Category Archives: whatever

Stuf that I can’t fit anywhere else…

A New Varient.

Diana Stones Songs, glass cage, music, Musings, whatever

It’s been cold. At the rehearsal rooms it was a bit chilly too so that was not the most comfortable session. But it went OK and was productive. 
It was good to play with a rock band line  with actual people up however rusty we are at present.
 
This year I have written and recorded 68 tracks in total starting in January. I have also played on 3 or 4 other recording projects this year. So I have been keeping  busy. I need to switch off for a while now I think, but my mind won’t detach from it. It’s become a little obsessional which is actually not good at all.  Perhaps its the effect of too much time in my own company?    

 

Once Upon A Time In Bedford

Diana Stones Songs, glass cage, music, Musings, other, Piano, whatever

My last release went live OK and so now onto the next step. I have no idea what that should be though. At the time of writing this  I just sent off 3 violin tracks for a remote recording project.  Something I have been avoiding for a while as I just could not  get the enthusiasm for it.
There is a possible side project live band (60s and 70s style) that I may be involved with too if it comes to fruition. Working with local musicians. Fingers crossed.  On a personal level I am having a few wobbles at present which I hope I will be able to negotiate and keep rolling along. Wish me luck.

Here is a tune called “What’s next”.

 

 

 

  

A few thoughts on playing and composing music

Delta Ladies, Diana Stones Songs, Musings, piano works, whatever

I took myself out for a brief ride in the surround countryside today. It’s all looking wonderful out there. I didn’t take any pictures today though.  Life goes on pretty much the same as ever at the moment. A steady rhythm, week in and week out as the seasons change.

A few thoughts on playing and composing  music:

Weirdly I accidently learnt a Flanagan and Allen song, “Forget me not lane” I was playing through a late 1940s songbook. Original paper published music (piano copy), not a reprint. And played it a couple of times and I have now memorized it. The piano copies were made relatively easy to read so usually not more that 5 note harmony and never anything more than 3 ledger lines above the treble clef. Also most things I hear I can play a version of on Piano almost straight off. I could always do this to an extent but the ability to do it seems to have improved a lot. Violin is of course easy to do as mostly it’s only one note with the odd double stop. Its as if my subconscious does all the work now.  Also with the current collaborations I am having to stretch my music muscles a bit to learn the new material.  It’s still predominantly USA listeners to my online music at present. I think this is because its loosely either rock towards prog and or folk or jazz/blues influences. Europe tends towards pop/dance more. A few outliers in the east of europe and on to the far East. Of course the stats only really show listeners with an account in the main so the actual geographical distributions may be a bit skewed.

I realise that one thing I would like to do again is work with a lyricist. I always have music bubbling up but words not so much. In the 80s I use to get people to send me lyrics (in the post) which I would set to music and send them a cassette tape back.