North Rim

VicDiesel

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Description

Most of my music is abstract. If you have a story to tell, write a story. I like making sound, just for the enjoyment of making sound.

Not so in this case. Last year I made a trip to the Grand Canyon, visiting both the south rim, where everyone goes, and the North Rim, which is maybe 20 miles away, and takes an extra 6 hours of driving. Not a lot of people going there, and it's mindblowingly beautiful.

This tune tries to evoke the enormous sense of space you get there.

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Song Stats

Hits: 1657
Comments: 25
Fans: 10
Plays: 125
Downloads: 84
Votes:
Uploaded: Feb 04, 2007 - 10:37:27 AM
Last Updated: Jan 05, 2009 - 05:10:13 PM Last Played: Nov 24, 2009 - 04:33:32 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution

Song Actions

Keywords:

flute (147), grand canyon (2), native american (22), echo (24), reverb (57), space (162), flutecore (5)

Hardware:

One Butch Hall flute in E minor, Rhode microphone

Software:

Logic, MFM2, KTGranulator

Comments

Cameron

Cameron said 1026 days ago (February 4th, 2007)

wonderfully meditative
You really evoked the grand scale and sacredness of this magical canyon in this solo native american flute piece.

The reverb was very effective, definitely conjured up images of the huge, echoey space.

I liked all the special percussive effects with breath articulation and slapping the sound-holes, as well as the pitch-bends.

The long, drawn-out notes were perfect for slowing my breath and metabolism -- this is great meditation music.

It's truly amazing how much variety you achieved with this solo instrument.

You definitely captured the beauty of this sacred spot in this piece.

Check out my latest song called EPONYM

VicDiesel

VicDiesel said 1025 days ago (February 5th, 2007)

Echoey spaces
Part of what got me to record this piece -- which I'd been contemplating for a while, to balance out my earlier native flute piece <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/22006">The Natives are Restless</a> -- was finding the Big Reverb preset on MFM2. But I wonder if you can find any place on earth where the reverb goes on like taht for half a minute.

In other words, trying to create a piece with just natural sounds, I wind up using artificial means, and making something that may not even exist in real life.

But evocative it definitely is.....

Btw, Cameron, check out Butch Hall. I found his instruments to be more flexible and better sounding than a dozen other makers I've tried. And they're not expensive, and so much fun to play (with) every once in a while.

Thanks for listening and for the flattering comments.

Victor.

Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 1025 days ago (February 5th, 2007)
	PS I once went to a concert by Carlos Nakai. He was surprisingly practical and down to earth for someone making such spiritual music. He uses artificial reverb during his concerts...... Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

	said 1026 days ago (February 4th, 2007)
	Beautiful First impression before listening - Well, knock me over, there's a Native American genre here. And then the haunting beauty of this track. This is evocative of old spirits and empty space.

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 1025 days ago (February 5th, 2007)
	Native American Have you actually clicked on the native american category? So far I'm the only one entering a track. Must be a very recent development. And probably not quite as popular with the masses as "alternative rock". Thanks for the comments. Victor. Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

Wildcat	Wildcat said 1025 days ago (February 5th, 2007)
	This is magical I like this a lot. Its magical and invites to another world. In the long silent parts the reverb is a bit too much. But all in all its magical. Check out my latest song called Somewhere in No Man´s Land

drakonis

drakonis said 1024 days ago (February 6th, 2007)

Immediately knew "North Rim"
and had to see what you were up to. I camped at the North Rim with my dad when I was 7, and still have vivd memories of the endless panoramic beauty that stretched so far it made your eyes water. Took my wife and kids to the South Rim several years ago, and enjoyed a very different stunning panorama (unable to capture the HUGE grandeur in words or pictures.) However, you've written/performed some music here that is appropriately solemn, meditative, ancient-sounding, and vast. Very nice playing. I didn't need explicit additional sound effects (like a hawk scream)... my mind filled these in as I revisited the Grand Canyon in flashbacks. I don't know what other people, who have not seen this place, will associate the music with. But it felt cleansing... ahhhh.
ttfn,
Drakonis

Check out my latest song called Lullaby for the Inner Child

VicDiesel

VicDiesel said 1024 days ago (February 6th, 2007)

Camping
I had only limited time to spend at the Grand Canyon. Some day I'll have to go back and make it to the bottom of it. It is a magical place.

A hawk screaming? God forbid.... You're right, the listener can make up their own mind if you give them the space to fill in the blanks in the picture. Btw, there are some burblings in the left and right channel, probably 20db below the main sound level, but they are a bit more abstract.

Thanks for commenting,

Victor.

Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

	said 1024 days ago (February 6th, 2007)
	Vast expanse I will never forget the first time I saw the place (south) as a boy. It took my breath away, literally. The right ambient feel and instrument selection here. I think it would have been nice to hear some bit of fade away and low wind (breeze) sound intermittently to place it closer to the physical location. . - Harold

	said 1023 days ago (February 7th, 2007)
	Well done It does what u say it oughta do. Represent the space you saw and felt in the Grand Canyon. You show a ore than fair knowledge of recording techniques and you know how to play with your flute. Darn it, i'm jealous!

j2morrow	j2morrow said 1023 days ago (February 7th, 2007)
	Oh, yeah this is spacious, alright. Nice feel to it, like a hawk on the wing over the precipice. An interesting and rewarding direction for you, I think. And anyone who's visited the Grand Canyon will testify that you've painted a grand musical landscape of it with your flute. Check out my latest song called CAPTURE THE RAPTURE

mvh9591	mvh9591 said 1023 days ago (February 7th, 2007)
	New Age --- I Love this - I was dreaming while listinging. Thanks for sharing mvh : ) Check out my latest song called Ease My Troubled Mind

bronco	bronco said 1014 days ago (February 17th, 2007)
	Very nice Brought back memeories of my trips to the Canyon in my younger days. There is a special feeling that I get from the rocks, canyons, mountains, and deserts of the West that I have not gotten elsewhere. Check out my latest song called Strange Feeling

Joe Brady	Joe Brady said 999 days ago (March 3rd, 2007)
	I'm on the South Rim but I'm looking over at the North Rim; your music easily brings me back there, nearly 20yrs ago now, and the feeling that I should have visited the other side. The one without the tour buses. It looked sooo nice. Thanks Check out my latest song called The Refugee Blues by Feter with Jiguma

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 998 days ago (March 4th, 2007)
	Tour busses not allowed The north rim definitely gives you more the opportunity to feel one with nature, what with the relative lack of tourists. And it's also just spectacular looking. Recommended! I'm glad I'm getting the intended emotion across. Thanks for commenting. Victor. Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

timothy devine

timothy devine said 935 days ago (May 6th, 2007)

That was beautiful
I can feel a depth in this work that sets a stage for me to explore unknown space.
I don't know what that means except i want ot play with that sound and feel that depth.
This is an insperation to me. I am so glad i came to this song.
I had noticed the other day that there was a native american genre.
Nice peaceful muic
thanx

Check out my latest song called Mankind Needs a Change/WoodstockII

Enrique Gil

Enrique Gil said 934 days ago (May 8th, 2007)

Interesting!
and misterious! do you think Math when you write your music? You know, one reason I became hooked on Switched on Bach with the Moog synth is because of the perfect symmetry in Bach's music that electronic music made even more outstanding. This one is a bit more random but has a definite order behind it. By the way, the North rim is the best part of the Grand Canyon. Next time if you have never been there, drive up to Brice and Zion, magnificent parks on their own right. Greetings!

Check out my latest song called Simple Feelings

VicDiesel

VicDiesel said 934 days ago (May 8th, 2007)

Math
Enrique,

sometimes I have a structure in mind when I write something, and other times I just let the notes flow. This piece (as the renaissance piece you also commented on) are just free improvisations.

You're right that the North Rim is the best part of the grand canyon. I did in fact what you suggested: after the grand canyon I visited Bryce canyon and Zion. They are indeed magnificent by themselves.

Victor.

---
--
I review yours, you review mine, 'kay?

Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

Enrique Gil	Enrique Gil said 934 days ago (May 8th, 2007)
	One more thing We used to go to Suzuki violin camps in Salt Lake and go camping afterwards. I have great pictures of my youngest son playing his violin in the North Rim. As you may imaging, you could not leave the violin in the car in the summer heat, so we took it with us everywhere we went....ah! great memories there......... Check out my latest song called Simple Feelings

Bowman	Bowman said 919 days ago (May 22nd, 2007)
	I too have a longing... ...for the desolate beauty that your piece portrays. I like that you left yourself adrift in the currents of the canyon. Flowing were they take you. No imposing traditional structure just allowing yourself to musically be. A wonderful sonic and musical experience. Best, Bowman Check out my latest song called The Orion Express - MJ Space Race 2009 by Bowman

Dj French Toast

Dj French Toast said 899 days ago (June 11th, 2007)

living in arizona
Ive been to the grand canyon several times and its impossable to discribe the emotion it creates in you . I think youve captured a mental moment in time with this song . ..... it indeed makes me trip back to the canyon . its vast...frikin vast I always feel like im going to be sucked in even standing seveeral feet away . I felt like I was being sucked onto your music ....very pritty and well translated . Now if you could just feel the breeze it would be perfect . ......downloaded : )

Check out my latest song called Its The French Toast(Colab W/WillBill808)

Warren Smith

Warren Smith said 856 days ago (July 24th, 2007)

canyon music
I have seen the canyon from both rims. Both views have their appreciative charms.

This is a highly-evocative piece. When listening to it, it is easy to conjure images of the layered striations ... or an osprey riding currents of the wind ... or a wisp of breeze dancing through the pinyon pines. I think you acheive the mark you were shooting for - creating a contemplative soundscape as vast and as varied as the big canyon itself.

This is a highly meditative piece. It slows down time, not all that differently than the canyon revealing layers of time in its naked geology. However, it reminds me less of Native American flute (which I know you have a fondness for) than Japanese Zen flute (or at least it recalls to my mind a Japanese album I had some 20 years ago and used to listen to extensively back then).

I would be interested to hear what kind of music Bryce Canyon pulls out of you, too : >

Check out my latest song called Pushing and Pulling

Char	Char said 488 days ago (July 26th, 2008)
	I have been to the Canyon, both rims. I have told people that it is impossible to take a bad picture of the canyon. I love this kind of music. I heard something like it played while I watched a show on the ceiling in a darkened observatory. Beautiful beyond infinity. So wonderful. Thank you. Check out my latest song called Break Away (Mark Holbrook & Awigze)

Rocha Malhada	Rocha Malhada said 397 days ago (October 26th, 2008)
	Vast expanse II Well, I said it once before, above. Nothing quite like that huge hole in the ground. I was tooling around your page for some NA stuff today. Good Sunday morning contemplative music. . - Harold Check out my latest song called Kanun Oud Rock (LIOLI9)

keedragoon

keedragoon said 305 days ago (January 25th, 2009)

been to the south
rim but not the north, I love this, the spacious sound is coming through quite well thank you. Very Very Wellllll. l have always enjoyed the long echos of sound myself. That is what got me into harmonica, I haven't played for so long, and recorder. I used to climb into big pipes and play music for hours just listening to the sound. You have this down. Thanks again for the download button. I think you have inspired me to try something new.
keed

Check out my latest song called hot muggy nights

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Artist Info

Name: Victor

In past lives, VicDiesel was a country fiddler, a shawm player at the Burgundy court, bellows pumper for JS Bach, Geoff Emerick's factotum, and a beggar playing drums in the streets of Calcutta for alms. Unusually, the memories of all that come... [see more]

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