A Big Thank You to https://soundcloud.com/dreamingwhileawakemusic for providing this wonderful bass and drum section. Please take a listen to his version of the song:
https://soundcloud.com/dreamingwhileawakemusic/the-tree-rough-take-1-collab-w-xian3?si=bd834c45b7a44b9aa467fadb0dc32338&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

It’s been a great honor and pleasure to collab…
The picture shows my favorite tree in my favorite park

________________________________

The Tree

You are probably
An old tree
Standing exactly 
Where you should be
Your condition…
It is ideal

You’re obviously 
An old tree
Standing exactly
Where you should be
Rooted deeply 
Down in history,

Scratching solid rock,
That’s where you stuck
Your bark 
Is notched
Tells the whole story
From the bottom to the glory

Roots and crown they radiate
Where a far too early 
Meets a far too late
And your branches spread out with might
Spreading to the light
Expand into the light…
Expanding to the light

In the threatening heat 
You provide me a retreat
Just letting me breathe
Just for a little while
In an escalating delta 
You offer me a shelter
Oh, just letting me breathe
Just for a little while

Letting me breathe

Lean on you 
For a couple of ys
And get through…
And be inspired by you
And sing my way through 	    			

Lean on you 
For a couple of ys
And get through…

The Tree (wt DWA)

Slack

Endless fun working with @TexMex-Shaman on these "Texas Tea" songs and wow this is possibly one of my favorites of the 14(!) songs we've done to date. Check out the full playlist here: https://soundcloud.com/texmex-shaman/sets/texas-tea-sea

We're considering doing a wider release of our favorite tracks on Spotify etc. soon, maybe BandCamp as well. Stay tuned and I hope you enjoy this epic high-energy genre fusion!

The Texas Tea Industrial Bluegrass Experience

dans le recueil "à la lumière d'hiver", Philippe Jacottet, cet immense poète, a écrit un poème en 8 versets sur la parole, essence même du poétique. J'ai tenté ici d'en mettre deux en musique.
PAROLES
PARLER (6 ET 7)
6
J’aurai voulu parler sans images, simplement
pousser la porte…
                                        J’ai trop de crainte
 pour cela, d’inquiétude, parfois de pitié
On ne vit pas longtemps comme les oiseaux
dans l’évidence du ciel,
                                                  et retombé à terre,
On ne voit plus en eux précisément que des images
ou des rêves.
7
Parler donc est difficile, si c’est chercher…chercher quoi ?
Une fidélité aux seuls moments, aux seules choses
qui descendent en nous assez bas, qui se dérobent,
si c’est tresser un vague abri pour une proie insaisissable.

Si c’est porter un masque plus vrai que son visage
pour pouvoir célébrer une fête longtemps perdue
 avec les autres, qui sont morts, lointains ou endormis
encore, et qu’à peine soulèvent de leur couche 
cette rumeur, ces premiers pas trébuchants, ces feux timides
-nos paroles : 
bruissement du tambour pour peu que l’effleure le doigt
inconnu.

Philippe Jacottet
__________________________________________________________________________
TALK (6 and 7)
6
I would have liked to speak without images, simply
push the door...
                                        I'm too afraid
 for this, of anxiety, sometimes of pity
We don't live long like birds
in the evidence of heaven,
                                                  and fell to the ground,
We see in them precisely only images
or dreams.
7
To speak, then, is difficult, if it is to seek... Looking for what?
A fidelity to the moments alone, to the only things
who descend into us low enough, who evade,
if it is to weave a vague shelter for an elusive prey.

If it is wearing a mask that is more real than your face
to be able to celebrate a long-lost holiday
 with the others, who are dead, far away or asleep
and which scarcely rise from their bed 
this rumor, these first stumbling steps, these timid fires
-Our words: 
rustling of the drum as soon as the unknown finger
 touches it

Philippe Jacottet


______________________________________________________________________

bruissement de paroles

Music for Double String Orchestra (February 2025)

"Faust", Charles Gounods opera, based on the tragic tale of the aging scholar Dr. Faust who made a deal with the devil to relive his youth, and in the process seduces, an finally ruins young innocent Marguerite's virtue and subsequently her life, premiered in 1859 at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris.
The aria "Avant de quitter ces lieux" however was added in 1864, when the opera was first given in English, and Gounod wrote a new aria for baritone Charles Santley in the role of Valentin.

Piano by Helen Roberts

We hope you'll enjoy :)

Lyrics

VALENTIN
Avant de quitter ces lieux,
Sol natal de mes aïeux,
A toi, Seigneur et Roi des cieux,
Ma sœur je confie.
Daigne de tout danger
Toujours la protéger,
Cette soeur, si chérie.
Délivré d'une triste pensée
J'irai chercher la gloire au sein des ennemis,
Le premier, le plus brave au fort de la mêlée,
J'irai combattre pour mon pays.
Et si, vers lui, Dieu me rappelle,
Je veillerai sur toi fidèle,
Ô Marguerite.
Avant de quitter ces lieux, etc.
Ô Roi des cieux, lève les yeux,
Protège Marguerite, ô Roi des cieux!

English

VALENTINE
Before I quit these parts,
birthplace of my forefathers,
to Thy care, o Lord and Ruler of the skies,
I confide my sister.
Deign to protect her always
from every danger.
My sister, so dearly loved.
Freed from care and worry,
I will go to seek glory in the enemy's midst,
foremost and bravest in the thick of the fight,
I'll go to fight for my country.
And, if God should call me to Him,
I will watch faithfully over you,
o Marguerite!
Before I quit these parts, etc.
O King of heaven, look down
and protect Marguerite, o King of heaven!


Avant de quitter ces lieux (Faust - Charles Gounod - @rehearsals with Helen Roberts)

HarmonIXS - Valentino

dreamin' & schemin'

pluck edward octave rain echo 42 seconds

1. Movement - Demise:
The first movement portrays a gradual descent, culminating in absolute despair.
After a brief, enigmatic introduction, the piece unfolds episodes of carefree and jubilant dancing, intertwined with moments of social revelry.
But with a hauntingly oppressive cry for help, desperate calls, the work plunges deeper into despair, culminating in utter dissolution. 
The instruments, scattered across the vast sonic landscape, attempt to connect, yet fail.
The first movement concludes in profound hopelessness, with a fragile lament fading away through descending semitones, drained of all strength.

Pandemic Symphony - Demise

Supa Flow

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). I enjoy insect photography, with a particular interest in hoverflies..
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).

Music for Double String Orchestra (February 2025)

SFJ