News
2010
Here's a quick rundown of music related happenings last year...
Recording of the 'Cornishe' (Soprano Sax with String quartet). From here I can send out the work and hopefully get some performances. Click here to go to the page directly and listen to some excerpts.
The Afghanistan project is complete in demo form, but on hold due to the 'Sonia' project .It includes the vocal setting of 'On This Day' (see below) and I'm toying with the idea of calling this album by the same title, so poignant is it..... Percussionist Bev Cullen adds depth to the orchestral arrangements with her sensitive playing and Soprano Saxophonist Casey Greene features again on 4 of the instrumental tracks. Grand plans for the project in 2011 include a live recording with full string orchestra, chamber choir, solo soprano, sax, percussion and band. Oh, and me on piano and synths! If you remember the epics from Rick Wakeman in the 70s, you'll think I've got delusions of grandeur lol. All this I'm hoping will be in conjunction with the war memorial at the National Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, where we can commemorate our soldiers who gaves their lives so that we may live ours.
More recordings of school orchestra stuff done. Its on Youtube (so the players can hear it), but I'll pop a copy on the listening pages when I get a mo.
'Sonia' Project: John Danyel was a little known English composer of the 1600's and recently I have been working on arranging a collection of his songs with soprano Sonia Ruth. These songs form part of a dissertation for her Masters at Trinity College London and have proved a delightful distraction from other (composition) projects on the go at the moment -particularly as gigs seem to be rather scarce this year as well. I've put a demo on the listenenig pages so you can see where we are going with this. As always, any thoughts you have, I'd love to hear from you.
I've made a little film of the Photos of the recording for On This Day. Its on the News pages.
First performance of 'A Series of Unfortunate Things...' and a movement from the 'Robot Wars' suite for strings. See the education page for more info. Also various arrangements of songs featured in the hit TV series 'Glee' for my Intermediate String Orchestra
Arrangements for String Quartet: Abba Medley, Iris (Goo Goo dolls), Come On Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners), Viva La Vida (Coldplay) and various snippets for weddings!
The new album Ever So Quietly is now complete and available for purchase. Please click on the link for details.
Through my teachings via the Forest Arts Centre in Walsall, I have written some new works for the Wider Opportunites strings. These pieces are simple yet effective and designed to encourage the youngsters through pattern based playing and simple reading. They can even be taught by rote (no reading required) !
Between Easter and July I completed On This Day ( for Solo Treble/Soprano, Soprano Saxophone and Female choir). This was recorded towards the end of July at Emmanuel Church in Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield with friends. The fruits of our labours can be found here. I've just got to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who turned up on the day to make it at all possible. Here's a little film I've put together of informal piccies taken on the day by one of my friends singing in the choir
Quicktime (mov) 7MB
Next project is a string quartet with soprano sax. I'm so predictable at the moment; I'm in love with the blessed instrument!!!
G
