GEEK STUFF: I'm playing a Roland FP4 keyboard controlling a Korg M50 via MIDI. Recorded in Audacity.All Aboard 2024 SongAlanKey862024-05-11 | I wrote this song to promote "All Aboard", a local music festival happening in June. It's got lots of boat puns in it :D Spotify: bit.ly/AllAboard2024I wrote a Christmas carol in 7/8 (and 11/8)AlanKey862023-12-17 | Clap along! :)
Music and words by Alan StewartAll Aboard Festival 2022 - promo songAlanKey862022-08-09 | I recorded a song to promote a local performing arts festivalPeriodic Piece from Periodic VideosAlanKey862021-03-02 | Bandcamp: alankeystewart.bandcamp.com/track/periodic-piece From Periodic Videos "Piecing Together the Periodic Table Jigsaw"
I created this music for Periodic Videos epic jigsaw video. Brady sent me a draft of the video and I began compsoing by listening to the audio whilst sketching out ideas on the piano.
The piano that you hear was all recorded semi-live, that is, I played almost every note as the Periodic Video audio played through my headphones. I'd considered splitting the video into chunks so I could record the music in several takes but soon discovered this was actually more difficult. Recording in one take meant I didn't lose the flow of the music.
Such a prospect would've filled me with fear a year ago. I used to record everything live using Audacity. Making a mistake meant scrapping the take and starting again. I like to think it was good for discipline and playing accurately. I still feel like I'm "cheating" when I use Studio One - which allows for note by note editing of a performance. I try not to do too much of that. It's weridly addictive - scrolling through the MIDI track and making tiny, inconsequential adjustments here and there and I'm conscious of wasting hours on making inconsequential changes. I focussed instead on fixing true mistakes - moments when I'd hit a bad note or messed up timing.
Once the piano was all sorted I could start adding other (MIDI) instruments. There's a cello, a bass, some percussion and some synths. There's also a nice reverse bass drum hit near the start with a super long (reversed) reverb tail to create that swell effect.Alan Stewart - Eventide [Full Album]AlanKey862020-07-10 | Please consider buying this album for under £6 :) Spotify: bit.ly/AlanEventide Amazon: bit.ly/AlanEventideAmazon iTunes: bit.ly/AlanEventideiTunes
In March 2020, a few days in to the Covid-19 lockdown, I decided to record a new album. Many of these pieces are improvisations, performed in one take in the evenings after my work for the day was done.
Brady asked if he could use the album as background for his video of ships in the Bristol Channel. I was more than happy to oblige. His video is here: youtube.com/watch?v=AyU_XhfUnAE&feature=youtu.be
In my previous album, "Sunsettlement", I made a conscious decision to try and break away from my compositional habits. In this album, I was content to do the opposite, relaxing back into my natural choice of chords and melodies. As a result "Eventide" is far less adventurous, far more predicatble and, in a way, far more comforting than its 2017 predecessor.
Perhaps in these strange times we all long for something familiar, homely and safe.
Except track 12 "Moon" which is weird.Astronomy - piano soloAlanKey862020-06-29 | Back to the pianoAlan covers Keane - Everybodys ChangingAlanKey862020-06-22 | I recorded this cover for my Dad for Father's Day. Our taste in music doesn't often overlap but, in 2004 when Keane released their debut album, we found some common ground.
I recorded this in Studio One which I bought in May. It's the first DAW I've ever used. Up until now I've recorded everything "live", directly into Audacity. For anyone with recording experience this might seem ridiculous as Audacity can't record MIDI and doesn't allow for non-destructive editing. Using Studio One over the last month has been an absolute delight!As The Earth Turns - piano soloAlanKey862020-04-15 | Sometimes I sit down at the piano and just start playing. Sorting out the camera would interrupt the flow. So apologies for the lack of video on this one! Photograph by my bandmate, Cathy.AlanKey86 Live StreamAlanKey862020-03-27 | ...Inside - piano soloAlanKey862020-03-25 | It's been a very long time since I uploaded anything. The outbreak of the coronavirus means we've been staying indoors a lot lately. I hope you enjoy this piece.Polyrhythm | Episode 3 of Two Ends of the ScaleAlanKey862018-06-10 | Show notes and images of Swiss Roll: goo.gl/416NB4 Listen on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/two-ends-of-the-scale/id1335345882?mt=2&uo=4
Correction! At 1:10:35, Sam says “one third the speed” when he meant “one third the note-length” (i.e. three times the speed)
Music discussed in this episode: Jay Foreman, Singing one syllable out-of-sync, youtu.be/Een_AKh7Nik Jay Foreman, MORE singing one syllable out-of-sync, youtu.be/3fp6pvpcZEw The Music, “Freedom Fighters”. Track 2 from Welcome to the North. Virgin Records, 2004. goo.gl/SNwcvX W.A. Mozart, Don Giovanni, Act I, Finale, 1787 Recording: Hungarian Radio Chorus, and Nicolaus Estherházy Sinfonia. Mozart: Don Giovanni. Naxos, 2001. (Disc 2, Track 11 from 1m30) goo.gl/zKivLT Benjamin Britten, Passacaglia Op. 33b (from Peter Grimes), 1945. Recording: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and Myer Fredman. Britten: Sinfonia Da Requiem, Op. 20 / 4 Sea Interludes. Naxos, 1995. (Track 😎 goo.gl/WiCBhe Meshuggah, “Do Not Look Down”. Track 3 from Koloss. Nuclear Blast, 2012. goo.gl/hk1URk Olivier Messiaen, “Crystal liturgy” 1st movement of Quartet for the End of Time, 1941. Recording: Amici Ensemble. Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time / Theme and Variations. Naxos, 2001. (Track 1) goo.gl/YpQ8Yb Guillame de Machaut, Puis que la douce rousee/De bon espoir, 14th century. Recording: The Early Music Consort of London, and David Munrow. The Art of Courtly Love. Erato - Parlophone, 2005. (Track 13) goo.gl/UsJLPq Tool, “Jambi”. Track 2 from 10,000 Days. Tool Dissectional & Volcano Entertainment, 2006. Pierre de La Rue, 2nd “Agnus dei” from Missa l’homme armé c.1500. Facsimile: goo.gl/qvc4xV Recording: Ensemble Clement Janequin. Pierre de La Rue: Missa l’homme arme / Missa pro defunctis. Harmonia Mundi, 1989 (Track 5, from 1m47) goo.gl/ktye1G Conlon Nancarrow, Study No. 40a for Player Piano Recording: Studies for Player Piano (The Original 1750 Arch Recordings). Other Minds, 2008. (Disc 2, Track 11) goo.gl/EufhM8
Additional excerpts from: Anton Webern, 1st movement from Quartet op. 22, 1932. Recording: Webern, A: Works with Opus Numbers (Complete). Sony Classical, 1990. (Disc 2, Track 33) goo.gl/ehYuyG Funeral for a Friend, “Rookie of the Year”. Track 1 from Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation. Atlantic Records, 2003. goo.gl/AGZ4BdAntarctica [EP] - Alan StewartAlanKey862018-03-25 | This album is available to buy: Spotify: goo.gl/5e2AJV iTunes: goo.gl/NRV7dH Google Play: goo.gl/2mrEJg Amazon: goo.gl/j15unp
The music was written to accompany Brady's Antarctica videos. The playlist of his videos is here: http://bit.ly/Antarctica_Videos
Music by Alan Stewart Album art translation of birdsong by Martin Smith.Rhythm | Episode 2 of Two Ends of the ScaleAlanKey862018-01-11 | Sam and Alan, classically trained and poorly trained respectively, return to talk rhythm. Listen on SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/alan-stewart-318606037/episode-2-rhythm
Songs featured in this episode: 1. Lights Out - Royal Blood
3. Johann Strauss II, An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314, 1866. Recording: Berlin Philharmonic, Karajan, Strauss II: Waltzes/Polkas, CD (Deutsche Grammophon, 2013). (Track 6). naxosmusiclibrary.com/catalogue/item.asp?cid=00028942322127
4. Despacito - Justin Beiber
5. Anonymous, Viderunt omnes, gradual from the mass for Christmas day. Recording: Ensemble organum, École de Notre-Dame: Mass for Christmas Day, CD (Harmonia Mundi, 2011). (Track 3).
6. Bill Wurtz - i don't wanna go to school
7. Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring, “Sacrificial dance”, 1919. Recording: Philharmonia Orchestra, Craft, Stravinsky: 125th Anniversary Album - The Rite of Spring / Violin Concerto, CD (Naxos, 2007). (Track 20).
8. Benny Greb - TrickyHearing It Wrong | Episode 1 of Two Ends of the ScaleAlanKey862017-10-27 | Sam and Alan, a classically trained and self-taught musician respectively, discuss music from their two different perspectives. In this episode we talk about ways that music could be "heard wrong".
1. Haydn, String Quartet in E♭ major, Op. 33 No. 2, Fourth Movement. Recording: Buchberger Quartet, Haydn: String Quartets, Vol. 2: Opus 33 and 42, CD (Brilliant Classics, 2006). (Disc 1, track 8). 2. Tomás-Luis de Victoria, “Credo” from Missa Quarti Toni. Recording: Philippe Caillard Ensemble, Tomas-Luis de Victoria: Missa Quarti Toni, LP (Music Heritage Society, 1963). 3. John Williams, The Throne Room. George Lucas (Director/Writer); Gary Kurts (Producer), Star Wars. Episode IV, A New Hope (20th Century Fox; Lucasfilm Limited, 1977). (Final scene).
Spot the academic music student who knows how to reference properly!Alan Stewart - Sunsettlement [Full Album]AlanKey862017-04-25 | Available to download: iTunes: goo.gl/lpESkz Spotify: goo.gl/YGAo47 Google Play: goo.gl/kgekj1 Amazon: goo.gl/LYS9u6
Track listing: 0:00:00 Butterfly 0:02:49 Imagination 0:05:33 Dawn 0:08:56 Warmth 0:14:46 Forecast 0:19:27 Droplets 0:23:48 Lightning 0:26:55 Spectral 0:31:01 Land 0:35:55 Risen 0:39:51 Lighthouse 0:42:47 Softer Still 0:46:21 Watch 0:51:11 Three Body Problem 0:55:09 Kamiokande 0:59:13 Gentle 1:03:39 Sunsettlement
Album art by Cathy Young Album distributed by DistroKid Copright 2017Twelve String - piano soloAlanKey862016-07-20 | MP3 on Google Play: goo.gl/KfO8ty MP3 on Amazon: goo.gl/K5fSoM
Music animation software created by Stpehn Malinowski: http://www.stephenmalinowski.com Music Animation Machine software available here: http://www.musanim.comImagination - piano soloAlanKey862016-05-11 | Visuals from: http://neave.com/imagination Download from Amazon: goo.gl/4kkjCd Download from Google Play: goo.gl/9QwHVODay 22 - Old Saint Nicholas (with Cathy Young)AlanKey862015-12-22 | A Christmas song I'd never heard before! The original was sung by Doris Day.Day 21 - O Come (jazz with Simeon)AlanKey862015-12-21 | Simeon returns for a little jazzDay 20 - While Shepherds Washed Their Socks By NightAlanKey862015-12-20 | Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 19 - Santa Baby (prog!)AlanKey862015-12-19 | Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 18 - From the SqualorAlanKey862015-12-18 | Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 17 - Silent NightAlanKey862015-12-17 | Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 16 - Snow Melting (original composition)AlanKey862015-12-16 | As a sort of sequel to "Snow Falling" Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 15 - Still Still (with Cathy Young)AlanKey862015-12-15 | My friend Cathy joins me once again to sing this lovely German carol. Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 14 - We Wish You A Merry ChristmasAlanKey862015-12-14 | Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 13 - The Holly and the Ivy (with Amy)AlanKey862015-12-13 | Amy joins me once again to sing another carol. Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 12 - Un Flambeau, Jeanette, IsabellaAlanKey862015-12-12 | A traditional French carol Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 11 - Its the most Proggerful Time of the YearAlanKey862015-12-11 | This one's a bit silly. Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 10 - Hark The HeraldAlanKey862015-12-10 | Played by my friend, Simeon. Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 9 - We Three KingsAlanKey862015-12-09 | Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 8 - Once in Royal Davids CityAlanKey862015-12-08 | Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 7 - Prog Came Upon a Midnight ClearAlanKey862015-12-08 | Prog-rock! Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 6 - RudolphAlanKey862015-12-06 | The Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 5 - El Noi de la MareAlanKey862015-12-05 | Advent Calendar Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnuDay 4 - Let It Snow (with Emma Morris)AlanKey862015-12-04 | Today I'm joined by my friend Emma to sing a Christmas classic.Day 3 - What Child Is This (with Cathy Young)AlanKey862015-12-03 | My friend Cathy Young sings Andrew Gant's arrangement of "What Child Is This" with me on piano.Day 2 - Little DonkeyAlanKey862015-12-02 | My 2014 Christmas album on iTunes: goo.gl/VvcOz5 or on Google Play: goo.gl/Fq0PjW or even on Amazon: goo.gl/07wnks
"Little Donkey" is a childhood classic. For better or worse, it's embedded in my memory - much like a stone gets embedded in the sole of a favourite pair of boots. Whether it's sung by an out of tune children's choir or dragged screeching and squeaking from a Year 3 recorder group, it's got a special place in our hearts. Possibly. Here is my attempt to make the song beautiful.Day 1 - Its Beginning...AlanKey862015-12-01 | My 2014 Christmas album on iTunes: goo.gl/VvcOz5 or on Google Play: goo.gl/Fq0PjW or even on Amazon: goo.gl/07wnks
There are 4 tracks here - the piano, the drums, the bass and the guitar. I find the melody of this song particularly challenging to play by ear as there are lots of chromatic moments - just try singing it yourself without any backing! It took me a while to work out what the chords were too. There's a gorgeous transition from F major to E major, which is not a sequence I'm used to hearing.Whats this note called?AlanKey862015-08-20 | Survey of musicians.Flight - keyboard instrumentalAlanKey862015-07-30 | MP3 download link, if you'd like to buy it: goo.gl/oJxL7LRebecca - original songAlanKey862015-04-09 | Buy the MP3: http://goo.gl/MqGhBM A song about a girl I used to know.
LYRICS: Rebecca is for me A beautiful distraction And if my heart should rise And try and stir me into action I've got Rebecca to hold me back, Rebecca to bring me down, Confront me with the facts, And re-ignite my doubt, Rebecca to set my feet back Firmly on the ground To make a complete Fool of me now
Rebecca is for me a guiding light To blind me and leave me stranded in the dark Water to my soul To cleanse and then drown out my spark I've got Rebecca to hold me back, Rebecca to bring me down, Confront me with the facts, And re-ignite my doubt, Rebecca to set my feet back Firmly on the ground To make a complete Fool of me now
And if I ever try to speak out of turn Or break from what I've so dutifully learned She's given me fire to play with And I'm going to get burned
Rebecca is for me returning home To find that all you knew and loved has gone I've got Rebecca to hold me back, Rebecca to bring me down, Confront me with the facts, And re-ignite my doubt, Rebecca to set my feet back Firmly on the ground To make a complete Fool of me now
music and lyrics by Alan StewartDistance and Dissonance - original songAlanKey862015-02-22 | A song about loss. MP3 download: http://goo.gl/QK4VMw
Lyrics: You were meant to be a friend Who leaps to say "I'll stand with you until the end" We'd lend each other strength To build foundations upon which we'd both depend
Where was the beauty in our fiery descent? I know that you would say that wasn't your intent But I am tired of imagining just what you might've meant Growing distant and dissonant
You were meant to be a guide Together we'd survey the paths before us and we would decide How our lives would show The love gifted to us now buried in the snow
Where was the beauty in our fiery descent? I know that you would say that wasn't your intent But I am tired of imagining just what you might've meant Growing distant and dissonant
The corners curl on the page where we wrote our names The colours in the ink begin to slowly separate Well worn phrases will lose their worth with age Like the promise that we made