The Music Blog

The term “New Music” is a term that was lost in the music world many years ago. During the 70’s this term was the description of analog synthesizer compositions that were written up with their own score. This was a new scoring method that included dial settings, and patch cable patches so that another person, using your score; could perform your electronic piece.

While I was attending SIU in the study of music under music professor Dr. Heidi Vongutten, I was one of only a few people who had access to the electronic music lab. During that time it was one of the best in the USA. It had a serge synthesizer as well as a Moog Modular V, and an ARP 2600; both analog synthesizer. There were many times where I would go in the lab and work for 10 hours straight as I had a key to both the lab and the building and could use it any time day or night, with the exception of the afternoon during weekdays. During that time I managed to catalog thousands of sounds on reel to reel tape and got in over 500 hrs on the Moog Modular V, figuring out patches as well as creating some compositions. (one that was aired all over the country during the late 70’s was my composition created on the Moog called “Windfrost”).

I have always wanted a Moog Modular V, but during that time they were very expensive and now almost impossible to find. However, thanks to Arturia I finally have one in reach! Most of the analog synths of yesterday have been reproduced exactly by a digital counterpart. The entire ARP 2600 and the Moog Modular V for example, has been reproduced by Arturia. The add feature is that you can save your own presets. (whereas in the past you had to write down all of your patch cords and where they went to).

I am really excited as I recently purchased the Moog Modular V and Arp 2600 virtual instrument by Arturia which now means that all the compositions I had done in the 70’s can now be brought back to life and I will now have access to create even more. I will be adding organic sounds (also known as concrete sounds) to future compositions as well.

My goal is to create a whole new line of music albums for people to practice Tai Chi Chuan, Meditate as well as other disciplines…..

Living right next to one of the most powerful energy spots I have been to, which is a few hundred yards from the ocean, puts one in a wonderful state of mind. I have been working on several new songs that will go into my next album. I won’t ponder a guess of when it will be completed, as with every album I have done so far I try and approach each new one differently than the last one.

While all the writing and arranging is going on, I am also working on updating all my equipment to start working on more “New Music”, or at least what it was called in the 70’s. (ie: Electronic and organic sounds mixed together in an ambient atmospheric style). Most of these new ambient type albums by others seem to incorporate the sound of the ocean. Since I hear it every day, that is one thing I may try and avoid and to try new things, sounds that most do not hear or pay attention to. (ie: the sound of a hummingbird wing, etc.)

Stay tuned for info as it comes….