I first encountered the Love Music Community Choir whilst meeting a friend, Colin, for coffee. At the same time as chatting about the Ragged project and all the different forms of education which experience can take, Colin suggested we move outside with a wry smile.
I’ve always had this deep fascination with music. How it evokes our deepest feelings, how it creates joy, lust, sorrow and awe. It truly is a special art form. One which allows humans to connect emotionally on an unparalleled level.
As a songwriter, lyrics are of utmost importance to me. They can be used to tell stories of other worlds, to express the flutter of falling in love, to philosophise on the fabric of reality and even to state ones political agenda. The possibilities are truly endless. One may be forgiven for suggesting this can also be achieved through literature and yes I agree this to be a valid point.
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The word music comes from the Greek word mousikê (tekhnê) linked directly with the Latin word Musica.
According to the Wikipedia article ‘Definition of Music’ this derives from the Greek word ‘Muse’, from the daughters of the gods Zeus and Hera. From this link it can be assumed that the root for the word music is ‘Inspiration’. This would ring true with most musicians as without inspiration where is the drive to be a musician? The following quotes have been extracted from the documentary ‘Music’ by Andrew Zuckerman:
The Broken Boy is an Edinburgh based singer-songwriter, who you may have met around town busking, or heard playing in one of the city’s many music-friendly pubs. He is currently working towards the release of his debut LP, On the Mend: Ready to Fly. Read more…
The education of music is traditionally taught in notated form. Following the teachings from historical composers and musicians, educators seek to pass on this knowledge to students to inspire them. In the past twenty years we have seen a development of the traditional teachings into popular music. This has led to specific issues regarding the relevance of musical notation and how it applies to modern music.
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Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato recognised the unity between music and philosophy.
The artistic expression of a piece of music could be described as philosophy using sound. Instrumental Classical music can be a very profound experience and the content of the music can be incredibly descriptive. Instruments playing characters, melodic themes reproduced in a variety of ways during the course of the piece, these are left to the audience’s imagination. This can provide the listener with a wide range of conclusions; from purely enjoying the music, to a deeper understanding of themselves. Read more…
Darren Hendrie is an Edinburgh based singer-songwriter. He plays regularly on Edinburgh’s open mic circuit and has been the featured act at venues such as Edinburgh Unlimited, The Listening Room and The Jazz Bar. He occasionally hosts The McEwan Ale House’s Red Dog Songwriter’s Session and their long standing Friday night open mic. As well as playing original material he can also play a wide range of covers.
He also fronts The Darren Hendrie Band; a rock/acoustic group. The band setup includes: Vocals (plus backing); Electric/12 String acoustic guitars; Violin; Bass; and Drums. Read more…