Give unto the flying hart
Space to breathe, how short soever
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In 2012 I decided that against my normal inclination to make my guitar playing more public, this page and a few others combined with the odd gig are the result. However, listening to y recent recordings it has become obvious that my ability to play is diminishing. I knew this would happen and had a plan in place. Therefore these tunes will be the last posted. I am still playing but from now on its just for me
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My regular listener will note that there have been some subtle but, in their own way, significant changes to my recordings of late. I grew tired of the large reverbs and have adopted a different mastering process. I think it helps the guitar sound more distinct with added clarity. I am also applying a tiny bit of compression. Still no EQ and still natural dynamics. Let me know what you think
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Da Capo al Fine is a project I have wanted to start for sometime. The guitar used is a Barnes and Mullins Espana from 1976. It is the first i owned, I used it for all exams bar the last one. It took me 5 years to get my parents to agree to let me learn to play the guitar. The conditions were that i had to pay for it, it must be a classical guitar and i was not allowed 'one of those horrible electric things'. That was the start of an obsession that remains with me to this day. Admittedly there was a 20 year period when i didn't play much at all when an ill advised dalliance with technology seemed the way forward but like a moth to a flame. or a penitent to the church door i returned to the guitar. I will never be as good a player as i used to be but I'm happy enough with it. So here are the first recordings made with a 40 year old guitar the intonation requires careful tuning but otherwise its doing well
sd
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Somebody asked me recently why I don't play well known songs and sing. I gave my usual answer that since my illness its either play the guitar or sing not both and that i can't remember the notes anymore.Satisfied with the answer they trotted off. I, however, was left with the knowledge that there is more to it than that but I've never quite known what.
It is perfectly true that the oxygen starvation and platelet release has caused some really noticeable changes to my short term memory I realized that I have always preferred improvisation. So the question is Why?
How do you feel when improvising. How do you feel when playing other peoples songs or repeating one of your.??????
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Well here is another in my occasional blog entries. May saw the 1st anniversary of my new life as a performing musician. My regular plank spanking at the Open Mic in Glastonbury continues.I would like to say that I am getting better at it but that really isn't the case. I still lose all hand control/co-ordination when I play. But at least I'm doing it. April Suzie had the hand fasting which was spectacular lots of friends and music. The Glastonbury fringe has started and is continuing until the the 30th...get down here and here some great music without spending £250
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Part 1 of my plan to re-establish my guitar playing was to busk for Charity through the Summer. Of necessity the opportunities were limited by my health and the weather. However, I managed to get out about 20 times and have raised about £200. I was hoping for a lot more but given all the factors am pleased with the result.
I’ll be dividing it up between the various organizations and sending them the money this week. I would like to thank the various people who have supported me in this and am looking forward to more next year.
Reply
Simon Drew / Blog
All the earth was bright and joyous
Give unto the flying hart Space to breathe, how short soever
Reply
Dormancy
In 2012 I decided that against my normal inclination to make my guitar playing more public, this page and a few others combined with the odd gig are the result. However, listening to y recent recordings it has become obvious that my ability to play is diminishing. I knew this would happen and had a plan in place. Therefore these tunes will be the last posted. I am still playing but from now on its just for me
Reply
Where has all the Reverb gone
My regular listener will note that there have been some subtle but, in their own way, significant changes to my recordings of late. I grew tired of the large reverbs and have adopted a different mastering process. I think it helps the guitar sound more distinct with added clarity. I am also applying a tiny bit of compression. Still no EQ and still natural dynamics. Let me know what you think
Reply
Da Capo al Fine
Da Capo al Fine is a project I have wanted to start for sometime. The guitar used is a Barnes and Mullins Espana from 1976. It is the first i owned, I used it for all exams bar the last one. It took me 5 years to get my parents to agree to let me learn to play the guitar. The conditions were that i had to pay for it, it must be a classical guitar and i was not allowed 'one of those horrible electric things'. That was the start of an obsession that remains with me to this day. Admittedly there was a 20 year period when i didn't play much at all when an ill advised dalliance with technology seemed the way forward but like a moth to a flame. or a penitent to the church door i returned to the guitar. I will never be as good a player as i used to be but I'm happy enough with it. So here are the first recordings made with a 40 year old guitar the intonation requires careful tuning but otherwise its doing well
sd
Reply
Improvisation
Somebody asked me recently why I don't play well known songs and sing. I gave my usual answer that since my illness its either play the guitar or sing not both and that i can't remember the notes anymore.Satisfied with the answer they trotted off. I, however, was left with the knowledge that there is more to it than that but I've never quite known what. It is perfectly true that the oxygen starvation and platelet release has caused some really noticeable changes to my short term memory I realized that I have always preferred improvisation. So the question is Why? How do you feel when improvising. How do you feel when playing other peoples songs or repeating one of your.??????
Reply
I'm even worse. Not only do I rarely do cover tunes, but I rarely play any of my songs once I've recorded them. I treat them like sonic paintings. Once they are done, I move on to "paint" something else. I can do that, since I don't perform live.
2014
Well here is another in my occasional blog entries. May saw the 1st anniversary of my new life as a performing musician. My regular plank spanking at the Open Mic in Glastonbury continues.I would like to say that I am getting better at it but that really isn't the case. I still lose all hand control/co-ordination when I play. But at least I'm doing it. April Suzie had the hand fasting which was spectacular lots of friends and music. The Glastonbury fringe has started and is continuing until the the 30th...get down here and here some great music without spending £250
Reply
The Summer of Busking
Part 1 of my plan to re-establish my guitar playing was to busk for Charity through the Summer. Of necessity the opportunities were limited by my health and the weather. However, I managed to get out about 20 times and have raised about £200. I was hoping for a lot more but given all the factors am pleased with the result. I’ll be dividing it up between the various organizations and sending them the money this week. I would like to thank the various people who have supported me in this and am looking forward to more next year.
Reply