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Keywords:
folk (356), harp (55), adult contemporary (17), easy listening (28), spiritual (39), inspirational (79), family (33), love (947), ethereal (28)
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Description:
Since it is Passover time, I thought I'd submit a song that falls somewhere between Passover evening and Easter morning. The song was in the first draft of a play I wrote but the song didn't survived the script rewrite process. It was sung by a chorus to Oedipus at Collonus as Antigone lays in his arms (the chorus concept was dropped). I reworked it for solo voice; it is now a song in which the father is trying to convince himself of these sentiments. Trying to find joy amidst the tragedy, praying that memories and old hopes help heal the wounds, and simply asking for something beyond now. I used more reverb than usual, and a continually differing amount, to act as a sort of internal universe feel. Because the play is actually about several heroes, including Merlin & King Arthur, there is a momentary British anthem reference in a musical break which I kept in because I really like the sense of historic connection it lends to the character (who could be any father, not merely a banished Oedipal one). (The artwork is by Fulchran Jean Harriet, 1796.)
Lyrics:
TURN THE KEY
The breath of God draws near,
so human is the prayer.
Now it begins, the celebration.
Awakened by the wind,
the ghosts within your skin.
Join the brightening constellation.
Turn the key,
throw open wide Eternity.
Love I see...
My life
My breath
The love in me.
The child now the man.
Mother rests her hand.
Father nods his head,
"Look down the road..."
The melody has spun
harmonies of one
that fill this world with song.
Sing on.
Come to greet the man,
the day at least in hand,
come child, come elder, come I.
From generations long,
from lives lived short, lived strong,
comes the single one, comes I.
In one day we grow.
Then suddenly we hold a newborn infant bright,
the star we need.
And with our eyes as bright and clear
we see the rebirth here,
the start, the strength, the hope,
the tension freed...
Burning plea,
Encircle me Eternity.
Love I see: My life, my breath,
the love I free.
Turn the key.
A treasure waits, just turn the key.
Love for me.
A life awaits
my love for you.
Hardware:
G4; Mackie mixer; Roland a90-ex controller
Roland U-220 sound module; Proteus II
Emu II HD (for children choir oo's)
EV 747
Software:
DP 4.52. Mastered in Peak 4.
Please turn this track up a bit for best hearing. It is not compressed.
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Nice &mdash 03/24/05 - 11:24:58 AM
It doesn't really fit my simpleton tastes, either religiously
or musically, but anyone can see how beautifully you put
the music together. I really like the over-the-top reverb; if
it was me I would reduce the elements, taking out tracks
to leave more space for your voice. I like the Japanese-y
section at the end... [ Reply to This ]
Nice &mdash 03/25/05 - 09:15:42 AM
Thanks for the comments about the reverb. I spent a lot of time trying to
bring my voice forward and back, make it encircle and then make it
penetrate, depending on the lyric. Also, I sang a second track and used the
reverb from it while keeping the main track fairly dry, to create a differential
in the reverb that would make it seem more 3 dimensional. [ Reply to This ]
Bravo! &mdash 03/24/05 - 02:28:59 PM
Another excellent piece, Tobin. Like Mandolinquent, this
genre isn't normally my thing, but still I enjoy it and
recognize it's many great qualities from writing to
arranging to singing performance to mastering. Very well
done. [ Reply to This ]
It's Maundy Thursday &mdash 03/24/05 - 04:53:15 PM
and for many this is a week for reflecting on life, death,
love and renewal. This piece is so powerful, lyrically and
melodically, and you have posted it at a perfect time.
I think it is your melodic line, Tobin, that sets much of
your music so far above the rest of us struggling to put
notes together.
Also loved the children's choir and "God Save the Queen"
in the middle. [ Reply to This ]
It's Maundy Thursday &mdash 03/25/05 - 09:27:35 AM
Thanks, Tom. Yes, God Save the Queen has several meanings in this, from the
obvious relation to Antigone as well as other overtones. I tried to keep a
female presence throughout (even tho the oo's are a boy choir, it sounds like
a girl chorus, which was my actual intent), and this was just one moment of
that. And thanks for your comments about the melodic line. My favorite part
is the ascending progression of the "In one day we grow old" section. I always
try to balance my intervals and create chromatic lines; but in this song, I
treated each 5-6 note figure as a theme and variation opportunity. Thanks for
noticing all those little things. [ Reply to This ]
Wonderful Production &mdash 03/24/05 - 05:28:45 PM
and arrangement ... also outside of my normal taste, but I
hear the care that went into this. [ Reply to This ]
Live performance &mdash 03/24/05 - 05:38:27 PM
I hear this as if it is an aria from an opera (most likely
because you wrote it for a show...). It would be beautiful
performed live with a small orchestra. The reverb made
me imagine I was hearing it in a chapel or concert hall.
Lovely. [ Reply to This ]
Live performance &mdash 03/25/05 - 09:37:38 AM
How about Lawrence Chapel? You can sing it! It will be just like the old days... [ Reply to This ]
Live performance &mdash 03/25/05 - 10:57:44 AM
Hey Tobin - Outstanding &mdash 03/24/05 - 06:27:21 PM
What I am in awe of is how you can get such great sounds
and turn up the volume and not have it clip.
I need to take lessons from you. How much to do charge!
:) Or maybe I should stick to tile :)
Just a wonderful array of sounds that seem so pure. I
would love to know how you get those orchestral sounds,
like the harp etc.
Your voice sure sounds like Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin
brothers. They have wonderful harmonies.
I can hear sweet land of liberty in the tune.
That bass sound 3/4 a way through is just perfection to
me. I thought it was great at the beginning but it gets
even better towards the end. I wanna make sounds like :)
Give me some hints, pretty please.
Good going Tobin!
Bill [ Reply to This ]
Hey Tobin - Outstanding &mdash 03/25/05 - 08:48:07 AM
Tiler, thanks for the wonderful comments. Most of the orchestral sounds are
from my Emu Proteus II, but I always do sound shaping, both thru layers and
thru patch tweaking. So I layered the harp with pizzicato strings in places and
used track EQ to give it a changing edge (velocity sensitive); also I used an
alternative harp for variation (I created it playing with Q and other effects)
which gives a muffled warmth in the middle section. The hand percussion and
crystal wind sounds are from my Roland U-220. Sometimes it takes me 3
hours just to get the sounds found and tweaked the way I want them. (Which
is why I prefer to write piano music so I don't have to bother with
orchestrations.) I master all my tracks using Peak and it has some very nice
ClipGuard and Limiting options. If there is any trick, it is trying to find sounds
that tell a story, whether it be emotional, literal, metaphorical or merely
intuitive. There is always a visual and character element to my sound concept.
I get very emotionally involved with each song. [ Reply to This ]
In pursuit of... &mdash 03/24/05 - 07:46:07 PM
Musical perfection. Well balanced song. Descriptive lyrics
and imaginative music bed. Well sung... but safe. I Would
love to hear you explore more vocally. Your music is
fantastic and far above what I will ever be cabable of.
Howver, what I would really like is to hear more true
emotion and passion from that wonderful voice.
You have amazing and inspiring music but I would like to
see as much emotion as technical perfection. [ Reply to This ]
In pursuit of... &mdash 03/25/05 - 09:32:07 AM
I wish I had a better voice. I prefer to have other people sing my songs. I work
so hard just not to flat. Actually, you should see my face when I'm singing...
lots of emotional displayed visually, at least! [ Reply to This ]
In pursuit of... &mdash 03/25/05 - 10:03:22 PM
a mystery magnificent &mdash 03/24/05 - 10:58:09 PM
Tobin: I really sank my temples into this one. You have created a masterwork that ably tells the story of a praeternatural "portal" or gateway which I have striven to capture in a song I am working on. Your voice is quite expressive. The reverb, as a way of suggesting one's internalized universe, works for me.
Born in the fullness of time,
Spirit and matter entwined,
Praise to the King of all kings,
The Son of the God of all things.
Here at this portal, new life immortal.
Counting your sheep, sleep, baby, sleep. [ Reply to This ]
a mystery magnificent &mdash 03/25/05 - 09:34:41 AM
Richard, thanks for putting so much of yourself into listening. You are a
jewel. I love your thoughtful often funny always well spoken comments. [ Reply to This ]
Ethereal bliss &mdash 03/25/05 - 02:10:06 AM
The voices, the textures, the lightness of hope and yet the
contrasting 'burden' of yearning. How well you have once
again woven a tapestry of contrasts and colors in the
musical spectrum.
Blissful and beautiful. [ Reply to This ]
Ethereal bliss &mdash 03/25/05 - 02:16:24 PM
Thank you. I try and employ contrasts on many levels in my writing. Thank
you for your careful listening. [ Reply to This ]
I always love &mdash 03/25/05 - 07:33:20 AM
No words... &mdash 03/25/05 - 08:23:05 AM
Inspired &mdash 03/25/05 - 09:06:49 AM
I have a theory: The singer doesn't really believe what he is singing, even though he wants to. He is really singing about eternal quiet, not eternal life... I listened a couple times and, imagining myself as the man holding his dead daughter, I can't imagine him wanting anything but death himself. I think there is something incredibly tragic about the quiet way you have sung this song, and I think it is because you are not asking for God, but simply for it all to be over. As you say from the start, "The breath of God... so human..." You weave in a sense of loss with a sense of gain within a song whose lyrics are about looking back as much as looking forward. With his daughter's death, his own life flashes before his eyes, and, in the last stanzas, I don't know if he's singing about love in heaven or love on earth, hope from his past or hope for the future. Inspired. Hope and regret, as I grow older, are easily confused. So poignant. [ Reply to This ]
Inspired &mdash 03/25/05 - 09:48:07 AM
I always imagined this song sung in the sort of haze you describe. You put it
really well. Sophocles wrote this at the end of his life, and I think Antigone is
the greatest of all his heroes. [ Reply to This ]
Inspired &mdash 03/25/05 - 11:10:09 AM
Wow some really great comments and responses in the above. I don't really have much to add except that I really admire your work, Tobin, and it's very inspiring and there's plenty to take away from it. Thanks!
Oh, and I like this song a lot.
---
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."-- Albert Einstein [ Reply to This ]
Pillars of melodies &mdash 03/26/05 - 11:26:34 PM
A journey through this musical "structure", held up by its
"Pillars of Melodies", stands tall for all to embrace. As I
pass by each pillar, a picture is painted, weaving a
tapestry of aural color and presence. [ Reply to This ]
Pillars of melodies &mdash 03/30/05 - 09:10:02 AM
Thanks, Al. I imaged a Bryce 3D space as I read your comments. Aren't
computers great? Thanks for your careful listening. [ Reply to This ]
You know what I love about this site? &mdash 03/28/05 - 04:01:00 PM
We get cut and paste compositions, and we get this. Sir,
the care and taste you show in this piece is astounding. I
love the opposites - delicate in places, solid in others. The
simplicity of the melody anchored with very interesting
chord changes. Sonically yummy. Thanks for posting this. [ Reply to This ]
You know what I love about this site? &mdash 03/30/05 - 09:13:00 AM
Macjams is total cool. Where else would a song like this ever get
aired? Thanks for noticing the little things in the song and your kind
comments. [ Reply to This ]
Great piece of ART once again &mdash 03/29/05 - 06:17:05 AM
This is awesome Tobin! Your voice are very good, solid,
most of all it's YOUR voice. You sing directly from the
heart wich in many cases are a unique feature of today (at
least in the record industry). It's also a very unique ranges
of voices you have on your palette, I do NOT have any
problem with it at all (actually reminds me a lot of Bowie,
hope this is not taken as effensive)...
The production is superb! I can only agree with "thetiler",
when does the classes start, he, he! It is such a rich, thick
sound, every piece falls in it's natural place. The concept
is of course complete; to me like walking through a
museum and into Fulchran's painting... A great piece,
great words and a great download! [ Reply to This ]
Is that bowie I smell? &mdash 03/29/05 - 09:20:19 PM
As a Bowologist (one who studies the art of David Bowie), I can agree this has
a Bowie tone, sans the multi-coloured eyes.
---
www.bnaro.com -- It's a mystery link! [ Reply to This ]
Is that bowie I smell? &mdash 03/30/05 - 09:28:31 AM
...or his sex appeal. I dig Bowie too, on several levels. Thanks for the
comparisons, and the mentions about the painting, etc. I love art and find
great inspiration in visually emotive images. [ Reply to This ]
Very much like Easter &mdash 03/29/05 - 11:37:07 AM
I listened to the first couple of seconds without reading the text that comes with the piece of music. Straight away I thought Easter.
You communicated your sentinment beautifully.
[ Reply to This ]
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or musically, but anyone can see how beautifully you put
the music together. I really like the over-the-top reverb; if
it was me I would reduce the elements, taking out tracks
to leave more space for your voice. I like the Japanese-y
section at the end...
[ Reply to This ]