Video of music on YouTube

bluebell blues — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:32:00 GMT

See the video of the 'Welcome to the Universe' music track now on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/v/Iuy-HNeRQLg

Bluebell Blues Album Details

bluebell blues — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:07:00 GMT

BLUEBELL ALBUM DETAILS

The album consists of 21 tracks of original piano music.

The pieces were written between 2000 and 2006.

Bluebell Blues (Track 15) was inspired by the

struggle of the English Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-

scripta against the ‘Spanish Invader’, Hyacinthoides

hispanica, whose cloying advances are represented

by sinuous triplet figures and uneasy flamenco

harmonies. The indigenous species’ graceful

movement is portrayed in the swinging left hand

figure which dominates throughout.

Tracks 1 to 5 originally formed the suite ‘From

Rainy Days’. Troika depicts an ‘off-piste’ sleigh-ride

experience where the occupants visit mysterious and

unexpected realms of crystalline calm and space.

In the middle section, the descent of the sleigh

transforms into a rising motion as the vehicle leaves

the ground in boundless flight.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci was inspired by John

Keat’s 1819 poem.

Tracks 6 to 10 were written after visiting the English

Lakes. Brotherswater is a lake of deep calm with

ripples slowly spreading across its misty surface.

In The Toy Museum I revisit some of my earliest

musical ideas and find I can still play with them.

Loweswater is a dark lake with a story to tell. The

Firefly darts over the water’s surface, living a short

life to the full, glowing with dreams and hopes. Le

Blaireau is dedicated to the badger who broke into

my tent and ate all but one of the small cakes lying

there, before leaving. He returned a few moments

later and took the last one. He had a distinctly

continental air about him, so I think of him as

‘Monsieur Le Blaireau.’

I once worked at a school where pupils were given

thirty minutes each day to choose their own activity.

I thought that many adults would also like to share

this wonderful luxury. ‘Choosing-Time’ Charleston

celebrates the elation of being free to choose

for oneself how to pass precious moments in an

otherwise hectic day.

Carousel rotates like a fairground ride, combining

elements of simple and compound triple metre.

Sketch expounds the attractions of inactivity,

vagueness and indecision, but is beset with troubled

feelings of wasted opportunity. Action Song

attempts to redress the balance. Full of schemes and

plans, its impetus, too, is led astray by a narcotic and

wistful ennui.

Christmas Song looks back to memories of childhood

with seasonal echoes of distant bells.

Heartbreak Hall (Track 20) is the nickname of a

well-known concert venue where many musicians

make their debut. For some, an appearance there can

launch a wonderful career; for others less fortunate

with the critics, it can be the scene of ultimate

disappointment. This piece is also dedicated to the

memory of Jill Weinberg.

Prayer is exactly that – a musical act of devotion.

All music composed and performed by Rob Colley.

Piano: Steinway Model D.

Recorded 2nd September 2007 at Abbey Road Studio 2, London.

Recording Engineer: Chris Bolster.

Mixed by Rob Colley and David Eno.

Mastered at Sound Recording Technology Studios, Cambridge. Engineer:

Simon Murphy.

Photography at Abbey Road: Stuart Hill.

Bluebell woods photograph: Heather Hemelryk.

Cover Design: Ireneusz “Irek” Golka.

Text Editing: Sarah Colley.

BLUEBELL BLUES ALBUM

bluebell blues — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:06:00 GMT

BLUEBELL BLUES is an album of 21 piano compositions which I recorded at Abbey Road studios last September. It will be available shortly. The pieces were written between 2000 and 2006. Sheet music is available through Da Capo music. I am planning a solo tour in the Autumn to promote the album.

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Bluebell Blues Album Details

BLUEBELL BLUES ALBUM