*** Music Composition ***
One of the fun pastimes with a computer is simple music composition. The old 1301 Computer had a punched card based, sheet music player. Which as simple as it was, could produce a triplet ( just about ). I dug into that code so deep, I believe it was a good basic education in sound production using a simple computer. In my youth, I not only enjoyed playing the old piano around the house, I also enjoyed the electronic music of my period, Jean Michael Jarre, Iasoma Tomita, Tom Disseldorf and Joe Meek's fantastic mixes of the new Electronic effects and Pop Music enshrined in pieces like Telstar. The vinyl records are treasures to this day.
*** Current Composing setup ***
To me music is about describing a scene, for the listener, so lets take the following example. When we visited Tunisia, one of the trips was to the Sahara, included a ride on a camel. If you have ever rode on a camel, you will know the uneven rhythm of its feet and the somewhat sea sickening, roll of its walk. Use that as a rhythm base line and add the sheer joy of a ride 10 foot up in the air. The result was Sahara Ride, which was an mp3 file, it was available here along with Petra Sunrise both of which I had good responses to. But due to space limitaions, I only offer Midi works on this site now. Music creation needs inspiration and the last cruise has provided lots of new idea's. Having sent some of my music all the way to South Africa, I have now started a new piece called " Echo's from St Petersburg " and finalized a work in progress, now called the " Tallinn Dance ". Extracts from these may be posted up soon. Space limitations on this site mean I cannot share whole pieces with you, and if I were to post up the Midi files then I am afraid that your midi setup will be different to mine, so I only post up extracts which will download in a reasonable amount of time.
The midi files below are currently being worked on, most of this work is undertaken in the winter months, whilst the weather is inclement. The Quotes below guide me, as these were people who influenced my own generation with their work:-
Joe Meek " When it Sounds Right, it is Right !"
April 5th 1929 - Febuary 5th 1967
Delia Derbyshire " Fell the music, not the Notes !"
May 5th 1937 - July 3, 2001
This last Quote is pure Delia, said one night on Putney bridge. "What we are doing now is not important for itself, but one day someone might be interested enough to carry things forwards and create something wonderful on these foundations."
What do I like to listen too? Well the human voice as an "instrument" is a unique one. So it has to be:- Enya , Clannard, Oldfield, Jarre, Karl Jenkins, Adiamus and the Like. Although Vocals are acceptable, I prefer the voice to be used as an instrument, this I am sure comes from my early years, in choirs at school and later. Although any 'moving' piece of music is acceptable, so I have a broad taste. Iasoma Tomita'a interpretations of Classics are wonderful enlightenment's, if you like to explore uncharted territory ! But then I am also at home with Les Baxter and his moody African and Native orchestrations, Caribbean Moonlight and Tamboo, both good period interpretations.Links to the individual 'ongoing works' for new and old pieces are here.
" Tallinn Dance "