Great track, great soundscape! I love the instruments you work with ans way you make them sound in the mix. Really full of space and breathy, felt 

What a great,warm woody sound of those violas? A created air of positive expectation heard plainly in the music. A herald of better days to come.

Beautiful piece wonderful composition The strings are   gorgeous!!

solemn melody - gives a feeling of acceptance

Orchestral

"A musical vision of Spring, a time of renewal and growth. From out of the cold ground comes a promise of warmer days. Then April showers herald an explosion of life, shorter nights and lighter days full of the sound of birdsong. As the season moves on, there is a slowing of change as Summer draws near."

Description

Spring, finds me trying to express, in music, my feelings about this season. Below is a attempt at doing this in words too. This is the third of four orchestral pieces that describe the four temperate seasons of the year.

If you want to hear the other pieces from the series "The Wheel Turns" after listening to this piece, the links are here :-

https://soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-wheel-turns

The Wheel Turns Orchestral Suite - YouTube playlist.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQkE1sMc-t1sixu4RmJmjyFr0HF6dnUF2

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Spring
The waiting is over. The Winter chill recedes and there is a tacit acceptance to the demands of birth and rebirth. A sign of fresh green poking through the ground is a welcome sight, a simple signal that all will be well.

Very quickly, in a sudden rush, there is life in the hedgerows and the sound of birds heralding a new season. One of life and growth and warmer days and rainy times, but overall a feeling of hope.

You have longed for this moment, a chance to put away your Winter clothes and feel the sun upon your face again. The riot of change will continue as the life-giving sun takes longer marches through the sky.

Spring of all seasons is a time to revel in simply feeling alive. 

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Instrumentation

Con Sordino Strings (Albion One - Spitfire)
Viola Ensemble (Chris Hein Strings)
Viola Ensemble Pizzicato Loose (Chris Hein Strings)
Cello Ensemble (Chris Hein Strings)
Solo Cello (Chris Hein Strings)
Solo(1826 Old)Violin (Chris Hein Strings)
Alto Flute (Chris Hein Winds)
Piccolo (Chris Hein Winds)
English Horn (Chris Hein Winds)
Barock Bassoon (Chris Hein Winds)
Bb Clarinet (Chris Hein Winds)
French Horn (Chris Hein Brass)
French Horn Ensemble(Chris Hein Brass)
Trombone (Chris Hein Brass)
Tuba (Chris Hein Brass)
Bell Tree (Flying Hands Percussion)
Triangle (Kontakt Factory Library)
Concert Harp (Garritan Personal Orchestra 5)

I really wanted a lightness to this piece and it took me a while of tweaking to get what I heard in my head. I didn't want it to sound like Autumn, or Summer, both weightier seasons, but not as thin and austere as Winter. So this piece is mostly woodwinds and strings with hardly any percussion

I didn't need bottom-end, I needed more focus in the melody interaction and there was a missing link. It needed to be light and airy and what else says light and airy like the harp. After about a day working on the harp part it started to give the feel I wanted. The harp glissandi were useful as bookends to the section it features in. 

The piece begins with an echo of Winter and the bell tree, the piccolo and alto flute describe the first signs of growth before giving way to pizzicato strings of April Showers. The harp section is a semi-formal counterpoint section with the harp melody inter-woven with the solo violin in my attempt to describe the rapid growth of the Season. The final section brings in the brass and is a calmer end to the piece that hints at the glory of Summer just around the corner.

The Wheel Turns

Spring

"A musical vision of Summer, a time of warmth, light and fun. A time to live life to the full and enjoy all that mother nature has to offer. As the season moves on, the solstice reminds us that the warmth and light cannot last as we start to head into Autumn"

Description

Summer, finds me trying to express, in music, my feelings about this season. Below is a attempt at doing this in words too. This is chronologically the forth and final of my orchestral pieces that describe the four temperate seasons of the year.

If you want to hear the other pieces from the series "The Wheel Turns" after listening to this piece, the links are here :-

https://soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-wheel-turns

The Wheel Turns Orchestral Suite - YouTube playlist.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQkE1sMc-t1sixu4RmJmjyFr0HF6dnUF2

---------------------------------------------------------------
Summer
The days grow longer, the nights shorter, as the golden ball we call the sun parades in all it's glory.This is a time for living life to the full, a time of happiness, a time of pleasure and excess.

At the solstice, some people still give thanks to the life giving orb upon which we all depend. For we know this moment cannot last, the majesty will fade, the warmth will falter, the party will end.

With threadbare days and darker nights the proud display of Summer flowers starts to fade. The heat can be oppressive, at times there is a chill in the air and Nature herself seems finally quiescent.

We will carry those memories of days on the beach or at the park in our hearts forever. Those days of fun.

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Instrumentation

Con Sordino Strings (Albion One - Spitfire)
Ensemble Strings Mid Octave (Chris Hein Strings)
Viola Ensemble (Chris Hein Strings)
Cello Ensemble (Chris Hein Strings)
Bass Ensemble (Chris Hein Strings)
Solo(1826 Old)Violin (Chris Hein Strings)
Alto Flute (Chris Hein Winds)
C Flute (Chris Hein Winds)
Piccolo (Chris Hein Winds)
English Horn (Chris Hein Winds)
Barock Bassoon (Chris Hein Winds)
Trumpet Ensemble (Chris Hein Brass)
French Horn (Chris Hein Brass)
French Horn Ensemble(Chris Hein Brass)
Trombone (Chris Hein Brass)
Tuba (Chris Hein Brass)
Cymbal (Albion One - Spitfire)
Bass Drum (Kontakt Factory Library)
Concert Harp (Garritan Personal Orchestra 5)
Timpani (Kontakt Factory Library and Garritan Personal Orchestra 5)

This piece evolved into 5 different thematic viewpoints that I labelled up to give an insight into the composition.

1)Grand Intro ... Sunrise / The Majesty of the Sun
2)Summer Promenade / The Beauty of Life
3)Summer Fun / The Bandstand
4)Balmy Days / Sultry Nights
5)A Fading Glory / The Last Hurrah

The piece commences with a Summer sunrise and the sound of French horn and alto flute before the brass heralds the glory of the sun with a fanfare . 

Next is the introduction of the main Summer promenade theme which reflects on the glory of a Summers day before a quieter section featuring solo violin and a bit of flute in the beauty of life.

A harp glissando heralds a change of pace and mood as harp and flute hint at children playing in the park before a brief visit to a quintessentially English band-stand, complete with brass band and thumping bass drum.

Balmy days / Sultry nights introduces the listener to the fading grandeur of Summer, a more melancholic line from the English horn acting as a counterpoint to a slower version of the earlier promenade theme. 

Finally the piece ends with a last hurrah for Summer as a wistful line and rolled timpani hint at the onset of Autumn. A final bit of pomp with timpani and brass completes the piece. 

It was quite a task to fit all that imagery into  four minutes of music but overall I think it works. :-)

Summer

HS Recordings presents a brief overview of the new EP from the musician ZARINE - "Lost UFO"... The EP will include two tracks: Alien In Me / Gang River mystery
Bandcamp Pre Order https://zarine.bandcamp.com/album/lost-ufo
Beatport Pre Order https://www.beatport.com/release/lost-ufo/3427462

Zarine - Lost UFO(cut Vers)

"XXII La Isla", a poem of Easter Island, by Pablo Neruda. The poem is from Pablo Neruda's "The Separate Rose", translated by William O'Daly. 
Permission has been granted by the Pablo Neruda Foundation. 2009
Composer: Pamela Illanes-Tatsuoka.
Performed with the composer's voice.
Dedicated to Kikumi.
I am honored and excited that the video for this song has been posted on the Apech channel:
https://youtu.be/rKmS6qIbfhM

"XXII La Isla" (poem by Pablo Neruda)

Third variation (of 12)about the Bourrèe from the Suite in E minor BWV 996 by J.S.Bach. Composed in november 2010 for woodwind quintet.
MIDI realisation november 2017.

Bourrèe Variation 3 (Courante-Allegro con brio)

Many bands are beginning to have gigs , and venues have come back to life again in my town. That's what we have been waiting for !
We realize how precious sharing music is ! through COVID-19 pandemic. 
I recorded this one-man band song in spare moments from gigs of my band. Playing with my band gives me many inspirations for composing.

Pocket Full Of Groove

The Half Open Door - To Go Beyond

The door is ajar,
a simple push is all it takes,
but dare you step through ?

Heroes, poets and fools have forever wondered
if a new world awaits you ...

through the half open door

MrBouzouki - Oct 2021

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Background
This track appeared as a result of some words in October 2021 that followed on from a similar set of words from 2020. In both cases, they acted as a catalyst for a relatively short orchestral piece piece. So now I have a new series to develop over time entitled 'Metaphysical'.

Again, I feel they are suggesting reaching out to explore the space beyond everyday experience. We really do not know what is on the other side of so many things, trapped by our senses and time itself. But are we  ..... lol

Metaphysical Playlist
https://soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/metaphysical
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Instrumentation
Viola - Chris Hein Strings
Cello - Chris Hein Strings
High Strings Ens - Chris Hein Strings 
Alto Flute - Chris Hein Winds
Bassoon - Chris Hein Winds  
Concert Harp and Harp Harmonics - GPO5 (Garritan)
St Peter's Choir - Halion 6
Ymir Choir - VSL - Big Band Orchestra

The Half Open Door - To Go Beyond

Here’s another track I wrote with my big sister Jane on violin! Thank you to my lovely BF Sander for this gorgeous new master. @wane-of-summer 😊🎶❤️🎹🎻🎵🎧🎼
@jane-hamilton-1 for more awesome music. 😊

OLDEST TALES (written with my sister Jane on strings!)

Happy New Year from The Welcome Parade!!

We hope 2022 will be the start of something quite exceptional for everyone.  I think we are all due a bit of a respite from the current state of affairs! 

Lyrics:
I can feel the fire living in the rain
Pay witness to the pleasure hiding in the pain

To hear the craziness of those that you deem sane
A circle left unbroken we'll travel once again

If not today, maybe tomorrow… 
If not for joy, maybe for sorrow…
If not to lead then maybe to follow…
If not to steal then maybe to borrow…

To feel as broken, as I seem to be
All surrendered out my friend, embracing my defeat

The mirror changes nothing except the point view
A gap, a hole,  a thing that takes my place,  takes my place with you

If not today, maybe tomorrow… 
If not for joy, maybe for sorrow…
If not to lead then maybe to follow…
If not to steal then maybe to borrow…

If not for joy, maybe for sorrow…



The Welcome Parade is proud to release our first two tracks of 2022

The Ready -  See "The Ready"

Not Today - This ones development followed a different path than what normally happens in our band.  As usual it starts on Skype...ends up discarded to the "we will get to that later" pile.  The melody however simply refuses to leave my(Jeff's) head.  I string together a rough rhythm guitar track and send it off to the crew and say in the email....this is what this is about for me and I am compelled to finish this. 

Thom sends back a written chorus....and what a chorus it is.  I do a quick performance and once I can hear the thoughts in real time... the verses slide right out of my head on to paper.   Jay moves to the Rhythm guitar, Jeff to lead vocal and bass,  Thom on the lead and aux & rhythm guitar work.

Normally in development the drums and bass get locked in first so everyone can grab on to the vibe once its all figured out.  In this case...the bass was the last instrument to be figured out.  It was a wonderful opportunity to play off my band mates with the bass.  There are times where I rotated to the speakers and imagine my friends in studio/stage across from me as I start digging deeper on the bass.  Something I don't always get to enjoy but something so seductive to feel! 

I hope one day the world looks at us and says...we got to get these guys together!  If not I am just very happy to have a couple of friends with a musical connection that exists as something so natural, it is difficult to keep the components separate, to realize where one ends and another begins. 

You guys rock and I am so glad to have you as friends and musical companions...rock on mi amigos!

2022

Not Today

Not Today (by The Welcome Parade)

This is about the consequences of bullying. Morgan was 13, bullied at school mercilessly and relentlessly, until she committed suicide. When I read about the case years ago I found it distressing and later was moved to write this song. Don’t have a personal connection to what happened, I just found it really sad.


They found her in the morning
The sadness in her eyes remained
They had taunted and they teased
And broke her
She died in her sleep
Alone.

She fought them off as long as she could
They wore her down until the pain took…
She begged everyone
Rescue me from this pain.

They found her in the morning
The gladness in her heart erased
The tragedy of Morgan
Will haunt them
Each night as they sleep
Alone.

She fought them off as long as she could
They wore her down until the pain took…
She begged everyone
Rescue me from this pain.

Morgan can you tell us where you are
(The) life you lost was beautiful to us
Morgan can you show us what to do
(Your) life will shine a light for us from you.

Morgan
We miss you
Morgan 
We miss you
Morgan 
We miss you
Where are you, today?
We miss you.

Morgan can you tell us where you are 
(The) life you had was beautiful to us
Morgan can you show us what to do
(Your) life will shine a light for us from you.

Morgan

'Rising From The Ashes Part I' is the first part of a trilogy inspired by the awakening of the men and women all over the world. And so is a tribute to "hope".......

18-30 From Euston To Glasgow

Rising From The Ashes Part I

Nerkstura

21 5 9

the value of integrity!!??

Overview

This is a piece of cinematically inspired music that grew out of a 30 seconds Composer Club (Facebook) Group challenge. Our remit was to create a Leitmotif based on 'The One Ring', from The Lord of The Rings trilogy.

Being a bit of a Tolkien fan I decided to create a piece based on the actual forging of the ring of power, to try and get the sense of power, malice and a desire to dominate condensed into this small object and the overriding sorrow of the Elves when they realised just what had been created.

The Shevvanai 'Voice of the Elves' vocal library certainly came in handy  :-)

After doing the initial 30 seconds I thought there was a bit more I could do with the idea so I went back to setting up the story. This involved trying to give a feeling of the Elves in Middle Earth and then I thought ... what I need is some of the Black Speech of Mordor, part of the ring rhyme to lead into the forging section. So I did my very best Dark Lord impression to utter the lines in the Black Speech of Mordor. 

Ash nazg durbatulûk, 
ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatulûk 
agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

One Ring to to Rule Them All
One Ring to Find Them
One Ring to Bring Them All
And in the Darkness Bind Them

I must admit is the most weird thing I've ever tracked vocally ;-)

Instrumentation

Shevannai vocal library (Eduardo Tarilonte)
Strings (8ve Long, Spiccato Shorts, CS Strings ,Nasty Brass (Albion One - Spitfire)
Harp (Garritan GP05)
St Peter's Choir Patch(Halion Sonic)
Alto Flute (Chris Hein Winds) 
Oboe (Chris Hein Winds)

The sound of working on a Blacksmiths Forge and Explosion sound FX that is classed as Public Domain is used to add colour to the track from www.freesound.org

The Ring Is Forged - The Elves Lament

This Lord of the Rings cinematically inspired orchestral track follows on the tale of the Ring of Power as it is rediscovered in the Gladden river by Déagol, who was out fishing on the Gladden river on Sméagol's birthday, after being lost for thousands of years.

Besides orchestral instrumentation and choir voices, it also features my Alto F Low Whistle in the first half of the piece and a Foley type section of Sound FX to link to the second section.

The idea was to setup an idyllic pastoral scene by a river before Déagol falls into the river whilst trying to catch a fish.  Underwater he spots a glint of gold on the riverbed and returns to the surface, clutching his prize.  In the second half of the piece, the One Ring quickly ensnares Sméagol, with fatal consequences. 

Listers of my earlier piece might notice the reoccurring Ring motif as it's malevolent power takes hold of Sméagol.
 
Instrumentation 
Alto F Low Whistle 

VST Orchestration 
Strings (8ve Long, Pizzicato Shorts,Spiccato Shorts, CS Strings ,Nasty Brass Long Tremelo(Albion One - Spitfire)
Sky Choir Patch, Timeless Choirs Patch(Halion Sonic)
Alto Flute (Chris Hein Winds)
English Horn (Chris Hein Winds)
Rolled Timpani (Garritan GP05)

Background
Déagol was a Stoor Hobbit, who lived in a small community bound by kinship ties—akin to a clan. He had a relative named Sméagol, whose grandmother was the matriarch of the community. He found the One Ring—which had been lost for thousands of years—while fishing with Sméagol in the Gladden river.

Instantly ensnared by its beauty and seductive power, Sméagol demanded the Ring as his "birthday-present". When Déagol refused to give it up, Sméagol strangled him and hid his body, which was never found; nevertheless, the murderer (nicknamed Gollum after the swallowing noises he made) was eventually driven from his home and into the Misty Mountains.

This track contains various Sound FX that are classed as Public Domain and are used to add colour to the track from www.freesound.org, in addition to home-grown vocal FX.

The Birthday Present

In Your Dreams - an Orchestral Mystery 

Another tick of the clock,
one moment follows another,
But is there space outside reality ?

The beat goes on,
incessant and unceasing.
But while you sleep do you live another lifetime ?

... in your dreams ?

MrBouzouki Nov 2020

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Background 
This track developed from playing a simple arpeggio that you can hear in the pizzicato strings. It ended up examining the space beyond the norm ... lol

Anyway, an interesting little project and the words that arrived from the 'ether'  acted as a catalyst for the music. I'm quite enjoying using orchestral instruments in my storytelling at the moment.

Metaphysical Playlist
soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/metaphysical
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Instrumentation
Celesta (Bell Piano)- Kontakt Factory Library 
Pizzicato Strings - Albion One (Spitfire)
Violin - Chris Hein Strings
Viola - Chris Hein Strings 
Alto Flute -Chris Hein Winds 
Cello - Chris Hein Strings
The sound of an antique clock FX that is classed as Public Domain is used to add colour and provide a rhythmic pulse  to the track from www.freesound.org
creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

In Your Dreams - An Orchestral Mystery

A collection of songs, instrumentals and orchestral pieces charting my adventures in home studio recording and production.  All original compositions using voice, acoustic and electric guitar (sometimes using altered tunings), bouzouki, low and high whistles and MIDI instrumentation. 

I'm also using VST instrumentation to create classical compositions and integrating orchestral sounds into my songs and instrumentals.

Links to various instrumental projects and other Social Media links are available below.

My Eclectic Music Connections repost thread is here

https://soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki-repost

The Half Open Door - To Go Beyond

MrBouzouki

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