Toccata & Fugue plus

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  • #44060
    simonalexander
    Participant

    Hi guys. I decided to do a little recording this weekend and laid down two pieces that I’ve been working on for a while. I’ve had trouble with my recording set-up with previous attempts but I spent a little time getting it right and I’m a lot happier with the results this time. The tone was nice and clear but a little thin so I added some studio reverb and a little echo in post. (Maybe a bit much? I don’t know.)
    Anyway, I recorded Andrew’s wonderful arrangement of Toccata and Fugue. I didn’t manage a straight run without hiccups, so you’re seeing the best bits of three recordings

    Plus a lovely arrangement of Matt Dahblberg’s, While My Guitar Gently Weeps. (Not available on RC101 but, as it’s Matt, I didn’t think anyone would mind.)

    Hope you enjoy them. I’m very happy to receive feedback but more than that, I’m just delighted to share.

    #44063
    Andrew
    Keymaster

    Reverb sounds good! The trick is: Less is more. And yours was subtle.

    But man, wow! You tackled 2 very hard songs, bravo! I don’t think you really need feedback – keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll constantly be improving. I’m very impressed 🙂

    #44064
    simonalexander
    Participant

    Thanks so much, Andrew. That’s really encouraging.

    A “proper” musician friend of mine heard the Toccata and suggested that I try the Largo from Vivaldi’s Concerto in D major. She sent me the melody line in standard notation, which I could pick out with a little practice but it’s way beyond me to put a full arrangement together. I don’t know where the “suggestion box” is on RC101 but if you could maybe pop that one in for some dim and distant future date, that would be wonderful.

    On a personal note, thank you for all the great work that you do with the site. In these difficult times, the joy of playing the ukulele can be a true refuge for a lot of people. I’m sure that sometimes you must feel the pressure of having to churn out such a huge volume of material to feed the hungry crowd. I’m also someone who has turned a hobby into a full-time career and I know that, as much as it’s a privilege to get paid for doing what we love, professional pressures can sometimes sap the joy.

    I just wanted to let you know that what you are doing is so worthwhile and it means a lot to such a lot of people. Thank you.

    #44065
    nthibode
    Member

    Excellent work, Simon! I really enjoyed that.

    #44071
    Andrew
    Keymaster

    You can add that request here, Simon. And TY so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it 🙂

    #44072
    simonalexander
    Participant

    Thanks Nathalie. That’s lovely of you. It’s always a treat to hear you playing.

    #44201
    cashmpe
    Participant

    Wow Simon. That was really good and inspiring. As a beginner this really gives me something to shoot for. I liked both performances with the studio effects. Very cool!

    #44205
    simonalexander
    Participant

    @cashmpe That’s so kind of you to post that. And thanks for your comments re the effects. I liked them but I think I’m going to dial them back juuust a little bit next time.

    A full tutorial for the Toccata is on RC101 when you feel ready but don’t be discouraged if it feels a little out of reach right now. What you’re seeing comes at the end of a long ol’ road for me and I was often out of my depth.

    Thanks again for your kind words. They really do mean a lot.

    Simon

    #45312
    debb1985
    Member

    Simon great job! I loved your Toccata and Fugue! It is on my list of songs to try 🙂

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by debb1985.
    #45326
    simonalexander
    Participant

    Thanks very much, Debb. That’s really kind of you. You’ll have great fun with the Toccata. I loved learning it.

    #45442
    dirk55
    Participant

    Hi Simon, nice performance, well played too. And besides, a beautiful song by a man I admire, George Harrison. Maybe nice to tell. George himself was a big fan of the Uke. Every musician who visited him at his Friar Park in Henley on Thames (you probably know 300 km from your hometown) was obliged to a ukulele session. That’s how Tom Petty and Jeff Lynn naturally started to love the uke. Even Dylan had to believe it. And I as an amateur musician too. It is somehow meditative indeed. But as far as I’m concerned that is also due to RC101.

    #45443
    simonalexander
    Participant

    Hi Dirk. Thanks for your kind words. Henley-on-Thames is actually much closer to me than you imagined. It’s only fifteen kilometres away. My son want to college there.
    Although I never met George Harrison myself, a pianist friend of mine knew him quite well. But I didn’t know that he was such a ukulele fan. Thanks for sharing that.
    I completely agree with you though, ukulele is a total meditation for me too: a real blessing in these tricky times.
    Great to hear from you.

    #46841
    sebi75
    Member

    Hi Simon, you played it very very good, I am absolutely impressed. The reverb is a little bit to much, maybe a compressor and an Hall would give you a thicker tone?
    For a medium Player like me, it is a good motivation.
    Greetings Sebastian

    #46848
    simonalexander
    Participant

    Hi @sebi75

    Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I’m really glad that you liked my performance. I had a lot of fun learning it.

    I think you are right about the reverb. I will definitely reduce it on future recordings.

    Beste Wünsche aus England

    Simon 🙂

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