Philip Sheppard

Tag: violin

  • Chosen Road

    Chosen Road

    [bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=75147650 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=3634784012]

    Chosen Road from Fall From Earth – by Philip Sheppard – Clio Gould Violinist

    For Clio Gould

    This track was written in a single afternoon just before our Abbey Road Sessions for my album Fall From Earth.

    I had just had confirmation that Clio Gould would be leading the orchestra for my recordings. I knew I had to write something special for her.

    I’ve known Clio’s playing for most of my life – in fact, we first played together when we were 15 years old.

    Even then, her sound was utterly and totally breathtaking and I’ve been in love with her playing ever since. Her sound is effortless, silken, chocolatey and quite unlike anybody else.

    Chosen Road is about the paths that you take and the routes that you choose through life. Sometimes the going is hard, but the views can take your breath away.

    Clio is the greatest violinist in the world. This is my way of saying thank you to her.

    Order from Bandcamp
    [bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=75147650 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=small tracklist=false tracks=4061886354 esig=009513d550468b4c06c10eaa8d787d62]

    Order from iTunes

    Featuring Clio Gould (solo violin), conducted by Philip Sheppard

  • The wind across the downs

    [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/83960778″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

    The Wind across the Downs by Philip Sheppard

  • Going loopy

    DSC00546
    My cello looping setup

    My solo performing setup generally includes loop pedals, pitch shifters and reverb units.

    I’m doing a lot of experimentation at the moment with my live setup, using acoustic & electric cellos, new custom built units as well as some exciting new effects pedals from Boss, Boomerang & Line 6. Before I plan a programme I always draw a new circuit/ wiring plan and however much I try to simplify things around my feet, they always end up verging on the complex..!

    The sketch above is the setup I have in my studio at the moment… Looking a little tangled for my liking…

    Here’s a short improvisation from a set I performed in Mexico a couple of months ago. The guest speakers prior to me had mentioned whale songs, volcanos and one of my favourite pieces, La Folia. Needless to say, all of them found their way in.

    It’s been great to see Andrew Bird storming Sundance with a live set where he built songs up from live loops on violin using a parallel setup of Line 6 delay modellers, one tightly locked, the other more for floating ambient lines. You can watch it here.

    Andrew Bird

    The great thing is that the gadgetry he’s using is rendered unimportant by the emotional punch of the songs. It’s easy to get hung up on gear for its own sake, but if you’re not making someone laugh, cry or get the chills, it ain’t worth it…

    TDNRE5PHSP2N

  • New string tracks

    Old meets new!

    Things have been crazy here… Most of the projects I’m involved in are super secret which is a bore because I can’t wait to tell you about them… Needless to say I’ve been in Abbey Road again with the wonderful LPO, as well as hopping across to Monterey to see friends at the EG conference in California… more on that later though.

    Here are two new string tracks I recorded with Elspeth Hanson – the very super violinist… One’s based on La Folia (aka La Follia), the other is based on the Mozart A major violin concerto.
    [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/44973755″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=3d0ac7″ width=”100%” height=”81″ iframe=”false” /][soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/44973980″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=3d0ac7″ width=”100%” height=”81″ iframe=”false” /]It’s the first time I’ve used an Apogee Ensemble interface – and I’m blown away by the difference it’s made. It also makes a splendid resting place for my treble viol…!

  • Song of the back woods

    Whistler – a photo I took on New Year's Day

    [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/10426186″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=3585be” width=”100%” height=”81″ ]

  • In some other


    Here’s a piece I wrote about a Utopian place. Rolling fields, no sense of time, warmth and happy solitude… Solo violin by the very excellent Elspeth Hanson.
    I would say it’s ambient, but it’s got too many melodic lines. It’s a bit celtic, but it’s not folk. Looking for a good title – any ideas?
    If you like this, then try these tunes here.

    Click here to subscribe, and you’ll get a free download of it from my mailing list. Thanks – Philip
    [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/6048149″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=3585be” width=”100%” height=”81″ ]

  • New track – Take my Hand

    New track – Take my Hand

    [soundcloud url=”http://soundcloud.com/radiomovies/take-my-hand” params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=3678a3″ width=”100%” height=”81″ ]

    If you like this then try this tune too…

    I send my friends & subscribers my new tracks as I write them – click here for free mp3s