Hi,

So, I thought I'd give this embedding thing a go.
I need a new camera, software, or both... But tonight I figured out how to record audio on the computer while filming and (more or less) line them up. I even figured out how to add titles!
So here's a little unfinished/improv piece I've been performing lately:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-qr4iZnlFo[/youtube]

Hope you like; I snuck that note in at 1:55 just in case anyone was getting sleepy

Cheers,
Andy

Love your playing! A+

Very nice Andy! And if you didn't mention the "note" nobody would even notice it ... just a litt e "jazz" note! You also have a beautiful sound!!

I loved that piece Andy!

Beautiful tune, and beautiful tone!


Paul

There is something that I have wanted to say for a long time that I have noticed Andy
talk about twice and then just the other day Ray said it too and that is the " I want to do
all original work" statement. Perhaps we could build some momentum on this thread with
Andy's piece as the send off.

There seems to be three camps ....

1.)... those who play mostly other peoples music. This would be the art of interpretation people.

2.)Those who play some covers and some originals. Thats the pop group.

3.) And those who play their own stuff exclusively.

Personally I am in the latter group and will admit that I carry that flag high because I am terrible at interpretation. And also the idea of pleasing and audience by playing something
they might be familiar with has no appeal for me. But that is not to say that I don't respect
someone who plays a beautiful interpretation thus making it their own or someone who follows that format as a way to get through too there own music. I am not saying
either or, or better /worse but am just making the observation to try and tease some
insight and awareness out of those distinctions.

But deeper and if it is true that Andy is an all origional guy I think that his new
"improvisation" really does the trick. It's magic but I am currious as to why?
Is it really so mysterious? Should we even try to take the lid off the thing or are
we messing with something better left alone? Any thoughts?
*j*
.~

Are you asking the question .. What makes original music special ... what makes it magic, what makes it Original??

For me .... original music is never really "original" because I don't think a person can have a thought that's so original that it has never been thought by someone else before. I think writing original music is still "the art of interpretation" however rather than re-interpreting actual songs you re-interpret ideas, emotions and styles. People who know what music I enjoy can always pick out my influnences. "That part sounds like Kansas" ... "That part sounds like Todd Rundgren," "That part sounds like Gentle Giant," That sounds like Led Zep, Etc. Etc.

I've been a cover musician all my life and MY desire to now play my own music is based on my need to have a chance to interpret my view on the ideas that have come before me. They are original interpretations of styles and emotions ... but are they really original? When I posted "No Sun Blues" several people said it remindered them of "X." (Fill in the blank) When i posted Cupcake one person said it reminder them of early Greg Howard (thank you;-) And Greg said the melody sounded like Tom G. Soooooooooo how original was it really? Apparently it was my interpretation of an idea implanted in me thought the people I enjoy listening too.

There's a Gentle Giant song and it has a line "Heard no thought I didn't think myself." ...... I believe that ... it's all been said and it's all been done. When we write a song or a poem, book, what ever, I think we're just adding our own angle to what already exists. ......... Does that make sense?

All the philosophy aside, I rather liked the music. Thanks for the post.

I like your playing Andy and this piece is no exception. Your dynamic touch is superb and the digital effects are huge, but not overbearing. The sepia toned visual was complimentary to to the piece. Thanks for the post.
-Walter

Thanks to everyone for your comments!

On the sound; I put my new set of mediums on yesterday morning and they sound great, and feel better than ever with slightly lighter bass string gauges.

Walter, I ran the audio through my master reverb twice by accident and thought it kind of worked for this piece, so thanks for pointing that out!

On the philosophy of originality, interpretation and that elusive "magic", there is so much to say (thanks JRJ). I truly believe that everyone has something unique to offer as a musician, and as someone else said in another thread, "it's not the destination, it's the path.." or something along those lines...Ray is right in that we're all reinventing the wheel to a certain degree. I guess "the path" is finding your own musical identity, irrespective of the setting.

Cheers,
Andy

I'm faclempt!

Real beautiful music man! It hits hard!

Can you talk about your process of music composition and how you did and still are writing this piece?