modern music – The Write Stuff

Imagine That

This song is a bit wilder than most.

And here are a couple of songs from this week that needed new instruments.

However, it is not MY original song. I transcribed the sheet music and chose which instruments to use. I also chose the drum loops, of which there are no less than five. So outside of writing the actual music this is all me, baby.

It is is called “Computer Blue” from Prince’s Purple Rain album. Just try to sit still when listening to it.

Some of the guys in the band think I play the guitar too loud. I think it is just right!

Here is a video of Prince’s 1983 concert where people first heard this song. And the rest is history. This song starts at the 11:40 mark.

Sometimes Life is Funny

Right? Am I right?

This song was written way back in 1903 by Hans Engelman. It is titled “Melody of Love.” We don’t hear much about Hans these days, but during his time he was quite popular. And he had great piano hands.

So sit down with that someone special, and listen closely……..

(Artwork by Paul Klee.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Klee

Campfire Stories

I have always heard that campfire stories should always be accompanied by music. To that end, here is a song from the songbook “Original Piano Duets for American Composers.” It is titled Around the Campfire. You may have heard another version if you were here yesterday.

And here is another song from the same book, titled Village Festival. I took creative license and named it Festival of Lights. I am not sure why.

So That’s What Gymnopedie Means

This was one of the first songs I learned in the music program at school. It is titled “Gymnopedie No. 1” by Eric Satie. Most versions are slower than this, but since we all have busy schedules I gave it a quicker tempo.

Eric Alfred Leslie Satie (May 17, 1866 – July 1, 1925), who signed his name Erik Satie after 1884, was a French composer and pianist. He was the son of a French father and a British mother. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, but was an undistinguished student and obtained no diploma. In the 1880s he worked as a pianist in café-cabaret in Montmartre, Paris, and began composing works, mostly for solo piano, such as his Gymnopédies. He also wrote music for a Rosicrucian sect to which he was briefly attached.

Is it just me, or does this song sound similar?

https://youtu.be/fI4kPSO7CNA

It is Finished

I have finished transcribing all 18 songs from the music book Piano Literature, Volume One. All of the songs were written in the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary eras.

The eight composers are as follows: