On My Mind

Jag vill ha kaffe. ( 1997 ) Eddy Mango ( Eddy )

My Method of Composing and Producing

I'm sharing my method of composing and producing music recordings in case other composer-producers like me might find ideas worth exploring in their own work. I use this method for Classical, Avant-Pop or Neo-Folk Instrumental genres, not for Ambient and Soundscape pieces. Non-composers might find this explanation interesting, but having a bit of music theory background will definitely help. I consider myself a humble learner when it comes to music theory. 

I owe a debt of gratitude to British musician and educator Gareth Green, whose Music Matters online courses and free YouTube lessons have taught me so much over the past few years. Thanks to his instruction, I’ve moved from struggling to compose music by trial and error to something more enjoyable and productive. The knowledge I've gained has taken my work in new and expanding directions. As the saying goes, “Theory is not a cage — it’s a map. It doesn’t make the journey for you, but it keeps you from getting lost.” 

When I start a new piece, I begin by choosing a key, and picking a scale drawn from one of these sources:
 
1) Western Tonal / Functional Harmony - major or minor chords I II III IV V VI VII
2) Modal Harmony - Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, etc.
3) Slonimsky's "Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns" 
4) Messiaen’s "Seven Modes of Limited Transposition" 

For many pieces, I also decide on a progression, one as a simple as I IV V, or something more elaborate.  

Next I create a "scales and progressions" piano track in my DAW (digital audio workstation software) and enter the chords I to VII in my chosen key. These harmonized scales serve as a basis for writing multipart harmonies and finding pivot chords for key modulations. 

At the start, I know what instruments I want to use, making adjustments along the way. I tend to write chord parts first, then melodies created through a mix of improvisation and direct input in the DAW. Sometimes I start with a melody.

I develop melodies and variations of a phrase by some combination of: a) passing it from one instrument to another, transposing it by an interval that sounds pleasing, b) reversing it, c) inverting it around the tonic (first) note of the scale. These are well-known methods. 

After completing a section, I choose another scale and maybe a new key and repeat the process until I have a draft of the entire piece. Then I export a recording and listen to it “offline”, take notes of errors and new ideas, and incorporate them back into the piece. Often this “compose / listen / compose” cycle is repeated many times. These iterative cycles include adding new ideas, polishing transitions between sections, changing the arrangement, and incorporating expressive details like accents, and articulations (staccato, sustain, portato etc.). I’m often working several different pieces at once. 

Last is mixing and mastering: balancing the loudness between instruments and adjusting elements like reverb, compression, and equalization. I tend to mix as I compose, even though many producers frown on that approach. I find mixing as I go helps me envision the completed piece and make adjustments to the choice of instruments; it self-inspires me when the piece is starting to sound good.  At the end I do a final mix, but as the saying goes, “A mix is never finished — it’s surrendered.”

In the end, this method gives me a basis for exploration and creativity and helps me stay focused. The goal is always to make a piece of music that feels expressive, cohesive, and emotionally resonant.

Suite for Woodwinds and Percussion No. 2

Groovy Bird

.... band rehearsal / jam, rec. may 2025 with Zoom H1n // https://www.youtube.com/@dephaze
dePhaze: AdmassD ... Groovebox,Vocals, Percussion // Biff Debris .... Guitar, Electronics, FX //
Marc Kirschvink ..... Bass // Ali Blue ... Drums // joerxworx ... Saxophone, Akai EWI 5000
....  extended solos on my EWI, just to mention this, the reason why I post this here !
upload replaced with an Ableton mastering, more bright and edgy :-)

dePhaze // Minimal // live jam

Endless Dreamer

[DAW] Logic Pro 11.1.2  [Plugin] fxpansion BFD3,Ample Guitar RBIII

New Species

Skyward Drift

Freak

Let’s not mince words here. Trump is the embodiment of corruption, greed, and incompetence. He’s a man who has spent his entire life looking out for himself, exploiting others, and leaving chaos in his wake. As De Niro so eloquently put it: *“He’s a dog. He’s a pig. He’s a con. He’s a bullsh*t artist. He’s a mutt who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”* This isn’t just about politics—it’s about morality. It’s about standing up to a man who has no respect for the rule of law, no respect for the truth, and no respect for the American people.  

Trump’s presidency was a disaster. He divided the country, emboldened hate, and failed to deliver on his promises. He’s a man who thrives on chaos, who lies with every breath, and who cares only about his own ego. As De Niro said: *“He’s a punk, he’s a dog, he’s a mutt. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s an idiot. He’s a fool.”* And yet, here we are, facing the possibility of him returning to power. We cannot let that happen. We cannot allow this man to continue to poison our democracy.  

This is not just about Trump—it’s about the people who enable him. The sycophants, the cowards, and the opportunists who stand by his side and allow his corruption to flourish. They are just as guilty as he is. As De Niro said: *“They’re all scum. They’re all mutts. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”* We need to hold them accountable. We need to stand up and fight back.  

The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines. This is about the soul of our nation. It’s about protecting our democracy, our values, and our future. We cannot afford to let Trump and his enablers win. We must vote, we must organize, and we must make our voices heard. As De Niro said: *“We’re gonna fight back. We’re gonna fight back with everything we’ve got.”*  

So let’s do this. Let’s come together and defeat Trump once and for all. Let’s show the world that we are better than this. That we will not tolerate corruption, lies, and hate. That we will stand up for what’s right. As De Niro said: *“We’re gonna win. We’re gonna win because we have to.”*  

This is our moment. This is our fight. Let’s get to work.  

#DefeatTrump #VoteHimOut #NotMyPresident #DeNiroWasRight

PERFECT WORLD

Study39

⚡️ 573.000  ⚡️ plays since 2013*
https://www.youtube.com/@joerxworx7299
___ Drumax PROJECT with @docfritz
___ the Lunatics project with @cosmic-ratzzz
A playlist of collabs which should be updated :-))
https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx/sets/joerxworx-collabs-the-big
.......... band/jam cloud: https://soundcloud.com/pland-jammin
.......... my old account: www.soundcloud.com/joerxtune
.......... Also on https://hearthis.at/joerxworx-8v/
My bio (to copy) written by me in the third person :-)
"Jörg S. born in Cologne, from youth on, is fascinated by all kinds of art, so he taught himself the saxophone very early. Nowadays flutes of all kind are also part of the equipment, as are jaw harps, percussion, bass, guitars and keyboards.
He was and is always involved in many band projects and session events.
In the 80s he was a saxophonist in the Adam Noidlt Intermission Orchestra with gigs in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Basel. Very early on he also worked as a writer with live readings in the Cologne area and was a painter with large formats for many years, all in addition to his job as a graphic designer. Now, retired, he is devoted solely to music: home recording with the platform of choice, Soundcloud and global collaborations."

*32K before 2016

dePhaze // Minimal // live jam

joerxworx

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