Messing around with the new pitch correction features in Logic Pro X. It's the first few measures of "Towers", by Bon Iver.

Swampy

Hall Of Mirrors

OLD NORTHWEST REPRAZENT
Lincoln and Douglas go head to head in a rap debate, '58 style.

Adam Work's APUSH creative project, based on "Check the Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest.

LINCOLN:
Back in the day before slavery was rescinded
We used to hold debates and were fairly long-winded
It was I, Lincoln – DOUGLAS: And me, Douglas
You know me from the act of Nebraska-Kansas
L: Hail Doug, you know the format for the debates
60 90 then 30, starter alternates?
D: Why, yes, quite verily! and as the incumbent
I opened four of the debate events!
L: You on point, Doug?
D: All the time, Linc.
L: You on point, Doug?
D: All the time, Linc!
L: You on point, Doug?
D: For the last time, Linc!
L: Then set upon the stage before this ship of state does sink!

Verse 1: 20 lines
D: 
In the fair town of Ottawa we commenced debate
In point and counter-point we were no light weights
They called me Honored Senator for I was already
And called me Dem because I like popular sovereignty

Sectionalization was that which was the evil thing
I was against the fractured politics that it would bring
Put 1850’s Compromise upon a pedestal
And backed the Democratic contributions in the full

<- The Act of Kansas and Nebraska, for those territories
< Advocated rights of men to decide, slave or free
<- I figured that the people would decide what was correct
<- And never would the sacred voting process go to heck!

This slavery conspiracy I don’t take lightly
Though if I were to scheme with Pierce it would be rightly
Abolitionism is abomination
The controversy’s wreaking havoc on our nation

Linc’s a radical Republican who lacks class
He is an abolitionist praised by Douglass
Lincoln says a house divided cannot stand
Well I say keep your governmental heavy hand!   

DOUGLAS:
Back in the day in the backyard of Chicago
We used to debate issues like a slavery embargo
It was me, Stephen Douglas – L: And Lincoln of the woods
Born in a log cabin and I’m bringing the goods!
D: Oh Lincoln, you remember your argument?
You said that rights for all men was heaven-sent?
L: Of course! I’ll stand by it ‘til the rights of slaves are won
I’ll always fight for justice--with malice toward none!
D: Very well, you on point, Linc?
L: All the time, Doug.
D: You on point, Linc?
L: All the time, Doug.
D: You on point Linc?
L: For all time, Doug!
D: Then come make your rejoinder and grab this bitter mug!

L:
Now if slavery’s the lock, then just show me the key
The institution only spreads through popular sovereignty
About Douglas, I say he’s got a covert zeal
All he needs to do is buy some slaves to seal the deal

This American hypocrisy, puzzles the Euros
You say your country’s free but you own slaves? Welllll
Just accept that all men are created equol
Or we’ll be crazy mad and kill our own.

Four score and seven years is seven and eighty
This issue even then was weighty
The Constitution writers were freedom fighters
But they didn’t want the slaves to be the lighters

I’ve made my speeches in all sorts of forums
I’ve only got one face with which I make decorum
And proper–the states’ rights debate is just a stopper
The real issue is slavery, and loyalty is wavering

Lincoln-Douglas

I. In the Forest of the Black Man
II. A Flood of Sunshine
III. The Letter in the Sky
IV. The New Virtue
V. Reel on the Sable Field

Made for an AP Lang project.


Credits:

Adam Work 
Violin, guitar, vocals, recording, programming, editing, arrangement, mixing

Nathan Murley
Viola, didjeridoo, musical saw, fiddle, djembe, shaker, vocals

Composed by Adam Work and Nathan Murley

Special thanks to Elsa Sandeno for reading in Section III, to Diane Hodgkins for quesadillas and cookies, and to the Irish fiddle tradition for lending us “The Red-Haired Boy”



~~~~




Text:

I. Embroidered on her breast she bears her passport
Born of passion, spawns a solitude and echoes of remorse
Estranged and outlawed for so long
Allowed to wander freely in the wilderness beyond

Before time is up for the reverend
Struck down by the sin and guilt that have consumed him
Dismayed by the Devil in his rooms and
Betrayed by the fidelity of his partner in sin

A healer turned to evil, deranged by strange purpose
A strange woman is, estranged from worthiness
But kept from the Black Man by a daughter’s kiss
Nonetheless the letter, hasn't done its office

Pastor and parishioner take a forest walk
Stalked by their sadness as they start to talk
Seven years of deception and pain have passed here
Seven years of fear, but still to one another dear

Adapted from sections of Chapters XIII - XVII

~~~~

II. A flood of sunshine 
That pours
Transmuting leaves to gold
A flood of sunshine that
Low part: So-lemn
High part: The wood’s heart
Myst’ry of 
All: joy

Adapted from Chapter XVIII, “A Flood of Sunshine”

~~~~

“And now this fateful interview had come to a close. The dell was to be left in solitude among its dark, old trees, which, with their multitudinous tongues, would whisper long of what had passed there, and no mortal be the wiser. And the melancholy brook would add this other tale to the mystery with which its little heart was already overburdened, and whereof it still kept up a murmuring babble, with not a whit more cheerfulness of tone than for ages heretofore.”

Quoted from Chapter XIX, “The Child at the Brookside”

~~~~

IV. Hester had returned
and taken up forsaken shame
to live with wealth and luxury
when loving letters came

A more real life for Hester here
the place of her sentence
here had been her sorrow
here to be her penitence

She had returned, and therefore had
Resumed of her free will
The symbol of which we have related
So dark a tale

The scarlet letter ceased to be
of scorn and bitterness
And instead was looked upon
with awe and reverence.

~~~~~

Cover art based on "The Scarlet Letter" by Hugues Merle.

The Scarlet Letter Suite

This is my cover of Isabella of Castile, by Starfucker. I made this about a year ago but didn't post it on here. I figured it was time.

Isabella Of Castile (cover)

I made this right after I got Logic Pro X last summer, just playing around with the fun organ and electric piano plugins that are included with it. It's more low key and jazzy than most of the stuff I've been doing lately.

Comes with several gratuitous key changes, completely free of charge. B-)

Man Behind the Curtain

Something a bit different I've had on the burner for a while. Some nice plaintive piano/strings piece.

The Falls

This is my entry for the <a href="http://www.massivesynth.com">MassiveSynth</a> & <a href="http://www.synthmob.com">Synthmob</a> competition to win a Maschine. Please click 'Repost' on this track to help me win. To enter the competition yourself <a href="http://www.massivesynth.com/maschinecomp">click here</a>

DO IT. DO WHAT THE MAN SAYS.

Inside Passage

Made with Quinn Murley for our AP World History final project.

Vocals by Adam Work and Quinn Murley, everything else by Adam Work.


Let's All Learn to Write a DBQ

My first completed rap song that wasn't for a school project! :D
Sam Kunesh @samfkunesh my brotherfromanothermother made the beat and it is wonderful. You should love him. Because he's lonely. And sad. And he cries at night. All the time.
Anyways, in the spirit of Zappa,