Waterfall (demo)

Seriosity

This is the first track of a new instrumental project I've entitled "It's All Greek to Me", as I explore the myths and legends of Ancient Greece. 

I'm using Ancient Greek instruments featured in the 'Ancient Worlds VST Library from Big Fish Audio', underpinned with classical orchestral instruments.  There are some very interesting sounds in it that do seem to evoke a time long ago. 

Since the project is based around some of the myths and legends of Ancient Greece, I wanted a generic opening track that would introduce the listener to some of the sounds and set an overall tone for the project. I really wanted a different feel from a typical 'all guns blazing' modern film score since it isn't accompanying live action but is hopefully a piece in its own right. 

So a piece with the title "A Time of Heroes" seemed like a good idea to kick off the project. :-)

Instrumentation Used

Lyre - it was one of the most important and well-known stringed instruments of Greek Antiquity.

Kithara - this was considered the “professional” instrument of antiquity, and the public highly regarded kithara players.

Kavali - this is a chromatic end-blown flute traditionally played throughout Armenia, the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey. 

Flogera - is a type of flute used in Greek folk music. It is a simple end-blown bamboo flute without a fipple, which is played by directing a narrow air stream against its sharp, open upper end. It typically has seven finger holes.

Water Pumpkins - also called “Water Drums” these instruments can be found in Africa (Mali) and other continents. Water Pumpkins are played with the hands or with soft mallets. They usually come in pairs and have a diameter of 32 - 36 cm. The deeper bowl is filled with water, the smaller one is set on the water. The pitch of the water drums can be tuned by changing the water level inside the floating shell.

Antique Cymbals - are the ancestors of the modern metal cymbals. During the Minoan period, they arrived on the island of Crete from Asia.

Pan Flute - this is an ancient instrument, associated with the demigod Pan, who was the protector of the woods and the shepherds. Variations of the instrument used a number between three and eighteen pipes. The classic Greek Pan Flute used pipes of the same length. 

In addition to the ancient instruments above the track also features :-

Orchestral CS Strings (Albion One - Spitfire)
Viola Ensemble (Piz and Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
Cello Ensemble (Piz and Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
Bass Ensemble Piz and Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
French Horn Ensemble (Chris Hein Brass)
Trombone Ensemble (Chris Hein Brass)
Tuba (Chris Hein Brass)
Bb Clarinet (Chris Hein Winds)
Snare Drum (VSL Big Bang Orchestra | Quasar)
XXL Percussion(Albion One - Spitfire)
St Peter's Choir (Halion 6)

A Time Of Heroes (It's All Greek to Me)

Recorded in Modesto, Ca  Featuring Gibson 335 Electric Guitar solo. Harmonica solo. Fender Electric Bass. Fender Rhodes Electric Piano. Baritone electric Guitar Rhythm. String section, 1st & 2nd Violins, Viola, Cello. Trap Drum set. Percussion Cowbell.

Funkadelic

Soul Bluez

Music, lyrics and song : Jens - Joel
Instruments : Jens - Joel and Magnushttps://open.spotify.com/track/2BUNaqIZY1ZjGcnp6ltGxs?si=5d77c63bb3744ded

In The Desert

POOR

Just a boy Angus and Julia stone cover

The Diva In The Watchmaker's Dream

Youtube
 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCINeoXj0rnQeyDZ0bHtGDgg
Twitter
 https://twitter.com/BillMurray0921

mortal

Wheelwright: voice, lyrics, vocal melody @wheelwright

Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley: drums, tambourine, percussion recording @hypnopompetus  

Jonathan Beckenstein: guitars, bass, orchestral samples, original music, mix

Fictive Sisters is a transatlantic collaboration of Wheelwright and Beckenstein. Our album Immaculate Distraction is available at: https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction

drums recorded at The Tension Headache Studio, Tsagarada, Pelion, Greece https://soundcloud.com/tension-headache-studio




See you same time tomorrow
Goodbye Kelly goodbye Sister J
Oh yes you hide your sorrow well but
No need to tell these kids that god does not appear to care

Oh if he's even there
 
Walked down to old St Martin it's
Dusk already there's cold December rain
In the Piccadilly lights
This place has seen the lost and found for
Seven hundred years
And so they come and pray
Or just to stay out of the rain
 
Oh were there words enough and time I would
Explain the world away and
If life's just a story (maybe) we can change the ending if we try
And though the past's been priced and sold
Tomorrows yet untold
 
Strayed into being happy
Fields of barley framed our stupid bliss
But it was all reflected lights
I never learned how to be kind until I lost someone I loved
But I'm not here to pray
Just trying to stay out of the rain
 
[Repeat chorus]
 
And the words become a song
And the child becomes a man

bandcamp

Close Of Day (with Wheelwright)(Fictive Sisters)

℗ © Copyright Ian Stokes. All Rights Reserved
Recorded and mixed using Logic. Mastered in Soundcloud
Guitars played: Taylor 714CE in open C Sharp tuning (Capo 9th Fret)
Photography: Thanks go to Nigel and Libby Hume at Hume Photography.
After trying out many different styles for this song, I eventually settled on straightforward acoustic guitar and vocals. Hope you like it!
LYRICS: 
These thoughts go drifting by
And I watch them fade away
Where they come from I don’t know
Where they go, who can say
It seems that there is always
A lesson to be learned
Another twist in the story
As the pages get turned

So I put on my walking shoes
Take it steady, take it slow
Turn my collar to the rain
Breathe in deep and let it go 

What are the rules in this game
Are there any rules at all?
These thoughts go drifting by
And down the waterfall
It seems that there is always
A lesson to be learned
Another chapter in the story
As the pages get turned

So I put on my walking shoes
Take it steady, take it slow
Turn my collar to the rain
Breathe in deep and let it go

Now I’m standing by the river
At the foot of the mountainside
Will the grass be any greener
Over on the other side
It seems that there is always
A lesson to be learned
Another time, another story
As the pages get turned

So I put on my walking shoes
Take it steady, take it slow
Turn my collar to the rain
Breathe in deep and let it go

My Walking Shoes

A laboratory with an open bar and floating altar. Come on in! 

Here are various solo and collaborative projects - songs, soundscapes, live looped solo guitar improvisations. 

This project used to be called "imaginary friends", but it became too real for that name, as did many of you.

I hope you enjoy something you find here. Do feel free to be in touch, you never know what might happen.  

I also invite you to attend @hypnopompetus, a duo project with the illustrious Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley https://soundcloud.com/sel-sync, and Fictive Sisters, a transatlantic band with  the incomparable Wheelwright https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction.