One of those days where you just sit at the desk for hours until the muse decides to visit. I’ve found the best way to be “creative” is just to keep my butt in the chair until she gives up and comes for a visit. Stubbornness for the win!
November 29, 2011
November 13, 2011
Project Done
After 10 months of work on a giant project I’ve just sent off the final song. Last February I was contacted by a major Texas university. They hired me to write 30 songs for their science and teaching curriculum. Over the past 10 months what started as me writing some simple music to already existing lyrics slowly evolved into me writing or rewriting all of the lyrics, writing the music, recording and producing the vocal tracks, and doing final mixing. Today, the final song (and one of my favorites) went out to the client.
It’s been an absolute, unconditional blast to be involved in this project. Not only have I gotten to write music, but it was science based, for pete’s sake. How perfect is that? I got to really utilize the vocal booth I built a few years ago as well as really dig into vocal editing and mixing. Through this whole thing the client has been ecstatic with what I’ve done. They expected rinky-dinky piano and some cheesy Midi instruments but I was able to give them some of my best stuff. I’m extremely proud of it.
I’ll try and get permission to post some excerpts. There are still contractual reasons why I can’t talk publicly about the who/what/where of the project since they’re still in the process of selling the final product. The good news, though, is that it’s virtually guaranteed at this point to be heard by several million K-12 students across the country. What fun!
Thanks to Erin for putting up with me while I went through an entirely unusual period of several months of crazy music writing. She’s had to take care of everything non-musical around here (basically everything from keeping us fed to making sure I actually get up and move around once or twice a day). As of now I’m pretty much back to my normal busy November schedule (which I’ve also kept up with), but I wanted to write a post to mark this milestone. Hooray!
October 12, 2011
Who Says Emotion and Logic Don’t Go Together?
I’ve been living with the music program Logic on a daily basis for about 18 months now and not a day goes by when I don’t yell out “I LOVE THIS PROGRAM!” Huge, huge thanks to the brilliant engineers and designers for all the little things. Is it perfect? Nope, but it’s so, so much better than I was using before. Incredibly flexible, massively powerful (I almost never stress it out), and I’m still discovering little things that make me fist pump the air and shout “YES!”. As fond as I am of Studio Vision Pro I could never go back.
So glad I made the switch.
October 3, 2011
September 27, 2011
September 10, 2011
Life, the Universe, and My Birthday
With apologies to Douglas Adams, today I am 42.
Which means today this blog is eight.
Now that I’m 42, I’m supposed to know the Answer (you know the one). I guess since I’m writing this on the actual eve of my birthday (three hours from now, to be exact) then at midnight Texas time I will suddenly ascend into all knowledge and know the answers to Life, the Universe, and, well, Everything. Get back to me tomorrow and if I don’t answer it’s because I don’t have time for you puny mortals. Or I’m just eating cake. Hmmm… cake… maybe that’s the Answer.
One year ago I was the tender age of 41, trying to find my way in the world, but now that I’ve achieved the rarified heights of forty-two, things will doubtless come into focus. Until that happens, though, here’s an accounting of the notable events of the past twelvemonth.
Said goodbye to a high school friend: a very good high school friend of mine- Kim Masterson- died suddenly this past year. She had been struggling with cancer for a while and we thought she finally had it beat when it apparently staged a comeback and took her life, leaving her three great kids motherless and her friends shocked. I’ll miss Kim. We hadn’t seen each other since our Baylor days but I still feel like we could have struck up a conversation without missing a beat.
Completed my 20th Year of Sing: and wrote all 20 acts in the show. Years ago when I was first starting out I used to occasionally wonder what it would be like to write the whole show. I had that very privilege in my 20th year. It was a distinctly great feeling knowing that everything from the opening Sing Anthem to the final notes had passed through my brain and fingers at some point. All 5000 pages and 15,000+ measures. I feel like I’ve made enough mistakes over the two decades that I’ve finally achieved Malcolm Gladwell’s mystical 10,000 hours. I feel like I finally have some actual expertise to offer the folks who work with me. Not just the technical aspects of writing music, but the more subtle part of shepherding a creative idea from inception to performance. I may still not always know the words to explain the “X-factor” of what makes an audience say “ahh!” (we don’t have the words in any human language), but I feel like I can more reliably stumble my way into it. It’s a good feeling. It was appropriate that on my 20th anniversary performance in the pit I met Sara Sinclair- old pit band pianist from way, way back in the 70s. It’s good to be a part of such a tradition.
Thanks to friend and Sing Chair alum Lisa Sorenson for the cake!
Focussed on electronics: this year in my personal classroom my topic-du-annum was devoted to finally learning the basics of electricity and electronics. I’ve tried it several times before but I always managed to confuse myself with the basics and end up frustrated and stymied. This time, with the help of several really good books and the two accompanying Make:Electronics packs I was able to dig my way through Electronics 101. I may not be able to hotwire a car or build a taser gun, but I understand V=I/R and basic electronic components. I can put calculate and install LEDs as well as read simple block diagrams (and build a circuit from them!). The area is so big that I’ll probably make it a two year study (I’m only halfway through the Electronics packs anyway). Victory!
Wrote music for Word and Lifeway: I was able to arrange hymns for Lifeway Music’s new hymnal (where my name is now included!) as well as do music and continue mastering for Word Music. Even though I don’t live in Nashville it’s nice to feel plugged in with some of the bigger music companies up there.
Wrote even more music for a University: which I can’t give details on yet because it hasn’t been released, but trust me, this one is a monster. 30 totally original songs. The client just told me that it’ll probably be in limited national release. Exciting stuff!
Wrote even MORE more music for another University: I’m also currently working on a 17 minute fully orchestrated original piece for a different national college’s recruitment video. It’s been fun to be told “just write something cinematic and heroic sounding” and then be cut loose to do my best. It’s some of the best writing I’ve ever done and I’m really really proud of it. I’ll post a link when I can.
Built props: In conjunction with Sing this past year I was hired by several groups to again build props (with their inexperienced but willing assistance) in my shop. We built a giant boxcar, a 10′x 12′ train engine, a set of nesting boxes, various hand props, a full sized giraffe head, a tiki hut, popcorn maker, giant kitchen appliances, various office furniture, trees, signs, and all sorts of other craziness. It’s not just the chance to put in serious shop time that I love, but the opportunity that I get to grow closer to the Sing Chairs that I help. We always have a ton of fun getting sore and sawdusty while building things that thousands of people will see on the stage. And I love the befuddled looks from the drivers that pass by when they see a huge ferris wheel or giant toaster in my yard. Priceless.
Built MORE props: I’m currently working on a 19 foot long by three foot high permanent logo for a client. They have decided to replace their 30 year old former logo with this new redesign and wanted an actual 3d object to put on stage. Made out of almost $1000 in plywood, fiberglass, and paint, this thing is designed to last another three decades. I’m proud of the fact that my building skills have enabled me to tackle these bigger opportunities and I’m having a lot of fun seeing it slowly come together. The only downside is that it’s summer in Texas. 107 degrees is not a good time to be in the shop!
Saw a mentor pass away: A terribly sad though not altogether unexpected milestone was reached a few weeks ago when longtime musical mentor and friend (to many) Robert H. Young passed away. Dr. Young was my director when I was in Chamber Singers at Baylor and he was a sort of Collegiate surrogate father for Erin. We will miss him terribly but will always have his wonderful music and future Chamber Singers concerts to remember him by. Every Christmas we’ll listen to “Who is He in Yonder Stall” and remember this wonderful, kind, talented, and Godly man.
Replanted the yard. Due to a massive invasion of grubs as well as neighbors who feel like the definition of yard care is to mow their six foot tall weeds once per year (no, I’m not kidding), we finally bit the bullet and completely replanted our yard. I got ten cubic yards of dirt (that’s a very full dumptruck load) and spread it out on our front yard until it was 6-8″ deep (HUGE THANK YOU TO NEIGHBOR JAMES AND HIS SON RYAN FOR THE HELP!). After that I tilled it into the old soil and then laid down almost three pallets of zoysia pallisades grass. After several months of watering in the Texas heat (another thanks to James for taking care of it while we were gone) we have what I am sure is the most beautiful grass I will ever possess. It’s dark green, healthy, verdant, and even smells like it should. It’s thick and fun to walk on. I don’t know how it’ll do long term as the years go by but we’re just loving it now.
Shared in an Award: this year I got to see the movie that I did location and post production sound for, Paradise Recovered, win not one but two Grand Prize Awards at major film festivals. It’s been great to see all the hard work by this small and committed group pay off. We’re collecting all kinds of Laurel Leaves! Go Team Paradise!
Got tennis elbow: about eight months ago I started to notice a pain in my right elbow. It grew over the weeks until I could basically do nothing with my right arm that required any sort of bending of the elbow or flexing the muscles just anterior of my elbow bone. Trust me- when you type, play piano, and do woodworking for a living that’s a pretty severe handicap. It hurt to hold my car keys sometimes. Crazy! After several months of ibuprofen and ice packs it’s almost healed now, but I’ll never laugh at tennis elbow again. What a (literal) pain.
Read my own Eulogy: Not really, but close. Unfortunately most of us never say the things to people we care about while they’re still with us. Fortunately, my good friend Barry isn’t like most people. When I mentioned that it was my 20th Sing anniversary he penned a very public and very touching post about it. Upon reading it through suddenly misty eyes I realized that it about sums up everything for which I would like to be remembered. I consider it a rare blessing that I got to read it, Barry. Gratitude.
Traveled. A lot. Well, for us anyway. We started off the year with an early March trip to visit Erin’s cousin in Anchorage, Alaska. It’s been on our wish list for a few years to go to the 49th state and see the beauty of the mountains. Since we both enjoy the cold and snow, getting to go in March was a real bonus. Due to the fact that we were flying Buddy Passes we ended up staying an extra four days waiting for a flight out (and eventually had to buy one way tickets!), but even so, we had a wonderful two weeks and can’t wait to go back. The one thing we didn’t get to do while there? See the Northern Lights. Every night we’d go outside hoping for a glimpse of this elusive phenomenon, only to be disappointed. However, the delayed return wasn’t all for naught. On the flight out at 10pm the pilot got on the intercom and said to look out the left side of the plane. The Northern Lights! We were on the right side but fortunately the only two empty seats on the plane were just across the aisle. So Erin and I trucked it over there and got to witness twenty minutes of otherworldly midnight beauty. It was something to see. Alaska was cold, beautiful, far away, cold, snowy, and COLD. I love the cold.
Our next trip was unexpected (for Erin at least). Thanks to my good friend Sean’s brilliant thinking (well, fortuitous internet surfing), I surprised Uber-Harry-Potter-Fan Erin with a trip to Harry Potter World in Orlando for her 40th birthday. It was among my most favorite gifts that I’ve ever given anyone- especially since I had to keep it a secret for almost two months! Three days before her birthday I made Harry Potter’s favorite dessert (treacle tart) and surprised her with it, then gave her a card that was actually a portkey (and if you don’t know what a portkey is you haven’t read the books… shame on you!). The very next day we were off on a plane to Florida for three days at Universal Orlando. What a blast to do as a trip, and what a fun thing to surprise someone with!
A few months later we got to spend time with friends Matt and Jenna in D.C. (after a failed Buddy Pass attempt to get to Ireland) and spent a week traveling around Philadelphia, Amish country, and Gettysburg. Then we came home and, two weeks later, got to spend a whole month house-sitting for friends in Colorado Springs. *Whew!* Neither one of us has ever travelled for fun quite so much in one year. We just had a confluence of opportunities and events that made it possible this year and we feel grateful. We’re jet-setters!
So there are some highlights from Year Forty One, spent living in gratitude one of the most wonderful lives ever. I wonder what the next year will bring?
September 5, 2011
September 1, 2011
Surgical Precision
I’ve always loved the acapella vocal group Glad. Check out this version of Gershwin’s They All Laughed.
August 27, 2011
I’ve Gone and Bought the Cherry Cabinets
We have some relatives who tell a funny story about remodeling their kitchen a few years ago. They went into it wanting new cabinets, so they got a local cabinet maker to build them some beautiful cherry cabinets. Once they started seeing the cabinets being constructed, they realized that their floor would have to be replaced. Then the old appliances started to look rather dull, and after this the countertops. They ended up changing out pretty much everything in their kitchen and it’s now a stunningly beautiful place. It’s a conundrum familiar to anyone who has done remodeling. The beauty of the new outshines the old so much that you just end up replacing everything.
Last year I purchased a rather large sample upgrade to my sound library. It was a significant investment and it’s paid dividends in much better sounding work. However, the brass sounds still were not up to par yet. So a few days ago I upgraded my brass sounds and ho-lee-cow, what a difference. The portamento french horn alone was worth the upgrade cost. I’m working on a rather huge orchestral project right now and the new brass sounds are getting a workout. Check out this example:
Keep in mind that there isn’t a bit of “live” orchestra in there. It’s all midi triggered samples. Based on the strength of these demos, as well as my experience with the sample library from the past year, I went ahead and bought the brass library.
It’s wonderful. The horn makes you weep, the trumpets are declamatory, and the low brass is big and bombastic the way low brass should be, without a hint of “midi-ness” that often accompanies these libraries sometimes. The problem? Now my strings sound mushy by comparison.
The company has issued a single “orchestra-wide” sample set, which I purchased last year, and which is very good. But then they’ve gone in and started focussing on each of the individual sections (strings, brass, woodwinds, perc, etc) and started issuing whole libraries of just these sections, with much more depth and realism to their sound sets. I have the new brass set, but, like the new cherry cabinets, the spectacularness of the new sounds is making me crave the Wolf fridge… I mean the string sounds:
So now I’m listening to the online examples and thinking well, with this job I could easily pay for them… and they make my stuff sound so much better.
Curse you, cherry cabinets.
August 23, 2011
Quoth
Inspirational, and something I need right now. Thanks Katherine.
The real essence of writing is moving past fear and that success comes when you get to that place where you push past the demons and go ahead with what you ought to be doing.
Katherine Coble
August 22, 2011
That’s Why I Chose Yale
Well, not really (I went to Baylor), but this student-produced and alumni-written recruitment video is terribly clever and fun. Fun cameo halfway through.
July 30, 2011
Giant
Dr. Robert H. Young passed away yesterday at the age of 88. Dr. Young conducted the Chamber Singers at Baylor and forged the musical education of generations of students.
He was a musical giant in my life and will be tremendously missed.
June 14, 2011
Magic
My roommate Robert introduced me to this band and this song in college. Still gets my vote for top 10 rock songs of all time. Just try and not tap your foot.
Just once I’d love to put this in the show. Once. Gahh, I love this song.
Oh, and for bonus points. Rick Emmet sings every note (up to high F#!) completely un-effected. No auto tune or other artificial aid. Take that, Bieber. That’s old school.
June 12, 2011
Art
“I confess that the best way to deter me from watching a movie is to tell me it’s “wholesome.” This is because that word applied to art is a lie on its face, because insofar as art is stripped of the world’s sin and suffering it is not really whole at all.
This seems to be a failing—on the part of artist and consumer alike—in what my Orthodox friends call theosis, or walk, as my evangelical friends say. In short, if Christian novels and movies and blogs and speeches must be stripped of profanity and sensuality and critical questions, all for the sake of sparing us scandal, then we have to wonder what has happened that such a wide swath of Christendom has failed to graduate from milk to meat.”
Why so much Christian art is bad.
I’ve had this ongoing discussion with several friends for years- that there is no grace without a fall, no redemption without something from which to be redeemed. In books, movies, and other types of art, I believe it is important- necessary- to show the to-be-rescued in their full evil and debasement in order for the eventual rescue to mean something. This applies in all art (not just explicitly “Christian Art”, whatever that benighted phrase is supposed to mean).
This, perhaps, is why so much post modern art, with its morally relativistic starting point, carries so little emotional impact for me. Telling me that a piece of art is based on a world with no moral foundation doesn’t make me question the idea that there are absolute morals in the world, it just makes me not relate to the piece of art.
Note that I am *not* saying that all stories need to be tied up in neat packages where the good guys win and the bad guy is either converted or destroyed. Uncertainty is just as much a part of our lives as is the evil that we all see. Denying either is to deny the common experience and trivialize the subject. Christian artists should be the most unflinching when it comes to showing the evil in the world, else where is the value of what we proclaim?
There is a necessary place in art, movies, and books, for the ugly stuff- the profanity, the sensuality, the horrible behavior, the murders, the evil. These imbue the journey of the characters with meaning and make them more relatable to the audience. Without one extreme on the moral spectrum, the other makes no sense. If there is no Great Moral Battle, why would the audience care?
h/t Sean for the link.
June 9, 2011
Big Brassy Ones
Hooray! EastWest Sounds is finally introducing a Play-enabled brass sound kit. Hollywood Brass is coming out on July 10th. Really great brass sounds have been the one missing piece of my sonic puzzle since updating to Logic a year ago. Can’t wait to see what these things sound like!
May 11, 2011
May 7, 2011
May 5, 2011
Shire Music
The first few notes of “The Road Goes Ever On” always remind me of “This Is My Father’s World.” Doesn’t stop it from choking me up, though.