Earlier Works
Earlier Works is a collection of MIDI compositions, circa 1988-1990, using a Korg M3R and an Aleis MMT-8. Working with Eric Rice had inspired me to get my own MIDI sequencer. Two of the last tracks feature his equipment. The title Earlier Works refers to the fact that I view this material in context to the more involved Fantasies Suite, which I will present shortly.
This playlist will allow you to hear all the pieces en masse, so you don't have to download each track individually, although you can if you wish.
Ionospheric Suite
I--
II--
IV--
V--
VI
The Ionospheric was inspired by a patch combo available on my Korg M3R. It calls to mind Bowie-Era Eno and of U2's Unforgettable Fire. The first track was the most fully realized, while the subsequent pieces were more mood loops. Tommy Dog has suggested the first piece needs drums, but I can't hear them. IV is supposed to give the illusion of random music, like chimes in the wind, but it's looped. You simply have your attention drawn to different layers with each repeat, which I thought was cool music pyschology.
Baroque (Op. 1)
This is one of the first pieces I composed, back in my casio days. I based it on Irish Court dances, even though I think it qualifies more as an air. I believe it's in the key of C, if you want to try it yourself. It was supposed to have a companion piece called an Ill-Tempered Clavier, but I can't find the recording.
Bells in the Marketplace
This piece is little more than a travelogue of an open air market under the shadow of a church.
Comic Reaction
"The bassoon is the clown of the orchestra". This is the soundtrack of my life.
Baroque Disco
What do you get when you combine a little "four-to-the-floor" with a repetitive oboe riff? Baroque Disco!
Hooterville Trolley
I had believed the actual name of the comic was TOOTerville Trolley. As it turns out, it may very well have been TOONerville Trolley. But these days "Hooterville" sounds funnier.
Howl
Howl was another try at more atmospheric music that would have both harmony and a lack of structure
Interlude One
Originally, the Wynona Riders' album JD SALINGER was supposed to have interstitial music that came from an imaginary film adaptation of Catcher in the Rye, directed by Ray Ashley with music by Vince Guaraldi conducted by Leonard Bernstein. This piece was supposed to be a study for duck pond, or something. As it turns out we were only able to sneak in a few piano pieces, which sound like outtakes from Zen Arcade
Quartet Study 1
An impressionistic warm-up into a cello theme
Quartet Study 2
My second quartet was based on the stroll dance kids used to do in the fifties. Those kids are old folks now.
Quartet Study 3
Again, isn't quartet music supposed to sound moody and Russian?
Stairs or Escalators
I very much was trying to capture a Philip Glass feel.
San Francisco
Let's all hang out in North Beach sometime. And we'll play this song on a boombox
Old Synth
More Old Synth
Both these track were done with Eric Rice on his equipment. He added the "raindrops" to the first one's bridge. You may recognize the sample on the other track. They're both very scary!