I love how you fuse so many sources of inspiration together alongside your music - totally beautiful. I hear intimations of a beginning, buds tiptoeing out of the ground, the stretching of little hibernating toes. But perhaps that is just because spring is so on my mind today.
Oh yes—I took it up about 7 years ago, after playing violin and viola previously. I practice every day and have weekly lessons so I’m at about the level of a 12 year old :)
I've never been to the Lake District, but now I want to go... I am headed to Scotland in April for a 2-week walking/hiking journey. When I heard your piece, I closed my eyes and felt I was already on a coastal trail along the Northwestern coast of the Isle of Skye...and yes, I also saw the movement of the clouds. I can't wait to visit and photograph this small trip to an area near the Lake District...and perhaps, with the same vibe.
Oh, you would delight in it, Jack. Scotland is also incredible. I only spent a few days there (mostly in Edinburgh), but it left an impression. And please share your photos with the rest of us whenever you have them — you always take incredible shots. Thanks so much for listening, as always.
This is gorgeous and really evoked feelings of the Lake District, reminded me of the waterfalls, the flowing rivers, gliding birds of prey scaling the dizzy heights. Makes me feel quite poetic!
You are a poet, Nick! Thank you for listening — I love your description. If anything I write sounds like "gliding birds of prey scaling the dizzy heights", I am very, very happy.
I love poetry, but not that well read when it comes to knowing much about poets. I think poetic, creative writing at least that stirs the imagination helps stimulate the melodies, musical ideas that come to us as musicians. Keep up the great work on this project. It is very inspirational.
Beautiful piece and essay—thank you. I agree completely re the mood of this piece and, if it exemplifies, Dorian. As an amateur cellist whose last music theory class was decades ago, I seriously appreciate your theory notes and footnotes. The class and, I confess, the subject, always struck me as taxonomy, so I hope that you will continue to give me a greater appreciation for its insights into composition (and performance? Appreciation?)
Oh, I'm so glad — I will certainly keep that part of the newsletter going, then. I'm never really sure if anyone reads those notes! So, I'm very happy to hear that they're helpful. Thank you so much for listening — I love the cello. Do you still play?
This is great! I've been looking for new instrumental music to listen to while writing since lyrics can be pretty distracting. Thanks for the playlist as well, I'll be checking that out
Matt, this is gorgeous. I couldn't agree less re the Dorian, I think here it's perfectly captured that feeling of when you've hiked to the top of a hill and you first turn around and take in the epic scape! 🤍
Yes! Agreed, Chloe. That's exactly what I hear. Thank you so much for listening. (BTW, so been enjoying your writing lately. Everything you've sent out has been so, so good)
Listening to this, and looking at your first Lake District photo, I could easily picture the clouds drifting overhead. Thanks for providing such a beautiful pause in my afternoon!
A wonderful piece of music and as always a little escape from reality. I love the photos from the Lake District, I have been there a couple of times, but still haven't managed to properly explore the area. I can't wait to do so, hopefully soon!
Oh my, this was so beautiful! I felt anticipation and hope, a perfect companion and soundtrack for the first month of a new year. Looking forward to your release in the 26th. Thanks ever so much for sharing your amazing work!
Once again Matt, your music evokes an uncanny serendipity with my own life. Maybe it’s something subconscious since our kids are so close in age? My little one has been going through some big growths lately - his expressions are becoming more and more like an almost-toddler’s rather than an infant’s. As I listened to this song, the opening bars reminded me of curiosity, a perfect match to how he’s been acting lately. It didn’t sounds sad at all, instead evoked a kind of playful wonder.
Glad you stayed warm in the storm, wishing you and your family a speedy recovery!
Thanks so much, Kerani — 100% to all of those things you're experiencing with your little one. We're seeing the same things on our end. It's so fun that our kids are so close in age, and we're going through these very similar things together. Hope you are doing well!
The Dorian mode is one of my favourites! I love using it to improvise, I also composed a string quartet piece using it for my graduating recital. 🎻 There's something so grounded yet so free about it, which I think you captured in your music.
Love hearing that! Thanks for listening, Rachel. (The author who was hating on Dorian was a violinist — I was surprised!) Would love to hear that string quartet sometime!
Gorgeous 🤘
Thank you!
I love how you fuse so many sources of inspiration together alongside your music - totally beautiful. I hear intimations of a beginning, buds tiptoeing out of the ground, the stretching of little hibernating toes. But perhaps that is just because spring is so on my mind today.
Ooh - I love that. Yes, I hear that essence of spring in this, too! Thank you so much for listening.
Beautiful Matt! Totally agree with you on the Dorian mode! It’s the back bone of Irish trad music!
I did not know that! That makes me like it even more!
Gorgeous. Sweeping and moving, like the wind seeking out the lakes.
Congrats on the upcoming release.
Also, thank you again for sharing some poetry. I learn a little each time. This line is especially good: The sea that bares her bosom to the moon.
Thank you, Nathan! "The wind seeking out the lakes..." — how do you do it?!
😆
The fingers merely listen to your music and type with their own will ;)
Oh yes—I took it up about 7 years ago, after playing violin and viola previously. I practice every day and have weekly lessons so I’m at about the level of a 12 year old :)
I've never been to the Lake District, but now I want to go... I am headed to Scotland in April for a 2-week walking/hiking journey. When I heard your piece, I closed my eyes and felt I was already on a coastal trail along the Northwestern coast of the Isle of Skye...and yes, I also saw the movement of the clouds. I can't wait to visit and photograph this small trip to an area near the Lake District...and perhaps, with the same vibe.
Oh, you would delight in it, Jack. Scotland is also incredible. I only spent a few days there (mostly in Edinburgh), but it left an impression. And please share your photos with the rest of us whenever you have them — you always take incredible shots. Thanks so much for listening, as always.
This is gorgeous and really evoked feelings of the Lake District, reminded me of the waterfalls, the flowing rivers, gliding birds of prey scaling the dizzy heights. Makes me feel quite poetic!
You are a poet, Nick! Thank you for listening — I love your description. If anything I write sounds like "gliding birds of prey scaling the dizzy heights", I am very, very happy.
I love poetry, but not that well read when it comes to knowing much about poets. I think poetic, creative writing at least that stirs the imagination helps stimulate the melodies, musical ideas that come to us as musicians. Keep up the great work on this project. It is very inspirational.
Beautiful piece and essay—thank you. I agree completely re the mood of this piece and, if it exemplifies, Dorian. As an amateur cellist whose last music theory class was decades ago, I seriously appreciate your theory notes and footnotes. The class and, I confess, the subject, always struck me as taxonomy, so I hope that you will continue to give me a greater appreciation for its insights into composition (and performance? Appreciation?)
Oh, I'm so glad — I will certainly keep that part of the newsletter going, then. I'm never really sure if anyone reads those notes! So, I'm very happy to hear that they're helpful. Thank you so much for listening — I love the cello. Do you still play?
This is great! I've been looking for new instrumental music to listen to while writing since lyrics can be pretty distracting. Thanks for the playlist as well, I'll be checking that out
That's great, James — thank you! If you're still on the hunt, I have another playlist called "The Writing Session", which I made for the express purpose of listening to while writing: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3JJK2kg6hA8DhyOkDoZFRi?si=8ca51963edef45ed
Also, if you haven't discovered Midweek Crisis yet, Stygi often writes about focus music she comes across. Her most recent: https://midweekcrisis.substack.com/p/music-for-writing-game-soundtracks?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
Amazinggg thanks for the additional recs 💚
Matt, this is gorgeous. I couldn't agree less re the Dorian, I think here it's perfectly captured that feeling of when you've hiked to the top of a hill and you first turn around and take in the epic scape! 🤍
Yes! Agreed, Chloe. That's exactly what I hear. Thank you so much for listening. (BTW, so been enjoying your writing lately. Everything you've sent out has been so, so good)
Oh I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying! Thank you so much for letting me know.
Listening to this, and looking at your first Lake District photo, I could easily picture the clouds drifting overhead. Thanks for providing such a beautiful pause in my afternoon!
Thank you, Maddie — I definitely had clouds in mind writing this one!
Wonderful, Matt. Love the snippets, pics and poem!
Thank you, Alexander!
A wonderful piece of music and as always a little escape from reality. I love the photos from the Lake District, I have been there a couple of times, but still haven't managed to properly explore the area. I can't wait to do so, hopefully soon!
There is so much to explore in that region — I feel like I only got a taste. Would love to go back someday. Thank you so much for listening, Lucia.
Oh my, this was so beautiful! I felt anticipation and hope, a perfect companion and soundtrack for the first month of a new year. Looking forward to your release in the 26th. Thanks ever so much for sharing your amazing work!
Thanks so much, Liz! Appreciate you being here to listen and comment.
Once again Matt, your music evokes an uncanny serendipity with my own life. Maybe it’s something subconscious since our kids are so close in age? My little one has been going through some big growths lately - his expressions are becoming more and more like an almost-toddler’s rather than an infant’s. As I listened to this song, the opening bars reminded me of curiosity, a perfect match to how he’s been acting lately. It didn’t sounds sad at all, instead evoked a kind of playful wonder.
Glad you stayed warm in the storm, wishing you and your family a speedy recovery!
Thanks so much, Kerani — 100% to all of those things you're experiencing with your little one. We're seeing the same things on our end. It's so fun that our kids are so close in age, and we're going through these very similar things together. Hope you are doing well!
The Dorian mode is one of my favourites! I love using it to improvise, I also composed a string quartet piece using it for my graduating recital. 🎻 There's something so grounded yet so free about it, which I think you captured in your music.
Love hearing that! Thanks for listening, Rachel. (The author who was hating on Dorian was a violinist — I was surprised!) Would love to hear that string quartet sometime!
Oh that is surprising! Perhaps I will share it in an upcoming newsletter...