All Aboard 2024 Song AlanKey86 2024-05-11 | I wrote this song to promote "All Aboard", a local music festival happening in June. It's got lots of boat puns in it :DSpotify: bit.ly/AllAboard2024
I wrote a Christmas carol in 7/8 (and 11/8) AlanKey86 2023-12-17 | Clap along! :)Music and words by Alan Stewart
All Aboard Festival 2022 - promo song AlanKey86 2022-08-09 | I recorded a song to promote a local performing arts festival
Periodic Piece from Periodic Videos AlanKey86 2021-03-02 | Bandcamp: alankeystewart.bandcamp.com/track/periodic-pieceFrom 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] AlanKey86 2020-07-10 | Please consider buying this album for under £6 :)Spotify: bit.ly/AlanEventideAmazon: bit.ly/AlanEventideAmazoniTunes: bit.ly/AlanEventideiTunesIn 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.beIn 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.
Alan covers Keane - Everybodys Changing AlanKey86 2020-06-22 | 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 solo AlanKey86 2020-04-15 | 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.
Inside - piano solo AlanKey86 2020-03-25 | 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 Scale AlanKey86 2018-06-10 | Show notes and images of Swiss Roll: goo.gl/416NB4Listen on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/two-ends-of-the-scale/id1335345882?mt=2&uo=4Correction!At 1:10:35, Sam says “one third the speed” when he meant “one third the note-length” (i.e. threetimes the speed)Music discussed in this episode:Jay Foreman, Singing one syllable out-of-sync, youtu.be/Een_AKh7NikJay Foreman, MORE singing one syllable out-of-sync, youtu.be/3fp6pvpcZEwThe Music, “Freedom Fighters”. Track 2 from Welcome to the North. Virgin Records, 2004.goo.gl/SNwcvXW.A. Mozart, Don Giovanni, Act I, Finale, 1787Recording: Hungarian Radio Chorus, and Nicolaus Estherházy Sinfonia. Mozart: Don Giovanni.Naxos, 2001. (Disc 2, Track 11 from 1m30) goo.gl/zKivLTBenjamin 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/WiCBheMeshuggah, “Do Not Look Down”. Track 3 from Koloss. Nuclear Blast, 2012. goo.gl/hk1URkOlivier 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/YpQ8YbGuillame 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/UsJLPqTool, “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/qvc4xVRecording: Ensemble Clement Janequin. Pierre de La Rue: Missa l’homme arme / Missa prodefunctis. Harmonia Mundi, 1989 (Track 5, from 1m47) goo.gl/ktye1GConlon Nancarrow, Study No. 40a for Player PianoRecording: Studies for Player Piano (The Original 1750 Arch Recordings). Other Minds, 2008.(Disc 2, Track 11) goo.gl/EufhM8Additional excerpts from:Anton Webern, 1st movement from Quartet op. 22, 1932.Recording: Webern, A: Works with Opus Numbers (Complete). Sony Classical, 1990. (Disc 2, Track33) goo.gl/ehYuyGFuneral for a Friend, “Rookie of the Year”. Track 1 from Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation.Atlantic Records, 2003. goo.gl/AGZ4Bd
Antarctica [EP] - Alan Stewart AlanKey86 2018-03-25 | This album is available to buy:Spotify: goo.gl/5e2AJViTunes: goo.gl/NRV7dHGoogle 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_VideosTrack listing:01: Drift02: Silence03: Shard04: Wind05: Glacial06: PeakMusic by Alan StewartAlbum art translation of birdsong by Martin Smith.
Rhythm | Episode 2 of Two Ends of the Scale AlanKey86 2018-01-11 | 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 Blood2. Piotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty Op. 66, Act I: Valse, 1889.Recording: Slovak Philharmonic, Mogrelia, Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty (Highlights),CD (Naxos, 1991). (Track 11).naxosmusiclibrary.com/catalogue/item.asp?cid=8.5729313. 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=000289423221274. Despacito - Justin Beiber5. 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 school7. 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 - Tricky
Hearing It Wrong | Episode 1 of Two Ends of the Scale AlanKey86 2017-10-27 | 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".Listen on SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/alan-stewart-318606037/episode-1-hearing-it-wrong MUSIC FEATURED IN THIS PODCASTAlan's choices:1. The Fray, How To Save A Life youtu.be/cjVQ36NhbMk2. IQ, Harvest of Souls youtu.be/n7ocO-rOF_43. Dave Matthews Band, Ants Marching youtu.be/lPkEshYu1HU4. Don Broco, Yeah Man youtu.be/bhGVMz_a8fs5. Porcupine Tree, Fear of a Blank Planet youtu.be/E8tgLNgXCLASam's choices.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] AlanKey86 2017-04-25 | Available to download:iTunes: goo.gl/lpESkzSpotify: goo.gl/YGAo47Google Play: goo.gl/kgekj1Amazon: goo.gl/LYS9u6Track listing:0:00:00 Butterfly0:02:49 Imagination0:05:33 Dawn0:08:56 Warmth0:14:46 Forecast0:19:27 Droplets0:23:48 Lightning0:26:55 Spectral0:31:01 Land0:35:55 Risen0:39:51 Lighthouse0:42:47 Softer Still0:46:21 Watch0:51:11 Three Body Problem0:55:09 Kamiokande0:59:13 Gentle1:03:39 SunsettlementAlbum art by Cathy YoungAlbum distributed by DistroKidCopright 2017
Twelve String - piano solo AlanKey86 2016-07-20 | MP3 on Google Play: goo.gl/KfO8tyMP3 on Amazon: goo.gl/K5fSoMMusic animation software created by Stpehn Malinowski: http://www.stephenmalinowski.comMusic Animation Machine software available here: http://www.musanim.com
Imagination - piano solo AlanKey86 2016-05-11 | Visuals from: http://neave.com/imaginationDownload from Amazon: goo.gl/4kkjCdDownload from Google Play: goo.gl/9QwHVO
Day 22 - Old Saint Nicholas (with Cathy Young) AlanKey86 2015-12-22 | A Christmas song I'd never heard before! The original was sung by Doris Day.
Day 16 - Snow Melting (original composition) AlanKey86 2015-12-16 | As a sort of sequel to "Snow Falling"Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnu
Day 15 - Still Still (with Cathy Young) AlanKey86 2015-12-15 | My friend Cathy joins me once again to sing this lovely German carol.Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnu
Day 13 - The Holly and the Ivy (with Amy) AlanKey86 2015-12-13 | Amy joins me once again to sing another carol.Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnu
Day 12 - Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella AlanKey86 2015-12-12 | A traditional French carolPlaylist: goo.gl/4unxnu
Day 11 - Its the most Proggerful Time of the Year AlanKey86 2015-12-11 | This one's a bit silly.Playlist: goo.gl/4unxnu
Day 4 - Let It Snow (with Emma Morris) AlanKey86 2015-12-04 | Today I'm joined by my friend Emma to sing a Christmas classic.
Day 3 - What Child Is This (with Cathy Young) AlanKey86 2015-12-03 | My friend Cathy Young sings Andrew Gant's arrangement of "What Child Is This" with me on piano.
Day 2 - Little Donkey AlanKey86 2015-12-02 | My 2014 Christmas album on iTunes: goo.gl/VvcOz5or on Google Play: goo.gl/Fq0PjWor 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... AlanKey86 2015-12-01 | My 2014 Christmas album on iTunes: goo.gl/VvcOz5or on Google Play: goo.gl/Fq0PjWor even on Amazon: goo.gl/07wnksThere 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.
Flight - keyboard instrumental AlanKey86 2015-07-30 | MP3 download link, if you'd like to buy it: goo.gl/oJxL7L
Rebecca - original song AlanKey86 2015-04-09 | Buy the MP3: http://goo.gl/MqGhBMA song about a girl I used to know.LYRICS:Rebecca is for meA beautiful distractionAnd if my heart should rise And try and stir me into actionI'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 backFirmly on the groundTo make a completeFool of me nowRebecca is for me a guiding lightTo blind me and leave me stranded in the darkWater to my soulTo cleanse and then drown out my sparkI'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 backFirmly on the groundTo make a completeFool of me nowAnd if I ever try to speak out of turnOr break from what I've so dutifully learnedShe's given me fire to play withAnd I'm going to get burnedRebecca is for me returning homeTo find that all you knew and loved has goneI'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 backFirmly on the groundTo make a completeFool of me nowmusic and lyrics by Alan Stewart
Distance and Dissonance - original song AlanKey86 2015-02-22 | A song about loss.MP3 download: http://goo.gl/QK4VMwLyrics:You were meant to be a friendWho leaps to say "I'll stand with you until the end"We'd lend each other strengthTo build foundations upon which we'd both dependWhere was the beauty in our fiery descent?I know that you would say that wasn't your intentBut I am tired of imagining just what you might've meantGrowing distant and dissonantYou were meant to be a guideTogether we'd survey the paths before us and we would decideHow our lives would showThe love gifted to us now buried in the snowWhere was the beauty in our fiery descent?I know that you would say that wasn't your intentBut I am tired of imagining just what you might've meantGrowing distant and dissonantThe corners curl on the page where we wrote our namesThe colours in the ink begin to slowly separateWell worn phrases will lose their worth with ageLike the promise that we madeWhere was the beauty in our fiery descent?I know that you would say that wasn't your intentBut I am tired of imagining just what you might've meantGrowing distant and dissonant
Day 24: Santa Claus is Coming to Town - jazz AlanKey86 2014-12-24 | Album available on iTunes: http://goo.gl/VvcOz5Google Play: http://goo.gl/Fq0PjWPLAYLIST: http://goo.gl/zg0SOv
Day 23: Snowflake Solo - original composition AlanKey86 2014-12-23 | Album available on iTunes: http://goo.gl/VvcOz5Google Play: http://goo.gl/Fq0PjWPLAYLIST: http://goo.gl/zg0SOv
Day 22: See Amid The Winters Snow AlanKey86 2014-12-22 | Album available on iTunes: http://goo.gl/VvcOz5Google Play: http://goo.gl/Fq0PjWPLAYLIST: http://goo.gl/zg0SOv
Day 21: Good King Wenceslas AlanKey86 2014-12-21 | Album available on iTunes: http://goo.gl/VvcOz5Google Play: http://goo.gl/Fq0PjWPLAYLIST: http://goo.gl/zg0SOv
Day 20: While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night AlanKey86 2014-12-20 | Album available on iTunes: http://goo.gl/VvcOz5Google Play: http://goo.gl/Fq0PjWPLAYLIST: http://goo.gl/zg0SOv
Day 19: Coventry Carol AlanKey86 2014-12-19 | Album available on iTunes: http://goo.gl/VvcOz5Google Play: http://goo.gl/Fq0PjWPLAYLIST: http://goo.gl/zg0SOv
Day 18: The First Tree in the Greenwood - prog AlanKey86 2014-12-18 | Album available on iTunes: http://goo.gl/VvcOz5Google Play: http://goo.gl/Fq0PjWPLAYLIST: http://goo.gl/zg0SOv
