Composing Sir Dinadan the Foolish Knight: Form and Inspiration
Dan WildI occasionally think about death. Being paganistic in a world dominated by the ego-centred Abrahamic faiths, my entrance into hell troubles me. May I request one thing: my arrival is accompanied by an orchestra playing my music. This should prepare me for the transition from the pangs of life to the pains of the inferno. …
Continue reading “Composing Sir Dinadan the Foolish Knight: Form and Inspiration”
Percy the Pianist: Canto 1, stanzas 31-41
Dan WildPrevious.. 31Half a day before the gathering stormRose Percy, not Percival of Wagner’sDour overture, based on the French wormOf Tours – these were really snaky nagas,Like an open pack of Lady gagasBought from a small Chinese tobacconistThat sells everything except hate. No ragasWould be played today, nor would F. LizstBe taken out of the stool …
Continue reading “Percy the Pianist: Canto 1, stanzas 31-41”
The Temptation of Merlin: A Pre-Raphaelite composition
Dan WildLegend has it that one of Merlin’s protégés was Nimue, or Viviane, Lady of Lake. Merlin and Viviane were instrumental in King Arthur’s ascent to the throne and the formation of Camelot, gathering place of the Knights of the Roundtable. It was the Lady of Lake who bestowed the sword Excalibur on King Arthur. Without …
Continue reading “The Temptation of Merlin: A Pre-Raphaelite composition”
An Overture To His Coy Mistress
Dan WildMy composing sessions extend to eight hours, with plenty of breaks for coffee and stretching, which is why I don’t compose when on contract. The title, To His Coy Mistress, entered my head because I’m a mid-forties bachelor who love has not yet called to her bedside, or fireside, or beachside. I can’t think of …
Continue reading “An Overture To His Coy Mistress”
Becoming a full-time composer
Dan WildA month has passed since I last posted. I’m still learning Chinese and pondering the deep well of life, so 2021 should see more TV shows reviewed and more random posts from the fringes of consciousness etched onto this virtual stone tablet that is my blog. Lately I’ve been occupied by music. I’ve never devoted …
Continue reading “Becoming a full-time composer”
Robert Schumann: Advice to Young Musicians
Dan WildThe Gutenberg Project has made available to the general public many rare and obscure literary works. One such trinket is Advice to Young Musicians by composer and writer Robert Schumann (1810-1856). Schumann is an eccentric and interesting figure in Western music, known today for his varied output of lieder (songs), piano works, orchestral compositions and music …
Continue reading “Robert Schumann: Advice to Young Musicians”
Thanks for the music: Canberra, Ornette Coleman, Brenton Holmes
Dan WildI spent five years of my life in Canberra. It was here I really began my journey into jazz. Having taken jazz piano lessons with Paul Dal Broi, I advertised in the classifieds as a pianist and received a response from Eric Pozza who runs the Canberra Jazz blog. Eric plays bass and for a couple of …
Continue reading “Thanks for the music: Canberra, Ornette Coleman, Brenton Holmes”