Blog

  • Silent Night

    How do you find the way "in" to a new arrangement of a piece that is this well known (and loved) by most everyone around the globe?

    That is a good question. I haven't answered it yet!

    It was my goal to have my arrangement of Silent Night for our upcoming tour in the States finished by the end of this week. Here it is, Friday, and I have 7 recordings I have been listening to, 5 printed versions on which I have analyzed the harmonic structures, and one jazz version I have transcribed.

    Now, to be fair, I have written some - I just figure it is all rubbish!

  • Liberties First Mix!

    Just got the first mix of the next single, The Liberties...

    I think I have been blogging about, talking about, dreaming about, writing about, thinking about, everything about "The Liberties" for so long in my life that when it is finally finished, I won't know what to do!

    But..fingers crossed...it should be done by the end of the week, or soon thereafter. I have stopped putting dates on this track, because regardless of what deadline and date I give it, it refuses to behave.

  • Symphonicities

    I've been listening to Sting's album "Symphonicities" since I bought it a couple weeks ago. The arrangements - or rather, re-arrangements - of the tunes are just stunning. What an incredible reworking of pop tunes to be played by an orchestra. (Sting's fantastic vocals don't hurt, either!) That being said, I put on Prokofiev's 2nd violin concerto the other night during dinner... I had forgotten what a genius of not only composition but also arrangement and orchestration he was.

  • Liberties and Garageband

    Ah, the glory of Garageband! What would us modern musicians do without it?? For that matter, what would all those non-musicians who create tracks and play around at being the professional DJ and producer do without it???? The best and worst thing Apple ever gave to us mere mortals.

    That being said, I am delighted that after FIVE YEARS I finally managed to get around to using the USB iMic I bought for my old original iBook...somehow makes it feel like the purchase back in 2005 was worth it!

    And what did this ridiculous iMic get used for?

  • NYC - waiting for the flight!

    Here I am, in the waiting area of the Dublin airport - through security, through American immigration. Not much to do here except...well...wait.

    I would say that this is the worst part of travel, except I think that packing and unpacking bags probably take the biscuit. But this is maybe the most stressful. (Although, deciding WHICH pair of heels to wear to perform in is always pretty stressful as well...!!) This time I have both violins with me, as well as two carry-on suitcases full of sound-gear for our showcase.

  • A Great Write-Up On The Makeup Fablicious Event Next Week!

    Check out the great write-up we got on the Makeup Fablicious Fashion Show for Barnardos Ireland.

    There are still limited tickets available for anyone who is interested in attending the event - should be a great night!

    http://www.theirishworld.com/article.asp?SubSection_Id=10&Article_Id=16625

  • Druid Holland Tour - video web-blog from Cuijk!!

    The web-blog we recorded in the lobby after the Druid performance in Cuijk - hilarious! Check it out....cheeky

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lG7iICtUxw

  • Druid Holland Tour - Shows 9 & 10 - the end of the tour!!

    3 Nov 2010

    Here it is, the end of Druid's first tour of Holland!

    We played a sold out show last night in Stadskanaal - the first ever sold out show for Druid! And...just after the show started...the show stopped! Oh no!!  All the microphones started going in and out, and then when we thought it couldn't get any worse, the tracks stopped going through the house system and then came back again...it was all set to be a giant disaster!

  • Druid Holland Tour - Shows 6, 7, & 8!!!

    31 Oct 2010

    Happy Halloween!

    Apologies again for the couple days missed of blogging!  The whirlwind of tour has been sucking away my time and life!

  • Druid Holland Tour - Show 5 - Munt Theater, Weert

    Last night we performed in Weert, which is south of our little cabins in the woods.