I’m always on time – it’s one of those things that defines me. I hate being late for a meeting with someone – I think it’s one of the rudest things you can do and yet it happens all the time. In the real world there are so many variables – particularly when you’re interacting with human beings that it’s a miracle we actually get anywhere. Regardless of human efficiency – shit just happens – buses break down – washing machines break and dogs do actually eat the homework. One bump in the chain gets magnified so that one person’s spilled coffee becomes another’s late arrival to an interview.

This as you can imagine could lead to much stress for those of us who like to control our world a little more than others. My solution?

Music and Forgiveness

Let’s deal with Forgiveness first.

If it has actually happened, i.e. you or someone you are waiting to interact with is late – accept that there is nothing you can do about it and forgive the cause. This relieves you of any necessity to a) get angry with anybody – never a good strategy and b) Get mad at yourself – also not terribly smart if you’re looking to give a good impression.

(Quick caveat here: If you’re a lazy bastard who thinks the world should provide for you – if you are a wanker not a worker – then none of this applies. Get as mad with yourself as possible – you suck!)

Next – once you realize that you are somewhere, waiting and there’s nothing you can do and it’s no longer anybody’s fault – you can choose to do anything you want. You see, this is stolen time, this is time that was unplanned, unforeseen and therefore doesn’t need to be accounted for.

If you’re lucky enough to have a music player with you – now is a great time to plug in and listen to all that great stuff you’ve been downloading but yet to hear – hell if you’ve got a smart phone then maybe plug in the headphones, fire up the music2work2 writer’s play list and write a blog post.

That’s what I’ve just done

Predominately from 2004 and 2005, these 4 tracks continue the development of music2work2 from themes written for specific events to stand alone pieces that have a life and meaning of their own. Averaging between 15 and 20 minutes long, these pieces set the general shape of a typical music2work2 piece. Piano driven with string melodies and the occasional organ on top – this is one of my favorite albums.

Click on the track title for liner notes, longer streams and 5 minute sample mp3s.

1218 (22:19)Download audio file (12182.5.mp3)

The Duel (11:56)Download audio file (theduel2.5.mp3)

Late (16:05)Download audio file (late2.5.mp3)

November(15:14)Download audio file (november2.5.mp3)

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Now playing: music2work2 – The Early Years Part 2 via music2work2

Early Piano theme development.

Another one of my favorite pieces of music – written in 2006 when I’d just got my hands on a Triton Extreme. Single voice piano all the way through, nods to Beethoven and Wendi’s theme – I really enjoy working to this one – I’m writing to it right now!

The reason this track is called “Late” is because that’s when it was made; late, late in the evening and into the early morning. Most of music2work2 has been done out of normal “business” hours – whether it’s a music gig or a marketing gig – the day job has enabled me to write, to practice, to be a better musician and marketer and as a result – music2work2 continues to develop.

I like to think that this track is a mix between Gary Vaynerchuk and Malcolm Gladwell; take one part “Outliers”, combine with 1 part “Stop watching fucking Lost!” add an incredibly cool and supportive wife and there you have it – music2work2.

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Now playing: music2work2 – Late via music2work2

There is a brand new session now available on the music2work2 web site. Late791 is a piece consisting of only the piano and has a somewhat different feel to me than some of the other sessions. It is a slow, melodic piece that has a rather somber tone.

The imagery for me from this session is of a rainstorm. In the beginning I see the sky grow darker. At 4-5 minutes into the piece, the raindrops begin – the clear notes of the piano representing the rain as it falls. As it waters the earth, the clouds begin to break but the rain continues to softly fall. It brings needed sustenance and it leaves all of nature refreshed and clean. It gives me the sense of a renewal or revitalizing – leaving existence better than when it began.

Check out this new piece. As background music, it is good while doing work at the computer, cleaning the house, any kind of work. But, also try listening closely to the session, focusing on the melody, the clearness of the piano, and see what image it evokes for you.