The Saddest Word of all is Love

the saddest word of all is Love
it cries tears that turn its head
to gaze on the arguments of the undead
as they pretend to fight for life
under the shadow of another dark night
where upon the dying deeds already done
it treatens to break the hearts of everyone
to speak a spoken word so rare - so kind
under the shadow of another distant kiss
two hearts prepare to miss each other
one has given her heart to another
under the shadow of another dark night
two eyes wallow in the sadness of life.

Poem by S.D. Clifford (https://www.facebook.com/sdcliffordpoetry)
This piece is dedicated to Alison

The Saddest Word Of All Is Love

Words, Wide Night (Poem by Carol Ann Duffy)

Somewhere on the other side of this wide night
and the distance between us. I am thinking of you.
The room is turning slowly away from the moon. 

This is pleasurable. Or shall I cross that out and say
it is sad? In one of the tenses I singing
an impossible song of desire that you cannot hear. 

La lala la. See? I close my eyes and imagine
the dark hills I would have to cross 
to reach you. For I am in love with you and this 

is what it is like or what it is like in words.


Words: Carol Ann Duffy 
Vocals: https://soundcloud.com/bella_luna
Music: https://soundcloud.com/cis-minor

Some years ago I read this poem and was immediately intrigued by its dense atmosphere of love and distance. Later I decided to make a song out of it, and my first choice for singing it was Bella. Fortunately she agreed :-) ... and she really made it marvelous. Its a bit difficult to sing (you might give it a try by singing along ;-), and here we had a running gag of changing the line "an impossible song of desire" to "an impossible song of cis minor". We had a lot of fun doing this collab ... and I think we both learned a lot in the process. My sincerest gratitude for Bella and I am looking very much forward to our next collab!
Bella has an incredible voice ... so don't miss to visit her cloud https://soundcloud.com/bella_luna 


(The image is Anne Hathaway from the movie "Becoming Jane")

Words, Wide Night - Bella_Luna & Cis Minor

I AM YOUR SOUL (based on poem by S.D. Clifford) 
 
Words & Vocals: S.D. Clifford 
Music: Cis Minor 

This is our third piece of "POEMUSIC" ... enjoy the haunting recitation of the poet himself!

We decided to publish this under Creative Commons License - you can use and modify this piece in your own projects if you credit the authors "S.D. Clifford & Cis Minor" and put a link to this page. Please send me the link to your project so that I can include it here! 


I AM YOUR SOUL - Poem By S.D. Clifford

"in the wake of silence" is the first track of the album "__ u n d e r s c o r e"

Its published under creative commons license - you are allowed to copy, distribute and perform this work but only if you give credit. 


in the wake of silence

A Transient Being Called Love

"h o t e l r o o m" is another track of the forthcoming album "_ u n d e r s c or e"

All rights reserved. 
Please send me message if you want to use the track. 

h o t e l r o o m

"Lake Late Fall" is a composition for solo Piano and solo Listener. 
Written and performed by Cis Minor. 

Free download. 
Please send me a note if you like this piece and/or you want to use it in any derivative work. 

Image: "Guelph Lake Late Fall Fog" by J. S. (Steve) Bond
(used under CC)

Lake Late Fall

Piece for solo piano and solo business traveller. 
Composed and played by Cis Minor. 

Photo by Huevocosmico https://pixabay.com/en/landscape-solitude-man-tree-753072/ used under CC

Business Traveller Solitude

The Monk by the Sea (German: Der Mönch am Meer) is an oil painting by the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich. It was painted between 1808 and 1810 in Dresden. 

A single figure, dressed in a long garment and with his chin on one hand, stands on a low dune sprinkled with grass. The broad expanses of sea and sky emphasize the meager figure of the monk, standing before the vastness of nature and the presence of God.

Created with Soundiron Emotional Piano Plugin, Yamaha P120, Synfire Pro, iMac.

The Monk By The Sea

[The artwork is a part of Van Goghs wonderful oil painting "De sterrennacht" (The Starry Night) created 1889]

Carpe Noctem

A melancholic journey through the night ... 

This is a new upload of a version produced by Jonathan Armandary (http://soundcloud.com/armandarymusic)

The picture is taken from Wong Kar Wais beautiful movie "In the Mood for Love".




Night Drive

Vocals: http://soundcloud.com/itsamoi
Lyrics:  http://soundcloud.com/atuin


Winter Waltz 
----------- 
I must confess 
I jumped in too fast 
But I know it will last 
I know that I‘m home now 
Don’t let go 
I won’t let you fall 
I won’t have it all 
Because once and for all 
I know that I’m home 
I’m not cold 
No, I’m not cold 
For I’ve just been told 
That I’m bound to love 
I’m bound to love 
And no one sleeps alone 
No one eats alone 
No one bleeds alone


The image is taken from Wong Kar Wais beautiful movie "2046". 

Itsa Moi sings Winter Waltz

The picture is taken from the Wong Kar Wai Movie "2046"

Story of a woman who took the long route instead of the short one to find the man she loves ...

The author C. S. Lewis described Sehnsucht as the "inconsolable longing" in the human heart for "we know not what."


Sehnsucht

Sea shells live in the silence under water and they never forget their origin: if you hold them close to your ear, you will hear the sound of sea waves ... they are longing to go back to the sea. The louder the environment, the stronger their inconsolable longing. From this point of view I am also a sea shell ... &#13;
&#13;
The image is from the outstanding artist Richard Brocken (see http://www.saatchionline.com/richardbrocken).&#13;
You can view or download the sheet to this piece here: http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=44884#&#13;
&#13;
Other versions: &#13;
► http://soundcloud.com/rob-duff created an orchestral version of this piece: <a href="http://soundcloud.com/rob-duff/at-night-she-dreams-of-the#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> At Night She Dreams Of The Endless Sea (orchestral)</a>&#13;
► http://soundcloud.com/nuit created a surprising and very funny remix <a href="http://soundcloud.com/nuit/statement" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">At Night She Dreams Of The Endless Sea (Humanity Remix) </a>

At Night She Dreams Of The Endless Sea

This romantic and tender piece for solo piano is dedicated to my friend and SoundClouder Vicente Bueso and his wife Nuria ... 
may love and moonshine always illuminate your path!
Please find Vicentes SoundCloud page here: http://soundcloud.com/scienceteheran 

There is an amazing timelapse painting video using this music by artist Clarke Duggan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeAVVkwhKhA 

http://soundcloud.com/martinmusic-1 also created an orchestral version of this piece: <a href="http://soundcloud.com/martinmusic-1/lovers-in-the-moonlight-cis-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lovers In The Moonlight (orchestral)</a>&#13;
http://soundcloud.com/ssteviewilliams has added lyrics and vocals: <a href="http://soundcloud.com/cis-minor/stephanie-williams-cis-minor-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lovers In The Moonlight (song)</a>

Lovers In the Moonlight

A calm and silent piece for solo piano ... it is the second piece from my cycle about rain. 

The title is taken from a poem of Brian Patten. 
Recorded with Yamaha Avant Grand N1 piano. 


You Come To Me Quiet As Rain Not Yet Fallen

The Rain Was Ending, And Light 
(by Laurence Binyon)

The rain was ending, and light
Lifting the leaden skies.
It shone upon ceiling and floor
And dazzled a child's eyes.

Pale after fever, a captive
Apart from his schoolfellows,
He stood at the high room's window
With face to the pane pressed close,

And beheld an immense glory
Flooding with fire the drops
Spilled on miraculous leaves
Of the fresh green lime-tree tops.

Washed gravel glittered red
To a wall, and beyond it nine
Tall limes in the old inn yard
Rose over the tall inn sign.

And voices arose from beneath
Of boys from school set free,
Racing and chasing each other
With laughter and games and glee.

To the boy at the high room-window,
Gazing alone and apart,
There came a wish without reason,
A thought that shone through his heart.

I'll choose this moment and keep it,
He said to himself, for a vow,
To remember for ever and ever
As if it were always now.

The Rain Was Ending, And Light

VOCALS, VIOLINE: http://soundcloud.com/elvenlied 
PIANO: http://soundcloud.com/cis-minor 

"The Monk by the Sea" (German: "Der Mönch am Meer") is an oil painting by the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich. It was painted between 1808 and 1810 in Dresden.

From my very young childhood I was fascinated by this picture: A single figure, dressed in a long garment and with his chin on one hand, stands on a low dune sprinkled with grass. The broad expanses of sea and sky emphasize the meager figure of the monk, standing before the vastness of nature and the presence of God. What is he thinking? What is he feeling? Why is he at the sea? I have hundreds of interpretations and whenever I am at the sea I think of the lonely monk ...

This pieces started as one of my earliest piano compositions something like 8 or 9 months ago. Some months later Julie joined SC and listened to that piece and we started conversation about music, the monk, emotions ... and soon she felt inspired to add her gorgeous voice ... I felt overwhelmed by the beauty and drama Julie had added. 

          She sang beyond the genius of the sea.
          For she was the maker of the song she sang.
          The ever-hooded, tragic-gestured sea
          Was merely a place by which she walked to sing.
(excerpt from Wallace Stevens poem "The Idea of Order at Key West") 

It took us another 6 months mainly waiting that we both felt the right time has come to finish the piece and share it :-)  

(You can find the piano solo version here: http://soundcloud.com/cis-minor/the-monk-by-the-sea)

Julie Elven & cis minor - The Monk By The Sea

A few years back my mother, Rose, fell in love with another man, Klaus. It was an amazing love story ... and it was so cute and funny to see my mother behaving excited like a teenager. 
Unfortunately their love soon was shaded by tragedy, as Klaus became terminally ill and so both just had a short time left with each other. Nevertheless they made the best out of every single minute left for their passionate and deep love until Klaus finally died holding Roses hand. 

I created this piece in memoriam of Klaus and dedicate it to Rose. May the light still shine for you!

The image is taken from the internet and does not depict the real Rose and Klaus. 
The music is inspired by the soundtrack of the movie "In the Mood For Love".
Artist Clarke Duggan created an amazing timelapse painting movie - find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6p5h_Qcptk&amp=&feature=youtu.be

The Story Of Rose And Klaus

This is a short and quiet piece based on Saties Gymnopedie No 1. 
http://soundcloud.com/tyson-habein has created spoken words and video for this piece: http://vimeo.com/50506207

Afterwards

My apartment is in front of a small river/lake, and every summer there has been a cute couple of swans. Actually swans are monogamic, once they have chosen a partner they stay together their entire life. 

I was expecting them back this spring ... but only one of them was coming. I have seen him at all the places they always shared together, and he always seemed to look for her. But she was not coming, and I don't know what happened to her. It was so sad! 

This swan belongs to the family of "Mute Swans" (Cygnus Olor). They are completely silent during their lifetime until the moment just before death, when the swan sings one beautiful song.

In autumn the other swans prepared for their anual flight to warmer regions, but the sad swan was not with them, and hence I wondered was happened to him. 

One night in late golden october, one of those few where the summer rears up a last time, I woke up by a strange sound. I went to my balcony, the lake in silver moonlight in front of me ... with the swan in the middle. 

And than I heard it ... the most beautiful and saddest melody in the world. Obviously the swan was singing the story of his life, and it was full of melancholy, so much about missing her and the moments they shared together as a loving couple. 

This was the last time I had seen the swan. When I went back in the room I immediately tried to note down the melody I had heard, and I need to excuse that due to my inconsiderable musical abilities this song here is only a cheap imitation ... but I hope you can get at least a glance.


Joe Zazulak created a video featuring this music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zdN11Mk8lc&list=UUm4JxLIqANfhK26UChsixiA&index=1

The Monogamic Swan

A classical waltz ... 

I created this for the "Piano Cloud New Year's Waltz Challenge". 
The image is taken from the most beautiful movie "2046" by Wong Kar-Wai. 

He Thinks Of Her While Smoking A Cigarette

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Das Leben ist schön"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang

Das Leben ist schön

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Das Meer in mir"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Das Meer in mir

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Delete"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Delete

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Denkmuster"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Denkmuster

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Ich lüge so schön"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Ich lüge so schön

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Onyx Moment"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Onyx Moment

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Stadt"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Stadt

Another track of a wonderful cooperation between Berlins poetess @Stephanie-Mattner and @Cis-Minor from our upcoming album "Zwischen Seenot, Salz und Tang".

"Strumvogel"
Poem & Performance: Stephanie Mattner (www.stephanie-mattner.de/dichterin/seenot/)
Music: Cis Minor

Sturmvogel

"Rain Has Fallen All The Day" is a marvelous poem by James Joyce. 
Some time ago http://soundcloud.com/mementoaeterna and I had the idea to create a song from it ... and it was a wonderful journey: first we shared our impressions about the various meanings, atmosphere and interpretations of this poem. She is so sensitive, and she has the gift of noticing the extraordinary where others just see the ordinary ... it has been pure pleasure! Once we had an idea of the situation and all layers of meaning the music came out of nowhere. We haven't been in a hurry, hence we allowed ourself more sweet anticipation by simply not finalizing the last percent of work ... but NOW I am incredibly proud to present our collab :-) 

In case you have not listened to her music yet ... wow, than you have some incredible nice experience in front of you! By the way, she is also one of the smartest, nicest, funniest and most gifted persons I have met ... so what are you doing here ... hurry, and go here: http://soundcloud.com/mementoaeterna 

Lyrics: James Joyce 
Vocals: http://soundcloud.com/mementoaeterna 
Artwork: http://soundcloud.com/mementoaeterna  
Piano: cis minor 

Rain Has Fallen All The Day 
=================
Rain has fallen all the day. 
O come among the laden trees: 
The leaves lie thick upon the way 
Of memories. 

Staying a little by the way 
Of memories shall we depart. 
Come, my beloved, where I may 
Speak to your heart.

Rain Has Fallen All The Day (after poem from James Joyce)

Yuki-onna (雪女, snow woman) is a spirit in Japanese mythology. Yuki-onna appears on snowy nights as a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair and blue lips. Her inhumanly pale or even transparent skin makes her blend into the snowy landscape. She is at the same time beautiful and serene, yet ruthless in killing unsuspecting mortals. Like the snow and winter weather she represents, Yuki-onna has a softer side. She sometimes lets would-be victims go for various reasons. In one popular Yuki-onna legend, for example, she sets a young boy free because of his beauty and age. She makes him promise never to speak of her, but later in life, he tells the story to his wife who reveals herself to be the snow woman. She reviles him for breaking his promise, but spares him again, this time out of concern for their children (but if he dares mistreat their children, she will return with no mercy. Luckily for him, he is a loving father).

Yuki Onna

All the waterdrops in a the river just have one aspiration ... to become one with the sea again. When we watch a river flow we can feel this ... and we want to take the same route. 

This piece is a birthday present for Astrid - I wish you a happy birthday!!! <3 

I was thinking/reading a lot about harmony-theory recently; and the more I read, the more I wished to create something that does not follow this theory at all. This piece is a try ... instead of any sequence of chords it uses only shades of one lonely chord and a simple melody. 


All Water Is Longing For The Sea

This is a romantic piece for piano.
The image is the chinese actor Fan BingBing from the movie "Lost in Beijing". 

Joe Zazulak has created a shortfilm utilizing this piece: https://vimeo.com/63236597
https://soundcloud.com/manuel-vinicio also used this music in a video: http://vimeo.com/74079638

She Knows Somewhere Love Is Real

A tranquil moment of silence in the midst of the hectic everyday life. 


21st Century Monk

Listen to this achingly beautiful poem of S.D. Clifford, recited by himself, accompanied on the piano. 
I am sure this poem will speak to many artists here on SoundCloud. 

Poem & Recitation: S.D. Clifford
Piano: cis minor  

Find more about S.D. Clifford on his webpage: http://sdclifford.com/

For The Poets Will Love You (Poem by S.D.Clifford)

Returning to my native village after many years’ absence: 
Ill, I put up at a country inn and listen to the rain. 
One robe, one bowl is all I have. 
I light incense and strain to sit in meditation; 
All night a steady drizzle outside the dark window --  
Inside, poignant memories of these long years of pilgrimage.
(Ryōkan, 18th century, translated by John Stevens) 


Flute: https://soundcloud.com/soulful-woods 
Piano: https://soundcloud.com/cis-minor 

This lovely music came to me more or less as a gift: some weeks back I recorded the piano (https://soundcloud.com/cis-minor/21st-century-monk-free). The incredible Soulful Woods felt inspired to create an enchanting flute expression - we already planned to do a collab for some longer time. 
From the first time I had heard his music I was intrigued by the sound, the authenticity and the depth of emotional expression in his flute play. His music is pure and thorough. Listening to his music is bringing peace and awareness to me, but still it breathes some sense of solitude and sorrow. Have a listen to this most beautiful and soulful music here: https://soundcloud.com/soulful-woods

A Monk Returns Home

Some people ask: can one make a living from music? Let me ask back: can one make a living without music?

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