Sir Tom

A tribute to those who have died of Covid-19.

Composed April 2020 using the traditional plainchant melody.

Dies Irae For Strings

*This version is a virtual choir - EastWest Symphonic Choir

Setting of the poem Winter by Walter de la Mare
Composed in 2019

Clouded with snow
The cold winds blow
And shrill on leafless bough
The robin with its burning breast
Alone sings now

The rayless sun
Day's journey done
Sheds its last ebbing light
On fields in leagues of beauty spread
Unearthly white

Thick draws the dark
And spark by spark
The frost fires kindle
And soon
Over that sea of frozen foam
Floats the white moon

Winter

Sound design challenge to create a series of tracks with the most basic of single oscillator synths. All sounds made from scratch using Logic's ES1 Synth and TR-606 drum machine only.

Some were conceived as sports themes for TV for the Olympics, but presented here as a collection.

With influence of Jean Michel Jarre and Kraftwerk.

All composed July 2012 remastered July 2020.

Etude III

Etude II

Etude I

On the day I received my CS80 synth, I found myself in instant Peter Gabriel territory. This happened to also be the day that the news broke about George Floyd, and so this developed into an anthem.

As yet it is a backing track and needs vocals - open to offers if anyone wants to collaborate.

Keep Breathing

Based on the poem Spring by Walter de la Mare

Composed July 2020

Realised here in EastWest's Symphonic Choir

Spring

Once when my life was young,
I, too, with Spring's bright face
By mine, walked softly along,
    Pace to his pace.

Then burned his crimson may,
Like a clear flame outspread,
Arching our happy way:
    Then would he shed

Strangely from his wild face
Wonderful light on me - 
Like hounds that keen in chase
    Their quarry see.

Oh, sorrow now to know
What shafts, what keenness cold
His are to pierce me through,
    Now that I'm old.

Spring

Today's noodling. Why use one classic synth when you can use six?
Moog Modular, CS80, OB-X, Prophet V, Solina - and a modern classic ANA2

After The Snow

Get Up

Daniel Davis is a composer, sound engineer, producer, and educator based in East Lothian near Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied composition at The University of Edinburgh, before going on to qualify as a teacher and then as a sound engineer. He ran Windmill Sound Recording Studio for a number of years before returning to teaching.

Daniel Davis

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