"Master's in the Hall" is the first music video my husband and I have ever done! It was utterly bewitching to be out in the forest on this Autumn day in 2023. The light was magical and we had so much fun going out to play in the fall leaves. It took about a year to acquire all the audio recording equipment and learn how to use it (it's not perfect)!! Over the last two years, I have taken little videos of the seasons on my walks in the forest and surrounding area...so you'll see some of those clips inserted into the video here. At this point we didn't know how to sync playing on set with the audio...baby steps!
The tune is by the French composer, Marin Marais from his opera, Alcyone 1706. Its title is originally, "Marche pour les Matelots" (March for the Sailors). Today we know this as the Christmas tune, "Masters in the Hall."
The tune is by the French composer, Marin Marais from his opera, Alcyone 1706. Its title is originally, "Marche pour les Matelots" (March for the Sailors). Today we know this as the Christmas tune, "Masters in the Hall."
The melody, "Goddesses" is an old English Country Dance tune which can be found in John Playford's English Dancing Master first published in London, 1651. It's a studio favorite and so easy to play. In this video, I am playing in a different key--to match my harp's tuning (C minor).
On the day that we filmed this, it was a 15 degrees Fahrenheit on a January day in 2024--burrrrr!! The things we do for the sake of art! This was the first time we had ever used a drone. Over Christmas I decided to buy the DJI Mini 4 Pro and boy was that worth every penny! It's like having a professional videographer, incredible!
I hope you'll stay tuned for more music videos in the making! Hoping to have another one out in April.
On the day that we filmed this, it was a 15 degrees Fahrenheit on a January day in 2024--burrrrr!! The things we do for the sake of art! This was the first time we had ever used a drone. Over Christmas I decided to buy the DJI Mini 4 Pro and boy was that worth every penny! It's like having a professional videographer, incredible!
I hope you'll stay tuned for more music videos in the making! Hoping to have another one out in April.
"The Magic of Spring: Nonesuch" is music video #3! This is another lovely melody from the 1600s--possibly earlier, as it was first published then. I loved the idea of using this tune to call in the coming of spring. My husband and I made a point of pausing to notice the change in the seasons...seeing the last of the ice and snow give way to the teeny tiny buds on the trees and the first little purple flowers to pop out of the grass! In our neck of the woods, dramatic weather and moody skies herald the change in the season until one day you just go outside and suddenly spring is in full bloom! The birdies are singing and the flowers on every tree are bedazzling even the most mundane of scenes!
"SUMMER: Medieval French & English Folk Dances" is an arrangement of 3 beautiful medieval dances.
"The Horses Brawl"
"Staines Morris"
"Kettle Drum"
We were able to film at a beautiful farm called "Willow Creek Farm Preserve" which was about 30 minutes away from us. Being able to fly the drone freely was fantastic and it was awesome to get my viola out and play to the sheep! In June, we went to my fiddle teacher, Julie Lyonn Lieberman's workshop in Massachusetts, "Strings Without Boundaries". We stayed at a sweet little hotel called, "The Old Mill" and were able to get some beautiful footage by the water there.
Learning how to make music videos is still a work in progress, but it's been fun to have these projects to look forward to each season! I can't wait for Autumn!
"The Horses Brawl"
"Staines Morris"
"Kettle Drum"
We were able to film at a beautiful farm called "Willow Creek Farm Preserve" which was about 30 minutes away from us. Being able to fly the drone freely was fantastic and it was awesome to get my viola out and play to the sheep! In June, we went to my fiddle teacher, Julie Lyonn Lieberman's workshop in Massachusetts, "Strings Without Boundaries". We stayed at a sweet little hotel called, "The Old Mill" and were able to get some beautiful footage by the water there.
Learning how to make music videos is still a work in progress, but it's been fun to have these projects to look forward to each season! I can't wait for Autumn!
This is my favorite music video thus far!! "AUTUMN: Cantiga 100"🍁The cantigas date back to 13th century Spain and are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Spain at this time period was unique as it was open to thoughts and ideas from other cultures and religions. The Christian, Jewish and Muslim sects lived in harmony and their people served the court of King Alfonso the Wise. The music is unlike any other medieval genre--just think how different it is from the ethereal Gregorian Chant. This music is earthy and feels here with us in our world and is a cry to heaven for spiritual aid in this human experience. This music would have been sung, had drums, rattles, and instruments of all kinds. It's hypnotic and in a word--MAGIC!
To film this, we used the DJI Mini 4 Pro I bought last year--although it is very light and small, it's helpful that it's not TOO light and small (think wind!) It's the best purchase I've made for music videos besides my MacBook Pro, iPhone and Rode NTK Condenser Microphone, (thank goodness for credit cards!!). I also used my iPhone to capture the beauty of Nature on our walks around the area here in Pennsylvania. Realizing that my videos weren't recording in 4x because my iCloud memory was full was a HUGE deal. So, exporting and backing up has been a big to do this fall..It is a very boring and time consuming task AND very emotional since you're looking back on ALL your photos and videos from God knows how many years! It required many cups of tea, to say the least!
I'm also getting better with recording sound. Putting a simple screen divider behind me that is covered with blankets helps keep the sound from bouncing around the room, (as well as sound proofing on the wall behind the mic). The height and distance from the mic and the recording level in GarageBand is still something I'm figuring out (this is because my recording set up changes as I do everything from one desk...teaching, writing, recording. Last month, I finally figured out that I actually had to export the audio file in WAVE and the iMovie file in Uncompressed Best Quality!! I felt so stupid.
Anway, I appreciate your support and interest in what I'm doing--these music videos have been one of my favorite projects. They are an outlet for me as a musician and allow me to showcase the music you visually using the beauty of nature. Magical🍁💕
To film this, we used the DJI Mini 4 Pro I bought last year--although it is very light and small, it's helpful that it's not TOO light and small (think wind!) It's the best purchase I've made for music videos besides my MacBook Pro, iPhone and Rode NTK Condenser Microphone, (thank goodness for credit cards!!). I also used my iPhone to capture the beauty of Nature on our walks around the area here in Pennsylvania. Realizing that my videos weren't recording in 4x because my iCloud memory was full was a HUGE deal. So, exporting and backing up has been a big to do this fall..It is a very boring and time consuming task AND very emotional since you're looking back on ALL your photos and videos from God knows how many years! It required many cups of tea, to say the least!
I'm also getting better with recording sound. Putting a simple screen divider behind me that is covered with blankets helps keep the sound from bouncing around the room, (as well as sound proofing on the wall behind the mic). The height and distance from the mic and the recording level in GarageBand is still something I'm figuring out (this is because my recording set up changes as I do everything from one desk...teaching, writing, recording. Last month, I finally figured out that I actually had to export the audio file in WAVE and the iMovie file in Uncompressed Best Quality!! I felt so stupid.
Anway, I appreciate your support and interest in what I'm doing--these music videos have been one of my favorite projects. They are an outlet for me as a musician and allow me to showcase the music you visually using the beauty of nature. Magical🍁💕