Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Henry Drummond - and Ideas from Me.
I hope you can read my handwriting. Over the past week, I have made some notes, read some things, made some more notes, gazed out windows - and generally experimented with some ideas, both on the recording-front (albeit raw) and on the lyrical land. No idea why the word land is appropriate to use here, but alliteration pleases me.
Firstly, a photograph of the special book by Henry Drummond
Sketches - from head to hand...
Firstly, a photograph of the special book by Henry Drummond
Sketches - from head to hand...
Lyrical ideas...
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Friday, 15 October 2010
The Story of Lavender in the Library
On Wednesday this week, I felt inspired. Jo Mango - a wonderful singer-songwriter - performed one of her latest songs, Black Sun, in Glasgow's CCA. The vocal delivery touched me. So much so that it got me thinking about my own composition. How important is the human voice in portraying human emotion. Indeed, many instruments demonstrate well how this can be embodied. On a personal note, however, I gain so much more insight from a vocal. Vocals. Volcanic. Eruption. I digress...
Lavender in the Library...
I think it's time to tell the story now. The 'incident from 4th August 2006'. The day my grandmother passed away. She went in the early hours. Paul, my very significant other half, was the last person by her side. Sad, of course, but later that day, a strange and beautiful thing happened that made me smile.
Bleary-eyed, after little sleep, two of my best friends (Sarah Jane and Emma) suggested we go have a relaxing time, herbal tea and good food, in a wee tea house called Tchai Ovna in Otago Lane, Glasgow. En route, down the same cobbled lane, we decided to stop by a small book shop: Voltaire & Rousseau. Feeling weary, I aimlessly picked up a small, hardback book from the shelf. Right now, I cannot remember the author nor the definite title... something along the lines of 'The Greatest Thing in the World'. I do recall some handwriting in the inner cover, with a date - 1901 or thereabouts - (I remember thinking it was very old).
The book appeared to have a marker. I opened it at the directed page. There, in the top centre of two pages was a tiny, lavender-coloured, dried-out flower. I looked like a chrysanthemum. The verses read how love is the greatest thing in the world.
Lavender was my grandmother's favourite colour. Chrysanthemums were her favourite flower. Warmth and comfort surrounded me when I read the words as the marker suggested. This is the inspiration of the artefact.
The Search for the Book...
Over the past few days, I have been trying to hunt down the book. Today, oh yes, I received a text from my Godfather to say it is now in the post. Iit had been held at his mother's house (my grandmother's elder sister), not long after the funeral. She wanted to have it. I can't wait to see it again, but have promised to return it when the writing is over.
Lavender in the Library...
I think it's time to tell the story now. The 'incident from 4th August 2006'. The day my grandmother passed away. She went in the early hours. Paul, my very significant other half, was the last person by her side. Sad, of course, but later that day, a strange and beautiful thing happened that made me smile.
Bleary-eyed, after little sleep, two of my best friends (Sarah Jane and Emma) suggested we go have a relaxing time, herbal tea and good food, in a wee tea house called Tchai Ovna in Otago Lane, Glasgow. En route, down the same cobbled lane, we decided to stop by a small book shop: Voltaire & Rousseau. Feeling weary, I aimlessly picked up a small, hardback book from the shelf. Right now, I cannot remember the author nor the definite title... something along the lines of 'The Greatest Thing in the World'. I do recall some handwriting in the inner cover, with a date - 1901 or thereabouts - (I remember thinking it was very old).
The book appeared to have a marker. I opened it at the directed page. There, in the top centre of two pages was a tiny, lavender-coloured, dried-out flower. I looked like a chrysanthemum. The verses read how love is the greatest thing in the world.
Lavender was my grandmother's favourite colour. Chrysanthemums were her favourite flower. Warmth and comfort surrounded me when I read the words as the marker suggested. This is the inspiration of the artefact.
The Search for the Book...
Over the past few days, I have been trying to hunt down the book. Today, oh yes, I received a text from my Godfather to say it is now in the post. Iit had been held at his mother's house (my grandmother's elder sister), not long after the funeral. She wanted to have it. I can't wait to see it again, but have promised to return it when the writing is over.
Recording Thoughts...
Over the next couple of months I will be embarking upon a new recording project. It will comprise of a handful of compositions on drums, inspired primarily by a particular incident that happened around four years ago. The day my grandmother passed away. I will elaborate. But not right now.
Right now, I am trying to hunt down the small, very old-looking book I found in a small bookshop called Voltaire and Rousseau, in Otago Lane, Glasgow (those four years ago). I cannot remember the author’s name, nor the definite title of the book. I do know that this book is located in Rutherglen, at the home of my great-auntie Mary – my grandmother’s older sister.
I thought it was called something along the lines of The Greatest Thing in the World. The online search rings a few bells. But. I still cannot be sure. Time will tell.
The blogging idea is mostly to record thoughts, processes and the general day-to-day growth of an artefact.
Next week, I will be uploading some short video recordings of infant ideas.
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