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Description:
I wrote this tune for my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary. They're both poets and writers. That's my daughter singing on it. We only had one take (which limited things a bit)...so it's a bit rough.
Special thanks to my friend, Jim B., for doing the recording.
Lyrics:
Butterflies and Dragonflies
There's a girl on the shore of the ocean...
singing, but nobody hears her.
So she sings to the sky
and the land breeze
carries her words out to sea.
And her thoughts travel like butterflies
blown by the winds of summer skies
yet sure to reach their partner
in the end.
There'll be friends and books and poetry
a son and daughter family
and grandchildren to smile at you today.
Near a dock in the cool rays of morning...
a boy takes his boat out to sea.
And he raises his sail to the sunrise,
catching her clear melody.
And the ship moves like a dragonfly
that travels on the passing time
to meet it's destination
on the shore.
There'll be friends and books and poetry
a son and daughter family
a granddaughter to sing this song to you.
Music written and performed by Bob Prince
Lyrics performed by Ava Prince
Lyrics written by Bob and Ava Prince
© 2007 Bob Prince
Hardware:
National Radiotone Resophonic Guitar
Rode mics
Software:
Pro-Tools
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This is the very definition of charming.... &mdash 01/18/07 - 08:59:40 PM
As sweet as anything from Tea For The Tillerman or from Belle & Sebastian...
My sense is that you're going to be a presence here...
That's nice guitar playing, with a unique recorded tone... Not quite like anyone else's... and nice picking....
Your daughter's vocal is very good. She stays with that difficult lyrical meter very well...
Welcome to MacJams...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
family &mdash 01/18/07 - 09:02:23 PM
Beautiful &mdash 01/18/07 - 09:23:11 PM
A beautiful tune and made more so, by the knowledge that it is a father/daughter collaboration. The guitar work is nice and I'd be curious to know your recording setup for this. Welcome to MacJams. Look forward to hearing more from you and your daughter. [ Reply to This ]
Butterflies and Dragonflies &mdash 01/19/07 - 07:20:58 AM
Thanks.
We recorded in my friend's big, pre-war apartment. That's important because the walls are thick. Nice place near the George Washington Bridge (cool view at night).
He's got the ProTools setup and knows what he's doing with it.
Ava sang into a Rode NT? mic (the big one) in one room and we used two small Rode NT? mics on the Radiotone. One pointed directly at the cone from in front and the other up by the neck, pointed down towards the F-holes.
Looking forward to hearing your tunes, too. [ Reply to This ]
More please... &mdash 01/18/07 - 09:31:29 PM
Ah, a bit of Jimmy Page woven into Eastern harmonic information, then on to a lovely folk song.
She sings sweetly. You play most deftly.
I really like this...
[ Reply to This ]
I love Jimmy Page... &mdash 01/21/07 - 10:41:38 PM
..., esp. his acoustic work which is so often overshadowed by the awesome electric. He's been a big influence on me.
Thanks, I.Spike.
---
I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
Celebrate life with music! &mdash 01/18/07 - 09:44:01 PM
Can't think of a better howdyado for us all here at macjams who have the pleasure of your company. Welcome! Great playing, composition, lyrics and an angelic voice to top it off. Well done. Looking forward to future posts. [ Reply to This ]
Beauteous! &mdash 01/18/07 - 09:49:21 PM
Wow, what an intro - sounds like you've got a resonator there. Amazing lead-in to a truly captivating song. Your daughter has a lovely voice, pure, accurate (that's not an easy melody you've written) and very emotive. This is as evocative and beautiful a song as I've heard in the movies - it calls to mind tunes from "James and the Giant Peach" and "All Dogs Go To Heaven" at the same time that it has a Beatles-esque, Led Zep feel. Tell you what, you've got my attention - I'll definitely be watching your posts for more. Welcome to MacJams! [ Reply to This ]
Butterflies and Dragonflies &mdash 01/19/07 - 12:16:49 AM
What a nice showing for our tune. From all of you. Thank you so, so much.
It was going to be an instrumental 'till Ava came strolling into the room and sang the first line. I took it from there. She's amazing. A reluctant performer, though. Had to buy her a Manga book to do the recording. And she's not even in the union, yet! ;-)
Yeah...that's a National Radiotone. I love it. Checking out old Strats and suddenly I hear this guy playing a reso in another room of the shop and I was captivated. Last thing I was thinking of and I bought it on the spot.
And Beatles/Led Zep/Folk pretty much captures it.
Yo bro! You are right on it.
Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback. I'm in and out, lately...but am looking forward to hearing your sounds, too.
Big ol' smile on my face... [ Reply to This ]
P.S. &mdash 01/18/07 - 09:51:06 PM
Went to download it - realized that there was no option for download. If you ever make this available, I'd love to play this one on the iPod! [ Reply to This ]
Welcome &mdash 01/18/07 - 10:12:39 PM
An Excellent introduction &mdash 01/19/07 - 12:59:38 AM
to your arrival at MacJams.
Well played. Intersting sound. I hear some George Harrison influences (from his days with the Dali Lama.)
[ Reply to This ]
WOW ---- &mdash 01/19/07 - 01:06:11 AM
Awesome! I love this. An instant fav. You play guitar very well and your daughter can sing - great.
Love it - Thanks for sharing,
mvh : ) [ Reply to This ]
One take was sufficient, evidently... &mdash 01/19/07 - 01:50:30 AM
This is very enjoyable on many levels. What an introduction to the site. Welcome.
How wonderful to be able to make music with your daughter, who did such a beautiful job on this song. Like her Pops did... [ Reply to This ]
Butterflies and Dragonflies &mdash 01/19/07 - 07:23:44 AM
It's definitely a rush. She's very talented and a real nice kid.
I avoided kids for years and have been beyond pleasantly surprised since the day she was born.
Look me up in a few years when she's a teenager and we'll see what I've got to say then. ;-) [ Reply to This ]
oh yeah? &mdash 02/10/08 - 12:40:58 PM
well daddy this is your daughter!! What the hell r u talking about? avoiding kids?! Youre just trying to sound kewl. [ Reply to This ]
Hmmmm.... &mdash 02/10/08 - 08:26:20 PM
...actually...I AM very, very kewl, Ava...in case you hadn't noticed...
...and I'm really happy to have overcome my reluctance...you're the best...and I love you dearly.... [ Reply to This ]
The ultimate gift.... &mdash 01/19/07 - 02:19:24 AM
...for poets and writers on a wedding anniversary. :)
This is surely poetry of music.
Glorious.
Thank you for sharing it here. [ Reply to This ]
Charming, soothing and impressive .. &mdash 01/19/07 - 03:12:35 AM
excellent guitar, charming vocals. Great blend of styles and influences creating something fresh and interesting.
Love that "and her thoughts travel like fireflies" bit and all in one-take is extremely impressive.
If you were to consider retouching it:just some light wash string backing coming in at the above it and some echoey (drifting off) vocals here and there and maybe some reduction in length of the intro/outro. Just my thoughts. It stands strong as it is too. [ Reply to This ]
Butterflies and Dragonflies &mdash 01/19/07 - 06:46:40 AM
I'm so glad you people like our tune. Can tell you know music, too...which makes it that much sweeter.
I'm trying to get Ava into more of my tunes...but, to tell you the truth: that's the first song with lyrics that I've written in, literally, decades. Everything else is either classical or fingerstyle. Have written 3 more with words since then...which is a good thing. She does make up her own stuff, though...I should start writing accompaniments. Hmmmm...
I'm looking forward to being a member of this community. To work, now, though. I'm a teacher as well as a musician. [ Reply to This ]
Butterflies and Dragonflies &mdash 01/19/07 - 07:05:53 AM
My friend who recorded us (on his ProTools setup with Rode mics) is finally free again for awhile. I'll be visiting him soon.
I like your suggestion on the strings. Will give that a try. Tried to get Ava to do more of the vocals you're suggesting. But she just "didn't feel it, Daddy".
Man....
Good point on the intro. Have been considering cutting it about a third and keeping the second instrumental as is (would like to abolish a couple of "flubs, though).
Also want to see how it sounds with her vocal up a bit more (or guitar down) during the chorus.
The focus of our next session will be this tune and getting two more I've written recorded. [ Reply to This ]
Great and nice &mdash 01/19/07 - 08:21:08 AM
Great and nice (and not rough at all as far as I can judge :) The vocal performance is really neat and contributes a lot to the charm of the piece!
I dig so much your sense of nuance here! You have a very nice and sensitive hand with that guitar. A good composition/improvisation(?) too!
PS I am another fingerstyle guitar solo instrumentalist. There are not that many of us at MacJams, and the addition of your music is a really good feel. Makes the variety of styles broader as far as I can judge from this one post. Looking forwards to hear more from you! Great to have you with us. A warm welcome! [ Reply to This ]
Tender collaboration &mdash 01/19/07 - 08:35:58 AM
Tender and youthful. Perfect for its intent, yet it transcends and becomes a powerful story for us all. Please post the lyrics! A marvelous melody; I love the way her youthful voice negotiates the open intervals and the end phrase separations, endearing and magical. This is so sweet. It also deserves some song art (as well as posted lyrics). A marvelous keepsake, inheritance. [ Reply to This ]
Butterflies and Dragonflies &mdash 01/19/07 - 08:08:39 PM
I HAD to record it now, while her voice is exactly like this.
Yes...it's a definite keepsake. We performed it at this little clearing on a picture perfect Vermont summer day.
I'll post the lyrics soon. Thanks. [ Reply to This ]
Perfectly melancholy &mdash 01/19/07 - 03:04:43 PM
bits of sad and sweet, precisely the emotions to bring out on such a momentous occasion! The opening guitar part reminded me a teeny bit of Albeniz, very Spanish-sounding and pretty. Your daughter has an mazing voice, hitting all those stepped notes, reminds me of a younger Ledebutant (Macjammer here.) I'll have to play this for my 14 year old daughter-singer-wannabe for motivation :-) I love the way you had her split the word "o...cean", some good ideas in here. Overall, a delightful composition, really well played, almost dulcimer-like with the droning strings in places. Welcome to Macjams!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Butterflies and Dragonflies &mdash 01/19/07 - 08:16:19 PM
I love Albeniz. I'm hoping to put down a track of a piece I wrote with him in mind, soon. Need to get into my friend's studio.
I'll have to give a listen to LeDebutant...
Guess what: I didn't coach my daughter one single bit on any of the phrasing or anything. And she's never taken vocal lessons. Total natural talent. She's a good pianist, too. (I'm a proud papa).
BTW: how do I set myself up as a "fan" on these posts? I've heard some really fine stuff and need to get up to snuff on how to show my appreciation. [ Reply to This ]
I agree &mdash 01/19/07 - 07:46:59 PM
This is totally cool. Your fingers must have been smoking after playing this. Nice job. And your daughter's vocals adds a nice touch. Great way to introduce yourself here at MJ. Welcome and I'm looking forward to hearing other good things from you. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks &mdash 01/21/07 - 09:45:25 PM
beautiful &mdash 01/19/07 - 09:05:32 PM
and in no way derivative... enchanting and even a little mysterious... I've often said recording is the art of capturing the moment... this is superbly done
welcome to MJ [ Reply to This ]
Lovely Track &mdash 01/19/07 - 10:28:32 PM
Not much to say that's not already been said. What a wonderful introduction to the MacJams community. Great playing and your daughter's voice is sweet and pure. Thanks very much for sharing it. I'll be watching for more from you.:) [ Reply to This ]
Very heart warming... &mdash 01/19/07 - 11:02:18 PM
...You and your daughter should be very proud of this accomplishment! Thanks for sharing it in all its innocent glory.
Alimar
9-10-9-10 [ Reply to This ]
Hey &mdash 01/20/07 - 12:32:59 AM
Lovely playing and singing &mdash 01/19/07 - 11:29:51 PM
You have a wonderful debut piece. This is rather unique on the MacJams site. You are really fortunate that your daughter will sing with you for this kind of project. One small nit - the 'E' string sounds out of tune from the rest of your strings. Not much - but on a transparent piece like this it does stand out. The guitar tone is great though. Enough complexity and warmth to stand on its own, but a delicacy and gentleness as well. Oh- and the lyrics - words of depth and lightness.
Long ago, I was a classical guitarist. I'd be honored if you'd listen to a couple of my MIDI guitar pieces. Welcome to MacJams. [ Reply to This ]
That @!*# E string! &mdash 01/20/07 - 12:38:17 AM
Your weren't supposed to notice that!
Especially stands out when I flub the note leading into her vocal...
Sigh....
Well...I HAVE made peace with it for now.
I'll check out your works soon. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the comment. Right on the mark, too. [ Reply to This ]
Excellent &mdash 01/20/07 - 12:50:45 AM
Thanks! &mdash 01/20/07 - 01:36:29 AM
You should hear the guit live. It's a National. Loud and clear. I'm so into it. [ Reply to This ]
Good Stuff &mdash 01/20/07 - 02:28:05 PM
While the guitar is nice enough by itself the melody, and your daughter's performance, make it that much better.
Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad. What a great present. [ Reply to This ]
Welcome &mdash 01/20/07 - 03:09:05 PM
Welcome to MacJams! I can hear this on a movie soundtrack. I'm thinking something with a sailboat, ocean spray, and a sunrise. It also reminds me of something I heard in Road to Perdition. Very nice! [ Reply to This ]
Really Terrific... &mdash 01/20/07 - 04:22:49 PM
...for your first post.
Most delightful and unusual guitar sound. Great picking.
Mas, mas! [ Reply to This ]
Wonderful &mdash 01/20/07 - 04:35:56 PM
Thank you &mdash 01/21/07 - 10:54:20 PM
I just visited your home page. Saw you have "haribo" on there. Isn't he something?
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
guitapick..wow &mdash 01/20/07 - 08:14:02 PM
I am in awe of the lyrics and guitar playing. Your daughters voice brings the song to a different level of innocence and sweetness. It really is a beautiful piece. very nice gift for your in-laws. You'll have to let us know if they loved it as much as we did. [ Reply to This ]
I like telling this story: &mdash 01/21/07 - 10:39:00 PM
I'm so happy you like the piece.
It was a picture perfect Vermont summer day in a little clearing next to a small barn. The in-laws knew I'd written a piece...but not that Ava would be singing in it. Considering that I've not written a line of lyrics since I've known them, they sure weren't expecting it.
They absolutely loved it. It was truly a wonderful moment in time. And Ava was so cool: just sang it beautifully and then took off to play with her friends.
I had to make the recording asap, just so I could capture her voice as it was for that day.
I must plug the amp. if anyone's in the market; this Schertler "David" is just so nice. For acoustic guitar and voice. Very accurate. It was perfect.
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
Mesmerising &mdash 01/21/07 - 04:10:49 PM
Mesmerising guitar playing into. Nice picking. Your daughter has a great voice - for a first take its great. The melody is great -the decending chorus bit is quite catchy. I wouldnt bother doing another take on this. The minor (very few) mistakes that I can barely make out add character! This is a great tune - looking forward to more from you! [ Reply to This ]
Cool... &mdash 01/21/07 - 11:00:24 PM
I like that idea of leaving it alone. I'm going to record some new tunes in the next couple of weeks and, yeah...we feel good enough about this one that we can leave it alone for now. Must move on, you know...
Thank you, Gav.
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
Welcome to MJ....... &mdash 01/21/07 - 06:46:05 PM
....... to you both. Lovely guitar sounds and playing - almost sounded like a keyboard at times (I mean that in a good way). Ava has a delightful voice, and this has flashes of "Lucy in the Sky" for me. Your in-laws must have been beside themselves with happiness (and pride) to hear theiir granddaughter doing such a fantastic job on these vocals.
You might like to have a listen to moorlandt and his daughter "flo" (they each have a site under those names) for another excellent father/daughter team. It might inspire Ava a little too :)
Looking forward to hearing more from you both.
Peace,
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Thanks, Neil &mdash 01/21/07 - 11:03:47 PM
Yeah...they love their granddaughter, alright. I'll give a listen to those artists.
Great picture you've got there...
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
By the Way &mdash 01/22/07 - 02:55:32 AM
I noticed a reso hanging on the wall in that picture of you folks playing. Yours?
It's almost 3:00 AM right now (can't sleep for this new tune that keeps rolling through my head)...and my headphones are all the way downstairs! So I'll have to wait 'till tomorrow to listen to your tunes. Looking forward to it. Don't want to wake anyone here.
I love that picture.
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
We were ..... &mdash 01/25/07 - 06:34:39 PM
......... playing at the Whisky Gully Winery - the reso belonged to John, the owner, as did the Martin I was playing. The dobro Jordy's playing is also a wonderful instrument - a very musical family with excellent taste in instruments! Some pics of the WGW music nights here.
We have some incredible pictures of our little granddaughter - well, they are to us at least :) Ah, the joys of digital photography!
Neil --- Wannado[ Reply to This ]
Thanks for the link &mdash 01/27/07 - 06:59:18 PM
Some really sweet looking Strats in those shots (my favorite electric) and, BTW: Is that really John Aldridge's dobro that your buddy's playing there? He's AWESOME!
Looks like a great time. Lots of nice instruments.
Kids are the best. Thanks for sharing.
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
Really nice &mdash 01/21/07 - 07:10:01 PM
Nice writing, nice guitar playing and what a beautiful voice... Thanks for sharing. [ Reply to This ]
really sweet playing &mdash 01/21/07 - 10:31:31 PM
I had a dobro once...it had a removable bridge so you could play it like a regular guitar...it is a lovely earthy sound.
Your playing is very nice, an original voice it seems...not alot of people would choose a resonator guitar for this style, but you have great success here.
nice stuff indeed!...and welcome to MJ
best regards
z [ Reply to This ]
A removeable bridge? &mdash 01/21/07 - 11:22:11 PM
Wonder whether they still do that? Great idea.
These Nationals are incredibly versatile. Lots of tone possibilities. I play mine as much without as with a slide.
You know...choosing this as my debut piece is great because:
1) It's a nice piece
2) Who's gonna slam a piece with a father/daughter combining to celebrate grandma and grandpa's 50th?
It's a problem because:
1) I haven't done any other tunes with her (I AM working on one with my nylon string, though). So my next offering will be compared to it.
2) It's a tough act to follow.
But I shall persevere!
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
SWEET PICKAGE! &mdash 01/21/07 - 11:38:41 PM
The pick of death! This is a really nice! Is this a steel geetar! Beautiful! Wow cool vocals too! [ Reply to This ]
beautiful &mdash 01/22/07 - 05:48:15 AM
Lovely! &mdash 01/22/07 - 12:31:47 PM
I echo everyone else's kind words. Thank you so much for sharing this
beautiful musical portrait. Your daughter's voice is like a sweet wind. Great job you two! Have a beautiful day! [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 01/23/07 - 11:58:38 AM
I liked it alot. The only place I couldn't give a 10 was production (7). I would have captured fuller sounds tonally on all the tracks. If the freqs aren't there you can't EQ them in later. Otherwise I was blown away. [ Reply to This ]
Yep &mdash 01/23/07 - 02:35:20 PM
+1 on that. I'd like a fuller sound, too. It's a huge sound, live...and I don't think that quite comes through on this take.
I like it enough that it'll do, for now, though. When I get my own recording setup I'll put some more work into it. Next trip to my friend's Pro-tools setup, though, I'll be concentrating on a couple of new tunes on my nylon and steelstring guitars.
Glad you liked the piece. Thanks for commenting.
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I live between the notes [ Reply to This ]
wow really great guitar &mdash 01/25/07 - 07:32:05 PM
Thanks &mdash 01/27/07 - 10:14:05 AM
beautiful &mdash 02/07/07 - 09:48:16 AM
gosh, what glorious lyrics! they're a pleasure to read, and a treasure to hear sung very well by your daughter. i can only marvel at your guitarwork. what a gift you have!! i can feel this delicate piece working its wonder on me in many ways. it's so positive and uplifting. many thanks! anne [ Reply to This ]
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My sense is that you're going to be a presence here...
That's nice guitar playing, with a unique recorded tone... Not quite like anyone else's... and nice picking....
Your daughter's vocal is very good. She stays with that difficult lyrical meter very well...
Welcome to MacJams...
Ed
[ Reply to This ]