stefkeB

I've started thinking lately to get up to grips with performing alone with more than simply a guitar. I have most of the hardware and software I need (I think), but to link it all together takes some planning.

One of the tricky things is the lack of hands you have when playing guitar. And the fact that even though you have two feet, you need at least one to stand up. So only a foot controller seems reasonable.

But I have too many buttons to push:

This is a recording of Silver Droplets to reflect how the song was when played live, as discussed here. Although the sound is different. This is a Marshall amp emulation from the POD X3 Live recorded in Ableton Live. The actual performance was my real Marshall and the Digitech Jamman Looper pedal (which can not do direct sound-on-sound after the first recording starts looping).

But this version reflects the mood and feel of the way it was performed.

Last weekend, I played in the Sint-Joriskerk in Antwerpen, during the wedding-celebration of my wife's brother.

The first song was a new composition, titled "Silver Droplets". While practising, the couple was pleased with a fragment I was playing, dubbing it "bubbles". While "Soap Bubble" came to mind, this title was highly unfit to start a lasting marriage. So I proposed the droplets. Here you can listen to the re-recording.

I often compose on my classical guitar. Nothing to set up. Pick it up and start playing.And take notes, on small pieces of paper, in whatever format.For songs, I usually disconnect the lyrics from the music. I create patterns of music and I create patterns of words. And then combine them: play through chords or melodies and try some of the lyrics. See what fits.There are no rules and you can always approach things differently.

I had a rehearsal/brainstorm with the "Reverse Violin Company", yesterday evening. We listened to eachothers tunes, looked at lyrics and gave suggestions. We also wanted to record a new song, based on a lyric I wrote. It was hard to find a suitable "genre", so we decided to try with drum loops to get into a particular groove. After a few rock oriented drum samples, we settled with a more electronic beat and then the creative energy got bigger.

Somewhere between rock and pop. It starts quite (= "stil") and grows during the song. It becomes rougher when the drums kick in. The lyrics suggest but don't explain what really happens/happened.

Dutch song about love and marriage. The kind of song my wife asked me to write. I'm not that good in happy and positive songs, but this one is OK. It probably needs a less mellow arrangement, though, to improve.

My sister in law will get married in may 2007 and she asked a friend if she could prepare "Concerning Hobbits" by Howard Shore, from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.As a result, she mail around to find help and we are preparing our first repetition.

I'm investigating (again) a good approach to create scores. I have so many small scribbles and compositions, which have their own distinct look on paper, but I want to eventually digitise them as real scores.

I have been trying some basic score layouting with Cubase SE from Steinberg, which gives only basic control.

At a busy time in my life, I decided to create a new homepage. I am currently trying to finish my PhD on the use of CAAD (Computer Aided Architectural Design). At the same time, we are expecting a third child and we have bought a home, finally. So new busy times are lying ahead of me.