III. Episodes

Cameron

Get Flash to see this player.

Description

This is the third harp improvisation of that last night of June in Bisbee, AZ.

My energy was in a momentary resting-place during this movement, catching my breath after the Cadenza.

This section led directly into the fourth and final one, "Leaving Bisbee Blues" which I submitted first back in July.

So now you have a complete aural "picture" of four movements played that special night. I hope you like this as much as I enjoyed playing it.

Leave a Comment

You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Song Stats

Hits: 1190
Comments: 29
Fans: 13
Plays: 106
Downloads: 92
Votes: 6
Uploaded: Oct 06, 2007 - 04:09:01 PM
Last Updated: Oct 06, 2007 - 04:09:01 PM Last Played: Sep 22, 2009 - 07:38:22 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Hardware:

MacBook, MOTU Traveler, MXL-990 condenser mics

Software:

GarageBand 3

Comments

	said 781 days ago (October 6th, 2007)
	WOW ! Sir Cameron, you told me "please stay tuned for the next one" in the 2nd part of these pieces. Here i am the 1st one ! I can see that this is really great, amazing work with the quality, wonderful composition and lovely playing ! KUDOS ! Thanks for sharing

Cameron	Cameron said 781 days ago (October 6th, 2007)
	Yeman... Thank you for being the first! I'm glad you enjoyed this one, too. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

Feter	Feter said 781 days ago (October 6th, 2007)
	III. Episodes this insterument just so awesome ..just to sit and enjoy its charmin ..you realy let this insterument sing ..very imaginary my friend! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

Cameron	Cameron said 781 days ago (October 6th, 2007)
	Feter... I appreciate you visiting my song pages, as always. Yes, the harp is indeed a wonderful instrument with which to stimulate the imagination. Many times it sends me into Outer Space. Earth calling..... Check out my latest song called EPONYM

apb

apb said 781 days ago (October 6th, 2007)

:o)

..well, you already know I'm a big fan of your
harp playing and this is no exception. There is talent
and then there is TALENT! .. this is an clear
example of the latter... one just needs to figure out
how to record without the oscillation effect between
L/R (which I know you are already aware of from
the recordings from these sessions).. and a little buzz
and clipping...ending a little abrupt/impromptu.

Perfect listen before I went to bed even with these minor quibbles. Thanks for sharing Cam, great piece.

Check out my latest song called Misplaced

Cameron

Cameron said 781 days ago (October 7th, 2007)

Hi Alan!
Thanks for the listen and comments. I'm glad that you like my harp playing!

I had hoped that the L/R phasing issue wasn't so obvious on this particular track.....

As for the ending (I haven't listened to this particular MJ "version" of the mp3, which always seems to cut off the last note) I did in fact cut it off before the REAL ending, because the subsequent material branched off into a short section which seemed totally unrelated to the previous music.

In any case, when the day is done....it is good that you basically enjoyed this.

Check out my latest song called EPONYM

Doadars Uncle	Doadars Uncle said 781 days ago (October 6th, 2007)
	Cam This is very special. I'm glad you shared it with us! Doug Check out my latest song called Capitalist's Drag

Cameron	Cameron said 781 days ago (October 7th, 2007)
	Doug... It is especially nice to get a comment from a new listener. Thanks much! Check out my latest song called EPONYM

Cori Ander	Cori Ander said 780 days ago (October 7th, 2007)
	Lovely I like this so much! Check out my latest song called Guitar test — Martin CSN (Gerry Tolman Tribute)

Cameron	Cameron said 780 days ago (October 7th, 2007)
	Cori! It's always a pleasure when you visit my song pages. Thank you for listening and commenting! I'm very glad that you enjoyed this. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 780 days ago (October 7th, 2007)
	So well mic'd I love how you are mic'ing your harp. How many do you use? Where do you place them? Do you prepare the room in any way? Such an intimate sound. Thanks for sharing these. (By the way, my email for you keeps getting bounced back. Could you send my your latest email address? Thanks.) Check out my latest song called Forge A New Life (MJRF)

Cameron

Cameron said 780 days ago (October 7th, 2007)

Tobin!
Thanks so much for visiting here! It's been a long time.

(I emailed you my address today before reading your comment, so you should have it by now.)

I'm glad you liked this recording. Some people have noticed "phasing" problems with these four improvisations. It didn't really bother me, but I do need to figure out how to avoid that in future recordings.

I used two MXL-990 microphones; one at the bass end of the harp strings, and the other at the treble, each about six inches away from the instrument.

I initially recorded it on one stereo track, but somehow I didn't get the balance right between L and R on the MOTU Traveler.

So I took the recorded track down to mono, duplicated it and panned each one "16", L and R of center (in GB).

I think it was this, combined with choosing "Classical Basic" for the master track reverb, and boosting the bass slightly, which created an unwanted "phasing" effect.

Hopefully I'll solve the problem next time by keeping the same basic mic set-up, but make sure that each stereo channel is balanced.

If you have any suggestions, I would truly appreciate them, as your recording skills are top-notch!

Check out my latest song called EPONYM

francescasongspirit

francescasongspirit said 780 days ago (October 7th, 2007)

Wonderful slice of your life
Cam,

I really enjoyed this. I loved hearing the summer bugs in the background in the spaces in between ... and you weren't afraid of the spaces. They can create so much lovely anticipation and mini-moments for reflection.

Within this one piece were quite a few different moods. It was fun to ride on the sound through all of them. I'll have to give this a few more listens fer sure!

Cameron	Cameron said 779 days ago (October 8th, 2007)
	Francesca... You always have such interesting comments -- thank you! Yes, silence is indeed a VERY important part of music. Without it, you would have constant noise. It's sort of like you need the dark in order to have light. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

RickW	RickW said 779 days ago (October 8th, 2007)
	Beautiful Wonderful sound Cameron. God bless, Rick Check out my latest song called Picture of Perfection (MJRF)

Cameron	Cameron said 779 days ago (October 8th, 2007)
	RickW Thank you for your kind words. Blessings gratefully accepted. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

Reinholt56

Reinholt56 said 779 days ago (October 8th, 2007)

My favourite.....
I enjoyed this piece the most, out of them all.

There was, to me, more longing and expectation and anticipation along with nostalgia in this movement.

The playing was more pizzicato and, to me this implied 'freedom' or abandon.

I loved the whole series but this was the farewell (to something or other) and to me it was described perfectly by both the playing and the artist, along with the music itself.

Take care.

Paul.

Check out my latest song called Ambient Soundscape #1

Cameron	Cameron said 779 days ago (October 8th, 2007)
	Paul... Many thanks for one of the nicest comments I've received on my music. The magic thing about improvisation is that it truly reflects the player's state of mind at the time. I'm glad that you were able to pick up on my emotions. This means that I "did my job" effectively! Thank you again. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

guitapick	guitapick said 776 days ago (October 11th, 2007)
	Man... ...I just can't tell you how nice it is to click and hear this...thanks so so much...beautiful stuff... Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral

Cameron	Cameron said 775 days ago (October 12th, 2007)
	guitapick... You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

	said 775 days ago (October 12th, 2007)
	So nice... ... to see (sort of) an old familiar face. A lovely, lovely harp piece. So much feeling! Cam, you have given here a moment... away from it all, a really very nice place of restful musical retreat. Thanks, old timer.

Cameron	Cameron said 773 days ago (October 14th, 2007)
	Jack... Thanks for your comments about this piece AND reminding me how "old" I am! ;-) Yes, it's amazing that we've both been on MJ since its fourth month of existence. But never forget that you're a "few days OLDER" than me!!! LOL. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

Komrade K

Komrade K said 774 days ago (October 13th, 2007)

Absolutely entrancing
Right from the first this drew me in and held me entranced. Besides being a brilliantly executed improvisation - which hard to sustain over such an extended piece (it seems seamless) and as such an ample demonstration of your level of technical accomplishment - it is so very poignant, full of shifting emotions, twists and turns. Exciting yet meditative.

KK

Check out my latest song called Ye Mariners All

Cameron	Cameron said 773 days ago (October 14th, 2007)
	KK... Thank you for a great comment. Very insightful! I especially like "exciting yet meditative". That was my musical goal for this improvisation, exactly. Check out my latest song called EPONYM

Doug Somers	Doug Somers said 761 days ago (October 26th, 2007)
	Transcendant The notes seem to swirl and dance in the space with a sense of wonder, the joy of freedom, and anticipation. Very expressive and played with the sincerity of spontaneity and, of course, great inspired mastery. Thanks for sharing! Keep well, Doug Check out my latest song called Desiree (MJ Space Race 2009)

thetiler	thetiler said 665 days ago (January 30th, 2008)
	Almost has a Claude Debussy Reverie feeling and love that tune. All the music here seems delightful. Love the shimmering effect as it seems to drift to ear to ear in a almost panning way. Maybe a slight panning? Nice! WAy to gO ! Thanks for sharing ! Check out my latest song called The Bluebird Cafe (with two other guest)

Cameron

Cameron said 662 days ago (February 2nd, 2008)

Bill...again! ;-)
You seem to be "on the roll" with listening/commenting on my more recent tunage, which I greatly appreciate.

Thanks for liking the "panning" effect -- it's interesting that it disturbed a few other listeners on this set of harp improvisations. Just goes to show you that there's a variety of reactions.

If you read back on the earlier comments, you'll find that it was not intentional. I had started out with two mics (single stereo track) which were not balanced optimally, so I took the track down to mono and then duplicated it.

This must have caused some sort of "phasing" effect.

Check out my latest song called EPONYM

	said 647 days ago (February 17th, 2008)
	Amazing That you could play such differing instruments, French horn, harp, etc, now that takes talent and commitment, well I can hear the talent, this is a fine piece of music and playing...

LunaTrick	LunaTrick said 585 days ago (April 20th, 2008)
	mesmerizing! I was literally entranced by this - the phrasing, delivery, panache. I will hear your others! Check out my latest song called Luna Gypsy Heart II (Eternal Firelight)

Fan List

apb

Artist Info

Name: Cameron Kopf

After ten years on the road playing horn with the national (USA) touring company of "The Phantom of the Opera", I have recently retired from that organization and moved from Bisbee, Arizona to the Woods of Northern California. In this peaceful, se... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

More songs in Classical:

Chat

bud	53
CrazeeFlootGrrl	3
dave_b	5
Komrade K	52
PrototypeEightyOne	14
selters	57
sixsecondsmusic	1
sschedra	23