This is the first in a set I've called "Evolution".  My goal is to explore my process for taking a piece from raw improvisation to find the structure, themes and (hopefully) finished work.  Part of this comes from wondering what other musicians do in their process, part of it is to really try to understand mine - and mainly it's yet another way to ensure I finish what I start because - well - I tend to be lazy about music.  This piece is raw, completely unedited.  The second piece is the extract of the "Main Theme" of the piece which didn't reveal itself until the final minute.  the next step will be to compose around the theme a more structured piece and start rudimentary orchestration.  Thoughts critique always welcome.

BTC Studio Works - Piano Improvisation:  "After The Fall" UNEDITED

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation "Five Years Gone"  10/5 My Father shed his mortal coil.

This piece is ASCAP Licensed but available as a backing track for spoken word.  just message me or reach out at bryancarmody@me.com All rights reserved Copyright 2016 bryancarmodymusic.

Origin notes: Sometimes it feels good to play too many notes - This goes into the set "Viva La Evolution"  Working on my guitar and my fingers are "Kitty Soft Paws" Wanted to remind myself what letting loose on the keyboard was - after an especially trying day on the never ending wheel of the rat race.  Hope to develop this theme.  But needed to get it out there tonight.

BTC Studio Works - Piano Improvisation - "Running After Nothing" (No Holds Barred Improv)

This piece is ASCAP registered but available royalty free for use with spoken work or as a backing track.  Please message me or reach out at bryancarmody@ me.com.  All rights reserved. Copyright  bryancarmodymusic 2016

BTC Studio Works:  Piano Improvisation " A Winter's Lie"

This is a piano improvisation conceived around the Walt Whitman poem "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking"  First Stanza is attached. This piece is meant to accompany the recitation of the first stanza of the poem.

Poem authored by Walt Whitman - first stanza:

"Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking"

by Walt Whitman

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking,
Out of the mocking-bird's throat, the musical shuttle,
Out of the Ninth-month midnight,

Over the sterile sands and the fields beyond, where the child 
leaving his bed wander'd alone, bareheaded, barefoot,
Down from the shower'd halo,
Up from the mystic play of shadows twining and twisting as 
if they were alive,

Out from the patches of briers and blackberries, 
From the memories of the bird that chanted to me, 
From your memories sad brother, from the fitful risings and
fallings I heard,

From under that yellow half-moon late-risen and swollen as 
if with tears,
From those beginning notes of yearning and love there in 
the mist,

From the thousand responses of my heart never to cease,
From the myriad thence-arous'd words,
From the word stronger and more delicious than any,
From such as now they start the scene revisiting,
As a flock, twittering, rising, or overhead passing,
Borne hither, ere all eludes me, hurriedly,
A man, yet by these tears a little boy again,

Throwing myself on the sand, confronting the waves,
I, chanter of pains and joys, uniter of here and hereafter,
Taking all hints to use them, but swiftly leaping beyond them,
A reminiscence sing.

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation - "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking"

This track is ASCAP Licensed but available for Royalty Free use for Spoken Work or Backing Track.  Please message me or reach out at bryancarmody@me.com Copyright 2016 bryancarmodymusic 

Origin Notes: My Daughter.  Through my heart - 0-6. Overwhelmed, overjoyed, and overthinking everything. Except her. Mostly. This in the parade of improvisations around a theme that I know will go long after I am gone.   I've played it through the end but that's silly to assume such nonsense.  So I've deconstructed it to only include what I know now.  Hence the fade.  

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation: "Claire's Themes - 0 - 6 Years"

This set contains a variety of tracks composed for film.

BTC Studio Works: Film Trailer - Screen Door Films "Tea Time" Opening Credits

Improvisation is a word.  A memory.  A person.  A Season. A feeling.  A mood.  Often it's  a way to "work things out" with an instrument.

This Improvisation comes from a number and a day.    I'll never forget this day and I still don't think we will ever "work it out".

This piece is about that moment "After the fall."  

To those who innocently lost their lives and the the first responders who gave their ultimate sacrifice and did their duty.  May we never forget that to knowingly bring harm to your fellow being is the ultimate betrayal of ones humanity.

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation - "9/11/01 After The Fall" (Raw)

This piece is ASCAP Licensed but available for Royalty Free use for Spoken Word or Backing Track.  Please message me or reach out at bryancarmody@me.com Copyright 2016 bryancarmodymusic.

Origin Notes: Iowa - turn of the century - Hope, Faith, and Struggle.  Same things never change - Improvisation - Single take.  Please forgive musical typos.

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation - "Journey West"

Six years ago my Father Shed His Mortal Coil.  The actual date of his ascension can only be estimated  as he lived alone and died suddenly.  However, not unexpectedly.  Single take. Using  Ivory II Grand Pianos. Originally Recorded 10/6/2013

BTC Studio Works Piano Improvisation "Six Years Gone"

A recent Piano Improv that needed a certain layer - after flailing around with string layers I put it away.  A recent cleaning of the garage uncovered my Dads answering machine.  These are the last messages he never heard.  

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation: "A Reliable Man"

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation: "A Reliable Man" PIANO ONLY

  BLACK TOP COWBOY plays songs from the world of Outlaws, Outcasts Sparkle and Havoc.

The first track - "Mr. State Trooper" is from Bruce Springsteen's  1982 "Nebraska" album.  Words and Music by Bruce Springsteen.  All rights remain those of the author.

Arranged and Conceived by BLACK TOP COWBOY. Stereo Mixed and Mastered by VanGabriel Productions in Woodstock, NY.  

BLACK TOP COWBOY: 
"Fast is good - but faster is better - unless you've got hot brakes."

"Mr. State Trooper" By Bruce Springsteen, "Nebraska" Mix Mastered by VanGabriel

Take on Robert Johnson's Crossroads Blues in Open G Slide Guitar.  This is a down and dirty track - it aint perfect but the blues never is.  I did this on my vintage Guild Jumbo body cause's she's been there done that.

BTC Studio Works: COVER - "Crossroads Blues" - Robert Johnson

This was recorded on my  1952 Steinway Baby Grand, given to me by my Grandmother     I remember my Grandmother playing Waltz' all the time.  I on the other hand, never have and aside from this recording I have not been able to replicate this song.   Stylistically it is completely foreign to me, but almost identical to the way my Grandmother played. My Grandmother passed away in 1996.   This was recorded in 2006 while my living room was converted to studio for a film score recording.  I like to think of her hands resting on mine guiding me through - as you will tell there are a few time variances - pauses where she would look between the music and her hands.  She played until she was 93 years old.

BTC Studio Works: IMPROVISATION "Grandmother's Waltz"

Recorded on my Steinway with Violin and Cello (Remus Badea and Isabel Castellvi.)  For the Independent Film "The Swing" Screen Door Films Premiered 2007 at the Gene Siskel Film Center Chicago IL. www.screendoorfilms.com.  Piano was recorded using mallets on the piano strings with damper pedal down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpQjSft-7is&feature=channel&list=UL

BTC Studio Works: Screen Door Films - The Swing - "Chasing" (Now with YouTube Link)

In this particular piece I think it's been influenced by a combination of things - my day job, the anniversary of my father's death and my life balance of artist and salesman.   These are IMPROVISED INCOMPLETE and ROUGH so as always  critique, collab, criticism, whatever is welcome.  Conditions for me are that these are true stream of conscience "one takes" with some studio production to enable a level of interest or listenability.  Suggestions and Critiques encouraged.  As they move from ideas and improv to songs I'll post the finished product.

BTC Studio Works: "Heatbeats Are Lead"-  Lyrical Stream of Conscience with Studio

This is a set of early tracks I created working with  Abelton LIVE.  These are all extenced mixes  I had just purchased my first iMac running Abelton LIVE 4.0. Recorded using a Kurzweil PC88 and Yamaha S90.  Also features Datasphere for finish mixing and other fashizzle.  These really run the gamut A little Cinematic a little video gamey a little dance a little electronica.  

For you Abelton users you might recognize some of the sample libraries used.  For you professional VG and Dance composers you'll get a kick of of some of these primitive efforts.  Enjoy.

BTC Studio Works: ARCHIVE "Watusi Thunder Stick"

BTC Studio Works: Film Trailer "The Man in Brown Awakes"

Hey Folks - as far as music goes I've been "off the dial for awhile"  as I revamped the home Studio.  New Computer Interface and Software.  The only thing the same is my Yamaha S90 controller and well...me.  I wanted to "relaunch" myself with some big produced epic piece and then it occurred to me that SoundCloud isn't a performance venue - it's a place you make your own.  And Damnit I miss it. Well, this is the first piece of improvised piano out of the new Studio.  A Solo improvisation.  Simple and imperfect.

BTC Studio Works: Piano Improvisation -  "When Remembered"

Doing what I can to be heard. Before there is no sound.



Bryan Carmody - Music

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