October 2013
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 18, No. 10
NEXT MEETING - 5:00pm Sunday, October 6th, 2013
Officers:
Newsletter/Articles
Jeff Mason, jeffrey_mason@me.com
Meeting Coordinator/Critique scoring/CFMA Liason
Matthew Campbell, matthew_sax77@yahoo.com
Membership/Certificates/
Contact
Susan Foster-Trewick, susiecool2001@yahoo.com
407-760-2153
E-mail Contact, isgorlando@gmail.com
Website
Carlos Colon, videosaysitall.fl@gmail.com
352-267-5911
Treasurer/NSAI Liason
Asli Goncer, asli@cfl.rr.com
Secretary
Jacquelyn Gould, songsuite@gmail.com
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every month at
the Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson (at the extreme east
end of Robinson, near Orlando Executive Airport ) in Orlando.
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to join
us. Non-members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our group and
what we do. For more information, visit our website at www.isgorlando.org or myspace
page at https://myspace.com/21075001
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and introductions.
5:30 to 6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30 or 6:00 to 8:00,
song critiques. Please bring a CD or mp3 player or perform your song live, and bring 10
or more lyric sheets.If we have at least 5 songs by members who wish to be scored,
and 6 members scoring, then we will have them entered in the Monthly competition.
Everyone is encouraged to write constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
Dan Jones has sent us a link to articles about Copyright. Please check it out.
Autumn Dreams
By Jeff Mason
It is difficult to think about autumn when the temperature outside is
90º F. We live in Florida and the seasons don’t seem to be as pronounced as further
north. Next month, however, we will get a cooler evening and we’ll begin the slow slide
into a Florida winter.
I’ve always found autumn an inspiring season and would like to suggest
it as a good subject for a song. There is a rich and varied vocabulary associated with
the season. When the rain is pattering on the pavement outside and the leaves are
drifting from the trees one can easily be transported into a reflective mood.
Vernon Duke’s elegant jazz standard "Autumn In New York" captures such a
mood. It was composed in 1934 for a Broadway musical and has been covered by many
artists. Among the best are Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald’s lovely duet from 1957.
Charlie Parker has an instrumental version which can be heard on Charlie Parker With
Strings: The Master Takes. On the same album is another Vernon Duke classic "April In
Paris." Chet Baker recorded a jazzy instrumental version in 1954 and Frank Sinatra has a
very good version on his #1 album Come Fly With Me from 1958. The song continues to be
recorded and you may find an interesting web page
http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-1/autumninnewyork.htm dedicated to the song.
Of particular interest to songwriters is the analysis of the song’s unusual structure.
A favorite of mine is "Autumn Almanac" written by Ray Davies and
recorded by The Kinks in 1967. This pop song illustrates Davies’s knack for writing
witty, satirical pieces about the British way of life. Davies makes full use of the
autumnal vocabulary: “Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow, So I sweep them in
the sack.”
"Forever Autumn" started life as a Lego commercial in 1969. It was
written by Jeff Wayne, Gary Osborne and Paul Vigrass and became a small hit in Japan in
1972 after Osborne and Vigrass added lyrics to the song. This version of the song was
included on their album Queues and reminds me of another autumn song "California
Dreaming." It was Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues who had the biggest hit with the
song in 1978. This version was included in Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of
the Worlds and reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1978.
Returning to the jazz standards we can find another analysis of a
great song "September Song" http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-0/septembersong.htm
Written in 1938 by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson and showcased in
the Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday it has since been recorded by numerous
artists. Some of the more notable ones sung by Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Willie Nelson.
Guitarist Django Reinhardt recorded an excellent instrumental in 1947. The lyric is a
metaphor comparing a year to a person’s lifespan.
My final must listen to song is "Autumn Leaves." Originally a French
song titled "Les Feuilles Mortes" (The Dead Leaves) with music Joseph Kosma and words by
Jacques Prévert. It was introduced in the 1946 film Les Portes De La Nuit by Yves
Montand. A year later American lyricist Johnny Mercer wrote English words and Jo
Stafford was one of the first to perform this version. It has since become a standard
with notable recordings by Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and Eva Cassidy. Edith Piaf sang
it in both languages and I’m impressed by Iggy Pop’s French language version. You can
find an analysis and history of the song at http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-
0/autumnleaves.htm
All of these songs can be listened to on this web site
http://molempire.com/2011/09/09/15-brilliant-songs-about-autumn/
There are other very good autumn songs and if you wish to try
composing one of your own try this website:
http://voices.yahoo.com/giant-fall-vocabulary-list-activities-esl-6950520.html?cat=4
where you may find a Giant Fall Vocabulary List to assist you in your endeavors.
I hope you are feeling inspired. Make some hot cocoa and see what
transpires. See you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Videography and website management services at a price you CAN AFFORD. Capturing your
wedding or event on video may not be in your budget but you’re hoping that you may have
something left over to hire a videographer. I will fit your budget. My goal is to offer
my services to those who otherwise would have to pass because of funds. This is your
special day and you most definitely want to capture those moments. Visit my website at
http://www.videosaysitall.com . Thanks and call me anytime (352-267-5911)…Carlos Colon
Central Florida Folk http://cffolk.org/song_circle/song_circle.htm
is having an acoustic song circle at the Sleeping Moon on the last Wednesday of each
month.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/26/1556023/restaurant/Orlando/Sleeping-Moon-Cafe-Winter-Park
Their food is great and the song circle is from 7 till 10pm.
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association, Local 389.
You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the interests of
the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more information. You
may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
We’re always looking for material for the newsletter. If you have any information that
you would like to see added to the newsletter, please see Jeff Mason at the meetings or
email him at jeffrey_mason@me.com . Please keep your articles brief and to the point.
Print deadline for the newsletter is approximately two weeks prior to the monthly meeting.
Classified advertising may be placed free of charge to members in good standing with the
ISG. For more information on display advertising and/or classified advertising for
non-members, please contact Jeff by the print deadline (usually the Friday 16 days prior
to the monthly meeting); email is best ( jeffrey_mason@me.com ).
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Matthew Campbell
Kirtan & Crystal Bowls
When: Sat, September 28, 7pm – 9pm
Where: 20 W Dakin Ave Kissimme Fl 34741 (map)
Description: Kirtan is an amazing vibrational/musical experience that will leave you
feeling inspired, uplifted, and completely "blissed-out"! I will join along with New
World Wellness Owner and Yoga/Meditation Instructor, Craig Costello in creating an
amazing vibrational and musical experience! A participation mystique is encouraged as I
set the rhythmic pace with drums, crystal singing bowls, scales and more, and Craig
leads the audience through optional singing, dancing and meditations during this amazing
experience...participate as much or as little as you wish and just enjoy the amazing
vibrations and incredible energy! The Cost is $30 and please RSVP and preregister with
New World @ 407.847.8792
Matthew "Sax" Campbell
Seems Like Yesterday Entertainment Productions
(407) 556-3782
Jeff Mason playing at O'Keefe's Irish Pub,
Thursday Oct 17th 6 pm to ????
115 S. Rockingham Ave,
Tavares, Fl, 32778,
352 343 2157
Jeff Mason playing at O'Keefe's Irish Pub,
Friday Oct 25th 7 pm to 11pm
115 S. Rockingham Ave,
Tavares, Fl, 32778,
352 343 2157
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be
listed in the ISG members page. Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the
monthly critiques, please send the mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to
have them featured in the ISG MySpace page. https://myspace.com/21075001
Past Certificate winners can be found at
https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/resultslist-2
Results for September contest
1. Blame it on Love Melanie Fisher
2. A Harder Rain Ron Rich
3. Losing Your Love Will Campbell
4. Thunder Stephanie Barker
5. Dead Man's Hand Jeff Mason
New members always welcome!
© 2013 ISG