The Bamboo Flute Song

There were a couple of terrific songs about musical instruments posted last year - those songs plus my gardener`s affection for bamboo in all its forms inspired this.I tried to find real Shakuhachi flute recordings to loop but it didn`t quite work- the synth here comes quite close to the true sound at times.


Key=D , Tempo 82, Length (m:s)=4:20
8 bar intro, 77 bar chorus, from bar 9 to bar 85. Repeat x1 chorus
Melody has 167 notes, Melody harmony is < no harmony >(0)
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _MEADOWS.STY (Meadows Piano Pop with Brushes)

RealTracks in style: 1767:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16 Ev16 085
RealTracks in style: 664:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SouthernRock Ev 085 (A:fpick)
RealTracks in style: 665:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SouthernRock Ev 085 (B:Strum)
RealTracks in song: 2328:Shakuhachi, Synth, Background NewAge Ev 110
RealDrums in style: BrushesFolk16ths: a: Brushes b: Brushes Tap
percussion & nature sound loops

The Bamboo Flute Song

everything is music
in the grove that I`m cut from
the chatter of cicadas
the sigh of wind my maker`s hum

I don`t know why he chose me
my stem leaned o`er his daughter`s grave
but these words he said filled me
as he carved where she once played

six holes I will give you
where the spirits come and go
and another that`s hard to reach
but those who hear that note will know

to all the world
she was only one
blade of grass
my sweet girl
to me she was all the world

so many have played me
since I fell from his trembling hand
healers and charmers took me far
from the forest where his daughter danced

I played `til I`m broken open
marching young men to war
but one song I still sound quite clear
my maker breathed into my core

to all the world
she was only one
blade of grass
my sweet girl
to me she was all the world


© Robert Cordrey December, 2016

Nice song. The bamboo flute sounds good.

Hi, Robert !

What a beautiful song
so well performed and
mixed ! Enjoyed it
truly much !:))


Cheers
Dani

Robert,

Excellent song! This has a Daniel Lanois vibe and feel to me - great job!

Bob

Cool song, Robert. A very interesting write - and very well done.
Good lines throughout.

Nice arrangement. Nice build. Well sung and I like the vocal processing.

Really well done. Enjoyed this.

floyd

Very mellow. Nice mix and arrangement. I have a friend who makes flutes, I'm sure he will enjoy listening to your song. I enjoyed listening to it.

Charlie

Thanks Mike,
yes there`s a nice tone to the flute... almost like the real deal.

Robert

Dani,
I`m happy you liked it - thanks for your kind comments. I spent more time on the mix than usual - one of the improvements I aim to make this year.

Robert

Robert

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Perfect instrumentation for this song. Your vocals were super also. Great mix.

Bob,
Wow, that`s a big compliment - I really like the vibe Daniel Lanois brought to his projects.
Many thanks,

Robert

Floyd,
I found this song took many revisions on the lyrics - many pages on the floor- so I`m glad you liked them.
I`ve not tried the delay vocal effect before... thank goodness for presets which make such things easy!

Robert

Thanks for your listen Charlie -bet your friend`s flutes all have their own personalities too!

Robert

Mario,
That`s very kind, I`m really glad you enjoyed it.
First try on a new microphone, so thanks for mentioning the vocals.

Robert

Great write! I love this different point of view or perspective song.
Beautiful backing, nice harmony.
You've penned a nice one.
sir-katas or sir-caters in the South here.

Kenny

Thanks Kenny!
I guess these must be si-kahdas of the English variety (those Brits- maybe they needed a word to rhyme with "armada"?)

Robert

Hi Robertkc, Excellent arrangement on this! It reminds me of a Beatles Ballad. Very soothing lyrics. Well done!

Robert,

I really enjoyed this. Very, very original.

Well done!

Refreshingly different.

Very peaceful, and you've provided an excellent delivery with your chosen instrument.

Robert
Different and well done, an excellent piece.

Peter

Ditto!

We enjoyed it. The mix presents a very nice soundstage on our monitors.

Nice work!

J&B

Hi Joe,
Thanks for your listen and comments.I`m no George Martin but it was fun arranging this!

Robert

I`m very glad you enjoyed the laid back feel- listening to bamboo in the wind put me to sleep for many years living in Asia.

Robert

Thank you for that!

Robert

David,
Coming from a guy with Original for a middle name, that feels really good!

J&B,
I appreciate your listen and comments and I like that " soundstage" word!

Robert

Hello, Robert

Very beautiful song!
Shakuhachi is very fitted to this tune.
I am very surprised that you play shakuhachi.
Not so many Shakuhachi players in Japan recently.
But we always hear Shakuhachi music in the town at the beginning of new year.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best Regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thank you for your listen and comments Shigeki!

Unfortunately that`s not me on the Shakuhachi- its a synth RT with reverb added, which was the closest I could find to the real thing.

Robert

I agree!! Very spiritual and beautiful. My new fave of yours! Take care. Greg

Hi Robert,

I enjoyed it! Personification is such a powerful lyric-writing tool. I've never had much songwriting success with taking the perspective of an inanimate object and breathing life into it. You've shown me how! I'll remember the lesson. Thank you.

It's amazing how you've managed to capture a feel that's uplifting, nostalgic and yet tinged with melancholy and sadness. I guess that's what Life is all about!

All the best for 2017,
Noel

Greg,
That`s very kind- thank you!

Robert

Noel,
Yes, personification in song is tricky - I can`t think of many where it really works ( I`m A Little Teapot might be my favourite, though Mary Chapin Carpenter`s I`m A Town is close).I`m really pleased you felt the device works here - thanks so much for this!

Robert

Very meditative song, I can feel a closeness to nature (Is it right closeness??)

Great one.

Sergio

Sergio,
Thank you for listening - I`m glad you enjoyed the feeling... yes, your English is correct!

Robert

Robert, beautiful song with a very good performance on the vocal. The flute sounds wonderful also. You always produce very good work. Thanks, Torrey