Common Sense Dancing: The Lobster Quadrille

Something a little lighter today after the rather more downbeat feel from yesterday. This was the first proper song I wrote, tho', of course, I had some help from a certain Charles Dodgson (AKA Lewis Carroll) with the words..

Started in 1989, and finished in 1992 once I'd learnt a bit more music theory, an early recording of the song appears on a Marc Catley and the Flaming Methodists CD from 1996, Char.

This version is much better! It features Kim Eames' backing vocals, Sarah Sharp's violin, and Anna Roberts replies to the request.. :-)

See you tomorrow!

Common Sense Dancing: Antasia

Like yesterday's My Island, Antasia also started life as a short piece for a KvR monthly competition.

I had had the opening guitar part knocking around as an idea since the mid 90s, I liked it as it was reminiscent of the work of Genesis co-founder, Anthony Phillips. The atmospheric opening section gives way to a more rock tinged second half, which again drew on my love for Ant's work; I had elements of arrangements from the Private Parts And Pieces Vols II and VIII albums in mind with this section. NB 'Antasia' is, of course, a fantasia for.. well, you can work it out ;-)

The violin is by Sarah Sharp, who often performs under the name 'Tsarzi,' and I was thrilled to have Mick Somerset play saxello.
I had hoped to get Ant himself to play harmonium, but sadly that wasn't to be, and is now played on a Mellotron.

See you tomorrow :-)