So... If you're going to improvise in life, by what principle will you determine your direction - your improvisation? When I improvise musically, I usually pick a key and start from there. I know I'll come back around and explore relative and non-relative keys in a search for sounds that please me. When I improvise in life, the principle I try to choose is "love". If I can practice the various steps of "love" in whatever situation I find myself, I'll probably end up with something that's pleasing to me and potentially pleasing to others. Do I have a goal of pleasing others? Not necessarily. To do what is loving doesn't always mean that people will be pleased by my actions. Is that an excuse not to do what is loving? Sometimes it has been - often to my detriment and the detriment of those around me. When I seek to please others rather than loving them, I'm not likely to be improvising or serving them in a manner that will outlive the short-sighted actions of the day. I'd love to please people more often than I do. Still, by improvising my actions toward the goal of offering love, I've found that I usually end up with something that will be lasting rather than merely temporary. It's not easy. But, in my experience, love rarely is easy. Some people prefer hard and fast rules about how loving should be done. That approach is not for me. Improvising seems to me a better way to travel on the path of life than perpetrating mere rules. In my experience, trying to "love" by the rules usually has the result of creating something that is a dry husk - or an impersonation of love. To "love" and to improvise my actions toward making sure the love offered is what is truly needed by those I'm trying to love... That's when improvisational love actually builds upon a foundation that was started eons ago. My goal in life is love. My means of getting there is improvisational loving so I might better meet the true needs of those around me. Am I trying to be like God? I certainly hope so...
Randy
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
More New Lyrics - Canned Peaches
Improvisation can lead us to use any given thought as a jumping off point from which we can incite creativity - to improvise on the plethora of fleeting impressions and half-guessed tidbits of life... That's how this song came about yesterday. Someone mentioned "Southern Illinois Peaches" and I was off and running.
BTW: This means I've got three sets of new lyrics for which I'll write music. It also means that my next album is about 2/3s determined. Soon, the actual recording process will start! I'm excited!
BTW: This means I've got three sets of new lyrics for which I'll write music. It also means that my next album is about 2/3s determined. Soon, the actual recording process will start! I'm excited!
Canned Peaches by Randy Creath 7/28/2011
I can smell fresh peaches as the cooker’s heatin’ up
The steam shrouds the kitchen as my mother fills a cup
The sugar hits the boilin’ water, the syrup turns light gold
The knives and scoops are scalded and the crew’s ready to go
Chorus:
Cannin’ up the garden in the old ball-mason jars
Look ahead to winter and the north wind’s roaring wars
The cold’ll try to beat us down and the snow’ll hide the stars
Glad to eat canned peaches, tellin’ lies and swappin’ yarns
Sometimes it might be green beans, and other times it’s corn
Cucumbers become pickles, while tomatoes wait at the farm
Stealin’ berries, nibblin’ carrots on hot and sultry days
I didn’t much like the turnips but zucchini seemed OK
Dad liked to try somethin’ new, we were never sure
But if he ate it ‘n’ didn’t die, we’d usually try the cure
We learned about how we could take the tiger by the tail
From pickled peppers, brussel sprouts, cabbages and kale
Then came the day my parents said, we’re gonna can some beef
We were goggle-eyed, confused, lost in unbelief
On cold fall days of campin’, Mother’d cook us up a mess…
Of canned beef ‘n’ dried egg noodles, might’ve been the best.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Vigilante... Another new song start
Vigilante by Randy Creath 7/6/2011
Vigilante sunset, vigilante dawn
Vigilantes screamin’, vigilante pawns
Vigilante hatred, vigilante songs
Vigilante senseless, vigilante wrongs
Vigilante cryin’, o’er imagined sins
Vigilante cursin’, same old things again
Vigilante blindness, in the light of day
Vigilante mindset, seems it’s here to stay
Chorus:
Paint the law in black & white,
Just a “tin” commandment acolyte
We’ve forgotten that the law is love,
Divin’ on the wings of a sacred dove…
Vigilantes of all kinds
Vigilantes rape our minds
Vigilante blindfold comes
Vigilante kill our sons
Vigilante live the lie
Vigilante daughters die
Vigilante seize the day
Tearin’ all our hope away
Bridge:
Tie the rope, load the guns,
For their anti-hero runs
Forget the truth, embrace the lie,
Vigilante won’t you hear our cry..?
Vigilante subway sharks
Vigilante crosses light the dark
Vigilante masquerade
Vigilante dancing days
Vigilante ignore what’s right
Vigilantes damn the light
Vigilantes foul the air
Vigilante laughter echo hell…
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Storm Clouds - A New Set of Lyrics
Storm Clouds by Randy Creath 7/27/2011
storm clouds rollin' in from the west
darkness lurkin' behind my vest
harbinger of what the day brings
puzzle pieces I can barely sing
“Idiot America” or so the book says
ask the wrong question, less to confess
wonder when their eyes will all open wide
harken back to the day when the truth died
Chorus:
me first ain’t the way to walk
shoutin’ ‘em down ain’t the way to talk
leave the poor cryin’ and hungry at night
wanna be a millionaire? well it ain’t your right!
Hatred driven, the media raves
Chant chaotic sing-song staves
Beat your chest to demand the best
Make damn sure you’re the only one blest
Foment fear, rabid paranoia
Based on rumors, lies & “duh”
Lick the boots of the sacred buck
Even when your future is out of luck…
Bridge:
Is there a way to ease your heart?
Is there a way to do your part?
Is there hope in your manifesto?
Or will you simply echo the status quo?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Improvisation for the bold and the bruised
I started to entitle this piece "Improvisation Ain't for Sissies". Somehow it seemed accurate but it sounded tasteless. So, beginning with improvisation and title change...
When you improvise in music or life you're required to be bold and you're bound to be bruised. I believe improvisation comes from within one's self.
Yes, improvisation can be practiced. There are those who believe that certain conventions apply to improvisation. There are even classes in improvisation with formulas and frameworks to which one must apply one's self.
I'm not one of the folks who enjoys that style of improvisation. For me, improvisation is a difficult mistress; a muse from which there is little comfort offered and less invitation extended. To improvise is to set sail into unknown waters with the smattering of skill and expertise this short life can provide. Improvisation is for the bold - those who are willing to try new things and who are willing to endure the shots that are bound to follow.
When I was in college, my art professor had very little good to say about my work in ceramics. His usual comment was that he'd "seen it before". Interestingly, I'd not "seen it before"! I'd never worked with clay or studied the topic. Still, his evaluation was that my lack of experience/originality inherently devalued my work. I had a choice... I could refrain from trying anything until I'd seen everything my art professor had seen. Or, I could take a leap and follow my own vision - even if it wasn't up to the standards my art professor maintained. In the end, I chose my vision over paralysis!! I've been doing that ever since! I got a B in the course - but I learned a valuable lesson in how to expand my own improvisational sensibilties!
The bruises that come from improvisation usually come from people who think they know what your improvisation should be. I've come to learn, painfully, that if I depend on the evaluations of others, I'll simply never improvise. I'll never soar into the heart of the music or embrace the complexity of life. I'll be grounded. My belief in myself will be shelved along with my desire to expand and breathe the free air of the "as yet" unexperienced. Not surprisingly, I'd rather be bruised, battered, tattered; even sometimes forlorn and lonely! But, I will not be grounded!
Every time I put my hands on a piano keyboard or lift a guitar into my arms or embrace the foolishness of preaching, I take a risk. Will I play or preach the tried and true only to be bound by the stifling judgement of people who think they know what's best? Or, will I dive into the slipstream of dreams and visions where the notes played and the words spoken are not judged on the standards of "we've never done it that way before"? Will I fly on thermals of guessed at inklings and speak half-formed thoughts into places where the music and words build the halls of hope and grace? Will I play stodgy sounds and utter tired platitudes that massage the dreaded status quo while muttering comfort to its murky morass? Or, will I plunge into the clear air of the unknown and soar on the wings of prophetic and melodic freedom?
Hmmm... I guess I'll let you know my choice (if you haven't guessed it) when I finally land sometime, somewhere, somehow, somewhen, and somewhy...
Randy
When you improvise in music or life you're required to be bold and you're bound to be bruised. I believe improvisation comes from within one's self.
Yes, improvisation can be practiced. There are those who believe that certain conventions apply to improvisation. There are even classes in improvisation with formulas and frameworks to which one must apply one's self.
I'm not one of the folks who enjoys that style of improvisation. For me, improvisation is a difficult mistress; a muse from which there is little comfort offered and less invitation extended. To improvise is to set sail into unknown waters with the smattering of skill and expertise this short life can provide. Improvisation is for the bold - those who are willing to try new things and who are willing to endure the shots that are bound to follow.
When I was in college, my art professor had very little good to say about my work in ceramics. His usual comment was that he'd "seen it before". Interestingly, I'd not "seen it before"! I'd never worked with clay or studied the topic. Still, his evaluation was that my lack of experience/originality inherently devalued my work. I had a choice... I could refrain from trying anything until I'd seen everything my art professor had seen. Or, I could take a leap and follow my own vision - even if it wasn't up to the standards my art professor maintained. In the end, I chose my vision over paralysis!! I've been doing that ever since! I got a B in the course - but I learned a valuable lesson in how to expand my own improvisational sensibilties!
The bruises that come from improvisation usually come from people who think they know what your improvisation should be. I've come to learn, painfully, that if I depend on the evaluations of others, I'll simply never improvise. I'll never soar into the heart of the music or embrace the complexity of life. I'll be grounded. My belief in myself will be shelved along with my desire to expand and breathe the free air of the "as yet" unexperienced. Not surprisingly, I'd rather be bruised, battered, tattered; even sometimes forlorn and lonely! But, I will not be grounded!
Every time I put my hands on a piano keyboard or lift a guitar into my arms or embrace the foolishness of preaching, I take a risk. Will I play or preach the tried and true only to be bound by the stifling judgement of people who think they know what's best? Or, will I dive into the slipstream of dreams and visions where the notes played and the words spoken are not judged on the standards of "we've never done it that way before"? Will I fly on thermals of guessed at inklings and speak half-formed thoughts into places where the music and words build the halls of hope and grace? Will I play stodgy sounds and utter tired platitudes that massage the dreaded status quo while muttering comfort to its murky morass? Or, will I plunge into the clear air of the unknown and soar on the wings of prophetic and melodic freedom?
Hmmm... I guess I'll let you know my choice (if you haven't guessed it) when I finally land sometime, somewhere, somehow, somewhen, and somewhy...
Randy
Monday, July 25, 2011
Living Improvisation - 1st Movement
I play a number of different musical instruments and I love to improvise when I'm playing music! Guitar, piano, keyboards, mandolin, celtic whistle... Each of them requires a different approach to technique and the use of musculature to achieve a good tone and acceptable style. Still, no matter what instrument you play, it's important to choose a key when you're going to improvise. I've learned this simple truth through many trials and errors. It doesn't so much matter which key you choose; rather, it's important to simply choose one.
I've recently chosen the key of being a caring help-meet to my loving wife. How is that improvisation you might ask..? Improvisation happens when a person is willing to bend their will to meet the needs of a specific set of constructs. In this case, the constructs I've chosen have to do with the well-being and joy that I can help my wife to achieve. Perhaps one day it's a waltz riff in "G" while I'm taking out the garbage. Another day it might mean cha-cha in "Dm" while quietly waiting for her to finish a tough assignment. Someday I hope it'll be reggae in "E" while she's looking my way with those lovely eyes of hers!
Who knows what any given day will bring? I certainly don't pretend to know what's going to happen tomorrow. Still, I know that I'll do my best to improvise to meet my wife's needs - the best way I know how! For those of you who haven't heard me "improvise", you know I'll be rockin'... maybe in B#!!
Randy
I've recently chosen the key of being a caring help-meet to my loving wife. How is that improvisation you might ask..? Improvisation happens when a person is willing to bend their will to meet the needs of a specific set of constructs. In this case, the constructs I've chosen have to do with the well-being and joy that I can help my wife to achieve. Perhaps one day it's a waltz riff in "G" while I'm taking out the garbage. Another day it might mean cha-cha in "Dm" while quietly waiting for her to finish a tough assignment. Someday I hope it'll be reggae in "E" while she's looking my way with those lovely eyes of hers!
Who knows what any given day will bring? I certainly don't pretend to know what's going to happen tomorrow. Still, I know that I'll do my best to improvise to meet my wife's needs - the best way I know how! For those of you who haven't heard me "improvise", you know I'll be rockin'... maybe in B#!!
Randy
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