La Mesita

02023-11-03 | Backstage, Photography, Rain Music | 2 comments

La Mesita is the 11th track from Rain Poems.

It started with the Saddest Chord Progression Ever. That was followed by this sketch on 30. June.

After listening to the music for a while I decided that the arpeggio was moving too fast. I then recorded it again, playing at half the tempo. This sounded much better to me. I realized that the fast arpeggio played back at half the speed would move at the same speed as the new arpeggio. So I recorded it at half speed–one of the greatest Pro Tools tricks–and added it. The slowed down guitar gives those chords a sense of gravity and adds low tones and fullness.

I had a certain landscape in mind when I worked on this piece and at some point I remembered a photo by William Clift.

This is the image, La Mesita, which is part of the Whitney Museum of American Art collection. 

I met William Clift in 1989 or 1990 and bought a bunch of postcards from him and this one was my favoriteI also used one of his photos in the booklet of the 1991 album Borrasca. William Clift mostly works with a large format analog camera. Imagine walking through the landscape with a large format camera on a tripod and carrying a bag with stuff… film, light meter, etc. The dedication, contemplation and experience! He has a gallery in Santa Fe, at 203 East Palace Avenue. 

2 Comments

  1. Robin

    Love June 30 recording.
    Hi from the Bay Area :)

    Reply
  2. JaneParham

    The chords are mystical. Your creation is perfect saudade! You could never create music sad enough for me; I love to feel my soul churn and burn! Ottmar, this music is in a new dimension, the rain dimension?!? It is highly developed Nouveau Flamenco…it is serious, through composed classic.

    Reply

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