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Summary

Playlist for thinkers to think to contains 5 tracks and over 77 minutes of music. Set up in a similar way to the Reader’s Playlist – the music is piano and string based and mostly inspired by people and events that get me thinking.

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Individual Tracks

Image Credit: Brian Hillegas

Writing for the different weddings and workshops had opened a door into a new way of creating themes. 2007 was a development of that approach combined with a growing familiarity with the workings of the Korg Triton. Heath, Wendi and Victoria are all two voice pieces where the piano track is recorded first and the string part recorded on top immediately afterward. Emma is a solo piano piece.

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

Heath (27:59)Download audio file (heath2.5.mp3)

Wendi at 40 (22:52)Download audio file (wendi40strings2.5.mp3)

Emma’s (20:04)Download audio file (emma2.5.mp3)

Victoria(7:15)Download audio file (victoria2.5.mp3)

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Now playing: music2work2 – People 1, 2007
via music2work2

This album covers the years between 2000 and 2005, when the whole idea of music2work2 was starting to take shape. My sister Victoria’s wedding drove the initial impetus to produce something tangible – Arrival and the Anam Cara were both played during the ceremony. A little more experimentation and another wedding resulted in the development of Jax’s theme. Sexercise was written for a workshop on women’s sexual energy – I know – sometimes as musicians we have to make sacrifices for the greater good – and finally, Beautiful came along just when things were at their bleakest.

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

Arrival (17:50)Download audio file (arrival2.5.mp3)

Anam Cara (1:28)Download audio file (anamcara.mp3)

Jax’s Theme(5:27)Download audio file (jax2.5.mp3)

Sexercise (30:57)Download audio file (sexercise2.5.mp3)

Beautiful (2:07)Download audio file (beautifulmp3.mp3)

Join the music2work2 mailing list – get free 5 minute samples of all music2work2 tracks as well as a bonus 20 minute playlist.

No spam, low frequency.

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Now playing: music2work2 – Beautiful 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

Meaning “soul friend” in the original Celtic. Piano music written to accompany my sister Victoria’s arrival in the wedding hall.

Download audio file (anamcara.mp3)

The wedding was held in a beautiful hotel in Scotland, the hall was lit with candles and the bride arrived as the sun was setting. We had the track Arrival playing while guests were seated and this set the tone for the ceremony.

I remember asking my father to measure the length of the hall and pacing it out to work out how long the piece should be. The intent was to create something that was instantly recognizeable, simple and beautiful. Written in 6/8, it has that lilting triplet feel that always reminds me of Scotland and my Celtic heritage.

It all worked perfectly and they’re still married 9 years later with two wonderful kids! Feel free to use the Anam Cara, if you would like music written specifically for you, please contact me.

Download: Free download – Anam Cara

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Now playing: music2work2 – Anam Cara
via music2work2

Soothing strings and gentle keys create a perfect platform for quiet contemplation. Great for bedtime or homework when you want to create a calm environment

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For a piece that was written for a wedding, it’s ironic that there is only one voice playing at a time. This particular session was written to accompany the guests as they arrived in the hall and took their seats. It made sense to keep the voices separate, although connected in the middle, until after the vows! This is another session that I will take into the studio with a real string quartet / quintet.

When I was recording I was thinking about how beautiful, majestic and yet, delicate, the whole idea of marriage can be. I like to think that the idea of marriage is a good one – that you can meet another human being and create something amazing, just the two of you initially and then of course possibly more. I like to think that when people get married they’re head over heels with optimism for the future and full of hope – I know I was.

I had never written music for a wedding before, I had no idea how to do it or what should be done and I fretted over it for months. With music to accompany the guests arriving, the arrival of the bride, the signing of the register and the exit from the hall, simplicity was the order of the day. Working on Victoria & Dan’s wedding led to the development of the Anam Cara, a Celtic word meaning soul friend.

Lovers & Optimists Playlist

I have said before that part of the enjoyment in helping with the marketing of music2work2 is that I get to listen to so many other artists and their music. Some of it is in the same style as music2work2; some of it is totally different.

One of our friends on iSound.com whose sound is much like that of music2work2 is Ballet Mecanique (James Tucker’s solo project.) The piece that I like most is “Hymn #9.” It is piano driven but several other voices are introduced, giving it a full, rich sound. The tempo is rather slow; but the piece as a whole does not seem to have a solemn, sacred feel. It is lovely, melodic music.

I am reminded of music2work2’s Victoria when listening to this piece. I hear several similarities between the two – the tone, tempo, overall feel of the piece. Based on the title, one might also compare Arrival a piece written for the arrival of guests at the church for a wedding, with “Hymn #9.”

Check out Ballet Mecanique and “Hymn #9 on the i.Sound site.

Simon Daum is a MySpace friend of music2work2 who composes Classical/Healing and Easy Listening music. He is from Germany.

His music is relaxing and very lovely. It is mostly piano driven. I really enjoyed listening to all four musical pieces on his MySpace page, but I think my favorite is “Be Still.” “Be Still” reminds me a great deal of music2work2′s “Victoria.” Both are calming, beautiful pieces.

Another of our MySpace friends whose music I particularly like is Mario Raposo. His music is classified as Electronica/Classical. Mario Raposo is from Portugal and is said to be a self-taught musician. His music is created on keyboards and synthesisers.

My favorite piece of the four available on his MySpace page is Heartland. It is a lovely, melodic piece that makes you feel good to listen to it. This piece reminds me a great deal of Victoria, a beautiful music2work2 session and one of my favorites.

Hoorah! I was able to put a new music2work2 session clip on our MySpace page today. It is a very beautiful piece for piano and strings composed by Andrew for his sister’s birthday. Check it out!