Ode to a Nightingale is finally pulling together.  I’m getting very close to beginning the recording process.  My first reaction to putting this great work to music was a bit overwhelming. But patient, inching progress has led to something I think will be very nice and fitting of the great sentiments.

My favorite part: “Was it a vision or a waking dream? Fled is that music-do I wake or sleep?”  (The very last lines)

Of course I love the whole poem. I hope you will like what I’m doing with it.

William Blake self-portrait

Just posted a video of William Blake’s Introduction piece in the collection Songs of Innocence. The audio is taken from an old cassette tape which include several ideas for musical versions of Blake’s famous collection.  I’ve managed to score several of these on Finale and would love to perform them someday once I’ve tested them and feel they are ready for prime time!

My Youtube Channel

Thanks for listening!

One guitar, three voices and some bass at the end.

My hope is that the music fits the poem and that I’ve done well enough for now with this first version. It’s been a long time coming!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewithandrea/2009/09/22/One-Love-for-Music-with-Lee-Waterworth

Check out the time for your time zone and register with Blog Talk Radio so you can join everyone in the chat room. If you can’t make it for the live show you can listen to the archive any time.

It is a great honor for me to have my music included on this wonderful show!

Hope to see you there!

Here’s something I hope you’ll enjoy while I work on Waiting(Burroughs) and Song of Wandering Aengus(Yeats)

I especially like the harmonizing at the end!

Rumors form an Aeolian Harp
Henry David Thoreau

There is a vale which none hath seen,
Where foot of man has never been,
Such as here lives with toil and strife,
An anxious and a sinful life.

There every virtue has its birth,
Ere it descends upon the earth,
And thither every deed returns,
Which in the generous bosom burns.

There love is warm, and youth is young,
And poetry is yet unsung.
For Virtue still adventures there,
And freely breathes her native air.

And ever, if you hearken well,
You still may hear its vesper bell,
And tread of high-souled men go by,
Their thoughts conversing with the sky

On Shaman’s Hand, Michael featured some of his classical work including rehearsal audio for a voice recital in 1990.

He also debuted a piece he is finalizing for his new album based on Keats’ poem “La Belle Dame sans Merci“.

And with his usual twist he brought in guests at a dinner and listening party to introduce songs for the episode.

You can listen to the February 22, 2009 broadcast of “Shaman’s Hand BlogTalkRadio” below: