Discography

1. Music of the Spheres (3:10) (Click here to be taken to "Hear Samples" Page)

The first version of this song was written for a college speech class - before synthesizers or the internet was ever thought of. It brought me back to songwriting for years, and because of that fact, it ended up with the title of the CD. There is a wonderful poem that my classmate read over a part of it. I am sure that I would be in violation of a copyright law if I wrote it here, but suffice it to say, it has kept spheres dancing in my head ever since.

2. Mouser (1:41) (Click to hear sample)

The people who live on farms refer to a cat that is good at catching mice as "a good mouser". This song was originally slated to be scoring music for a film adaptation of a children's book. The movie never happen, so I put it on the album. Why not? Kids aren't the only ones that can have a little fun!

3. Kermit's Friend (3:45) (Click here to be taken to "Hear Samples" Page)

I would love to be able to say that I heard that Jim Hensen died and sat down and wrote this song - but I didn't. I wrote weeks after the great man died. There was going to be words to it, but sometimes words can't express the sadness you feel.

4. When Chrissy Smiles (3:35) (Click here to Hear Samples)

It is hard to tell where inspiration will come from. For many years, I was a avid photographer - and coming from a big Irish family, I was the one that shot all of the weddings, and high school portraits. When my wife's cousin reached her senior year in high school, I was called on to take her pictures. A funny thing happens when you record someone as happy as she was that day. She is still happy to today with her husband and daughter. And I stay happy, too-by not calling her "Chrissy"!

5. Somewhere Else (2:21) (Click here to Hear Samples)

Imagine you are a sixth grade boy. It is a beautiful day, the sun is shining - and YOU are in math class! That's what I thought about when I wrote this song. To all of the sixth grade boys who day- dreams of riding his bicycle instead of sitting in math class, this song is for you!

6. Joy to the World Suite (4:20) (Click here to Hear Samples)

Great songwriters are known to write and rewrite and re-rewrite songs over and over again. I certainly do not wish to place myself in that "great songwriter" category. But I wrote (or should I say arranged) many different versions of this song. Sometimes years would go by before I would go back and add new verses to this song. I hope it puts a little bit of a Dickens Christmas in your heart!

7. Star Walk (5:50) (Click here to be taken to "Hear Samples" Page)

Sometimes I think I had a previous life on another plant! The people who know me think I am FROM a distant planet! This song tells the tale of a family who leaves their home to live on a neighboring star. The opportunities will improve, but they will leave everything (and everyone) they love behind

8. It's Understood (1:41) (Click here to Hear Samples)

This song is another one that was going to have words, but unlike the Ode to Jim Hensen, the words were total nonsense. I often pictured brightly colored candy or toys being manufactured to the sound of this mechanized maelstrom. If it were longer, it would be a good song to exercise to. Maybe it is still a good song to exercise to - if you don't like to exercise!

The Music of the Spheres

Discography

Music of the Spheres contains 8 instrumental songs. Below is a brief description what inspired me to write them.