8 February 2012
by Bill Parsons
2 Comments
How to find your voice What draws a person to express themselves through music is a mystery. Usually a recording or a particular performance just at the right moment sparks the desire. And then it can take years before the … Continue reading
23 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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The Maples Inn I first met Blair at the Maples Inn in Montreal somewhere in the mid to late 1970s. The “Mapes” was a local watering hole on the north shore of Lac St. Louis. It was the place to … Continue reading
21 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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(still image: Chuck Samuels) Translating Grace The fourth large project I am involved with is Grace, a soon to be released CD by Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan. Back in 2005 I was commissioned to compose a piece for the Sundanese … Continue reading
17 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
2 Comments
Hurting Tune The first time I heard I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams I thought it sounded like a movie that was made during the Great Depression. Some guy on the road with a guitar, singing songs … Continue reading
3 January 2012
by Bill Parsons
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Portrait Photography The phenomenon of genius discovery after the fact is Mike Disfarmer’s story. From a small town in Arkansas he was a curious man who photographed his community. His portraits remind me of Diane Arbus. There’s an odd story … Continue reading
31 December 2011
by Bill Parsons
1 Comment
LOOPING Looping is a technique I have often used when composing. It involves repeating or “looping” musical materials, such as a melodic phrase, a texture, or a chord progression. The term “loop” comes from early electronic composition where a piece … Continue reading
25 November 2011
by Bill Parsons
2 Comments
LAYLA A great song is one that translates to other styles. Some styles are more natural than others. But as Eric Clapton has made his way through life playing one of his most famous songs in a variety of ways … Continue reading
24 November 2011
by Bill Parsons
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Issa Bagayogo My brother Greg sent me this link and I thought I’d share it here. From Mali, Issa Bagayogo. Red Hot & Riot We were talking about Red Hot & Riot, one of my favorite recordings that features new … Continue reading
23 November 2011
by Bill Parsons
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AGO I went to the Art Gallery of Ontario in the late summer and saw the Abstract Expressionist show. The most striking work for me were photographs. I was keen to see Mark Rothko again. I had seen his work … Continue reading
11 November 2011
by Bill Parsons
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Yo Yo Ma A truly inspiring musician, Yo Yo Ma has raised the bar of musicianship to include great musicians from outside the classical music world. The Goat Rodeo Sessions is another in an ever elongating line of reinvention collaborations. … Continue reading