Good stuff, Michael ... even though I'm a novice at understanding solfège and composition techniques.
Oh, I have similar conversations with my cat, Loki. He gets indignant and yells at me all the time. Then he lays down.
By the way, I'm working on my next Substack piece ... this one on Paul Simon. He has a new album out (that used to be a big thing in my younger life, but not anymore). He's 81, deaf in one ear, but is trying to decide whether or not to tour again. Just curious ... do you consider him just a singer/songwriter like Dylan and Joni Mitchell, or a composer along the lines of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, etc.?
Good question. Maybe both? I wrote about his song "American Tune" and its origins in a medieval church hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded", which was in turn based on earlier "passion" poetry. "American Tune" is my favorite solo tune of his (it was performed live at the Concert In Central Park with Art Garfunkel). He sort of skirted the political implications, though it's at least legend that it was written in response to Nixon's reelection. He and perhaps a co-writer adapted the older choral music for the melodies and harmonies in "American Tune" (you clearly hear the influence after listening to the hymn), and he wrote the lyrics.
Well, "American Tune" is my favorite Paul Simon composition, too. (OK, so he borrowed from JSB). Soulful, wistful, melancholy ... I think the bridge is gorgeous ...
Good stuff, Michael........I think I've landed on a sane work-around to the mind-numbing effects of The Circle of Fifths. Take it to your local pub: "Yeah, I'll take a handful of vodka bottles, and do me a favor....could you arrange them in.....oh, I dunno....a circle?" Bon aperitif!
A MAJOR step for you! I NOTE your solution. It certainly struck a CHORD! Beware! Like the ones in hell, there is no endpoint to FIFTHS of vodka CIRCLES, my friend, not even the RELATIVE(LY) minor ones.
Good stuff, Michael ... even though I'm a novice at understanding solfège and composition techniques.
Oh, I have similar conversations with my cat, Loki. He gets indignant and yells at me all the time. Then he lays down.
By the way, I'm working on my next Substack piece ... this one on Paul Simon. He has a new album out (that used to be a big thing in my younger life, but not anymore). He's 81, deaf in one ear, but is trying to decide whether or not to tour again. Just curious ... do you consider him just a singer/songwriter like Dylan and Joni Mitchell, or a composer along the lines of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, etc.?
Good question. Maybe both? I wrote about his song "American Tune" and its origins in a medieval church hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded", which was in turn based on earlier "passion" poetry. "American Tune" is my favorite solo tune of his (it was performed live at the Concert In Central Park with Art Garfunkel). He sort of skirted the political implications, though it's at least legend that it was written in response to Nixon's reelection. He and perhaps a co-writer adapted the older choral music for the melodies and harmonies in "American Tune" (you clearly hear the influence after listening to the hymn), and he wrote the lyrics.
Post here: https://michaelfab.substack.com/p/ton-o-links-and-a-new-post-tomorrow
"American Tune" here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Tune
Well, "American Tune" is my favorite Paul Simon composition, too. (OK, so he borrowed from JSB). Soulful, wistful, melancholy ... I think the bridge is gorgeous ...
"And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying"
Magnificent.
https://acousticguitar.com/review-paul-simon-seven-psalms
You may be interested
I'm writing about him right now. I've heard Seven Psalms. It's different. More like a suite than an album.
And thank you for the fabulous recommendation!! Much appreciated!!
Good stuff, Michael........I think I've landed on a sane work-around to the mind-numbing effects of The Circle of Fifths. Take it to your local pub: "Yeah, I'll take a handful of vodka bottles, and do me a favor....could you arrange them in.....oh, I dunno....a circle?" Bon aperitif!
A MAJOR step for you! I NOTE your solution. It certainly struck a CHORD! Beware! Like the ones in hell, there is no endpoint to FIFTHS of vodka CIRCLES, my friend, not even the RELATIVE(LY) minor ones.
Duly 🎵-ed.
Great OUTRO....
It's against my nature, but I'm gonna resist the temptation to vamp!🦇
It’s the journey up the keyboard not the destination, or very possibly the other way around. I have not followed the Rubicon links yet but I will. 😀
Good luck, my friend!! There may be a sort of ferryman waiting at the end of some of them. Practically “forbidden texts”, those...