The Art of Melody
Listen and Download
By the way, the following sound SO much better in headphones or high quality speakers.
At the End of the Road – Written for a friend in hospice. I finished the audio version twelve hours before she died. Don’t worry, it’s not depressing in the least.
Video:
Sheet Music
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Somewhere Over The Rainbow – My take on one of the classic melodies of all time, by Harold Arlen.
Elegy – Sketched out in 2016 and forgotten. Rediscovered in 2020, expanded, and dedicated to memories, hope, and solidarity in crisis.
Video:
Sheet Music
40 Deliverance
I used to play piano for a comedy improv group, and this song was supposed to be a parody on 80’s power ballads. But somehow it has morphed into a Rock/Broadway/Gospel instrumental.
I used to play piano for a comedy improv group, and this song was supposed to be a parody on 80’s power ballads. But somehow it has morphed into a Rock/Broadway/Gospel instrumental.
Sheet Music
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Excerpt:
The Wolves of Lamar – Driving to a remote Montana town, I chanced upon the first release of wild wolves in the lower 48 states, in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone Park. Later, this music was written for a documentary about the release.
Sheet Music
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Solo Piano:
Last Skate
Sandy was my first girlfriend. That was in the 6th grade. I don’t think we ever actually spoke, though I did pass her a note once. The exception to the silence was the monthly roller skating party that I always attended. I’d spend the whole two hours getting up my courage, and when they announced “last skate, couples only” and turned down the lights, I’d be sure to be near Sandy and ask her to be my “last skate”. The rhythm of this song reminds me of the regular back-and-forth whoosh of those skate wheels going ’round and ’round the rink.
Sandy was my first girlfriend. That was in the 6th grade. I don’t think we ever actually spoke, though I did pass her a note once. The exception to the silence was the monthly roller skating party that I always attended. I’d spend the whole two hours getting up my courage, and when they announced “last skate, couples only” and turned down the lights, I’d be sure to be near Sandy and ask her to be my “last skate”. The rhythm of this song reminds me of the regular back-and-forth whoosh of those skate wheels going ’round and ’round the rink.
Sheet Music
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Prelude
The first part of this I heard in a dream a couple of days after my Dad died. I was the only one in the room for that event, and I’ve found being at someone’s deathbed a profoundly moving experience which I recommend.
The first part of this I heard in a dream a couple of days after my Dad died. I was the only one in the room for that event, and I’ve found being at someone’s deathbed a profoundly moving experience which I recommend.
Sheet Music
Upon request
Upon request
At Home In The Light of Stars – I wrote this in 1998, but discarded it. Found it again the summer of 2020 in some old files and the melody rattled around in my brain and wouldn’t leave, so I added some harmonies and here it is. Now that it’s done it sounds like the intertwining parts discernible in headphones represent dancing arms and legs going every which way, but actually that wasn’t planned.
Sheet Music
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Excerpt:
The River – Written on commission for elementary choir and adult soloist. It was part of a ceremony called “Feeding The River”, borrowed from the Creek Tribe and celebrated on Earth Day by Ophir Elementary, Big Sky, Montana. Later, it became the impetus for an album of environmental songs by Nashville songwriters to benefit Yellowstone Park.
Piano:
Sheet Music
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1996 Original with Ophir Elementary Choir
Piano:
School Marm
Written for a PBS documentary on women rodeo trick riders from the 1930’s. This music accompanied a panoramic view of green Montana pastures. The title comes from a real life school teacher in the small town of Willow Creek, Montana, that I and a friend vied for. We never called her by her real name, she was always “school marm”.
Written for a PBS documentary on women rodeo trick riders from the 1930’s. This music accompanied a panoramic view of green Montana pastures. The title comes from a real life school teacher in the small town of Willow Creek, Montana, that I and a friend vied for. We never called her by her real name, she was always “school marm”.
Sheet Music
Upon request
Upon request
Lilies Of The Field
This traditional Irish Reel, designed for dancing, is here played at 1/2 speed and re-harmonized. Borrowing from the jazz tradition, the melody is first played, then improvised upon by both sax and piano. With Chad Langford, bass, and Jake Fleming, soprano sax.
This traditional Irish Reel, designed for dancing, is here played at 1/2 speed and re-harmonized. Borrowing from the jazz tradition, the melody is first played, then improvised upon by both sax and piano. With Chad Langford, bass, and Jake Fleming, soprano sax.
Sheet Music
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Upon request
Medley: Opus August / Pampa Lirima
1) Opus August: Once I was stranded in a city needing emergency surgery. I had the business card of someone I had met once at a tango dance. She put me up for ten days so I wrote this song for her, one of the songs-from-birthdates series. Her birthday was in August, thus the title.
2) Pampa Lirima: A famous Chilean tune by Roberto Márquez. I use it as a jumping off place for improv. There’s really a village named Pampa Lirima, in the deserts of northern Chile. It’s incredibly remote. Wanna go there, just because?
1) Opus August: Once I was stranded in a city needing emergency surgery. I had the business card of someone I had met once at a tango dance. She put me up for ten days so I wrote this song for her, one of the songs-from-birthdates series. Her birthday was in August, thus the title.
2) Pampa Lirima: A famous Chilean tune by Roberto Márquez. I use it as a jumping off place for improv. There’s really a village named Pampa Lirima, in the deserts of northern Chile. It’s incredibly remote. Wanna go there, just because?
Sheet Music
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Upon request
Miss Rowan Davies – This is another arrangement of mine that I filed away and recently re-discovered. The melody was written by Scottish folk musician Phil Cunningham. I had forgotten the title, but my friend Matthew Marsolek, who seems to remember every tune in existence, knew it. Since living in Montana with its expansive wheat fields, I’ve had recurrent mental images of a woman dancing alone in a field, an image which fits this tune.
Sheet Music
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Upon request
In Another Time
Another one from my tunes-from-birthdates series. This one taken from the digits in the date Feb. 22, 1984.
Another one from my tunes-from-birthdates series. This one taken from the digits in the date Feb. 22, 1984.
Sheet Music
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Upon request
Winter – My arrangement of “Winder wie ist nu dein kraft“, by Neidhart von Reuental (c.1190 – c.1236). The original actually celebrates the end of winter, but whatever; sounded cold to me. Loosely translated, the title is “Winter, how is your strength now, big boy?” Introduced to me by Lawrence Duncan.
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Excerpt:
Tango – I wrote this in 1999 to get in the zone before going to Buenos Aires to study dance. May you dance, too, if you like that kind of thing.
Sheet Music
Piano Solo
For Piano+Bass+Solo Instrument
For Piano+Bass+Solo Instrument
Smithsonian’s America – This melody asks you to let it unfold; to nurture that feeling you have when staring out over a field at dusk, not thinking anything in particular. It’s presented bare, then harmonized in three different ways.
Written to accompany a slide show for the American Rivers organization as a fundraiser for trout conservation. By the way, I took this picture in Montana on the way to a barn dance.
Written to accompany a slide show for the American Rivers organization as a fundraiser for trout conservation. By the way, I took this picture in Montana on the way to a barn dance.
Sheet Music
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Upon request
Excerpt:
Garten Mother’s Lullaby
My arrangement of an ancient Gaelic tune, which, like Winter, was referred to me by Lawrence Duncan.
My arrangement of an ancient Gaelic tune, which, like Winter, was referred to me by Lawrence Duncan.
Sheet Music
Excerpt:
Pass Me Not – This jazz rendering of the William H. Doane hymn from 1870 is one of my go-to melodies for late night musings on a big piano in a dark room.
Sheet Music
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Upon request
One Good Day Deserves Another
Unadorned, pensive, I’m not trying to be clever here. But somehow it reminds me of a high school graduation processional.
Unadorned, pensive, I’m not trying to be clever here. But somehow it reminds me of a high school graduation processional.
Sheet Music
Upon request
Upon request
I would love to tango to that melody. Hi Ron. ?❤️
Yay! Yay! Yay! A perfect time to share your spectacular compositions! Thank you Ron … Elegy is simply beautiful!! Keep going……+Janet
Tango is perfection, Ron! The ongoing rhythm, the intrigue & the playfulness ALL fit performing the Tango! Your performance is pleasure! Thank you…+Janet
Soothing and masterful Ron! Thank you for sharing your artistry! Can’t wait for the whole collection.
I love the music! I mostly love the artist!
Both are beautiful, clear, crisp and full of feeling.
I am so enjoying the three pieces I have downloaded. Your playing and composing are magical. Looking forward to the new works.
Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
At home in the light of the stars needs words. It’s very easy to sing!
Ron, I loved Tango, very rich !
Elegy was pensive without being particularly sad.
And I would love to hear At Home in the Light of the Stars put to
Jazz. I think it would sound grand! Thank you for these!
Beautiful songs Ron and playing. Thanks for sharing these with us.
Ron….there is not a tune that you write that I don’t thoroughly enjoy!! These were one’s I hadn’t heard before like the medley “Opus August/Pampa Lirima that was sooo delightful & saucy! Wolves of Lamar, The River, Miss Rowan Davies, Smithsonian’s America….ALL are absolutely beautiful!! What adds to the pleasure too, are your explanations about when you composed them, & what events led up to composing them like the release of the wolves. Thank you for the music you compose for ALL of us to enjoy!!
I thoroughly enjoyed each piece. I can only imagine your experiencing these adventures.
Just for the heck of it…..after I listened to your wonderful take on the classic “Over The Rainbow”, I once again listened to ALL of your compositions that you have displayed here, and I am truly amazed by the beauty you have accomplished with your music. They all bring solace to my very soul. Thank you!!