Instrumental Music

[GeneZ]

K Gene, I just finished another take. Like I said though it takes a lot of run-throughs before I begin to get 'in tune' fully with the drum track. This new take is a lot less noisy, but still in the exploratory stages. Trying different ideas to see what will work. Take 2 on the bottom of my myspace.
I have worked only a couple of hours so-far. Usually after about the ten hour mark things start to come together in a more traditional and acceptable sense, after I have fully memorised the drum changes.
I think on the next take, I will use the chord progression from John Coltranes 'Mr P.C'. Very traditional, but a lot can be done with it. When I put up a new take I usally take down the old as each take gets progressively(not in the political sense) better. Take 2.

-robert-

I would cut out the lead guitar throughout most of the song, if not all. Its not needed in this type of music. At least, its the wrong style for what's being laid down. It comes across as crosstalk like we got in the days of recording tape. The rhythm guitar fits better with what is being played. I believe you are trying to add way too much. The drums I played in a manner to fill up the sound because its unaccompanied. In one section of the first track I have been told that the tom work sounds like a stand up bass playing with me. It requires a simple relaxed enthusiastic sound. That only comes from growing in God's Word with the Spirit giving a peace that many secularized musicians turn to drugs to in an attempt to achieve.

Romans 8:6
"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled
by the Spirit is capacity for life and inner peace."

False doctrine can not produce this peace. It only leads to inner frustration for the believer. Just trying to make oneself free by eliminating rules and boundaries does not cut it. Only truth will make us free. The greatest artists who are believers are the rare ones who become saturated with sound doctrine. In contrast, the world's artists do not need truth. For they harmonize with the world and do not have to overcome the world to be relaxed in their soul.

A believer without enough truth and understanding to overcome the world suffers from an emptiness that the world can not know. Superficial attempts to overcome will not cut it. That's when sublimation comes in. Sometimes by becoming preoccupied with some facet of creativity in a desire to fill up that emptiness. It can be attempted in word or deed. ... but it leads to frustration with only moments of stimulation which act as happenings of escape from one's emptiness, but only for a short while.

IMHO...

[Kyrigma]

Gene, Points taken. I like freedom in my music to a certain extent. I am studying on how to have the freedom to be as creative as I am able to be, but at the same time, stay within reasonable boundaries, that are acceptable to the average listener. This, however, is somewhat paradoxical for me.
As a guitarist, guitar is usually an instrument of excess, in today's world. And once one has been immersed in that aspect for many years, it is difficult to unlearn that mentality. As a piano player, things are very different for me, and a little later on, you will see that my piano playing is very different from what comes out on guitar.
Life is full of restrictions, and by overplaying, I am experiencing a creative freedom, that has no boundaries, thus exploring the outer boundaries of sound, and relying only on spontaneous creativity moreso than actual music theory. My playing is primarily me exploring my own mind for mainly my own benefit. My guitar teacher is trying to show me how to make music that is accessible to others. Now, I know the theory but enjoy more freedom when I play and often play dissonantly or atonally. It is more natural to me, something that the vast majority of musicians find extremely difficult to do.

As for false doctrines, I am offended by all false doctrines. I find freedom in being a Christian and studying the Bible. My music reflects that freedom, although to the average listener, some of it is cacophony. Once in awhile though, I have a very calm, and peaceful result as evidenced by my two videos in this thread. Music though for me, some of the time is getting those bad things out of my mind that need to be let out(frustration, sadness, anger, tension, or whatever). On the other hand, sometimes music for me is letting in what is missing. These are the calm and peaceful results that I occasionally attain. As for balance, it is something that I am striving for, but at times, it is elusive.
Moderation I feel is key. But the problem is: that I don't have moderation of creativity. God has made me with excessive creativity, and it is hard to manage this. Musically and otherwise. It is a blessing at times, but also somewhat of a hinderance at the same time.
Anyways all things in moderation, practice doesn't make perfect in music, but practice makes better in music.Sometimes practicing music too much can actually make one worse. Practice of Christianity, however, will lead to that perfection which we as believers wish to attain through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Piano take tommorow. Goodnight Gene.

-robert-

[Kyrigma]

K Gene. It's Wednesday. I just recorded a piano take. There is no melody yet however. But I am posting your drum track with a single piano, just the chord outline. There is a lot more open space where the drums come through. I think this take(#3) is closer to what you are looking for to be done with it, or it may not be. God only knows. Later tonight I will work more on an actual melody for it to fit over the chords. Guitar is very difficult to play as a percussion instrument, but the piano IS a percussion instrument, and music comes a lot easier to me on a piano. Like I said earlier though, out of many exploratory takes I get only a few that are well defined and clearly presented.

I am envisioning a synth flute perhaps for the melody line for this take, or possibly a bassoon. Also some synth strings(contrabass) underneath the chords. Now, this has become a major project and will take many, many hours to complete. I will have to map out the drums, chart the chords, write the different parts accordingly, write the melody, and only then will I be able to even attempt to record it. This is a slow process for me. Now, I am going to make an map of the drums. Then I will re-record the chord outline(take 3) to make it fit more precisely. What you are seeing now is only a prototypical version. Any suggestions are welcome. Also, I just finished take #4, and used synth violin for the melody sketch. #3 is just a single piano, #4 is that same piano track with synth violin added as well. I am now only using the first half of your track. The second half of your track is very different and will be approached as an entirely different song, a little later.

http://myspace.com/robertantilla

[Kyrigma]

Here is one of those unusual moments of clarity, Me doing a cover of Pat Metheny's 'Third Wind.'

[GeneZ]

K Gene. It's Wednesday. I just recorded a piano take. There is no melody yet however. But I am posting your drum track with a single piano, just the chord outline. There is a lot more open space where the drums come through. I think this take(#3) is closer to what you are looking for to be done with it, or it may not be. God only knows. Later tonight I will work more on an actual melody for it to fit over the chords. Guitar is very difficult to play as a percussion instrument, but the piano IS a percussion instrument, and music comes a lot easier to me on a piano. Like I said earlier though, out of many exploratory takes I get only a few that are well defined and clearly presented.

I am envisioning a synth flute perhaps for the melody line for this take, or possibly a bassoon. Also some synth strings(contrabass) underneath the chords. Now, this has become a major project and will take many, many hours to complete. I will have to map out the drums, chart the chords, write the different parts accordingly, write the melody, and only then will I be able to even attempt to record it. This is a slow process for me. Now, I am going to make an map of the drums. Then I will re-record the chord outline(take 3) to make it fit more precisely. What you are seeing now is only a prototypical version. Any suggestions are welcome. Also, I just finished take #4, and used synth violin for the melody sketch. #3 is just a single piano, #4 is that same piano track with synth violin added as well. I am now only using the first half of your track. The second half of your track is very different and will be approached as an entirely different song, a little later.

http://myspace.com/robertantilla

Now, that Pat Metheny cover is good!

Now back to the other.

Ok.. Its a drum solo. That's what it is.

It was not played in a manner to be accompanied by another instrument. If originally it was accompanied? It would have been played differently. I am doing too many of what I call, slides in timing, to be accompanied. They are not meant to be played over.

[Kyrigma]

My cat plays a little piano, but not as well as this cat:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0zgQAp7EYw

[Kyrigma]

A song of praise. Guitar by Kyrigma.

[admin]

Kyrigma,
Only this last YouTube link worked for me. The other links said "Video removed by user". I listened to "Lions and Lambs" on your MySpace page and was going to suggest you upload it to YouTube - and am now listening to your last link here which is just that.

Is the guitar an overlay to an existing combo recording?

[Kyrigma]

admin,

As for my other videos I was on on youtube trying to delete one video and somehow selected 'delete all' and proceded to delete most of my videos made over the past three years. Oops!

This video is just me improvising over a pre-existing backing track.

You work for circue du soleil? Paul Hanson, a bassoonist that I listen to plays for the Japan ZED show. He played with Bela Fleck on some recordings and with many other great players. VEry innovative, great improviser. Your site is really cool. I was just checking out your Willy Wonka remakes!

[admin]

Yes, I'm MD for the ZAIA show in China, which is the sister show to ZED. I've met the ZED MD, assistant and percussionist, and I know the bass player, but have not met the bassoonist. I hope to visit them in January or so to see the show and say hi.

I have a new website for my music at http://www.ConradAskland.net but have only posted a sample of songs so far.

Let me know when you post some more vids on YouTube.