This is the first in a new series I am beginning called "Audible Visions". It's a project I started up through Pinterest where I am looking for pictures that inspire me and subsequently composing music to them.

This track, "Queen of the Ice" is based on a painting entitled "Queen of Frozen" by artist Kevin Hou, which is visible in the album art, or in its entirety here: http://tinyurl.com/mxkp5ue

The painting itself was inspired by a real life photograph taken by Snowii Photographie which can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/lon3z8j

Special Thanks go to both Kevin Hou and Snowii Photographie for enthusiastically giving me permission to use their artwork to accompany this track.

This track was composed with an icy setting in mind (as the name would suggest) and centers around a character; a queen to be specific. Drawing from nothing but the picture, the idea I wanted to convey through the music was a woman who may have some uncertainties as to her ability to lead her tribe, but yet her determination is stronger and so she is charging forward, ready to do what must be done. And while she may have doubts, it is clear that she is so much stronger than she realizes.

"Queen of the Ice" includes some heavy Celtic influence, especially in the last sequence of the song, and while it starts out more symphonic it surprisingly becomes more modern folk rock toward the end as acoustic bass, a drumset, pipes, violins, and accordians carry it to its conclusion as the queen's determination is growing and is sealed.

Queen of the Ice

Music by Joe Harrison from the flash game, "The Comet's Calling" - Now available to play at http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/654472

The Comet's Calling - Original Video Game Soundtrack (Twilight Loop)

Don't ask me why.... Just don't.... Because I don't even know why I felt the need to do this. I just did. Call it... a way for me to give a nod to some musicians who've had some big impacts on me; namely John Williams (obviously), and the popular pianist-duo from the 1960/70/80's: Ferrante and Teicher - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrante_%26_Teicher.

Thanks to my Dad, I grew up listening to Ferrante and Teicher and especially loved it when they would do sort of 60's-dance versions of popular movie themes - and yes, they have done the "Star Wars" main theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQMF-3mbsCE - So, this is, perhaps, how they might have handled the track "Luke and Leia" from the "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" soundtrack by John Williams.

My deepest respect to all composers involved! No infringing claims are intended.

Luke & Leia's Theme from "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" (Ferrante & Teicher Style)

I didn't really know where this was going when I first started the chord progressions, I just had an overwhelming need to make some music. But as the piece began to evolve I realized it was kind of a theme for me, or rather my future.

I am just one of many victims of Clinical Depression and Anxiety, and one of the largest symptoms that I literally battle against every single day is exhaustion; almost every waking moment is spent fighting against the desire to just collapse back in bed — even though this would ultimately be futile, because no matter how much sleep or rest I get, it doesn't help. 

The best analogy I often give to people who want to know what it's like for me is that I am sinking slowly into a very dark and bottomless body of water; there are weights around my ankles pulling me deeper, and my life is a constant battle of flailing my arms wildly, despite barely possessing the strength to do so, to stay at least high enough that I can tilt my head back and keep my mouth out of the water for air. Because if I stop flailing, I will just sink deeper. And so it's an ongoing battle of exhaustion.

My wife and I are preparing to take the steps necessary to help me get out of this, to live free like I did once. I've only had this sickness for a quarter of my life, but at this point I can barely remember what it feels like to NOT be plagued by Depression, Anxiety, and constant exhaustion. But we are taking the steps. And we will beat this. And by the middle of this composition, I realized that this piece represents those steps, and ultimately the freedom I will have to be able to fly away from the dark waters and soar.

And I pray that day comes very soon.

Soaring - Joe Harrison

Here is a lush, sweeping, evocative theme that has notes of light and dark, just like our heroine and her journey.

Film music composer Christy Carew Marshall imagines what a full orchestral score to key scenes of Jacqueline Carey's incredible Kushiel's Legacy series would sound like. Scenes inspired by her iconic books Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen and Kushiel's Avatar. Recorded by the Fames Project Orchestra in Skopje, Macedonia. Harp performed and recorded by Ivory McCann in New Orleans, LA. Mixed and mastered in Los Angeles by Jeremy Underwood. 

Special thanks to Jacqueline Carey, Tia Mansouri, Miriam Mayer, Fabrizio Mancinelli, Ian & Patti Armstrong, and Thomas Goss. Cover art Copyright Diana Ming Jeong and Tia Mansouri, used with permission.

Kushiel's Legacy

Phedre's Theme

Sci-Fi Title Menu - Julia Harrison

A reorchestration (using demos of studio-quality samples) of the piece I composed for my wife and played for her the night I proposed to her (12/24/12). This reorchestration was a surprise Christmas Eve present for her this year (2017).

Sci-Fi Title Menu - Julia Harrison

Julia Harrison

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