Created by Dan Keen: "Welcome to Soft String Spurs, a sample library of my viola. There are 3 main components to this collection of sounds; the Core, which has 4 dynamic layers (Levels 1 and 2 were recorded using a mute, Levels 3 and 4 were recorded without a mute), Harmonics (4 time-stretched and manipulated natural harmonics) and Swells. I recorded this diatonically, recording 4 bows per sample, using a combination of AKG C451B close and AKG C214 stereo room mics for width. To enhance the sound further, I also recorded multiple layers. Level 1 has just a single recording and Levels 2, 3 and 4 have 3, 4 and 5 layers respectively.

The samples were produced with minimal compression, EQ and reverb to allow you to have flexibility with the sound, but I must say they take very well to delay and reverb, as outlined in my YouTube walkthrough and tutorial video below. The dynamics of the Core library can be faded between using the Mod Wheel and the volume for the Harmonics and Swells can be adjusted with CC21 (Spitfire's vibrato control). The combination of these plus CC11 Volume controller allow for easy use of all three instruments simultaneously."

https://youtu.be/zAXKVbZ4nG4

Download it for free here: https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/soft-string-spurs

Soft String Spurs

SONGS for solo piano, live workshop performance by Joseph Havlat

II: Ayre (SONGS)

III: Chorale (SONGS)

beautiful performance by the wonderful pianist Richard Casey recorded by Steve Plews (prima-facie)

nagahama fragments (2012) 

(twenty fragments for piano)

a piano fragment written each day during a summer spent in Hiroshima, Japan. August 6th is the day in 1945 when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima at 8:15am. “Little Boy” is the name given to the bomb by the servicemen aboard the Enola Gay.

Aug. 1st	0’:00”	mangetsu (full moon)
Aug 2nd	1’:08”
Aug 3rd	3’:45”
Aug 4th	5’:04”
Aug 5th	6’:11”
Aug 6th 	6’:48”	little boy
Aug 7th	8’:38”
Aug 8th	9’:03”
Aug 14th	10’:30”
Aug 15th	11’:56”
Aug 17th	12’:18”
Aug 18th	13’:17”
Aug 19th	13’:44”	umi (seto nai kai) – the inland sea
Aug 20th	14’:54”
Aug 21st	15’:00”
Aug 22nd 15’:20”
Aug 23rd 16’:21”
Aug 24th	16’:56”
Aug 25th	17’:58”
Aug 26th	18’24”

nagahama fragments

Scrap (from VESTIGES) for mixed ensemble, live workshop performance

Tune:
Preston Yeo, violin (leader)
Emily Stephens, oboe
Nikolai Iaushev, clarinet

Drones:
Charlie Howells, viola
Bella Lorenzo-Giguere, cello
Marianne Schofield, double bass

III: Scrap (VESTIGES)

STUDIO Rhythmic Robins - Taktfastir Svartthrestir _MASTER_44Khz-16Bit-19052023_KSS_1

This track was created as part of the pianobook project using it's free 'Soft String Spurs' instrument.

To find out more about the project, how you can get involved and to download the 'Soft String Spurs' and many more free instruments visit

www.pianobook.co.uk

For further information and updates visit

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh…jA7uvVnIDayerm1zl

Forsaken

A demo using solely PianoBook samples including Christian Henson's pianos and Dan Keen's strings.

Tuesday, After A Long Time

This track was created as part of the pianobook project using it's free Mandolin Guitarophone, Lowery Pad, Soft String Spurs and Tape Delay Experiment instruments.

To find out more about the project, how you can get involved and to download these and many more free instruments visit

www.pianobook.co.uk

For further information and updates visit

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh…jA7uvVnIDayerm1zl

Doubt I-III

Recorded using solely Soft String Spurs Extras and Soft String Spurs by Dan Keen available for free here:
https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/soft-string-spurs-extras/

Photo by Vincent Burkhead on Unsplash

Fragile (Soft String Spurs demo)

Created using free instruments from www.pianobook.co.uk:
Christian Henson's Tracked Piano 
Dan Keen's Soft String Spurs & Soft String Spurs Extras

Elegy

Music Educator, Composer, Arranger, Conductor

Elegy

John-Paul Bowman

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