In Sound on Sound magazine I received a pamphlet from Peoplesound.com which offered a chance to let people hear my music via the publicity of the web. In addition to the information at the peoplesound.com site I have also included some extra tracks in MP3 format for you to listen to.
In 1980 I bought a Yamaha CS30L and embarked on a musical journey of writing synth music and the following are my favourite pieces. I hope you like them too.
Nothing In Mind/Lost Loves
1982. Using a Yamaha CS30L, Casio 401, Korg Micropreset and Clef Kit Drum Machine recorded prior to giving up music writing to pursue aerobatic competition flying!
1984
1984! Aerobatic flying proved to be too expensive so I returned to composing and entered this piece in a Home & Studio Recording Magazine competition. Didn’t win but it was fun writing. "Before The Party/Big Brother Is Watching You/Julia/Room 101/Freedom (Is Slavery)". Roland JX3P, TB303, TR606, VP330 Vocoder Plus.
With You
1983. My girlfriend at the time wrote some lyrics and I set them to music but as yet they haven’t seen the light of day. Maybe one day?
Freedom
1984. The last track of "1984" extended. This is one of my favourite melodies.
Music For A Snowy Day (938 Kb)
1984. One day in February I was snowed in at home and decided to, first write a piece with one chord and two complete it in a day. The basic chord was sampled into the Boss Digital Echo and the rest built up with the Moog Rogue adding the "snow". This is one of my favourite pieces because whenever I listen to it I’m transported back to that day. I also love it for it’s sheer simplicity.
That year I moved house to South West Wales where I met my wife Jill. I took some piano lessons with Seimon Morris and learned to play with two hands! With the acquisition of a Casio FZ1 sampler I set about writing some music to go with a book that I was very fond of - "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". "Living for the Future" was the result and JLS formed Side B of the cassette. . .
To The Far Cliffs/Arrival In Heaven (704 Kb)
1987/1988. Jill played acoustic guitar and the resultant piece is very easy listening. "Arrival In Heaven" was developed during my piano lessons and was a personal achievement.
Returning To The Flock/Life Goes On (704 Kb)
1988. The book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" is written by Richard Bach and published by Pan Books Ltd. If you are a flyer or just simply want to escape from the routine of life it is highly recommended.
My first son Toby arrived in 1987 and then the Golf bug bit so composing slowed a little then we moved up to Yorkshire in 1990. My next project "Time For Change" was put onto CD and marked a milestone in my hobby.
Music Of The Spheres (352 Kb)
1990. I like simple pieces. Inspired by Vangelis.
Time For Change (704 Kb)
1990. Fate kept me out of the Gulf War but many friends took part and some were killed. This track is dedicated to them.
Goodnight (528 Kb)
1990. My 3 year old son was causing us slight grief and when he finally went to sleep peace descended!
A further move this time to Oxford, the arrival of son number two then an overseas tour put paid to any further musical output. I can’t believe 10 years has gone by. So this CD marks a time for reflection and to be proud of what I have written in the past. As we hit 2000 I am determined to complete a project this year. I send this CD to peoplesound.com not with ambitious dreams of sales but simply to see if other people enjoy it as much as I did making it. I would be grateful for any feed back.
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