I had a picture pop into my head of a ballroom which, for no reason other than decay, rising water levels and magical realism, has slipped underwater.
This is the music they play there…
Prize for the first person who guesses the relevance of the title! Mrs Weston’s Waltz[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/reform-waltz.mp3]This one’s self explanatory… The fortepiano sinks [Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/the-fortepiano-sinks.mp3]
I’m delighted to tell you that Henry Mind of a Tyrant is shortly to be released on a label I’ve just set up…
I have great designers, animators, editors on board and think it may just work..
There are Three CDs coming out before the Autumn and this is definitely one of them!
NB, Other releases are to be a piano album (including Crystallised Beauty) and a CD of my odd cello/orchestra soundscapes (including Close Your Eyes).
Click the play button to hear tracks including O Dolce Nocte featuring Alamire and Fretwork.
The reason I’m writing though is that I’m going to need help (hopefully yours!) getting the word out there about the Henry CD as this is a small-label release, but I’d love it to reach a wide audience. There’s no financial drive behind this, as I’m just as happy to distribute tracks free when I can. Your suggestions matter very much, as it’s only because of the comments on this page here – that the companies have agreed to let me make the CD!
So all ideas as to how & if you’d like to own it, which radio stations I should approach, what kind of packaging you’d like used, which tracks you’d want on there (I will put the credits music on!), even how much it should cost… will be very gratefully received. I’d also like to put suggested artwork online, so you can help me choose what it should look like.
So, at the moment I’m considering all of these types of release;
Free download
Spotify Release
iTunes
CD release with artwork from the TV series
Coffee table style copy (don’t know how else to put it..!) – ie a book with a CD/ specially commissioned artwork/ calligraphy/ limited edition print
I’ll send you a Henry mp3 right away by way of thanks if you drop me an idea!
Working on ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’, and meeting many of the astronauts from the Apollo programme led me to fall in love with all things lunar.
Here’s something I wrote recently after listening to the Apollo 8 Genesis reading.. I noticed they all spoke around B flat major, and that their voices are inherently melodic.
Featured voices are; Frank Borman, James Lovell and Bill Anders.
Well.. after lots and lots of talking and negotiating.. it looks like we can get the piano pieces released!! Initially on itunes, emusic and spotify.. as well as a nice coffee table version. Please let me know with your comments which ones definitely make the cut!
Here’s a track called Watermark for solo piano[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/watermark.mp3]
After the Moonlight (Piano Trio)[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/13-fast-gathering-tears.mp3]And… This is new too The Daguerreotype [Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/jb2-old-photos.mp3]Here’s another recorded in Finchcocks, a stately home and piano museum. The instrument used is a Viennese double strung piano – a very rare and extremely fragile instrument. [Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/04-moon-over-meadow.mp3] The piece is (as yet) unnamed, but is based on the idea of an empty drawing room at night – except, that is, for the piano. It holds within its wood and strings snatches of music, harmonics and melodies that others have played on it… Any ideas for names gratefully accepted – the more literary the better! Here’s a second piece recorded on a Steinway – a slow ballade waltz [Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/jb3-ballade.mp3] Here’s a third piece called The Long Letter[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/07-10-long-letter.mp3] Here’s the obvious one (of Jane Austen fame)… Crystallised Beauty – the (not often heard) full-length version of the track:] And here’s one called for Elena[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/22-9-for-elena.mp3] This is a piece (with strings) called keep walking[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/pssst.mp3]
Exciting times ahead. Very close to coming up with a way to issue tracks in digital and physical formats with a twist.
I’ve just added this track that I wrote called Sink Below[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/aqua-voce.mp3]
Here’s a track called Not Coming Back[Audio http://radiomovies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/not-coming-back.mp3]
Hope you like it! The awesome photo below is by Trey Ratcliff. SLR genius…
Photo by Stuck in Customs
PS. Link to me on Twitter if you want updates on other tracks – http://twitter.com/PhilipSheppard – Free downloads regularly there – also if you leave me a message below, you may find an mp3 or two on its way..! Thanks for the continued support from Jane Austen fans – click here to know more…
Here’s an extract of a new track for solo cello, prepared piano and strings called close your eyes. If you like it you might like these tracks tooDrop me a comment below if you want to buy the single!
Blue Attraction by Reciprocity
Stumble It!
I play music for the sense of solace, and sometimes the texture of a sound is enough to make you feel everything could be ok.
Layers of sound can define an architectural place in your head through suggestion and perception. The bass note in this piece is more of a feeling than a real note – try and listen with headphones if you get the chance.
Philip Sheppard is a composer specializing in film and television soundtracks.
He is also a solo cellist and professor at the Royal Academy of Music.
This is his blog. Free tracks, sheet music & news from here
Featured voices are; Frank Borman, James Lovell and Bill Anders.
Please let me know with your comments which ones definitely make the cut!
Stumble It!
