The Mellotron Group

It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng on a fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have released some time soon.

The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical works, recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read music and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well as coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes everywhere in sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as I think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes with a bit of a twist.

The one major difference between this and other attempts to record these pieces is that everything on the album will be played on the Mellotron.

The album is to be called mellotronworks and I've taken the bold step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview. You can download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece Adagio for Strings from the following link: http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/Barbers%20Adagio.mp3

Comments welcomed.

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

----- Original Message -----

From: Mike Dickson

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 4:59 PM

Subject: [newmellotrongroup] mellotronworks

It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng on a fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have released some time soon.

The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical works, recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read music and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well as coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes everywhere in sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as I think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes with a bit of a twist.

The one major difference between this and other attempts to record these pieces is that everything on the album will be played on the Mellotron.

The album is to be called mellotronworks and I've taken the bold step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview. You can download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece Adagio for Strings from the following link: http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/ Barbers%20Adagio .mp3

Comments welcomed.

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/

Mike, you've captured all the emotion and intensity of the piece
beautifully.
Looking forward to the rest of 'em.
Paul

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@...> wrote:

>
> It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng

on a

> fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have
> released some time soon.
>
> The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical

works,

> recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read

music

> and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me
> invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well

as

> coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes everywhere

in

> sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as I
> think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes

with

> a bit of a twist.
>
> The one major difference between this and other attempts to record

these

> pieces is that /everything /on the album will be played on the

Mellotron.

>
> The album is to be called */mellotronworks /*and I've taken the

bold

> step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview. You

can

> download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece /Adagio for
> Strings/ from the following link:
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/Barbers%20Adagio.mp3
>
> Comments welcomed.
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/
>

Mike, I likewise don't know the piece, but it's very nice. I look
forward to the album.
best,
john barrick



tony1 wrote:

>
> Hi Mike,
> I don't know that piece, but your playing and production is in a word
> "brilliant".
> Well done my friend and I am eager to hear more!
>
> Best,
> Tony
> Tampa
> U.S.A.
> #510
>

Mike,

That's superb.


msw
________________________________

> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> From: mike.dickson@gmail.com
> Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:59:39 +0100
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] mellotronworks
>
>
> It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng on a fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have released some time soon.
>
> The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical works, recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read music and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well as coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes everywhere in sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as I think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes with a bit of a twist.
>
> The one major difference between this and other attempts to record these pieces is that everything on the album will be played on the Mellotron.
>
> The album is to be called mellotronworks and I've taken the bold step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview. You can download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece Adagio for Strings from the following link: http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/Barbers%20Adagio.mp3
>
> Comments welcomed.
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
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Mike,
My sentiments exactly!
Pete

tony1 wrote:

> Hi Mike,
> I don't know that piece, but your playing and production is in a word
> "brilliant".
> Well done my friend and I am eager to hear more!
>
> Best,
> Tony
> Tampa
> U.S.A.
> #510
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Mike Dickson <mailto:mike.dickson@gmail.com>
> *To:* newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
> *Sent:* Monday, September 29, 2008 4:59 PM
> *Subject:* [newmellotrongroup] mellotronworks
>
> It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng
> on a fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to
> have released some time soon.
>
> The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical
> works, recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I
> don't read music and so it has been a slow and painful process at
> times, with me invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own
> creation as well as coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and
> post-it notes everywhere in sight. However, I have pressed on
> despite all the difficulties as I think the end result is going to
> be extremely worthwhile and comes with a bit of a twist.
>
> The one major difference between this and other attempts to record
> these pieces is that /everything /on the album will be played on
> the Mellotron.
>
> The album is to be called */mellotronworks /*and I've taken the
> bold step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a
> preview. You can download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936
> masterpiece /Adagio for Strings/ from the following link:
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/Barbers%20Adagio.mp3
>
> Comments welcomed.
>
>

Sooooo Cool !!!!!
If you take requests...put the theme to Platoon on there...that would fit in nicely.
Keep em coming.
Lee

Mike Dickson wrote:

It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng on a fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have released some time soon.

The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical works, recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read music and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well as coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes everywhere in sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as I think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes with a bit of a twist.

The one major difference between this and other attempts to record these pieces is that everything on the album will be played on the Mellotron.

The album is to be called mellotronworks and I've taken the bold step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview. You can download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece Adagio for Strings from the following link: http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/ Barbers%20Adagio .mp3

Comments welcomed.

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1697 - Release Date: 9/29/2008 7:40 AM

  

Mike,

Your hard work is paying off for all of us...great music at a
bargain price!!

On the web pages for In Excelsis and Six Consequences, you list the
Mellotron sounds that you used in each recording. It's nice to hear
some of the new sounds in the context of a musical piece. Will you
eventually update the other pages to list the Mellotron sounds as
well?

I couldn't help but notice that you have used some softsynths like
Magnus Choir, Angelina, Atmosphere and Trilogy. I'm a big fan of
Magnus Choir and Atmosphere. Any interest in Omnisphere?

Bernie

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@...> wrote:

>
> It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng

on a

> fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have
> released some time soon.
>
> The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical

works,

> recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read

music

> and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me
> invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well

as

> coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes

everywhere in

> sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as

I

> think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes

with

> a bit of a twist.
>
> The one major difference between this and other attempts to record

these

> pieces is that /everything /on the album will be played on the

Mellotron.

>
> The album is to be called */mellotronworks /*and I've taken the

bold

> step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview.

You can

> download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece /Adagio

for

> Strings/ from the following link:
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/Barbers%20Adagio.mp3
>
> Comments welcomed.
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/
>

Yes, I'll be updating the web pages in time. Quite a lot of the sounds you hear are not what you expect. On mellotronworks I play fast and loose with tunings; to get the range of sounds I need I often detune the instrument down by a fifth (or more), usually using the little yellow nut on the control board as it's more accurate (IMO) than the pitch control. I'm also not averse to recording things at the wrong pitch and the wrong speed to get a particularly fast run in place or a very sonorous bass. (The bass in the Barber piece is a blend of slowed-down string section and the new cello)

The soft synths I use on my existing recordings are a varied bunch. The Magnus Choir is good but I find most of the voices are quite similar to each other. Havign said that it's cheap and a bargain. The Organux soft synth is pretty good too, although I have an issue with both in that if I record a track using them then they always revert to the first voice when I reload the track layout and have to reset the voice. Quite annoying. (I'm using ACID Pro for all of this, so cannot comment on whether or not it happens with other recording software) My only other complaint about them is that their demos are great but the 'purchase encouragement tone' that occurs throughout is so loud it becomes VERY hard to hear the demo. Some other soft synths do thing like having rolling sounds of white noise every so often which render the demo useless for stealing but which also doesn't cause your eyeballs to bulge every time it goes off in your headphones.

I haven't heard anything about Omnisphere.

Mike


Bernie wrote:

Mike,

Your hard work is paying off for all of us...great music at a
bargain price!!

On the web pages for In Excelsis and Six Consequences, you list the
Mellotron sounds that you used in each recording. It's nice to hear
some of the new sounds in the context of a musical piece. Will you
eventually update the other pages to list the Mellotron sounds as
well?

I couldn't help but notice that you have used some softsynths like
Magnus Choir, Angelina, Atmosphere and Trilogy. I'm a big fan of
Magnus Choir and Atmosphere. Any interest in Omnisphere?

Bernie

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@ ...> wrote:
>
> It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng
on a
> fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have
> released some time soon.
>
> The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical
works,
> recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read
music
> and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me
> invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well
as
> coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes
everywhere in
> sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as
I
> think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes
with
> a bit of a twist.
>
> The one major difference between this and other attempts to record
these
> pieces is that /everything /on the album will be played on the
Mellotron.
>
> The album is to be called */mellotronworks /*and I've taken the
bold
> step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview.
You can
> download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece /Adagio
for
> Strings/ from the following link:
> http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/ Barbers%20Adagio .mp3
>
> Comments welcomed.
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/
>

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

Thanks to all for the kind words about the Barber piece. The other
tracks ought to vause a few raised eyebrows, I imagine.

Naturally the thing you just heard is a demo; it's ripped at a fairly
awful rate and had that MP3 tinkling effect all over it. The real
version sounds WAY better. (And is better in uncompressed WAV through a
pair of proper speakers)

Mike

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@...> wrote:

> I haven't heard anything about Omnisphere.

Omnisphere is the Atmosphere upgrade. I'm expecting my copy to be
delivered any minute.

Bernie

Ah OK. I thought Atmosphere was pretty good.
Oh - I've updated the Mellotron voices on the web pages too.

Mike

Bernie wrote:

>
> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:newmellotrongroup%40yahoogroups.com>, Mike Dickson
> <mike.dickson@...> wrote:
>
> > I haven't heard anything about Omnisphere.
>
> Omnisphere is the Atmosphere upgrade. I'm expecting my copy to be
> delivered any minute.
>
> Bernie
>
>

--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernie <kornowicz@cox.net>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 4:05 pm
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

----- Original Message -----

From: fdoddy@aol.com

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 12:12 PM

Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

I thought it was the "God Layer" above the stratosphere

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernie <kornowicz@cox. net>
To: newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 4:05 pm
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@ ...> wrote:

> I haven't heard anything about Omnisphere.

Omnisphere is the Atmosphere upgrade. I'm expecting my copy to be
delivered any minute.

Bernie

Find phone numbers fast with the New AOL Yellow Pages!

A new aerial detention center that all dissenters are being shipped off to.
johnbarrick


tony1 wrote:

>
> OK I give up, what's with the Omnisphere/Stratosphere stuff?
> I was off list for a short time and must have missed something.
>
> Tony
> #510
>

----- Original Message -----

From: john barrick

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:02 PM

Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

A new aerial detention center that all dissenters are being shipped off to.
johnbarrick

tony1 wrote:
>
> OK I give up, what's with the Omnisphere/Stratosp here stuff?
> I was off list for a short time and must have missed something.
>
> Tony
> #510
>

Soft Synths?
jb

tony1 wrote:

>
> I didn't say shit about dissenting, merely trying to get caught up.
> Oh I forgot that in "this court" you are guilty until proven innocent
> .... >:-)>.
> Shades of the past?
>
> Just kidding, but I don't know anymore than I did.
>
> Tony
> #510
> Oasys bound ........ the big mother
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* john barrick <mailto:astroboy@cinci.rr.com>
> *To:* newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:02 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks
>
> A new aerial detention center that all dissenters are being
> shipped off to.
> johnbarrick
>
> tony1 wrote:
> >
> > OK I give up, what's with the Omnisphere/Stratosphere stuff?
> > I was off list for a short time and must have missed something.
> >
> > Tony
> > #510
> >
>
>

Tony: See Spectrasonics
re: Hemorrhoidosphere
http://www.spectrasonics.net/

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "ceccles_ca" <ecclesreinson@...> wrote:
>
> Tony: See Spectrasonics
> re: Hemorrhoidosphere
> http://www.spectrasonics.net/
>

I just installed it last night. Works great if you have a Cray computer.

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 10/1/2008 2:29:35 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> atm655@... writes:
>
> didn't say shit about dissenting, merely trying to get caught up.
> Oh I forgot that in "this court" you are guilty until proven innocent ....
> >:-)>.
> Shades of the past?
>
> Just kidding, but I don't know anymore than I did.
>
>
>
>
>
> Can I go?

Good luck...I haven't gone in days.

----- Original Message -----

From: ceccles_ca

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 3:35 PM

Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

Tony: See Spectrasonics
re: Hemorrhoidosphere
http://www.spectras onics.net/

----- Original Message -----

From: john barrick

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 3:02 PM

Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

Soft Synths?
jb

tony1 wrote:
>
> I didn't say shit about dissenting, merely trying to get caught up.
> Oh I forgot that in "this court" you are guilty until proven innocent
> .... >:-)>.
> Shades of the past?
>
> Just kidding, but I don't know anymore than I did.
>
> Tony
> #510
> Oasys bound ........ the big mother
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* john barrick <mailto:astroboy@cinci. rr.com>
> *To:* newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com
> <mailto:newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:02 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks
>
> A new aerial detention center that all dissenters are being
> shipped off to.
> johnbarrick
>
> tony1 wrote:
> >
> > OK I give up, what's with the Omnisphere/Stratosp here stuff?
> > I was off list for a short time and must have missed something.
> >
> > Tony
> > #510
> >
>
>

----- Original Message -----

From: lsf5275@aol.com

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 6:15 PM

Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

In a message dated 10/1/2008 2:29:35 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, atm655@verizon. net writes:

didn't say shit about dissenting, merely trying to get caught up.

Oh I forgot that in "this court" you are guilty until proven innocent .... >:-)>.

Shades of the past?

Just kidding, but I don't know anymore than I did.

Can I go?

Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "tony1" <atm655@...> wrote:

>
> Oh I forgot the most important thing! Play one!
> Nothing has gotten my attention like this sucker since I played my

first Mellotron (an M400) in 1974!

>
> Tony

Dynamic Korg Oasys string voices played by Jordan Rudess:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hesCJs36U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJGqWNXQgDs&feature=related

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, "tony1" <atm655@...> wrote:
>
> Oh I forgot the most important thing! Play one!
> Nothing has gotten my attention like this sucker since I played my
first Mellotron (an M400) in 1974!
>
> Tony

Dynamic Korg Oasys string voices played by Jordan Rudess:

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=55hesCJs36U& feature=related

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=xJGqWNXQgDs& feature=related

Mike - That is one of my very favorite classical pieces, and VERY
nicely done!!! The epitome of melancholia!

Now, if you have done Ravel's "Pavan For A Dead Princess" I might
just cry ...




--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@...> wrote:

>
> It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng

on a

> fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have
> released some time soon.
>
> The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical

works,

> recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read

music

> and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me
> invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well

as

> coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes everywhere

in

> sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as I
> think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes

with

> a bit of a twist.
>
> The one major difference between this and other attempts to record

these

> pieces is that /everything /on the album will be played on the

Mellotron.

>
> The album is to be called */mellotronworks /*and I've taken the

bold

> step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview. You

can

> download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece /Adagio for
> Strings/ from the following link:
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/Barbers%20Adagio.mp3
>
> Comments welcomed.
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/
>

Start bawling. Oddly enough, that was one of the dozen or so pieces that was started and aborted for mellotronworks. (Though it's called Pavane pour une Infante Défunte more correctly)

Most of the aborted pieces were rejected because either (1) the Mellotron made them sound 'wooden', (2) they just have too many fast runs in them to make it plausible, (3) I just couldn't play them or (4) some of the voices the pieces demand are just not available for the Tron. The orchestral version of the Ravel calls for a harp which is used extensively in the second half of the piece. Such a thing just doesn't exist for the Mellotron and rightly so, I have to add. The mechanics of the instrument are built more (but not only) for legato than anything else. 'My' version used sampled harps just as filler, but since that was not in keeping with the spirit of the project it was abandoned about halfway through.

Mike

bayofkings7 wrote:

Mike - That is one of my very favorite classical pieces, and VERY
nicely done!!! The epitome of melancholia!

Now, if you have done Ravel's "Pavan For A Dead Princess" I might
just cry ...

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@ ...> wrote:
>
> It's a fairly open secret among a few people here that I'm workng
on a
> fifth and (if planning is right, final) album which I hope to have
> released some time soon.
>
> The album will be my take on a number of well-known classical
works,
> recorded by me over the preceding five months or so. I don't read
music
> and so it has been a slow and painful process at times, with me
> invariably surrounded by musical charts of my own creation as well
as
> coloured scores, annotated manuscripts and post-it notes everywhere
in
> sight. However, I have pressed on despite all the difficulties as I
> think the end result is going to be extremely worthwhile and comes
with
> a bit of a twist.
>
> The one major difference between this and other attempts to record
these
> pieces is that /everything /on the album will be played on the
Mellotron.
>
> The album is to be called */mellotronworks /*and I've taken the
bold
> step of giving the good readers of this mailing list a preview. You
can
> download my version of Samuel Barber's 1936 masterpiece /Adagio for
> Strings/ from the following link:
> http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/ Barbers%20Adagio .mp3
>
> Comments welcomed.
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/
>

----- Original Message -----

From: ceccles_ca

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 3:35 PM

Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

Tony: See Spectrasonics
re: Hemorrhoidosphere
http://www.spectras onics.net/

Opps it was. Supposed to be private

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "Bernie" <kornowicz@cox.net>
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:12:38 -0400
To: <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotronworks

Ladies and Gentlemen, a gift to you all

mellotronworks

A series of popular classical music pieces played entirely on the Mellotron

• Mars, The Bringer of War (Holst)
• Adagio in G minor (Albinoni)
• Adagio for Strings (Barber)
• Air on The G String (Bach)
• Canon in D major (Pachelbel)
• Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (Vaughan Williams)

A free album available for download from http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/

Please enjoy

kind regards

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

Mars - Well done Mike. All the dynamics are there at the right time.
Even the snare drum is right on the mark. The stereo mix is good.
It needs to be played through good monitors with a big-ass amplifier.
http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/

I'm sure that if Fripp heard this, he would think that it was damn good.
It has that sinister, foreboding, feel to it. (Like only a Mellotron
can do).

Clay

Well, I e-mailed the link to the music to The Frippster and he replied saying that he'd listen to it provided I sent him an autographed copy of a real CD.

Robert Fripp. Wants my autograph.

Robert. Fripp.

Fripp.

My autograph.

Mike

PS: But hey Robert..no flash photos, okay?

ceccles_ca wrote:

Mars - Well done Mike. All the dynamics are there at the right time.
Even the snare drum is right on the mark. The stereo mix is good.
It needs to be played through good monitors with a big-ass amplifier.
http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/

I'm sure that if Fripp heard this, he would think that it was damn good.
It has that sinister, foreboding, feel to it. (Like only a Mellotron
can do).

Clay

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

Hey Mike - whatever happened to "I have a Mellotron"? Seriously though,
congratulations - this is pretty damn cool.
johnb

ps - I'll also listen to it if you send me an autographed copy...



Mike Dickson wrote:

>
> Well, I e-mailed the link to the music to The Frippster and he replied
> saying that he'd listen to it provided I sent him an /autographed copy
> of a real CD/.
>
> Robert Fripp. Wants my autograph.
>
> Robert. Fripp.
>
> Fripp.
>
> My autograph.
>
> Mike
>
> PS: But hey Robert..no flash photos, okay?
>
>
> _,_._,___

The Vaughan Williams / Thomas Tallis piece is beautiful, start to
finish. Those voices work well together. Choir in place of the
string section may have worked nicely too.
http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/
Quite complex 3/4 of the way through.

There's a Richard Wagner piece that would suit 'tron voices well like
this. I'll try to find it.

The Williams / Tallis piece. I listened to it again with my full
attention. I saw God about 3 times. It is an amazing composition.
The mellotron voices work well together with great dynamic peaks and
valleys. This must have taken forever to record. Thanks for taking
the time to do it right Mike.

I'm now a fan of Elizabethan Fantasy. Way better than Maroon 5.

http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/

Clay

He is not forgiven!!!
Kick him off the Tron List...hey...wait...never mind...Clay is 'THE LIST' main man.
Hey Mike...awesome,... more than ever...
I want a hard copy too...autographed, too.
Lee
(from the other side of the world)

tronbros@aol.com wrote:

In a message dated 27/10/2008 19:27:02 GMT Standard Time, ecclesreinson@ rogers.com writes:

Choir in place of the
string section may have worked nicely too.

Has to be strings Mr Eccles. You are forgiven.

Martin

Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

Internal Virus Database is out of date.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.8.1/1733 - Release Date: 10/19/2008 6:02 PM

  

First I want to thank you, Mike, for sharing that with us. It’s a lot of work and a very generous gift. I am wondering what method did you use to record it? Did you go straight into a channel strip, preamp or did you play through a miked amplifier? I am guessing the former. TD


Well, I e-mailed the link to the music to The Frippster and he replied saying that he'd listen to it provided I sent him an autographed copy of a real CD.

Robert Fripp. Wants my autograph.

Robert. Fripp.

Fripp.

My autograph.

Mike

PS: But hey Robert..no flash photos, okay?

ceccles_ca wrote:

Mars - Well done Mike. All the dynamics are there at the right time.
Even the snare drum is right on the mark. The stereo mix is good.
It needs to be played through good monitors with a big-ass amplifier.
http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/

I'm sure that if Fripp heard this, he would think that it was damn good.
It has that sinister, foreboding, feel to it. (Like only a Mellotron
can do).

Clay

Hey Mike:

Magnificent work!! Thanks so much for the gift!

Most of my music listening is on the car stereo, and my wife has
commented on how eager I have been to volunteer to go out for mundane
errands!

The car play list goes something like this:

Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Tangerine Dream Live 1975,
Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Spring 2, Mike Dickson,
Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Czar, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike
Dickson, My own crap noodling, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike
Dickson, Mike Dickson, Gracious!, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Systems
Theory, Mike Dickson.....you get the idea?

OK, maybe not so much with the Czar...

I also see you have your own custom viola tapes from Cyndee; very
nice.

Cheers,
Dan
1167
E4/7600S

Tom -

I have already been asked this a few times so I have added the following paragraph onto the web site to explain:

"The Mellotron M400 (manufactured in 1973) is played into a Mackie 1202 mixer, which I use because it is very quiet and has a delicate EQ control that can take the edge off some of the white noise coming from the Mellotron without damping out the sound. This leads in and out of an Alesis MidiVerb II effects unit which is used for the reverb and and blooms you hear, and then runs straight into the back of a computer where everything was digitally recorded in Sony ACID Pro, with digital effects coming from the Waves and Timeworks libraries. Once mixed down to my satisfaction the output was written to an uncompressed WAV file which was then bounced off an Akai 4000DS reel to reel for that pleasing thing we call tape compression. I am happy to say that this is the only compression you'll hear anywhere in the music. Likewise you will not hear any digital editng anywhere other than in places where one take was adjoined to another. Some of the very low notes you hear are being played way off the bottom end of the Mellotron by turning the motor speed down by an octave and upping the lower and top ends of the EQ to compensate for the lack of fidelity. Sometimes I simply doubled the line with the bottom end of the St Johns Wood Church Organ which has bass pedals in the recording. There was very little post-production carried out."

Tom Doncourt wrote:

First I want to thank you, Mike, for sharing that with us. It’s a lot of work and a very generous gift. I am wondering what method did you use to record it? Did you go straight into a channel strip, preamp or did you play through a miked amplifier? I am guessing the former. TD


Well, I e-mailed the link to the music to The Frippster and he replied saying that he'd listen to it provided I sent him an autographed copy of a real CD.

Robert Fripp. Wants my autograph.

Robert. Fripp.

Fripp.

My autograph.

Mike

PS: But hey Robert..no flash photos, okay?

ceccles_ca wrote:

Mars - Well done Mike. All the dynamics are there at the right time.
Even the snare drum is right on the mark. The stereo mix is good.
It needs to be played through good monitors with a big-ass amplifier.
http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/

I'm sure that if Fripp heard this, he would think that it was damn good.
It has that sinister, foreboding, feel to it. (Like only a Mellotron
can do).

Clay

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

I agree. It's a staggering composition. When you hear it it's impressive
enough, but to /play it /is simply breathtaking. The degree of invention
in it makes me wonder what it must like to /be/ someone who can just do
that.

The /Tallis Fantasia /took four months to record. The Pachelbel took
three days.

Mike

ceccles_ca wrote:

>
> The Williams / Tallis piece. I listened to it again with my full
> attention. I saw God about 3 times. It is an amazing composition.
> The mellotron voices work well together with great dynamic peaks and
> valleys. This must have taken forever to record. Thanks for taking
> the time to do it right Mike.
>
> I'm now a fan of Elizabethan Fantasy. Way better than Maroon 5.
>
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/
> <http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/>
>
> Clay
>
>

Hmmm. Richard Wagner? Tell me more. I like Twisted Rick.

The RVW was scored for strings, so choirs would have been a bit out of
place really. See /Spem In Alium/ on /In Excelsis/ for a choir fix. ;-)

The one thing I left out of the /Tallis Fantasia /(and which I may add
in at a later date) is something I had first heard when I was first
played the piece many moons ago chez Smith. To me it is the perfect
evocation of rolling english fields, sunny days and all things /idyllic
and pastoral/. I had an inclination to meet the fade off with the sound
of birds singing, sheep bleating and distant church bells recorded in
some leafy part of Buckinghamshire. Kind of /Granchester Meadows /meets
/Fat Old Sun/ meets /Sheep/.

Mike

ceccles_ca wrote:

>
> The Vaughan Williams / Thomas Tallis piece is beautiful, start to
> finish. Those voices work well together. Choir in place of the
> string section may have worked nicely too.
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/
> <http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/>
> Quite complex 3/4 of the way through.
>
> There's a Richard Wagner piece that would suit 'tron voices well like
> this. I'll try to find it.
>
>

Mike Dickson wrote:

>
> Hmmm. Richard Wagner? Tell me more. I like Twisted Rick.
>
> The RVW was scored for strings, so choirs would have been a bit out
> of place really. See /Spem In Alium/ on /In Excelsis/ for a choir
> fix. ;-)

Not yet! If I start listening to your new solo albums I will only get
sidetracked from working on "overfulnoisecascade" for The Theory.

> The one thing I left out of the /Tallis Fantasia /(and which I may
> add in at a later date) is something I had first heard when I was
> first played the piece many moons ago chez Smith. To me it is the
> perfect evocation of rolling english fields, sunny days and all
> things /idyllic and pastoral/. I had an inclination to meet the
> fade off with the sound of birds singing, sheep bleating and
> distant church bells recorded in some leafy part of
> Buckinghamshire. Kind of /Granchester Meadows /meets /Fat Old Sun/
> meets /Sheep/.

Three of my favourite PF tunes.
--
Cheers, SDM -- a 21st Century Schizoid Man
Systems Theory internet music project: <www.systemstheory.net>
on MySpace: <www.myspace.com/systemstheory>
on Last FM: <www.last.fm/music/Systems+Theory>
get "Codetalkers" *free* at <www.mikedickson.org.uk/codetalkers>
NP: nothing

Yeah, I wonder what Don is doing now.

Hey - e-mail me your address and Ill send you one.

A CD that is. Not a Don. That would be just horrible.

Mike

L. Richards wrote:

>
> He is not forgiven!!!
> Kick him off the Tron List...hey...wait...never mind...Clay is 'THE
> LIST' main man.
> Hey Mike...awesome,... more than ever...
> I want a hard copy too...autographed, too.
> Lee
> (from the other side of the world)
>
> tronbros@aol.com wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 27/10/2008 19:27:02 GMT Standard Time,
>> ecclesreinson@rogers.com writes:
>>
>> Choir in place of the
>> string section may have worked nicely too.
>>
>> Has to be strings Mr Eccles. You are forgiven.
>>
>> Martin
>>
>> *Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
>> www.mellotronics.com <http://www.mellotronics.com/>*
>> US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol.com
>> <http://JMoore6397@aol.com/>
>> US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink <mailto:pjc56@earthlink>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
>> Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.8.1/1733 - Release Date: 10/19/2008 6:02 PM
>>
>>
>

My greatest fan! Thanks, Dan.

Some wag on a classical music forum has just told me that a Mellotron is 'rather splendid -- like a hostess trolly manufactured by Bösendorfer.'

Not a bad idea, Martin. Get some castors on it.

Mike

Dan wrote:

Hey Mike:

Magnificent work!! Thanks so much for the gift!

Most of my music listening is on the car stereo, and my wife has
commented on how eager I have been to volunteer to go out for mundane
errands!

The car play list goes something like this:

Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Tangerine Dream Live 1975,
Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Spring 2, Mike Dickson,
Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Czar, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike
Dickson, My own crap noodling, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Mike
Dickson, Mike Dickson, Gracious!, Mike Dickson, Mike Dickson, Systems
Theory, Mike Dickson..... you get the idea?

OK, maybe not so much with the Czar...

I also see you have your own custom viola tapes from Cyndee; very
nice.

Cheers,
Dan
1167
E4/7600S

Yes, you're right.

Listening to my CDs might slow you down from two years to three. :-)

Mike 'The Theorist' Dickson

Steven Davies-Morris wrote:

Mike Dickson wrote:
>
> Hmmm. Richard Wagner? Tell me more. I like Twisted Rick.
>
> The RVW was scored for strings, so choirs would have been a bit out
> of place really. See /Spem In Alium/ on /In Excelsis/ for a choir
> fix. ;-)

Not yet! If I start listening to your new solo albums I will only get
sidetracked from working on "overfulnoisecascad e" for The Theory.

> The one thing I left out of the /Tallis Fantasia /(and which I may
> add in at a later date) is something I had first heard when I was
> first played the piece many moons ago chez Smith. To me it is the
> perfect evocation of rolling english fields, sunny days and all
> things /idyllic and pastoral/. I had an inclination to meet the
> fade off with the sound of birds singing, sheep bleating and
> distant church bells recorded in some leafy part of
> Buckinghamshire. Kind of /Granchester Meadows /meets /Fat Old Sun/
> meets /Sheep/.

Three of my favourite PF tunes.
--
Cheers, SDM -- a 21st Century Schizoid Man
Systems Theory internet music project: <www.systemstheory. net>
on MySpace: <www.myspace. com/systemstheor y>
on Last FM: <www.last.fm/ music/Systems+ Theory>
get "Codetalkers" *free* at <www.mikedickson. org.uk/codetalke rs>
NP: nothing

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

Fripp's lucky. Frank made me buy one of each...
johnbarrick


lsf5275@aol.com wrote:

>
> In a message dated 10/28/2008 9:05:07 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> tomdcour@amnh.org writes:
>
> Well, I e-mailed the link to the music to The Frippster and he
> replied saying that he'd listen to it provided I sent him an
> /autographed copy of a real CD/.
>
> Robert Fripp. Wants my autograph.
>
> Robert. Fripp.
>
> Fripp.
>
>
> I sent Fripp my autograph just for the hell of it. Let him figure it out.
>
> Frank
>
> PS. You can order free autographed photos of me with - A. my dogs, B.
> some Mellotrons. C. my wife, D. my XJ8L E. my Barack Obama mask on. I
> will personalize each photo for a dollar.
>
> PPS. Is Obama Irish? Should it be Barack O'Bama? Did he take out the
> apostrophe to fool us into thinking he isn't Irish?
>
>

Mike,
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your talents-I'm enjoying the
music very much.
Pete

Mike Dickson wrote:

> Ladies and Gentlemen, a gift to you all
>
> _*mellotronworks*_
>
> A series of popular classical music pieces played entirely on the
> Mellotron
>
> * /Mars, The Bringer of War (Holst)/
> * /Adagio in G minor (Albinoni)/
> * /Adagio for Strings (Barber)/
> * /Air on The G String (Bach)/
> * /Canon in D major (Pachelbel)/
> * /Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (Vaughan Williams)/
>
> A free album available for download from
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/
>
> Please enjoy
>
> kind regards
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>

Thanks, Pete.

The current download figures mean that my web host is likely to start ringing me any second now to say that the month's tally has been burst!

Mike

marabus wrote:

Mike,
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your talents-I'm enjoying the
music very much.

I received my Mellotronworks CD today. As a classical music CD, I
would give it a 10 out of 10. As a Mellotron M400 demonstration CD, I
would give it 10 out of 10. It is also a one-man-band CD (like
Synergy or Tomita) and I'd give it a 10 for that too.

http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/

Clay

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@...> wrote:

>
> Ladies and Gentlemen, a gift to you all
>
> _*mellotronworks*_
>
> A series of popular classical music pieces played entirely on the

Mellotron

>
> * /Mars, The Bringer of War (Holst)/
> * /Adagio in G minor (Albinoni)/
> * /Adagio for Strings (Barber)/
> * /Air on The G String (Bach)/
> * /Canon in D major (Pachelbel)/
> * /Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (Vaughan Williams)/
>
> A free album available for download from
> http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/mellotronworks/
>
> Please enjoy
>
> kind regards
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/
>

Thanks, Clay!!!!

ceccles_ca wrote:

I received my Mellotronworks CD today. As a classical music CD, I
would give it a 10 out of 10. As a Mellotron M400 demonstration CD, I
would give it 10 out of 10. It is also a one-man-band CD (like
Synergy or Tomita) and I'd give it a 10 for that too.

http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/

Clay

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@ ...> wrote:
>
> Ladies and Gentlemen, a gift to you all
>
> _*mellotronworks* _
>
> A series of popular classical music pieces played entirely on the
Mellotron
>
> * /Mars, The Bringer of War (Holst)/
> * /Adagio in G minor (Albinoni)/
> * /Adagio for Strings (Barber)/
> * /Air on The G String (Bach)/
> * /Canon in D major (Pachelbel)/
> * /Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (Vaughan Williams)/
>
> A free album available for download from
> http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ mellotronworks/
>
> Please enjoy
>
> kind regards
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/
>

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/