I was just wondering if you and Laura Pashby were acquainted whilst reading this and thinking how perfect your music would be for her new book and then, lo, at the end of your post there’s her name and the promise of a collaboration. How wonderful. I can’t wait to see what beauty comes from that.❤️
Years ago, I learned that men tend to lose their hearing on the higher registers first, and women tend to lose their hearing on the low registers first. 🎧
I know I have always, consistently, been extra sensitive to high pitched noises (like electronic bird song chirping).
When I first played your Yosemite song, I found the high pitched noises harsh and I could faintly hear the bass line.
I went in to my iPhone equalizer and turned up the bass and came back to listen and wow - what a difference that made for me!
The bass line came alive and was so good.
Thank you for sharing your music! I am also a musician - I’m working my way through playing violin in all 50 states & Canadian provinces. I improvise a new song in every state and province.
I’m sharing my violin on social media as #TheTravelingViolinist
Thank you again for sharing your music! So happy to learn you’re on iTunes, also! You have a new fan in me. 💜
Marvelous! Finally had a chance to sit with this - the music and the poem (and oh! what a poem!). Beautiful photos. Yosemite is a very special place, indeed. And Ruth Ozeki's novel is one of my all-time faves. Good stuff!
I'd love to embed the music in my next NatureStack journal, which comes out Aug.15. I've linked to a song on Spotify, but I'm not sure how best to share this -- if you are up for it. Would it be possible to share the audio file w/ me?
I read your interview. I can only imagine how difficult it was to ‘unlock the gates’ so to speak, and let people in.Thank you for letting me feel a small part of what is between the notes.
I listened today.
I just returned from a hike in the steep hills of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, better known as the NEK. Wild , mostly unpopulated, cold clear waters of ancient glacial lakes. I’m sitting in an old Adirondack chair in the shade of a grand Maple tree. Cooling off to the sound of Light Through the Valley. So pure and gorgeous. Thank you.
I can’t thank you enough for your time and attention, Lor. I would love to spend some time in the NEK one of these days - thank you for sharing your serene setting and allowing my music to accompany your moment of stillness.
Stunning. There's something fantastical about this one, the dancing notes that dart in and out, it feels like the rays of light shimmering through the trees as branches move to let those rays through. Light through the valley, indeed. 👏
Beautiful, Nathan - thank you so much. It’s always amazing to me when someone can put into words music’s seemingly ineffable qualities. You have a real knack for that!
Thank you, Chloe - you are so nice to say that! I was actually just thinking about you - I stumbled across a few additional photos that I acquired the same day that I came across the mystery woman’s photo I sent you. Might be time for another snail mail package from me :)
I enjoyed this piece. It has a sense of momentum coupled with reflection in the classic Fog Chaser style. It’s optimistic. The sound palette has some overlap with the album “Aguas da Amazonia” by the Brazilian group Uakti (playing works by Philip Glass). If you don’t know that album I recommend it.
Great to hear you reading and accompanying the Levine poem also. The cadence and flow of your reading style work well with that poem. Did the music come out of the words at all or did the idea to pair them follow from a more coincidental alignment? And generally, do your compositions tend to emerge in a purely musical space or do you compose to some other media?
You pack a lot into these monthly posts. Thank you.
Thanks, Matt — I appreciate the questions! 90% of the time the pairing / matching of the newsletter elements is coincidental. After spending a couple of weeks with the music, and tuning into what I'm feeling/experiencing that month, a loose theme starts to emerge and I try to pour a little cement between all these things to get them to firm up a bit, if that makes sense. And generally, I compose in a purely musical space — and then I listen back to see what images and emotions come to mind. My wife will also listen — she has a particular gift for "seeing" while listening and gives me invaluable feedback on the vibe of a song. From there, the pairing/matching process can really solidify.
And no, I had not heard this Uakti album! Thank you for telling me about it — I'm a huge Glass fan, but there is something very distinct about this. I'm listening now and absolutely love it. I hear a lot of familiar Glass in here, but this instrumentation is so, so good. Wow.
Interesting re:your process. I appreciate you sharing and the sort of collage approach makes sense although by the time you post it holds a thread for sure. I find the interdisciplinary aspect of your SS very inspiring.
Happy the Uakti recommendation resonated for you. The instrumentation was indeed unique as they made a lot of the instruments they’d play, including glass marimbas (a lovely sound). Come to think of it, I’m holding out for the Fog Chaser songbook as performed exclusively on glass marimbas...
I was just wondering if you and Laura Pashby were acquainted whilst reading this and thinking how perfect your music would be for her new book and then, lo, at the end of your post there’s her name and the promise of a collaboration. How wonderful. I can’t wait to see what beauty comes from that.❤️
Thank you, Jen! Can't wait to share that with you soon
This is lovely.. inviting.
Thank you so much ☺️
I love your Yosemite song!
Years ago, I learned that men tend to lose their hearing on the higher registers first, and women tend to lose their hearing on the low registers first. 🎧
I know I have always, consistently, been extra sensitive to high pitched noises (like electronic bird song chirping).
When I first played your Yosemite song, I found the high pitched noises harsh and I could faintly hear the bass line.
I went in to my iPhone equalizer and turned up the bass and came back to listen and wow - what a difference that made for me!
The bass line came alive and was so good.
Thank you for sharing your music! I am also a musician - I’m working my way through playing violin in all 50 states & Canadian provinces. I improvise a new song in every state and province.
I’m sharing my violin on social media as #TheTravelingViolinist
Thank you again for sharing your music! So happy to learn you’re on iTunes, also! You have a new fan in me. 💜
I love the idea of your project! I will definitely check that out — thank you so much for listening. Glad the EQing worked out for you!
This week has been quite the year. Not sure how I missed this originally, but it found me at the perfect time!
Haha - hope it’s calmed down for you a bit! And hope you have a good weekend coming up!
Thanks man! Things have smoothed out, and are back to (boringly) normal.
We're on typhoon alert here in Taiwan (we're fine) and this ambience is perfect for the rain battering the windows.
I love that visual - glad you’re safe my friend.
Marvelous! Finally had a chance to sit with this - the music and the poem (and oh! what a poem!). Beautiful photos. Yosemite is a very special place, indeed. And Ruth Ozeki's novel is one of my all-time faves. Good stuff!
I'd love to embed the music in my next NatureStack journal, which comes out Aug.15. I've linked to a song on Spotify, but I'm not sure how best to share this -- if you are up for it. Would it be possible to share the audio file w/ me?
Thank you, Julie! I’d be honored to be included - happy to send you the audio file! What’s the best email to send it to?
gabrielli.julie (at) gmail. Thanks so much!
This is a beautiful piece. I really wish we could play audio on repeat, because I could listen to this for hours!
I think you can play a song on repeat if you use iTunes. 💜
Oh thank you, Shinjini! I'd be happy to send you the song file if you want - let me know!
That is so kind. I would love that, thank you!
You’re very welcome. Always my pleasure to have your music show up at just the right moments.
I read your interview. I can only imagine how difficult it was to ‘unlock the gates’ so to speak, and let people in.Thank you for letting me feel a small part of what is between the notes.
I listened today.
I just returned from a hike in the steep hills of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, better known as the NEK. Wild , mostly unpopulated, cold clear waters of ancient glacial lakes. I’m sitting in an old Adirondack chair in the shade of a grand Maple tree. Cooling off to the sound of Light Through the Valley. So pure and gorgeous. Thank you.
That sounds so lovely! I had no idea there is such a thing as the NEK! Now I want to go back to Vermont!
I can’t thank you enough for your time and attention, Lor. I would love to spend some time in the NEK one of these days - thank you for sharing your serene setting and allowing my music to accompany your moment of stillness.
Stunning. There's something fantastical about this one, the dancing notes that dart in and out, it feels like the rays of light shimmering through the trees as branches move to let those rays through. Light through the valley, indeed. 👏
Beautiful, Nathan - thank you so much. It’s always amazing to me when someone can put into words music’s seemingly ineffable qualities. You have a real knack for that!
Your ability to capture the feel of a place is otherworldly. I hadn't felt homesick for California for a while, but I do now, and it's lovely.
Thank you, Chloe - you are so nice to say that! I was actually just thinking about you - I stumbled across a few additional photos that I acquired the same day that I came across the mystery woman’s photo I sent you. Might be time for another snail mail package from me :)
Aaah, the mystery woman, my constant companion! I will never say no to mysterious gifts from you :)
I want to learn more about this mystery woman now 🤣
the mystery woman…https://www.deathandbirds.com/p/sarah
Beautiful and such a lovely touch.
Very kind, Nolan - thank you. I’m finally getting to listen to your new EP and I am loving it. Incredible work.
Thank you!
I enjoyed this piece. It has a sense of momentum coupled with reflection in the classic Fog Chaser style. It’s optimistic. The sound palette has some overlap with the album “Aguas da Amazonia” by the Brazilian group Uakti (playing works by Philip Glass). If you don’t know that album I recommend it.
Great to hear you reading and accompanying the Levine poem also. The cadence and flow of your reading style work well with that poem. Did the music come out of the words at all or did the idea to pair them follow from a more coincidental alignment? And generally, do your compositions tend to emerge in a purely musical space or do you compose to some other media?
You pack a lot into these monthly posts. Thank you.
Thanks, Matt — I appreciate the questions! 90% of the time the pairing / matching of the newsletter elements is coincidental. After spending a couple of weeks with the music, and tuning into what I'm feeling/experiencing that month, a loose theme starts to emerge and I try to pour a little cement between all these things to get them to firm up a bit, if that makes sense. And generally, I compose in a purely musical space — and then I listen back to see what images and emotions come to mind. My wife will also listen — she has a particular gift for "seeing" while listening and gives me invaluable feedback on the vibe of a song. From there, the pairing/matching process can really solidify.
And no, I had not heard this Uakti album! Thank you for telling me about it — I'm a huge Glass fan, but there is something very distinct about this. I'm listening now and absolutely love it. I hear a lot of familiar Glass in here, but this instrumentation is so, so good. Wow.
Interesting re:your process. I appreciate you sharing and the sort of collage approach makes sense although by the time you post it holds a thread for sure. I find the interdisciplinary aspect of your SS very inspiring.
Happy the Uakti recommendation resonated for you. The instrumentation was indeed unique as they made a lot of the instruments they’d play, including glass marimbas (a lovely sound). Come to think of it, I’m holding out for the Fog Chaser songbook as performed exclusively on glass marimbas...
Second listen. Love this one. The flute (?) around 2:10-2:30…so so beautiful!
Thank you, Brian! Yeah, it’s a cool little synth flute based on the an instrument called the mellotron.
Lovely. Sounds like the Sierras to me 💚🤍🩶
Thank you, Jill - such a special part of the world ⛰️
Very very good as ever
Thank you so much, Nick