Virtues album – Purity
I have learned, that there are several steps, which must be taken to fine tune songs and melodies to the point, where I’m satisfied. One great step from previous compositions I have made was, that I wanted to memorize all the songs from the first to the last one, before I recorded or notated any of them. Normally I just put recorder on, did dozens of tracks, cut, paste, copy and so forth. But now I want all songs to be taken with one try. This approach forced me to think more carefully about the structure and wholeness of the songs. It also helped me to carry the similar mood thru all the songs on the album.
Another step of the process was, that I have performed songs to the other people, from small groups to 50 people before I recorded any of them. It forced me to think songs from the listeners perspective and also taught, if some parts of the songs really didn’t work on performance.
I wish I had time to take third step to finalize songs. I’d like to put songs to notes, but from previous experience I know it would take several months to achieve. I’m afraid its not gonna happen because I need to record songs on one of the three temples in Finland this year. If acoustics on the temple is not good enough I’m going to find a studio where to make final tracks.
Now the fourth step I have been taking is to make a home recording of the songs. I have already found some interesting parts on all 4 songs, that need a special attention on final recording. It is all about how to pick strings, up or down, some rhythmic changes are challenging and so forth. These all are so important, that I’m going to record all songs on my home equipment first. Two of the latest home recordings are:
03. Purity
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
10. Leniency
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
These are also the only songs on album, that has some obvious influence from other music. So here I have to give credits to Joe Satriani, which was one of the main influence on my early guitar playing. “Purity” has a 10 sec. melody part, that is from his album Extremist although style of playing is not quite same. “Leniency” has even longer alteration of an old traditional German hymn from 1507 book by Petrus Tritonius.
One interesting note I have made between my years playing guitar is, that sense of music tempo is different early in the morning and late in the evening. It feels like conscious is slightly faster closer to the evening you become. I realized that maybe ten years ago, when I was making some recording late night. After I went to sleep and woke up, I listened recordings and found their tempo was faaaar too fast. Now when I hear “Leniency” I bet its little too fast tempo at the moment, but I prefer to keep it here as a lecture.
Whole contents of the album is going to be:
01. Mirha
02. Patience – Kärsivällisyys
03. Purity – Puhtaus
04. Bravery – Rohkeus
05. Gratitude – Kiitollisuus
06. Respectfulness – Kunnioitus
07. Truthfulness – Totuudellisuus
08. Prudence – Järkevyys
09. Dedication – Antaumuksellisuus
10. Leniency – Armollisuus
11. Beauty – Kauneus
12. Generosity – Anteliaisuus
- Greetings from summer vacation
- Some of my music inspiration sources
- All The Virtues – Secret – Anna Maria Jopek
- Purity engenders Wisdom, Passion avarice, and Ignorance folly, infatuation and darkness
- World music – top 10 profound themes quest
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Enjoyed reading your blog:
-Highlights-
-your 48 virtues and their apps to biz world.
-The 2 song recordings are great. I enjoyed the tempo to Leniency, but I love (and play) flamenco guitar, so it
reminded of that flamenco flavor. I was intrigued by the source of alteration on Leniency (old traditional German hymn from 1507 book by Petrus Tritonius, interesting)
Thanks for the effort to post on your blog, I appreciate it.
If I just could play or had time to learn flamenco! Petrus had a proper surname for a musician
Actually I like to take tritonus chord quite often, its not that bad as they thought on medieval times. Its all about relativity. As a single chord it may sound irritating, but on right context it is just perfect.
I like “Purity”, and read your blog… good luck with and enjoy the process. Take your time but don’t wait forever to record either!
This is really wonderful and moody with lovely textures. I like your idea of recording in historic spaces. Exactly which temples of Finland will you be recording in? Not that I’d know. I also like the way you say the time of day affects your playing. Let me say this, I was in a bit of a sour mood a while ago and listening to your pieces is already making me feel better. Thank you my friend.
Thanks for cheering Johann. I have had three week break on recording, but soon will record the fourth take. I also have small concert (31.10.2009) here in Finland, where I perform all songs from Virtues album. After that I need only couple of takes and album is ready. Fine tuning process always takes huge time to me.
There are some temples of finnish sect of Rosy Cross around Finland, that I have planned to use on recording. Couple of them has a century history behind as buildings and of cource, rosicrucians were well known but still mystical cultural enlighteners with their moral and ethical philosophy in the middle age. So I think that fits to the theme very well. I’m really happy to hear that music affected that way, made you feel better. So its meant to be.
Puhtaus
Kiipesin vakain mielin ja askelin
nousten vaaran laelle kokemaan luojani maailmaa.
Näin salamoinnin, myrskyn ja kuulin ukkosen jyrinän.
Rajuilma peitti taakseen kaiken kauneuden,
oli vain synkkyys ja musta sieluni.
Vihmova sade heitti syksyiset lehdet kasvoilleni.
Ne kertoivat kaiken elämän lopulta kuolevan.
Mietin elettyä aikaa ja tulevaa elämääni.
Etsin epätoivoisesti toivoa, kauneutta ja puhtautta minussa.
Tiesin tämän kaiken olevan Jumalassa, luojassani.
Pilvet repesivät näyttäen valon ja taivaan sinen.
Eteeni ilmestyi puhdasverinen sateenkaari kuin kertoen minulle;
nämä puhtaat värit ovat sinun sielussasi ja mielessäsi.
Tehtävänäsi on ottaa vastaan valo, heijastaa se maailmalle
ja osoittaa, että aarre on sisässäsi.
-Matti