My tribute to the artists whose music has touched me the most, even my own stuff:) This will be an evolving list.

All-time Favorites--Songs That Never Fail to Move Me.

David Dunham AND Ren Faye on the same track! Wow! There's a video too at https://youtu.be/kOg5Yn9_-aw
To say I was lucky to collaborate with these two is something of an understatement and I would like to thank them both for their hard work and for putting up with me! I am so, so proud of this track and love the mood that we have created. I really hope you like it too! 

You can hear more of their work at:
https://soundcloud.com/david-dunhamuser589535203
https://soundcloud.com/renfaye-1

The lyrics are:

Catch the breeze,
Treasures for me...
Watch them go...
Watch them go...
The way the river goes..
Ebb and flow...
Ebb and flow...
That I used to know...

Play on Spotify

Dream Catching (feat. David Dunham and Ren Faye)

With Pat's passing, I wanted to post this version of Ode with us doing a little brainstorming on the creation of the song. 
I witnessed a miracle--at least I would call it that.  A beloved rose that was a regular bloomer(pictured) fell victim to the incredibly harsh cold spell we had in February of 2021.  By April when the rest of the roses were waking up, this one had not a sign of life in it, just a brown stump.  I watered, and fed, and waited, and waited.  Nothing.  I dug out the stump.   For Mothers' Day my daughter had bought a rose to replace the one that had perished...or so I thought.  Within a week of planting the new one, the old one put out a shoot just a foot away.  I guess the digging, watering, etc for the new rose stimulated some remaining root of the old.  It has since received lots of love and care, and has at least a half-dozen buds ready to bloom in a couple of weeks.  So this is an ode; to a beloved rose and all things miraculous.  
Special thanks to Pat Howell for the initial inspiration and his fine musicianship and sweet additions with mandolin and octave.  Please check out his page for more fine music @patrick-howell-786748109

Ode To A Rose (with new intro and outro 7/23/23)

Based around an acoustic riff, the song is about how a wave can be the start, or the end of something, and maybe a chance to start again. Produced by Shael Wrinch at Stone Hill studios on Bowen Island, B.C. Chris Herbsen on vocals, Shael doing harmonies and more of that great slide guitar. 
Lyrics:
She waved to say hello, she waves to say goodbye
She left a scent of faint perfume, and clouds in a sunny sky.
Coffee stains and magazines, and a space where she used to lie.
We're livin' here on shifting sands and we're left to wonder why.

I could have stared for hours and hours
at footprints in the sand
It took a wave beyond my powers
to help me understand 
that life come in waves.

Children's laughter fills the room. I hear her laugh and sing.
Faces stored in a picture frame can't beat the real thing.
What's been lost and what's been found, and what we hope to gain
is all that matters in the end, not teardrops in the rain.

I could have stared...

The Tequila Monday Project

Life Comes in Waves

A rainy-day-melancholy sort of piano piece.

Many thanks go to David Dunham for mastering my track. You can hear his beautiful guitar music @david-dunhamuser589535203
https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/waiting-at-my-window-digital-sheet-music/22554409

Waiting at my Window

This song began one morning while I was "noodling" on the guitar, key of G, 5th fret capo using D shapes, (for the guitarists out there:), and thought it the beginning of a promising recipe for a song; but it sounded a little thin.  It needed some extra seasoning and a little protein, so I sent it to Debra Buesking for her culinary expertise and she supplied all the lovely touches it needed.  It's now ready to serve, our version of "Noodle Soup". Enjoy:)  
Listen to more tasty treats Debbie has cooked up @debra_buesking

Noodle Soup (with Debra Buesking, piano)

I had the great pleasure of collaborating on a song by my friend and wonderful musician David Dunham. 
His incredibly beautiful guitar playing and the story behind this song touched me deeply. I am grateful to have been involved and dedicate my part to all Maddies in the world. Have a look to our tribute Video to Maddie:
 https://youtu.be/gGuDhSgMauo?si=FHznWKAx5nl5sJYA

Be sure to listen to our other version of the song on David's site. You can also find out the background story to this song there. 

https://on.soundcloud.com/snefR


    Guitars:  David Dunham
Keyboards: Axel Menningen


Ginger Angel (by David Dunham)

Recorded for the umpteenth and last time on 12 June 2024 in Milan, with Lorenzo Di Biasi (https://www.sartoria57studio.it/).
Previous draft here: https://soundcloud.com/michele-ansani/timelines
Picture is from Pietro Corrao.

P.S. Now there is also a song, written on this music by CAB (Bruno Cadillon; here: https://soundcloud.com/bruno-cadillon-847608847/comment-fais-tu-ca-michele-ansanicab and here: https://soundcloud.com/michele-ansani/comment-fais-tu-pierre

------

Composed by Michele Ansani (2022).
Posted on SoundCloud: 2024, June 13.

Timelines

We conclude our Summer Series on a hopeful note and a glimpse into the future.  Mankind has finally found that it can accept the differences that divide us, share the bounty between us, and become a vast community governed by faith, hope, and love. How did such a thing come about?  We collectively took a step back from the brink of self-annihilation by realizing "we solve most things if we talk".  
Ironically, this was the most complex song of the five to put together,  We all had an idea of how we wanted it to turn out, and thanks to Seagull and a lot of talking between us behind the scenes, we came to consensus and a final version.  Our little band is proof "we can solve most things if we talk":)  It has been an honor to work with each of you: 
Music composition, 1st guitar (center), bass, synths, mix and production; Seagull, @farout-music-studio
Right & Left Guitar; Our wonderful guitarist; David, @david-dunhamuser589535203
Lyrics & Vocals; Our dear poet Peter, soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Vocals and harmonies; Soundcloud's most wonderful voice; Oddrun, @oddrun-eikli
And the key phrase at the end; The lovely little Finley, 7 years old.

We Solve Most Things If We Talk

Summer rain finds my face, splashing through my smile
Thunder rumbles fall away, storm is phasing through
Peace of mind is on the case, misery is in denial,
Yesterday’s squally day, tomorrow’s skies are azure blue.

Dreams of history’s tension gladly start to ease
Gripping claws of lunacy finally shun the past
Seems things turned out badly for hunger and disease
Slipping towards unity, laying down the guns at last.

Call my neighbour as my friend, our meanings line as one
Colour, gods and politics accepted as they are
Mutualities to defend no conflict clouds our shining sun
Consideration and respect, a communal repertoire

Mother Mary called today
Handed me a flower stalk
Kissed my worries clean away
We solve most things if we talk.

Need as might we understand equality’s a bed of lies
Celebrate uniqueness as a cast of human thread
Day and night, hand in hand, no polity compromise
Learning from our weakness past, focused on the light ahead.

Mother Mary spoke today
Led me on a learning walk
Eased my troubles on the way
We solve most things if we talk.

Mother Mary sang today
Left me with a simple thought
The wisest heads will simply say
We solve most things if we talk.
"We Solve Most Things If We Talk"

Contented Man (Seagull, Oddrun, Peter, David)

My best attempt at imitating Mr. Satie (with a twist).
This is a tweak of an older work.  My sincere thanks to David Dunham for his generosity in mastering my track.   @david-dunhamuser589535203

Satie in Blue

A beautiful and reflective song on what might have been, but still affirms the resilience and eternality of love.  In the context of love, time stands still.
Perhaps it is in the smallest things that we see the greatest and perhaps also the most beautiful.
Beautiful Poem & Narration - Peter; soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Lovely Right Guitar - David; @david-dunhamuser589535203
Music, Guitars, Mix & Production - Seagull; @farout-music-studio

Silent Drops

I wonder, peering through the slipping drops - are you still there?
Do you still feel? Do you still care? Do you still, live?

And are your eyes still that mystic crystal sallowed pastel green?
How much of one lifetime would it ever take to just forgive,
lift the screen that crashed between us, seemly forty thousand years ago?

Ah, what might have been?
A parallel universe could hold our children, old by now, of course.
Kids of their own. And probably divorced.
Ah what the hell, there’s next to no chance that it would have worked out anyday.

You and I.
Separate ways.
You with your fabulous soft green eyes.
Me with nothing healing left to say, empty vespers, hollow, echo.
Wistful whispers, hushed and hint of tints of wettest blue.
But dear God I loved you so...... Still do.

Silent Drops (Seagull, Peter, David)

Number one of Roger Quilter's "Five Shakespeare Songs" Op. 23, first published in 1921.

Piano by Helen Roberts

We hope you'll enjoy!

Lyrics

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o’ the great;
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The scepter, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan:
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renownèd be thy grave!

Fear No More The Heat O' The Sun (Roger Quilter - With Helen Roberts)

Not really an etude in proper musical sense....it has more to do with a story behind it...:)

Composed, arranged, performed and produced by:
Leon Pajer

orlando51music © 2024

Etude For Nevi

Proud to present my third collaboration with David! This lovely guitar track was calling out to me again to make it a song. Nice to add a little piano too. Thank you David. 😊🎶🎤🎸

@david-dunhamuser589535203 for more lovely tunes. 😊

I’d never run out of things to say
If we had one more day

Tell me your stories
Tell me your tales
For one more day
Tell you my worries
What’s on my mind
For one more day
Ooh

Never run out of words to say
If we had one more day

Tell me your stories
Tell me your fears
For one more day

Hold my hand oh
Talk with me...

Tell you my secrets
What’s on my mind
For one more day
For one more day
One more day...

For One More Day (By David Dunham featuring Annie Smart)

Le Passager (concerto du confinement 1 mvt)

This tune came out of a wonderful convergence (happy accident); my collaboration with @devin-locke on "Theme and Variations" and a renewed interest in the painting of Bob Ross. One of the variations I became so taken with, I wanted to develop it into a full track using the original steel string voice of the collaboration then adding nylon string to enlarge the melody line.  "Happy Accidents" was a favorite saying of Bob Ross as he would go about his painting on Public Television.  I saw how it applied to me in how I have composed guitar music over the years;  the unexpected note or chord I first thought a mistake became a turning point for a phrase or melody line.  Some would call it "serendipity", for Bob Ross it was a "happy accident".  If you listen closely toward the beginning, you can hear my granddaughter Lily in the background, a bit of a cameo and very much a happy accident:)

Happy Accidents (For Bob Ross)

I am a finger-style guitarist living on the Texas high plains.  At the core of my music is melody that is inspired and informed by my Christian faith, family, friends, and countless influences through the years from the great composers, to jazz, folk, rock, Latin, Celtic, and the many fine musicians I have come to love on the Cloud, some I have been privileged to collaborate with.  Thanks for stopping by to have a listen. Comments are always welcome. Feel free to click on the picture of any track to learn more about it.