Inspired by the legendary game from 1995: Hexen (my all time fav - I know, who cares). This track is absolutely recorded without any quantization (of course, the drumline is programmed). I hope you enjoy this one as well!

Seven Portals

This is a sad piece of music.  Sometimes music needs to be in the minor key.   This came out top of my head without preparation or any planning.  Now mixed for the final version.

Autumn Leaves

Track 10 in "Ephéméries" (2023) by Alex M: piano composed, played, arranged, edited and recorded by Alex M in GarageBand iOS, 12 February 2019, all other instruments composed, played, arranged, edited, recorded and mixed in Logic Pro X, 23 February 2019; posted on SoundCloud on 24 February 2019 (before the release of the album as a whole).

The initial piano version is here: https://soundcloud.com/alexander-mihailov-96713983/am190212-ephemerie4piano

And the whole album "Ephéméries" (2023) is here: https://soundcloud.com/alexander-mihailov-96713983/sets/ephemeries

The album artwork cover, also used as the cover of each constituent track, is based on a photo taken on 28 June 2018, then resized and annotated in MacOS Preview by Alex M on 26 January 2019.

Duration: 4:00 minutes
Tempo: 116 bpm
Time Signature: 4/4
Key Signature: A minor

Digital instruments used, in the order of playing and recording:

1. Piano - Yamaha Grand Piano
2. Bass - Subby Bass
3. Electronic Drum Kit - Drum Machine Designer - Seismic
4. Synthesizer - Plucked - 16mm Dream Sequence
5. Orchestral - Strings - Full Strings
6. Arpeggiator - Synth Chords - Emotive Melodies
7. Synthesizer - Classics - Luminous Tines
8. Arpeggiator - Synth Chords - Echo Chords

Ephémérie 4 (Extended Orchestral)

Pavane [2019 revision]

Come April  				c. 2020 by M. A. Manetz

V1
On these four gray walls I've painted her picture with my mind.
Holdin' her in my dreams the only comfort I can find.
One more lonely winter in this cold and lonely place.
The only thing that's kept me sane is the memory of her face.

Chorus
Come April, I'll make it better,
Come April, it'll be so fine.
Come April, I'll make it up to her,
Come April, she'll be mine.

V2
Six months in this prison, six months till I'm free,
Six months since her last letter, does she still care for me?
My brother came to see me, said she's movin' to L.A.,
I tell myself come April, I'll find a way to make her stay.

Chorus

Bridge
Am I a fool to think that she would ever wait for me?
I don't blame her for leavin', but yet I still believe...

Chorus

Come April

Written, performed by Kyo Arakane
Bass guitar by Anthony Ciulla

Imagination is going too far tonight 
I am having another sleepless night 
Did they have to kill Martin Luther King Jr. 
Did they have to keep themselves superior 
Here I go…
We are always looking for humanity 
Blaming that Chinese Communist Party’s cruelty 
Why don’t we take a look at our own country? 
Why do people living in separate category? 
Here I go…
Xenophobia, bigotry in smiling masks 
Prejudice, friction, genocide 
Education doesn’t always work out 
What do you say?

2020 remakes

Xenophobia

The sadness of how life around us is so quiet and we can't get to  see and be with the people we love.

To Be With You

This song is called R.O.A.C.H. (Relentless Odium & A Careless Hero)

Just an unfinished demo like all the others, basically a rough structuring of what I have done so far. Maybe I'll add the lyrics but for now, I do kinda like it as it is. It's like I can feel what the song should be, or wants to be and where it want's to go but I just can't quite do it haha. Anyhow, that is a problem for future me to figure out, enjoy!

R.O.A.C.H.

Just a simple take on one of my old favorite pop-folk songs from the 60's (by Cyrkle). Did a quick iPhone recording and added harmonies and touch of banjo. I always liked the subtle balance between bitter and sweet in this song. He's telling her off but you can tell he's hurt and doing his best to look forward with optimism, which I think he accomplished, in one way or another.

Red Rubber Ball (cover of Cyrkle)

Inspired by Felix Baumgartner and his jump from a helium balloon in the stratosphere on 14th Oct 2012. He fell an estimated 39km and broke the sound barrier!
Humanity is capable of amazing and brilliant things.

Video of him doing it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOoHArAzdug

Freefall (Instrumental) Remaster 16.01.21

Remember way back in Highschool?

Thanks to:
Sean Sweeney - Drums
Adrian Filangi - Bass

Remember way back in Highschool
When we thought that we were cool
Never dreamed that it would last long
While I dreamed awhile with you
We would run through the halls
Throw our books at the walls
and I do it all for you
I'll never forget smoking cheap cigarettes
to look cool, in front of you

Later on we took the long way home
So I could walk awhile with you
dreamed of where we'd be in 5 longs years
and I'd dream those dreams with you
I was cool I was calm I was Hip I was suave
when I told you it was you
I'll never forget all those things that I said
to look cool infront of you

Cause Darling I loved you
Back in Highschool

When I think about those Highschool years
I can't help but think of you
Those days are gone but it makes me smile

Highschool

* 'Prelude - II', due to arrive NOV '21!*

I have studied composition privately with Jaemus Downing, Philip Rayner, and Peter Nickol, although I am largely self-taught.

All compositions Copyright © Mark Dowding 2006-2021

Pavane [2019 revision]

Mark Dowding - composer for piano