Ah Tom, 1953s "Invaders from Mars" - it's almost like watching a lost "body-snatcher" episode of "Leave it to Beaver".
The music is really striking in this, in that, while three other sci-fi movies that came out earlier ("The Thing", "It Came from Outer Space" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still") all employed the Theremin (and the same Theremin player, Samuel Hoffman), "Invaders from Mars" departed from this trend and used very bizarre choral arrangements fed through an echo chamber, accompanied by an organ, which played each time someone fell victim to "the sandpit". The music is credited to a "Raoul Krashner" (sp.) - which is not a composer but actually a music company which marketed music to the television and movie industry. They had all their music cheaply recorded overseas (no doubt by fine European orchestras) to circumvent the American composer/musician union at the time. It's not absolutely certain who had actually composed that wild music (though the name Gillman has been tossed about), aside from the fact that it was a small German chorus (comprised of 5-7 people) which did the "singing martian" cues.
What a good, creepy movie, especially for kids! I remember that movie creeping me out good, watching it on our family black&white tv during the 60s. And psychologically - out of all the sci-fis of the 50s era - "Invaders from Mars" perhaps struck a deeper nerve with kids, as it is actually filmed from the perspective of a child, who witnessed a flying saucer landing in the sandpit behind his house, and from thereon, watched his parents and townfolk becoming "possessed" by the spirits of Martian-Commie hoodlums (identifiable from the implants on the back of their necks - which may have played a certain influence on the formation of modern alien abduction beliefs)
To accentuate the child's perspective, the set designer (R. Metzies) from "Gone with the Wind" was hired to do the set production for this movie. Furniture and doors were deliberately built higher and larger, and a number of camera angles seemingly shot from below waist level. Hence, everything appaered larger and higher to the child's eyes.
It's a very fascinating, well-done movie, unfortunately hampered by its over-use of military stock-footage toward the end.
Tom, if I recall the giant ant sounds in "Them", they were more a chirping sound -how this was done, I don't know at the moment - but it didn't sound like a theremin. But it's been awhile since I watched that movie. And I may be confusing some stuff with the giant grasshopper movie ("The Beginning of the End").
I'm trying to recall the Vincent Price movie of which you speak...wondering if it was one of those William Castle productions (like "House on Haunted Hill").
Chat, I think spacey, dreamy music is a good thing too. Not everybody goes for that sort of thing nowadays, but I enjoy listening (and trying to put together) music that transports one elsewhere.
Speaking of dreams, the attached song was inspired by a rift I heard in a dream. That doesn't happen too often but I love it when it does. This was recorded just before the last song I posted, - it's something of a "flipside" to that single.
Same guitar, same process of recording, but using only slight reverb just to give it some air (it probably could have used more). Again, I don't know how "original" it is but it was fun to do.
I don't know Rick... could be... I went and read the comments/reviews of "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" and it could be... I just thought it was from earlier in my youth... I no doubt saw TADP at the drive in since it came out in 1970 (I would've been 16) but I thought it was earlier... either way it made an impression, the scene I'm talking about is one where this guy picks up a pair of binoculars to look at something (a woman?) out the window and as he puts them to his eyes, springloaded spikes/nails pop out of the lenses...
...On another note, the two best sit-coms ever were "Green Acres" and "F-Troop"... IMHO
Such a bittersweet song - Greig's music is always very expressive. We've recently discovered him via a children's show that my boys love - Little Eiensteins - which feature his music quite frequently. Sounds like there's a key change in this - is that so? Or is it incidentials? (At about mid-way through the piece.) Either way, it's a pleasure to listen to.
Not to take away from your performance or anything, but why is a mistake called a 'clam'? I thought just bassists used that term...
Impeccable playing? Those clams get worse with each listening!
But it is beautiful music and the recording is tops.
I suspect (outside of yourself and perhaps other guitar players there) most folks in audience
probably didn't have a clue. That's the first time I've heard that piece by Grieg - I often don't hear pieces by him outside of "Morning", "Hall of the Mountain King" and his piano concerto in A minor.
I participated in an informal guitar gathering this weekend. Saturday night was done in a small & pretty Presbyterian church. One of the guys brought recording equipment and posted a number I played. I hate to post it because of the memory lapse and all the nasty clams, but I'm posting it because the sound he came up with is so wonderful. A pair of mics on the guitar at around 12", then a pair about 8' away & 10' high for hall sound. No reverb, no processing.
The music has the sense that even though direction may change there is a continuance that lies just below all else going on. It's such a tender and sad piece. And you play beautifully. Thank you for sharing with us. This thread would be lacking without your music.
Chat, I think spacey, dreamy music is a good thing too. Not everybody goes for that sort of thing nowadays, but I enjoy listening (and trying to put together) music that transports one elsewhere.
Speaking of dreams, the attached song was inspired by a rift I heard in a dream. That doesn't happen too often but I love it when it does. This was recorded just before the last song I posted, - it's something of a "flipside" to that single.
Same guitar, same process of recording, but using only slight reverb just to give it some air (it probably could have used more). Again, I don't know how "original" it is but it was fun to do.
Danny
I started putting words to it as I heard it. Yup, you did mighty fine on that. More please.
I was talking to my best friend tonight and later recalled the first time I'd heard him play which would be only the beginning of what I would be able to hear. He knows I'll embarrass him but he forgives me. I listen to his music and hear the things I hear from you incredible players on this thread. You all love to play and it shows.
And I hear his heart and soul coming out of the strings with similarities to some of my favorites like SRV, Clapton and Knopfler. He's even shocked himself at times. He'll stop playing and laugh and go whoa did you hear that and we'll laugh at his incredible shyness about it all. You men and women that can make yourselves known thru your chords amaze me.
I think there is something that soothes a soul in music, the right music for the right time. And I prefer guitars. I grew up around them and I still remember the sound of my dad with his steel guitar and metal fingertips. He can still make some young men turn green.
Very nice performance, Even! Clams, with a nice white wine sauce, aaaah! Can't hear them, it's well done, brother!
Chas, there's clams and there's "hogs". Hogs be the BAD ones! But nary a shelled friend or a curled tail in that one!
Chatty, I know you're an EC fan, and I heard this one online this weekend. I'm unable to keep up with his releases these days, and hadn't heard it before.
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dmiller
Very nice!!! Great recording sound too, Evan.
Thanks for sharing that! :) :) :)
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TheInvisibleDan
Ah Tom, 1953s "Invaders from Mars" - it's almost like watching a lost "body-snatcher" episode of "Leave it to Beaver".
The music is really striking in this, in that, while three other sci-fi movies that came out earlier ("The Thing", "It Came from Outer Space" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still") all employed the Theremin (and the same Theremin player, Samuel Hoffman), "Invaders from Mars" departed from this trend and used very bizarre choral arrangements fed through an echo chamber, accompanied by an organ, which played each time someone fell victim to "the sandpit". The music is credited to a "Raoul Krashner" (sp.) - which is not a composer but actually a music company which marketed music to the television and movie industry. They had all their music cheaply recorded overseas (no doubt by fine European orchestras) to circumvent the American composer/musician union at the time. It's not absolutely certain who had actually composed that wild music (though the name Gillman has been tossed about), aside from the fact that it was a small German chorus (comprised of 5-7 people) which did the "singing martian" cues.
What a good, creepy movie, especially for kids! I remember that movie creeping me out good, watching it on our family black&white tv during the 60s. And psychologically - out of all the sci-fis of the 50s era - "Invaders from Mars" perhaps struck a deeper nerve with kids, as it is actually filmed from the perspective of a child, who witnessed a flying saucer landing in the sandpit behind his house, and from thereon, watched his parents and townfolk becoming "possessed" by the spirits of Martian-Commie hoodlums (identifiable from the implants on the back of their necks - which may have played a certain influence on the formation of modern alien abduction beliefs)
To accentuate the child's perspective, the set designer (R. Metzies) from "Gone with the Wind" was hired to do the set production for this movie. Furniture and doors were deliberately built higher and larger, and a number of camera angles seemingly shot from below waist level. Hence, everything appaered larger and higher to the child's eyes.
It's a very fascinating, well-done movie, unfortunately hampered by its over-use of military stock-footage toward the end.
Tom, if I recall the giant ant sounds in "Them", they were more a chirping sound -how this was done, I don't know at the moment - but it didn't sound like a theremin. But it's been awhile since I watched that movie. And I may be confusing some stuff with the giant grasshopper movie ("The Beginning of the End").
I'm trying to recall the Vincent Price movie of which you speak...wondering if it was one of those William Castle productions (like "House on Haunted Hill").
Chat, I think spacey, dreamy music is a good thing too. Not everybody goes for that sort of thing nowadays, but I enjoy listening (and trying to put together) music that transports one elsewhere.
Speaking of dreams, the attached song was inspired by a rift I heard in a dream. That doesn't happen too often but I love it when it does. This was recorded just before the last song I posted, - it's something of a "flipside" to that single.
Same guitar, same process of recording, but using only slight reverb just to give it some air (it probably could have used more). Again, I don't know how "original" it is but it was fun to do.
Danny
Colchester_Lights_DJM.MP3
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Bluzeman
Was the Vincent Price movie Dr. Phibes?
Rick
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Tom Strange
I don't know Rick... could be... I went and read the comments/reviews of "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" and it could be... I just thought it was from earlier in my youth... I no doubt saw TADP at the drive in since it came out in 1970 (I would've been 16) but I thought it was earlier... either way it made an impression, the scene I'm talking about is one where this guy picks up a pair of binoculars to look at something (a woman?) out the window and as he puts them to his eyes, springloaded spikes/nails pop out of the lenses...
...On another note, the two best sit-coms ever were "Green Acres" and "F-Troop"... IMHO
(sorry for the off topicness)
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TheInvisibleDan
Evan,
Impeccable playing, and the sound is absolutely gorgeous. Nothing beats an actual live, open-air recording
of which one can also enjoy the acoustics of an actual room. Inspires me to want to invest in some decent mics. Thank you.
Danny
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TheEvan
Impeccable playing? Those clams get worse with each listening!
But it is beautiful music and the recording is tops.
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ChasUFarley
Beautiful, as always, Evan!
Such a bittersweet song - Greig's music is always very expressive. We've recently discovered him via a children's show that my boys love - Little Eiensteins - which feature his music quite frequently. Sounds like there's a key change in this - is that so? Or is it incidentials? (At about mid-way through the piece.) Either way, it's a pleasure to listen to.
Not to take away from your performance or anything, but why is a mistake called a 'clam'? I thought just bassists used that term...
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TheInvisibleDan
I suspect (outside of yourself and perhaps other guitar players there) most folks in audience
probably didn't have a clue. That's the first time I've heard that piece by Grieg - I often don't hear pieces by him outside of "Morning", "Hall of the Mountain King" and his piano concerto in A minor.
Danny
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ChattyKathy
The music has the sense that even though direction may change there is a continuance that lies just below all else going on. It's such a tender and sad piece. And you play beautifully. Thank you for sharing with us. This thread would be lacking without your music.
I started putting words to it as I heard it. Yup, you did mighty fine on that. More please.
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act2
Evan, thanks for posting. I loved the music and the pictures. Looks like a good time was had by all !!!!!
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ChattyKathy
I was talking to my best friend tonight and later recalled the first time I'd heard him play which would be only the beginning of what I would be able to hear. He knows I'll embarrass him but he forgives me. I listen to his music and hear the things I hear from you incredible players on this thread. You all love to play and it shows.
And I hear his heart and soul coming out of the strings with similarities to some of my favorites like SRV, Clapton and Knopfler. He's even shocked himself at times. He'll stop playing and laugh and go whoa did you hear that and we'll laugh at his incredible shyness about it all. You men and women that can make yourselves known thru your chords amaze me.
I think there is something that soothes a soul in music, the right music for the right time. And I prefer guitars. I grew up around them and I still remember the sound of my dad with his steel guitar and metal fingertips. He can still make some young men turn green.
(Rick, I didn't get too outlandish did I? hahaha)
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A la prochaine
guitars, guitars, guitars...
sheeshhhhhh ....
enough already....
as she runs for the hills .....
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ChattyKathy
You can't run fast enough girl.
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A la prochaine
sorry chatty...
I can't make out what you're saying...
it seems i'm too far...
hehehehehehehe
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dmiller
Heading Ala *off at the pass*. The Bluegrass pass.
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ChattyKathy
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
It's only because I have to get a nap now that I'll let you win. (yeah right :unsure: uh huh).
You better get your butt (speaking of butts lmao) over to Nostalgia before I send those dogs they have in Canada after you.
Everyone go to sleep now.
Hey that was quick, I didn't even see you slip in there David.
Good headoff! :)
Hey, thanks for that link, I marked it to look at further.
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dmiller
Life is short. Pick quick!
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A la prochaine
oh ... no...
it seems like i have 2 of them guitar junkies after me now...
oh my god...
i think i've started a riot :o
still running
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ChattyKathy
Quick look behind you...fooled you....now I'm gone really this time.
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dmiller
Where's that Ala at?? Eh???
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ChattyKathy
OMG, purple hair....wild.....oops I was suppose to be gone wasn't I....bye really
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A la prochaine
still running....
music man?
is that moi??? :blink:
never
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socks
Very nice performance, Even! Clams, with a nice white wine sauce, aaaah! Can't hear them, it's well done, brother!
Chas, there's clams and there's "hogs".
Hogs be the BAD ones! But nary a shelled friend or a curled tail in that one!
Chatty, I know you're an EC fan, and I heard this one online this weekend. I'm unable to keep up with his releases these days, and hadn't heard it before.
EC of the velvet voice and hand....and the "One Track Mind"
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socks
Invisible Dan, is there more of that? I only got a short clip on the link. Nice sound - Springfield?
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