Creative Endeavors

[itsallovernow]

Because I'm all about the themes lately, I figured out that I'd like the modern dance piece I'm choreographing to sort of reflect this set of short stories I'm working on. Their theme is: Writing it Down. However, the story I'm currently working on is called "The Rabbit Hole is a Superhighway and It Goes Both Ways." I never title things first, which makes this weird and special and I fear the story can't live up to the title, but it's about a man who disappears.

And I want to tie this piece to these themes and ideas. However, that means the music I've been working on doesn't really work. So I turn to you, oh flist, with your broad range of interests, topics and pursuits to suggest some music that may. I am not anti-lyric for this piece, but it... lyrics can't be the driving force (if they're in English. Not in English, that's less problematic). I'm looking for soundscape or music that has distinct layers that either build up or build down, but anything else is up for grabs... It can be a single instrument, it can be no instrument, a full orchestra, etc.

Suggestions?

Comments

[lomer.livejournal.com]

What sort of feeling are you hoping to convey? Soft, dreamy, lyrical? Tension rising, tempo racing, strength? Something in between. If you give me some adjectives I'll do my best to find something for you. I know how finding the perfect song is an essential part of creating a piece. *g*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Nothing terribly lyrical. Something that builds. I'm just looking for some options, but I don't think I'll know it until I hear it! I want some layers that build and fade, and something with a specific beat might be interesting.

[lomer.livejournal.com]

I'll look through my collection. *g*

[troyswann.livejournal.com]

Ooh, how about anything by Ekova? My favourite album is "Space Lullabies and Other Fantasmagore." They've got a female vocalist who sings in... Arabic? And French. They're sort of North African-all-over-world-music, I think. Not sure--it's a veritable banquet of multi-cultural fusionicity. "Steel Bird" on that album is one of my favourite pieces of music in the entire world. It's full of what sounds like a steel drum and pipes and, wow, it's fabulous. Or "Aurora's Flight," or, ooooh! "Siip Siie," has a great driving beat, earthy and techno-ish at the same time.

You can listen to samples here.

[troyswann.livejournal.com]

Oh, and if you're interested in just a song and don't want to buy the whole album just yet, or don't want to get it from iTunes or something, I could upload a couple for you. I can't do that from home due to dial-up, but I could from work.

Anyway, offer's there. You can email me at troyswann at yahoo dot ca if you like and we can arrange for that.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks honey! I can totally get them from iTunes but the offer is MORE than appreciated!

[fourteenlines.livejournal.com]

Dude, Sigur Ros! "Staralfur" is my favorite of theirs, but "Hoppipolla" might be better for modern dance.

Explosions in the Sky - I particularly like "A Song for Our Fathers" as the kind of thing that has an AWESOME build. (Modern instrumental rock!)

I don't have time to upload these, but you can listen to them all on http://www.songerize.com. Streaming!


(PS OMG SWELL SEASON. I was kind of emo that I may never get to see Glen Hansard play a small venue again, but it was WONDERFUL, and the man has charisma to spare. He filled our opera house with his sound, just him and his guitar if necessary. Plus! They did "Into the Mystic" AND "Fitzcarraldo," NEITHER of which I had seen him/The Frames play before. *dies*

And there was this lovely bit right before they played "Falling Slowly" where he talked about how, sometimes you're kicking a ball around your backyard, and it doesn't just go to the end of the yard, it goes over the fence, and over the river, and across town...and part of you is thinking, "Wow, did I really kick the ball that hard?!" and part of you is thinking, "...I want my ball back." But then he made a comment about how huge the room was, and it was sold out, and he looked over and said, "We must have done something right, Mar." It was wonderful.)

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee. Hugs you! that sounds amazing! And thanks for the recs. Sigur Ros really may be the ticket!