A Holiday Musical Gift And Vulnerable Share
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009Most of the writing I do here is in service of my mission to help people find more peace and joy in their work. If I do say so myself, I think I’ve written some valuable stuff over the two years this blog has been around, and I also get the sense that sometimes my relentless focus on my mission can make it hard for readers to get a clear sense of who I am.
With that in mind, and as a special one-time holiday event, I want to introduce you to part of me that hasn’t received much air time on this blog, which is my musical side. I wrote a few posts here and there about the music I like, but I haven’t shared my own compositions so far. That silence . . . is about to be broken. (Imagine that last line spoken in a movie preview narrator’s voice.)
Below are some links to music I wrote in Finale, which is a wonderful music notation program. Normally I wouldn’t think of sharing my music as vulnerable — I love to compose and perform – but I wrote this music in somewhat unusual circumstances. My friend and I recently decided to write some music in the dramatic, epic style of the adventure video games we liked to play as kids, and these short pieces are part of what the French would call that oeuvre. (That’s the vulnerable part.)
Without further ado, enjoy! I’ve really enjoyed talking with you all this year and I’m looking forward to another great one. I’ll be back with a more “mission-oriented” post within the next few days. 
The links below are to very small (5 KB) MIDI files:
Related posts:
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December 22nd, 2009 at 5:39 pm
They are awesome. With each song I can see the heroic character going through is trials and tribulations. I just played Mario Brothers for the Wii and they would be a great fit. Thanks for sharing.
I feel the same way about my cartoons. I feel so naked every time I post them, but it’s great to release them to the world.
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Oh my, Chris, I didn’t realize how talented you are! I have had no idea! I am on another laptop at the moment and will be downloading your pieces on my main laptop a little later! Thanks!
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
Awesome share! I love Desert Town, but I love Middle Eastern/Arabic rhythms…(my heritage)
I have many talents, writing music is not one of them…Kudos to you.
December 25th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Hi Karl — I’m glad you enjoyed them. I hadn’t thought of Mario Bros. when I wrote these but I can see the parallels. I’m looking forward to seeing some of your cartoons on your site.
December 25th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Hi Evelyn — thanks very much, and I hope you enjoy them.
December 25th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi Stacey — yes, that’s a favorite of mine too — I need to get some tabla and bansuri players together and record a non-MIDI version to really do it justice.
December 27th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I will have to enjoy these at the library later today. Internet still down at home and my iPhone saying Safari can’t open the files.
So you’ll be seeing me here again!
December 27th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Well, I AM at the library, but I forgot my earphones. So what a treat still lies in store for me with your compositions!
December 28th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Hi Chris, first time on your blog and just wanted to say thank you for a great content here.
I think I’ll go read more of your “mission oriented” posts now:)
December 28th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Hi Jannie — now you’ve got me in suspense! I hope you aren’t still at the library!
December 28th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Hi Lana — thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog. Yes, enough play, back to work with you!
December 29th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Happy Holidays, Chris! Best wishes for 2010
December 29th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Hi Michelle — happy holidays to you too — I hope you’re getting time to enjoy some of those great dishes you’ve blogged about.
December 29th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
How interesting! And how dramatic! Pity you weren’t around in my neck of the blogosphere last Christmas, when I put together the bloggers’ recording project – you could have been a star! Have you got a Myspace, Chris? – and what kind of performing do you do?
Cheers and have a great new year – Robin
December 30th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Hi Robin — so now I’ll have to fly down under and pay for studio time just like your other customers, huh? Oh, well, I know it’ll be worth it. But seriously, recently I’ve been playing with a jazz combo, but I’d like a venue for letting my own creative juices flow a bit more freely — I’ll tell you what I come up with.
Happy holidays and good to hear from you again!
January 3rd, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Oh man, I’m having Zelda flashbacks!
January 4th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Hi Hayden — yeah, those MIDI sounds really recall the early game consoles, don’t they? Once I re-record this with the London Symphony Orchestra they will have a more contemporary sound.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Confrontation — a spy dance! I like the sudden ending. One spy lies unconscious.
Cave — The wounded spy slinks through the streets, finds a pretty waterfall and reassesses his life.
Sinister Laughter — The other spy comes to and stumbles into a coffee shop.
Chase — Another spy comes onto the scene — spy number 3. The coffee shop spy describes the one who got away, and the 3rd follows. Sees first spy at the waterfall. The wounded waterfall spy finds sudden energy and runs away.
Desert Town — Spy number 3 retires in a sleepy town, but is ever wary of being caught.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Wait ! I missed Town At Night. How did THAT ahppen??
People of the city walk right over and past the wounded spy. Many are dressed in shiny party fashions. The strangeness of it all.
January 6th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Hi Jannie — it sounds like you’ve practically made an avant-garde independent film with this as the score! We’re totally going to take Sundance by storm. I’ll have my people call your people. I love the image of “Sinister Laughter” being played as someone walks into a coffee shop. It’s a refreshing departure from the “entrance of the Dark Lord” scene I tend to play out when I hear it.
May 13th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Chris — I realize you wrote this in December and shared your music…Sadly, for me, I missed this opportunity to visit and I gave you a hard time about not sharing your music. I have had a rather humbling talk with myself.
But enough of me….THIS MUSIC IS WONDERFUL!!! I thought each piece was very appropriately named. Confrontation had that discordant sound in it that created the perfect musical confrontation, while still keeping the music soft on my ears.
I also liked the Cave because it made me like I was walking in one with the walls kind of damp and yet, I know there’s something beautiful waiting for me.
My favorite…this might have to do with the twisted side of my personality was Sinister Laughter. It was perfect…I could feel the threatening music and thear the manic laughter melody! I thought this piece was lots of fun!
Anyway, they were all very good. You, my friend, are very talented:~)
May 13th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Hi Sara — I’m really glad you liked it. I had a lot of fun writing the Sinister Laughter piece as well — I initially wrote it as sort of a musical joke for my friend (with whom I co-wrote the “Sadness” piece from my more recent entry). I think what you said about the Cave and Confrontation pieces really captures what I was trying to do a well. Thanks!