Simon, from memory, this is one your best works.  Enjoyed listening.

interesting, engaging and original composition, nice work

Is there a place like this? Apparently so! Deep feelings....

The photo is of Holy Isle from Lamlash Bay (Isle of Arran).
9/8 prominent.

En Plein Air

dac insomniac + r.s.stropharia - răgaz pe culmea suferinței - impro-set live (30.06.2020)

Géranomachie Acoustique(2022)
for 15 musicians
Commissioned by the Lemanic Modern Ensemble
Conductor: Pierre Bleuse
Premiere on September 27 2022 at the  Franz Liszt concert hall, Geneva

Live recording: Jérôme Vavasseur

Géranomachie Acoustique(2022)

Sailing Across The North Sea

I am so excited about collaborating with soprano Maribel Villarroel and arranger and pianist René Calderón. The lyrics are from the Pablo Neruda poem "Puedo Escribir" in the book "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair". Translated by W.S Merwin. Permission has been granted by Fundación Pablo Neruda.

Puedo Escribir (Letras de Pablo Neruda)

Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche.

Escribir por ejemplo: “La noche está estrellada, 
y tiritan, azules, los astros, a lo lejos.”

Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche.
Yo la quise, y a veces ella también me quiso.

Oir la noche inmensa, más inmensa sin ella.
Y el verso cae al alma como al pasto el rocío.

Eso es todo. A lo lejos alguien canta. A lo lejos.
Mi alma no se contenta con haberla perdido.

Tonight I Can Write (Lyrics by Pablo Neruda)

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

Write, for example, “The night is starry 
and the stars are blue and shiver in the distance.”

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

To hear the immense night, still more immense without her.
And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.

This is all. In the distance, someone is singing. In the distance.
My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

This song was also performed live at "La Chascona", the former home and now museum of Pablo Neruda in Bella Vista, Santiago: https://youtu.be/vzz8tY0CYLk?si=ZfYIat6iL69p2FW4

"Canciones para Pablo Neruda" is a book of musical scores for songs based on lyrics by Pablo Neruda as well as artwork from some of Chile's greatest artists: https://www.amazon.com/Canciones-Para-Pablo-Neruda-Spanish/dp/9564163218/ref=sr_1_1crid=WRKWVK3QHPRL&keywords=canciones+para+pablo+neruda&qid=1704674603&sprefix=%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1

The album is coming!  This is a sneak peek.

Puedo Escribir

I am so excited about collaborating with soprano Maribel Villarroel and arranger and pianist René Calderón. The lyrics are from Pablo Neruda's poem "Inclinado En Las Tardes" in the book "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair". It was translated by W.S. Merwin. Fundación Pablo Neruda has granted permission.

Inclinado en las Tardes (Letras de Pablo Neruda)

inclinado en las tardes tiro mis tristes redes
a tus ojos oceánicos.

Allí se estira y arde en la más alta hoguera
mi soledad que da vueltas los brazos como un náufrago.

Hago rojas señales sobre tus ojos ausentes
que olean como el mar a la orilla de un faro.

Inclinado en las tardes echo mis tristes redes 
a ese mar que sacude tus ojos oceánicos.

Los pájaros nocturnos picotean las primeras estrellas 
que centellean como mi alma cuando te amo.


Leaning Into The Afternoons (Lyrics by Pablo Neruda)

Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad nets
towards your oceanic eyes.

There in the highest blaze, my solitude lengthens and 
flames,
its arms turning like a drowning man's.

I send out red signals across your absent eyes
that move like the sea near a lighthouse.

Leaning into the afternoons I fling my sad nets
to that sea that beats on your marine eyes.

The birds of night peck at the first stars
that flash like my soul when I love you.

This song was also performed live at "La Chascona", the former home and now museum of Pablo Neruda in Bella Vista, Santiago: youtu.be/vzz8tY0CYLk?si=ZfYIat6iL69p2FW4

"Canciones para Pablo Neruda" is a book of musical scores for songs based on lyrics by Pablo Neruda and artwork from some of Chile's greatest artists: 
https://www.amazon.com/Canciones-Para-Pablo-Neruda-Spanish/dp/9564163218/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yWfKLwVLL4S1Fxvgru4-NOGTEt70JmPu-ETV4DjkbbRaQBFSAS-JEiMWwwj5HxtwremOpFY0MwQxmKciG0KME-O6PNBgLDSFh11o4ylQPORQrmYTopCWzqNa1jFZPzoYKNVUwonL_smUrCklCj0Bo_hW50bh2cWiHSKQPTuhW6--X-6SoLMDtItZhx4zSCI2pbiMZDI1QVgvqwkr_d8fCaLJlsJRB4jddBI7AjB3ER4.T5r1zaqg0RPzGvQEqyRuy2GEhkFwjqtX58RarmgrqHM&dib_tag=se&keywords=canciones+Para+Pablo+Neruda&qid=1707870908&sr=8-1
The album is coming! This is a sneak peek.

Inclinado En Las Tardes

only modified natural cowbells from allgäu (r.s.stropharia + a.schwarzer) 09.02.2024

Words and Music by Roger Whittlesey. Georg Boehme arranged and played all saxes. All other sounds by Whittlesey. roduced in New Hampshire and in Cologne, Germany. ©2024. Thank you, Georg, for participating in this process and for offering your awesome talents. 

What's this song about? String Theory is the notion that all time exists on a string—a string that never disappears. I'm a fan of the podcast/television show Closer to Truth, an American production hosted by a neuroscientist. The host interviews the leading experts on many scientific and philosophical subjects. In a recent podcast, scientists discussed String Theory, which became the inspiration for this song. 

One scientist explained that if you imagine a string along which all time exists—past, present and future—then you can understand that right now both the future and past still exist on that string. So, in theory, the past never disappears and the future is waiting to happen. He likened it to a DVD of a movie. At any point you can rewind or move forward. He suggests that this may be possible with time. 

What I drew from this notion is that all that has happened in my life, all the people I have known—in particular those who are no longer here—are, according to this theory, still existing on the string. Is this a comfort? I think it is for me. 

This is why in the refrain I sing, " I will always be with you." Even when I no longer exist, I will exist along the string, a string that connects me to a past before my own existence began and to a future that I will never see. 

Perhaps you will draw something different from this song and from the theory. In any case, I hope you enjoy the musicianship on this recording. Georg and I worked hard to produce parts and solos that we're proud of. 

Roger Whittlesey
February 18, 2024

See the video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0mjns4dHvk

String Theory (Featuring Georg Boehme)

I am so excited about collaborating with soprano Maribel Villarroel and arranger and pianist René Calderón. The lyrics are from the Pablo Neruda poem "Para Que Tú Me Oigas"" in the book "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair". Translated by W.S Merwin. Permission has been granted by Fundación Pablo Neruda.

Para Que Tú Me Oigas (Letras de Pablo Neruda)

Para que tú me oigas mis palabras
se adelgazan a veces
como las huellas de las gaviotas en las playas.
                                                                                                                                  Y las miro lejanas mis palabras.
Más que mías son tuyas.
Van trepando en mi viejo dolor como las yedras..                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                            Ahora quiero que digan lo que quiero decirte                                                                                              para que tú me oigas cómo quiero que me oigas. 

Llanto de viejas bocas, sangre de viejas súplicas.                                                                              Ámame compañera. No me abandones. Sígueme.                                                                           Sígueme, compañera, en esa ola de angustia. 

Pero se van tiñendo con tu amor mis palabras.                                                                                       Todo lo ocupas tú, todo lo ocupas. 

So that You will hear Me (Lyrics by Pablo Neruda)                                                                                          

So that you will hear me
my words
Sometimes grow thin
As the tracks of the gulls on the beaches. 
And I watch my words from a long way off.                                                                                           They are more yours than mine.                                                                         They climb on my old suffering like ivy. 
Now I want them to say what I want to say to you                                                                                      to make you hear as I want you to hear me.

Lament of old mouths, blood of old supplications.                                                                                             Love me, companion. Don’t forsake me. Follow me.                                                                                      Follow me, companion, on this wave of anguish. 

But my words become stained with your love.                                                                                                     You occupy everything, you occupy everything. 
 
Canciones para Pablo Neruda" is a book of musical scores for songs based on lyrics by Pablo Neruda as well as artwork from some of Chile's greatest artists: 
https://www.amazon.com/Canciones-Para-Pablo-Neruda-Spanish/dp/9564163218/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JV3fZn25wlYcYE3CfKo_ue-fx5JdUXB60a-hWwk205kXDQG20j2a39ntzMqHEkx3viRYPO82bPSZDVFqrJB0Ktv2SFa70Mpx30Y-oeBwc1BQrmYTopCWzqNa1jFZPzoYDn_DvSM1le70QritFcGLlAlKEe5jlzrHxk6CEpjSbXLV52LciGsetvGRc5-X0wUWjkJn4KDpoJZ8yoSdygz8U8t6STGLP0jtrLy0XHI81qU.hUSdYX9jFdVq5TBnQWaNA-H2v_m_nFe0A6ADmg40qBg&dib_tag=se&keywords=CANCIONES+Para+Pablo+Neruda&qid=1710717676&sr=8-1

Para Que Tú Me Oigas

Guitar Miniature

The House my Parents later Sold

I was born in Leicester in the late 1950's. Since semi-retirement and subsequent retirement (as a Dermatologist and formerly G.P) I have spent some of my spare time trying to learn music theory. I also enjoy long distance running as well as cycling, skiing and tennis. I enjoy cooking, gardening and growing a few vegetables. And fine wine (in moderation). And(low tech) insect photography.
To my regret I never learnt a musical instrument when younger but I have listened to and been fascinated by music for as long as I can remember. The advent of the computer age has allowed me to pursue my desire to compose music. I use Logic Pro X software (and MuseScore3 for recent piano compositions). My compositions reflect my varied listening preferences (including Contemporary Classical, Jazz and  Music from other cultures around the world).

En Plein Air

SFJ

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