Hi,

This is not my most positive piece... perhaps a bit dark and depressing. It symbolises the "daily grind", the bane of the 9 to 5 office worker (or in my case 7 - 3:30), the depressing daily battle to make a dent in the workload before the end of the week.

Usually I enjoy my work but for a few weeks recently I've felt like this... and, as always, the best way to get this out of my system is to write music about it! In this case I've written in a key that I'm not sure I've ever written in before (B Flat Minor... it has too many black keys!) - and as I believe it is true that each musical key has it's own feel and sound I'll blame that for the fact that this may be one of the most depressing pieces I've written in a while! ;-)

https://soundcloud.com/pu...apsody/the-daily-grind

I sincerely hope you manage to enjoy it!


On a technical note - due to the extremes of volume in this I've actually used a limiter which I almost never do for solo piano... is too obvious? Should I have pushed it a bit more?

Thanks,
Terry.

Hi Terry, yes, definitely not a cheery piece, but very effective in conveying the mood that you detailed in the text.  Have you seen the HBO series "Enlightened?" As I listened to your piece, scenes from the show were flashing before me... a perfect fit.  Something to think about.  Effective and well played, despite all the black keys ;-).

You need to retire - I did two years ago - haven't had a dark day since. This is really nice though - actually puts me in a very peaceful space. Thanks.

This is a gorgeous piece of music, Terry.  I didn't hear the limiting, so you got that right, imo.  It's good to write songs that reflect all our moods sometimes.  Bravo, pal!

I love melancholy music Terry, so this is just right for a dreich Scottish Sunday.  Been listening to a lot of late-period Talk Talk lately, and Mark Hollis' voice would be perfect over this.

A nice e piece to wake up to this morning. Nice use of dynamics.

Beautiful work Terry.

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for listening and commenting, as always it's sincerely appreciated.

Phil - No I haven't seen "Enlightened" (don't even know if it's on in the UK but I'll check it out). I've realised that it's not the black keys that are the problem... I could play on ALL black keys fine, but it's the occasional white key that causes the problem.... Thanks for the positive comment ;-)

Mark - I wish I could retire... would need to win the lottery for that to happen soon though. Thanks for listening and I'm glad it put you in a peaceful space.

Lynn - Thanks! And thanks for the feedback on the limiting.

James - Thanks. I listened back to it again today and it's perfect for a dreich Manchester Sunday too. Whereabouts in Scotland are you? I was brought up in Oban and Edinburgh. I love the word 'dreich', it's so perfect for it's meaning. If I hadn't already called a track Dreich Day on a previous album it would have been the perfect title for this.

Scott - Thanks!

Shad - Thanks!


Thanks again everyone.

Cheers,
Terry.

Down in the corner, Dumfries & Galloway. Moved here 11 years ago from Gloucestershire..seems to get wetter year on year..

Hi Terry, nice piece, you certainly put the forte in pianoforte ; )  

Rik