It's not easy to listen to, but totally worth a try. Amazing composition and harmonies.

Robert, what a superb very interesting dramatic piece!!!!

Magnificent haunting strings. Arguably the most beautiful of RB's Passacaglia. Each seeming more miraculous than the others at the time of listening. 3:09 to 3:37 speaks most eloquently of the genius at work here

The chord sustained between 9:26 and 9:39 generates such a delightful sense of 'sostenuto', evocative of the latent power and beauty towards the end of the Adagietto in Mahler's 5th. Unutterably beautiful. This piece expands musical horizons. This is an important work, which will outlive us all

Powerful, intense, emotional music that pulls you in.  Congratulations Rob on this important piece.

Such an ominous opening... it's scaring me! Very powerful composition.

They wake you up,then lay you down
The part in between
Is just waiting around

The TV plays the same old shows
Groundhog day
From beginning to close

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

The window shows the world outside
A million miles away 
From your bedside

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

Your life's been lived and your time is done
The last great battle
Just can't be won

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

Room 54

哀悼 -grief-

“Third Passacaglia for String Orchestra” was completed in August, 2022 in Fairview, TX.  The work is in one movement. Performance time is about 10 minutes.  

Printed and electronic copies of the score and parts for this work are available from www.CreativeSpiritOnline.com

Performance notes:
•	Tempo, expression, and dynamic markings should be strictly observed.
•	There is no key signature. Accidentals apply to the end of the measure or to the note or notes tied over the measure, and only to notes of the same pitch class, in the same octave.
•	Hairpin pairs (e.g.: mp <>, mf ><) indicate a temporary volume change of one dynamic level.
•	Passages marked  fff  or ppp  indicate playing as loudly and as quietly as possible, respectively.
•	Double-bass “C-extension” is required.

View/Purchase Score

Third Passacaglia for String Orchestra - "Appassionata"

The second piece from my ongoing cycle of piano preludes, in a cafe-concert idiom (within a classical vein). Dedicated to Utsyo Chakraborty

Preludes (for piano) -II [2022]

Wicked (She Is)

The flowers that I send you, are not uprooted. They are the notes that inspire me.

FLOWERS I SENT TO YOU

This is a song that Chris wrote and shared with Ken and me. We all used BandLab to work on the song together. it started with Chris' badass bass line and arrangement. Ken added some killer drums, in a very odd time. then I add some guitar over the top. I really like how this sounds like we're in room jamming together. Also, Chris produced and mixed this one, and another excellent job he did! We all hope you enjoy it!

Over Easy (with cgmaness and K2 and the Three)

This track was created in response to someone's inquiry about what our sonic interpretation would be of Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken. We felt this tied into our planned topic for our upcoming release of Acceptance, perfectly.
We all "find ourselves" at the proverbial "fork in the road," throughout our lives. We can choose to sit there and "drown" or become "paralyzed" in worries about which fork will be "the right one," while trying to "sift through the evidence" of what's worked well for others... or we can do what simply feels right for us, radical Acceptance of Self. 
Additional choices will have to be made by us, upon reaching each impending upcoming fork, and we can become more "in tune" with the wisdom we've gained in life... looking at everything we know, everything we thought we knew, everything we want to learn, experience, feel, express, etc. and realize maybe the purpose of C19 "on a grander scale" was to help us realize the brevity of life, what's truly important to us underneath everything... all the judgments, fears, facades, aka... the absolute BS... and help hopefully more people figure out it's up to each of us to set boundaries we want and deserve for healthier living. 
If we want all people within our life purview to respect and honor us with honesty, loving, and fully supportive relationships, etc. then, we need to set the boundaries of intention to not be treated as a game, as an option, etc. no matter the relationship type. It's up to us to make our wants and needs of support known to those within our circles and make the necessary changes when we are shown anything "less than" what we know and have stated in clear, (not uncertain or "disguised" terms or methodologies,) we need. Stating what we want or need and honor those who have the forthright energy and awareness to tell us exactly what they want and need and whether they are in alignment with our wants, needs, goals in living healthily... and make the best decision for us. 
The frequent misinterpretation of Robert Frost's poem is The Road Not Taken has changed to The Road Less Travelled, whereby folks believe in one fork or path is better than the other. Evidently, that was not Mr. Frost's intention, as this poem was a sort of mockery at a friend's indecisiveness and choosing military service; and where because of his indecisiveness, in part, it caused his friend's swift demise. Therefore... for me/us, our interpretation is to simply not stand "forever" at the forks in the road. Don't be dwelling upon every shoulda, coulda, woulda... but, know who we are, stand firm in all we are, know what and who it is we want in our life, and be bold and brave enough to clearly and decisively tell them... not play games or "try to protect ourselves" from potentially being turned away, having our feelings hurt by being "rejected" which is never truly about us anyway... it's about each of us being who we are and feeling and living fully into ourselves being who we are called to BE and HOW we are called to BE. So much of life can be spent in riddles and going in circles; but, if we'd stop "spinning our wheels" and simply choose the fork that we are drawn towards... it is ALWAYS the right one, at the right time, going the direction for the life lessons we need in that timeframe. The roads are similar and may often go towards the same destination. It's all about the different lessons and scenery we'll see along the way. Some may have more waterside, some more rocky cliffs or terrain; but, it doesn't make one any less beautiful or worth taking. Our forks are the forks that spoke to us in each moment, new forks always arise... and one may eventually traverse towards the same path or road we chose not to initially take, if and when the timing is right for us. Until then, follow the fork or road of our heart's whisper... it doesn't ever steer us wrong. Even in the potholes along the way... there can BE BEautiful reflections in the puddles from any rain.

Road Not Taken

Debra 's been generous enough to let me try to sing something over her beautiful "Song for the morning ". Thx a million my dear friend :))

Morning Song 

you feel my gaze and you wake up
and then slowly you seek my voice
when you have so much trouble waking up from sleep
I want to be near you
because you're looking at me with that unmistakable look because you squeeze my hand
to say "it's forever "
so I wrote this morning song for you

Chanson Du Matin (translated) w/ Debra Buesking

Written in May 2024. Orchestra.
The Choirboy, Georges de la Tour.

The Choirboy

Original song created and recorded with the Bertiewolf Band. Lyrics and melody by Blanche, Bass guitar and production by Dan Perfect, Drums by Mike.

People Say - original song

Thanks for visiting. 
Scores and parts for many of my works are available from my publisher Creative Spirit Music Publications. Go to  https://www.creativespiritonline.com and select on "Robert John Brooks." There, you can also follow the score while listening to a recording.

My music is fully notated and is intended for live performance by live musicians.

After completing my doctorate in composition in 1979 from UNT, I took 30 years off from composing to join the computer software revolution as a software engineer.  In 2010 I began composing again and have not stopped. So, I find myself beginning (restarting?) a composition career rather late in life...but that's OK.  Most of the works posted here were written since 2010. 

Thanks for visiting.

Third Passacaglia for String Orchestra - "Appassionata"

Robert John Brooks, Composer

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