I’ve been writing letters to old friends, telling them stories about my adventures – sailing and other life stories about them…memories.  So, needless to say, another non productive week…however
I find it interesting I am back with an interest in listening to commercial stuff – the alternative pop/rock of Tori…finding something of interest in production value [...]

Continue reading " Composing Status Update #78 "

Ok, I think there is something to this as an influence…downloaded a few more albums.  Lets see how far this takes us.
Still distracted by day gig activities to play my piano.  Busy day

Continue reading " Even More Tori "

Sitting in Starbuck’s awaiting brake work most of the day, listening more to Tori.  
Well, its impressive production work…she had a lot of great skill in there from a lot of people.  I’m finding a lot of inspiration listening to her brand of Rock/Pop/Alternative.  Maybe this is what I need instead of the traps of [...]

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photo credit: Sarabbit
I’m back listening to Tori Amos again, after many years.  Hard to believe, aye?  I find her production value and songs great – for alternative pop / rock.  What can I say – an incredible expressive voice; piano work; interesting timbres.  Ok, the lyrics can be somewhat obscure.  Still, she keeps my [...]

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A nice rainy weekend, and a quiet one.  I spent time doodling on the piano and writing a bit.  Listening to Rachmaninoff and downloading a few piano concertos.  I haven’t yet found a good recording of the 3rd.  The Agerich is a disaster.  Don’t know why people rate this so highly…its rushed and melodramatic playing [...]

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Mostly hitting the keys and pondering how to enter this new work whatever it is.  Still thinking about writing a book – fiction.  Looking more into software options as I still don’t like what’s out there.  StoryMill looks great in terms of features, but not formatting and UI  Storyist is another software package.  
Many letters [...]

Continue reading " Composing Status Update #77 "

An unusual day tied to a computer and performing updates.  Today I get to go into the rain and a day gig luncheon.  What fun.
A small bit of piano last evening.  Still toying around with violin ideals for piano and violin.  Listening more and more to turn of 20th century music.  Should I give Mahler another [...]

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It strikes me that the story of Taneiev and Rachmaninoff – Rachmaninoff being such a fluid off the sleeve pianist / composer, and Taneiev with his extreme and precise technical skills…how one endures and the other never makes a mark – ending up a battered alcoholic….similar to Glasanov. And yet Taneiev was so respected – by Tchaikovsky [...]

Continue reading " The Dangers of Intellect "