A musical idea came to me like primeval sunlight. Then another idea that suggested more movement and lots of 9th chords. The melody and harmonies would require at least three instruments. I love string quartets, but it has been so hard to enlist willing and able cellists! So, two violins and a viola, in a neoclassical vein. 
As the piece was nearing completion, I thought: Parts of this feel like music for a road-trip. Now I see that the title I chose has been used before. Oh well. To anyone who listens, my apology for the artificial qualities of the electronic instruments. I look forward to playing this piece with other musicians.

Driving At Daybreak

EL BARCO Y LA MAR

New Album 'If I Was' Available Now (North America: March 31) thestaves.com/ifiwas

'Blood I Bled' from the EP of the same name. 
Produced and mixed by Justin Vernon.
Available on iTunes: smarturl.it/BloodIBledITunes

♥ on HypeM: http://hypem.com/track/26kd7/The+Staves-Blood+I+Bled

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Blood I Bled

Trying to evoke the sound of wind chimes through improvised piano.

Improvisation No14 - Wind Chimes

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-eoxi4wsHM

The inspiration to create the music for this video came from a combination of the visual landscape, the expressive sound of the Shakuhachi flute and the art of Japanese Noh Theatre. In an attempt to mimic the aspirated sound of the Shakuhachi flute, which is an instrument rich in overtones, I recorded myself playing a Renaissance G-Alto Recorder with extended instrumental techniques. The reason for choosing this instrument was that it has a wide bore and large finger holes which gives good control in pitch and dynamics. As a result it was possible to produce a wide range of different timbres. 

The recording device itself was a PCM-D50 with stereo condenser mics, placed inside a grand piano. The sustain pedal on the piano was held down such that the natural harmonics of the live instrument were reinforced by the piano strings. This natural reverb was combined with a convolution reverb based on Swirling Tails within Logic’s Sound Designer.

It was my intention for this composition to sound organic so the music was based on a set of stems combined with improvisation. The opening was intended to sound commanding with a sharp attack, as might be found in Noh Theatre, but also mysterious in order to reflect the cloud of mist obscuring the mountains. This element of mystery was brought out through use of rubato, leaps, glissandi and false endings. If you listen carefully, bird-like cries can be heard echoing through the mountains interspersed with a silence clouded only by resonating piano strings - evoking the heavens above. As the mist obscures our view of this alien landscape, multiphonics and harmonics are used to colour the sound. Then as it clears, we resolve once more to a pure sound. 

YouTube Video

Between Heaven And Earth - Zhangjiajie (China)- Watch on YouTube

ambika x4

161129_moog_system-1m_demora

This prelude features counterpoint and "jazz" chords, a hybrid perhaps of the keyboard works of Bach and Gershwin.

I. Sturdy

American violist, English teacher, and aspiring composer, living in northern Spain.

Driving At Daybreak

violajoe1

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