Evolution of a Song: The Parting Glass

When Lee Lucas posted a collaborative version of this song before Christmas https://soundcloud.com/lee-lucas/lee-lucas-mark-j-bennett-the-parting-glass, he suggested that I put out an open invitation for anyone to collaborate with the original stem. Of course, I appreciate that grafting any type of arrangement on to an acapella vocal track isn't easy but I'd welcome any approach. This is an Irish traditional song but it may well withstand a modern arrangement. The vocal stem has lots of reverb and echo on it but should you need a drier stem to work with, just message me and I can send a naked version. Also feel free to take some liberties with this should it lend itself in any other treatment. 

I raise my glass to those brave enough to listen to me tightrope-walking and also to those who might consider taking on this challenge. Cheers!


Of all the money that e'er I had
I have spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all

The Parting Glass - Open Collaboration

I stumbled on this track while taking a needed break from the solo piano piece I had been working on for hours.  I had never heard this song before but loved it immediately so I decided to play along with it.  Of course, I had the song I was working on stuck firmly in my head so every time I started playing along my fingers would just instinctively gravitate to the melody and progression of my piece transposed into a different key - which was extremely annoying until I realized that it actually sounded great.  Then I listened more to the lyrics of the song which are not only beautiful but also hit me on a very personal level.  After a day of making some minor adjustments to match my phrasing with Mark's this was the result.  

The really interesting thing about this piece is that while I've covered and arranged lots of music before, I've never done it for a song which I had never heard with accompaniment.  I still have no idea what the traditional version (or any version with instrumentation).  

This was a LOT of fun to work on for many reasons.  I hope you all enjoy it and I hope I didn't accidentally bastardize the original song.  

Here is a link to Mark's original acapella recording which is beautiful on its own - which is extremely difficult to do acapella.  https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/the-parting-glass-open-collaboration

Mark's Page

The Parting Glass - (Open Collaboration with Mark Bennett)

This is the 1st track of Evolution of a Song: The Parting Glass

https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned/sets/evolution-of-a-song-the

I thought it would be fun to show the evolution of the song which became my piano accompaniment for The Parting Glass (my collaboration with Mark Bennett).  

https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned/the-parting-glass

It all began with a melody I had in my head.  I played with it for a while and then decided to just record some improvisations around the melody and see where it took me.  This track is composed with parts of my first two recorded improv takes.  

*I wanted to show the development of the piece without driving myself crazy so I didn't edit it the way I normally do.  It's not supposed to be perfect!  There also isn't an ending because at that point I felt I had enough to listen to and work around.

Evolution Of A Song: The Parting Glass - First Takes (Please read description!)

This is the 2nd track from Evolution of a Song: The Parting Glass
https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned/sets/evolution-of-a-song-the

I thought it would be fun to show the evolution of the song which became my piano accompaniment for The Parting Glass (my collaboration with Mark Bennett).

https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned/the-parting-glass

After listening to my first couple recordings and playing around a little more I recorded a couple more takes.  Again, I had no idea where exactly I was going with this song.  These tracks are more like brainstorming sessions.  At the time this track was originally recorded, I still had not heard Mark's version of "The Parting Glass".

*I wanted to show the development of the piece without driving myself crazy so I didn't edit it the way I normally do. It's not supposed to be perfect! There also isn't an ending because at that point I felt I had enough to listen to and work around.


Evolution Of A Song: The Parting Glass - Later Takes (Please read description!)

This is the 4th track from Evolution of a Song: The Parting Glass
https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned/sets/evolution-of-a-song-the

I thought it would be fun to show the evolution of the song which became my piano accompaniment for The Parting Glass (my collaboration with Mark Bennett).

https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned/the-parting-glass

After recording several takes of improvisations around my melody, listening to them over and over and trying to determine a structure for the song eventually needed to stop and get the song out of my head for a bit.  I started listening to other music to reset my brain and that's when I found Mark's acapella version of The Parting Glass.  I was playing around with it and while I wasn't doing it intentionally at first, I discovered that my melody worked beautifully with Mark's track.  So I transposed the key and went back to work, using Mark's track as a frame for the song I had been working on.  This is the final edit of the piano track written to accompany Mark.

This track is available to download.  Thanks so much for listening!

Evolution of a Song: The Parting Glass - Final Piano Edit (Please read description!)

When Mark J Bennett posted his a Capella, vocal rendition of this classic song as an open collaboration, I was immediately drawn to his wonderful and heartfelt performance. I then stumbled upon the version done by Matthew Wilson, in which he created a flawless piano accompaniment for Mark's vocal. To their magnificent work, I added some orchestral touches and present the outcome of this three way collaboration here. We all hope you enjoy our collective work. 

To hear more of mark's music, go here: https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett

and to hear more of Matthew's work, check out his page here: https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned

The Parting Glass

http://www.mathamwilsoned.com

My piano is my voice.  I started recording these compositions and improvisations a few years ago when I wanted to tell someone how much I love them and no words were sufficient.  In the process of writing and recording that piece, I decided to start recording my random improvisations as well (which despite having played most of my life, I've never done before).  That was the beginning of my first set, "Words Fail Me" and this page.

Words Fail Me is available on Amazon, iTunes and Google Play!  It is also available for streaming on Spotify! 

Thanks to everyone who has listened, liked, reposted, commented - the fact that so many complete strangers have taken time out of their lives to experience a little of mine is crazy.  

I also love to accompany vocalists and work with other musicians:

https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned/sets/accompaniments

Or take a minute to listen to the amazing voice of https://soundcloud.com/keir-patrick-white whom I had the privilege of working with for many years.

Evolution of a Song: The Parting Glass

Matham Wilsoned