this morning, for "easy listening".

I fell asleep each of three time I have listened to it.  Even while bouncing to disk (oops!).

 More hypno-tance, while I am in the mood.

 Working on some melodic development.

 More music for your mind.  This is for a bit deeper level of meditation and/or contemplation.  Good luck!  You will most definitely need it if you are to navigate where I am taking you.  But you will definitely be much better for it!!  So follow on -----

 A nice quiet piece written as the Sun was rising between 5:30 a.m and 6:00 a.m. on a cold, foggy morning on the coast of California.

 Nice quiet song in hypno-trance style.