Tag Archives: piano music

Gratitude List 1973

(1) I heard of a term called a glimmer recently. It’s the opposite of a trigger. It’s when your mind suddenly alights upon, not a traumatic thought, but a pleasant thought that gives you joy and hope. The next three items on this list are examples of “glimmers.”

(2) I hadn’t seen Keva for a year or so, and it was great to connect with her yesterday to give her one of my new piano CDs. We had a really positive conversation; and once again, that woman with four missing organs is the picture of courage. The thought of Keva is always a glimmer, and this glimmer was pleasantly magnified within the last two days.

(3) When I put out my song “Summer in the City,” I noticed someone had reacted with a “like” to my donation information. Later I checked my PayPal, and a woman named Daniela (whom I believe is in Germany) had placed a small donation there. Daniela always has solid, concrete things to say about my piano music, and the thought of her is a glimmer.

(4) My biggest fan is a person named Apollo. They say they study to my piano music, and it gives them calm and focus. They say they sleep to my music, and it gives them peace. The thought of them, and of all of this, is a glimmer.

(5) Of all the guys who sleep outside who hang out at the Center, I have noticed one of them is distinctly more intelligent as well as more affable and tolerant than the others. I ran into him yesterday and took the opportunity to let him know he is appreciated. I think it meant a lot to him. For the lift in his spirits, I am grateful.

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.” — Emily Dickinson

Gratitude List 1829

(1) The light on the power adapter of my 2015 MacBook Pro has just turned green for the first time in a long time. I’m glad my friend Matt told me about cleaning out the port with a toothpick. I clearly removed a big thingamabob that was in the way of things. Moreover, I am grateful that when I asked the workers here at the cafe for a toothpick, they gave me not only one, but three. Has anyone noticed that toothpicks are hard to come by? I have. Grateful for things that work.

(2) There have been a number of awkward interactions lately when people have responded to my friendly nature by wanting to accelerate a mild acquaintanceship into a fast friendship. On reflection, I realized this is a sign I ought not to be “putting myself out there” so readily. There’s something to be said for a low profile. Grateful for the wakeup.

(3) I’m twenty bucks shy of my $500 goal selling Turbulence piano albums, and I haven’t even released the online version yet. Along with a few other positive happenings, I find myself unusually free of financial insecurities.

(4) I’ve noticed I’m not mad at my church people anymore, and I’ve been enjoying participating in church activities. Tonight there’s a dinner after the Taize service, followed by choir practice. Somehow I no longer feel my presence is any kind of blight, nor am I bothered by the other humans. It’s nice to keep things light and enjoy their company.

(5) Just ran into Darrell, the owner of the recovery center, and had a nice chat with him beneath a beautiful blue morning sky. Grateful for the Latah Recovery Center. Without them, I would not be alive today. God is Good.

“Change your thoughts and you change your life.”
— Lao Tsu

Gratitude List 1553

(1) Grateful for the nice change in the weather the past few days.  Sunny and warm, the walk to the Dollar Store was very enjoyable.  I never noticed how beautiful it can be on Paradise Creek before.   Grateful for the sense of vigor and new energy that is brought about by Spring.

(2) Grateful once again for my church and especially for their letting me use the grand piano for my recordings and many of the spaces for scheduled rehearsals of my musical.   I was there late last night and got a lot of new piano music recorded.  In fact, I have enough for a new album now, and have been arranging it on a SoundCloud playlist.

(3) I’ve been learning so much from some of the people I’ve met on WordPress, in addition to some of the very well-educated people whom I’ve met her in town, that I often feel like I’m going to school again – yet without the pressure of things like deadlines, midterms and grades.

(4) Had a really good meeting with Liam yesterday.  We set a groundwork of stuff for each of us to do between now and summer, and also plan to involve Cody, to the end that we get something happening again this Summer, after everybody does their homework.   I was impressed with how well-organized and encouraging the meeting was.   There’s a sense of something very exciting being drafted on the down low, behind the scenes.   

(5) There’s a feeling of people hanging together a little more right now.   I feel it in the community, and in my church group, and on the blogosphere, and even on a bigger level.   I’m encouraged to see the way people are toughing it out.   Just when I think I’m alone, someone is there for me.   We all have a lot in common, at this time.   

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
    — Desmond Tutu 

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Free Piano Music

On these four albums, you will find compelling improvisations around contemporary classics you may recognize.   These and other albums were sold as CD’s between 2018 and 2020, mostly locally.  As of today, I’m offering them for free.   Any charitable donation will of course be appreciated.  

 

Piano clip art black piano transparent clipart god clipartcow

Exile 


Abstractions 


Pinnacle


Suspended 

 

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Love Theme

This is from a while back.   Something told me it would be pertinent, so I revisited it.  It’s the Love Theme from the Zefferilli film Romeo and Juliet, by Nino Rota.  It’s somewhat mercurial – but I think it winds up addressing many levels of love.

Please donate to Eden in Babylon.
A little bit goes a long, long way. 

 

Resolve

I did this one a few months ago, back in the good old days when I could still go to that church and hook up my rig with the tripod, and traverse the keys of that amazing Baldwin grand piano like there was no tomorrow. Sadly those days have been replaced by more difficult days, as we all know.

But anyway I am posting this medley of “Moon River” by Henry Mancini, “Wintertime Love” by Jim Morrison, and the old English version of the hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter.” I call it “Resolve.” It’s a cut on an album called Abandon. If you want a copy of the entire album after hearing this, hit me up and we’ll work something out.

Never did look at this video until tonight. I ripped it to mp3 at the time to stick it on the album, and for a reason that ought to be obvious to anyone who knows me, I only glanced peripherally at the video.

(By the way, if the reason isn’t as obvious I think it is, go ahead and tell me you think it is. If you’re right, maybe I can give you some kind of grand prize on my way to the bank, if and when.) Enjoy, folks.

Please donate to Eden in Babylon.
A little bit goes a long, long way. 

Love is Blue

This French ballad was composed by André Popp.  (For real!  No pun intended, and he was not a distant relative.)  Lyrics were originally composed in French by Pierre Cour, with English lyrics by Bryan Blackburn.  References to the 2nd Movement — the “Allegretto” — of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony throughout. Andy Pope at the Baldwin Grand, March 12, 2020.

Please donate to Eden in Babylon.
A little bit goes a long, long way. 

Pinnacle

If anyone has use for a CD in this day and age (and I’m almost sure there are those among us who do), my new Pinnacle CD is on sale for $10 on the local market and $15 if I have to mail it to you.

And just in case you don’t happen to have any particular use for a CD in your hyper-modern mode of existence, my music doesn’t cost a whole lot to access in general.  As a matter of fact, here it is.

pinnacle cover

One way or the other, your kind donation is always appreciated.   Here’s to the “Heart of the Arts.”

Please donate to Eden in Babylon.
A little bit goes a long, long way.  

Free “Exile” Playlist

I’ve been under the weather this week and have not practiced my piano piece at all.  I told people I would actually be singing tomorrow — but my voice is not in very good shape.  Still, I’m going to venture forth toward the church in a bit, where that nice Baldwin grand piano is, along with all the very nice people who don’t mind me playing on it from time to time.

So, I might pull through.  I just want to leave it up in the air.  In the meanwhile, anyone who wants my Exile album, or at least wants to listen to it to check it out, but who doesn’t want to shell out fifteen bucks for it, here it is online:

Also, in isolation this week, I have been pondering my life’s direction.  I’ve felt as though I’ve been in something of a lull ever since I finished the script and demo to my musical.  I’ve been working here and there, on my various projects as well as on the necessities of living.  But my heart, by and large, has not been in what I’m about.

I think this is because I am being cosmically nudged to get cracking on the Eden in Babylon vocal score. I finished the first five numbers a while back, but got sidetracked when I encountered a few setbacks earlier on.   I’ve dealt with the setbacks sufficiently that there’s no real remaining excuse for slacking.

So I’m going to prioritize scoring all the singing parts for Eden in Babylon, and it’s going to have to take priority over this blog.  I found earlier that I was spending too much time blogging, and not getting the vocal score done.  Life does present itself occasionally, and it will interfere with my creative flow.  But in the meantime, there’s no valid reason for not pressing onward with the goal.

So – I’ll try to have something posted tomorrow.  No promises, but you might as well check back in a day or so, and see if anything looks different.  After that, if you don’t hear from me a while, take it to be good news.  Only so many hours in the day, and occasionally one has to get on the ball.  

Please donate to Eden in Babylon.
A little bit goes a long, long way.

 

 

Canticle of the Turning

This medley centers around an improvised bridge connecting the song “From a Distance” (Bette Midler) with an adaptation of the old English hornpipe, “Star of the County Down” AKA “Dives and Lazarus” AKA “Canticle of the Turning.” Moscow First Presbyterian Church April 4 2018: Andy Pope

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Anything Helps – God Bless!