Have a listen to this: https://xeno-canto.org/1066013 This is an example of one of my absolute favourite birdsongs. Indeed, the sound of starlings often gets me to do another bit of recording even when I'm really tired and need to go home. When I'm recording birds, I go into such a state of hyperfocus that my … Continue reading The Starling, One Of The Most Original Singers I’ve Ever Heard
Category: music
So Then, What the Devil is 14-TET Music?
So, it’s been a good few years since I wrote this: https://autismneurodiversity.com/2023/05/21/so-what-the-devil-is-24-tet-music/ About my journey into 24-TET music. When I wrote that, I was only familiar with our standard, “Western” 12-TET system, and the 24-TET system (also know as the 12 EDO system and the 24 EDO system, EDO stands for equal divisions of the … Continue reading So Then, What the Devil is 14-TET Music?
The Music Of Other Minds
As I write this, I can hear music outside. It's the music of a mind so different from mine. A brain diverged from my own by at least 300 million years of evolution. It's the music of, a woodpigeon! The sound of a wood pigeon I recorded: https://xeno-canto.org/977080 https://imgur.com/7UYfcA5 WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO!!!!! I love the song of … Continue reading The Music Of Other Minds
On “Separating The Art From The Artist”
So, let's start with an obvious statement. Brilliant musicians are often shitty people. Miles Davis, who re-invented jazz so many times that you can nearly get a good idea of the genre's history just by listening to him, admitted to beating his third wife, Cecily Tyson. https://www.gq.co.za/culture/entertainment/miles-davis-a-problematic-life-a-problematic-legacy-46651610 So, it's a fairly obvious fact, great musicians … Continue reading On “Separating The Art From The Artist”
Sounds That Can’t Be Made, A Late Era Gem From Marillion
Marillion are a band that were in danger of being confined to my list of bands that I’ll never listen to for the remainder of my life. Why was this? Did I hear anything bad about their music? No, quite the opposite in fact. I’d heard nothing but good things. But, there is so much … Continue reading Sounds That Can’t Be Made, A Late Era Gem From Marillion
Bees, Moths, A Dragonfly, And A Guitar
So sometimes if I’m trying to write about something and I get writer’s block, my approach is, think of a really interesting title, and work from there. So what the devil is this title about then? Well, for the last few years, I’ve gone to Woodpoint to play my saz, an instrument that allows you … Continue reading Bees, Moths, A Dragonfly, And A Guitar
The Andy Irvine Gig in St Luke’s Was One Of The Highlights of This Year
So a few weeks ago I reviewed Rainy Sundays Windy Dreams by Andy Irvine. Here’s that: https://autismneurodiversity.wordpress.com/2024/03/18/rainy-sundays-windy-dreams-from-ireland-to-the-balkans-and-back-again And I mentioned in it I would soon be going to see Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny playing in St Luke’s. Sadly, Donal Lunny couldn’t make the gig due to health issues, and I hope he makes a … Continue reading The Andy Irvine Gig in St Luke’s Was One Of The Highlights of This Year
Rainy Sundays… Windy Dreams, from Ireland to the Balkans and Back again
In 1979, Andy Irvine released his first solo album. This was far from his first encounter with the music world, he had at this point already been in two quite innovative and memorable Irish trad groups, Sweeney’s Men in the 1960’s, and in the 1970’s, the one, the only, Planxty, the band that took Irish … Continue reading Rainy Sundays… Windy Dreams, from Ireland to the Balkans and Back again
Handful Of Earth, An Essential Scottish Folk Album With Obscenely Good Guitar Playing
Too often, I end up never getting to see my favourite musicians play, travel anxiety makes it difficult to see them in Dublin, and impossible to see them outside Ireland. And I can be so scatterbrained at times that they will come to play in my city and I will simply be unaware of it. … Continue reading Handful Of Earth, An Essential Scottish Folk Album With Obscenely Good Guitar Playing
Summer Make Good, Soothing and Scary Sounds From Iceland
Iceland’s folk music has to a large extent, been lost to history. In Ireland, or Scotland, Norway, Hungary or Bulgaria, it’s easy enough to find examples of those country's folk songs to listen to. Sadly, this is not the case with Iceland. However, Iceland has done something different, that many countries have not managed to … Continue reading Summer Make Good, Soothing and Scary Sounds From Iceland
Ponderings Of An Autist 