Random Thoughts from Michael's Random Mind

Church In The Rock

The Church in The Rocks

Through the years I've composed a lot of music. Most of these labours of love were "songs". Music with hopefully poignant, witty and captivating lyrics that make you think, laugh, smile or cry.

One of the types of music many are unaware that I've written are classical pieces. Most of these are directly related to my training in music theory in college. Many times I've joked that I'm just "listening to the voices in my head".

That's truer than you'd probably like to know.

There are days when the music blocks out all else. Moments when conversations aren't relevant, unless they have a certain pentameter to them. A melodic quality. Otherwise they'll be lost in the cacophony that is my brain on music.

The best way to describe it is; Immortal Beloved or Amadeus, two of my favorite movies. Both seemed to capture the madness and magic that is composition.

One of my most enduring and endearing memories is of a place I lived in Germany. Idar Oberstein. It's a small village (or was small) nestled next to the Nahe river that winds past the village's cobbelstone streets under the watchful eye of the town's most famous landmark.

The Church in The Rocks.

The legend of how the church got into the side of that cliffside always intrigued me. Fueding brothers, over a woman of course. One pushes the other, he falls from the mountaintop castle. Brotherly grief results in the construction of this ggorgeous landmark.

True? I don't know. That's why they call them legends, right?

Read more about it here.

I never could shake that legend and that indescribably beautiful place from my mind.

I never did try very hard to rid myself of my most treasured memories. The cobblestone streets, the little shop with gummy bears, the bakery, the river and the ever present Church In The Rock and it's accompanying legend.

That's the background to three "Songs for Idar Oberstein" that I composed for piano. The River, The Village and The Church in the Rock. With each note and silent moment I attempted to capture what to me is a very special place.

You can listen to these here.

They're nestled amongst my "regular" singer-songwriter music. I hope you can sit back, close your eyes and picture this special place while listening to the piano compositions.

All in all I was very pleased when I re-discovered these little gems years later, from a composition and eclectic point of view. The piano playing leaves something to be desired, but I hope you'll come away with the uniqueness that inspired this labour of love. I've also arranged them for orchestra and a long time dream has been to have them performed by an orchestra in Idar Oberstein.

On a side note, a gentleman from a heavy metal band called No World in Germany ran into these songs on line and loved them He lives about 50KM from the village itself and actually took it upon himself to write the mayor encouraging them to bring a hopeful romantic back to this gem from my youth. I'm not holding my breath, but I'll keep you up to date.

Time to get back to the voices in my head, they're calling me.

Michael

More abour Idar Oberstein
Michael Stone's Original Music-CD coming Fall-2006
Michael Stone's Morning Show

2006-07-29 14:23:30 GMT

Comments (4 total)

Author:bianca_alin

Hello, Michael..I already told you I loved your music, but these piano pieces are just great! Thank you for sharing with us..and I'm really glad to hear that you're living in paradise and creating music - that's perfect! :)

I visited a church in the rocks 9 years ago in the north of Italy, and I will never forget it! There were speakers hidden in the stone walls, and you could hear the wonderful Gregorian music...I felt it flowing through my body...it was like a dream! Unforgettable moments!:)

2006-07-29 15:46:36 GMT

Author:sarahstrums

Michael~ Thanks for sharing the legend of the Church in the Rock. What a fascinating legend! Pure irony for a thing of such incredible beauty and workmanship to come from such a sad and tragic situation.

You have some amazing life experiences. I'm impressed that you can compose such beautiful classical pieces. Were you playing piano in the recordings? I have no musical training whatsoever, other than the music my dad exposed me to growing up and the people I pick and sing with now. I can't read music, don't understand theory and probably have no business writing songs, but I do it anyway! :-) Thanks for the encouraging words about my music.

I look forward to hearing your cd when it's released. Keep up the good work and keep your heart and mind open to the muse.

~Sarah

2006-07-30 02:37:02 GMT

Author:olive_oyl_1111

Pretty enteresting , thankyou for sharing . Also I can't get my speakers to work with the music you downloaded , it only playes for windows media and real player .

2006-08-05 14:13:55 GMT

Author:susanelainejenkins

Wonderful again...

thank you...I love this photograph!

2006-08-10 11:46:22 GMT

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		Random Thoughts from Michael's Random Mind

		Church In The Rock The Church in The Rocks Through the years I've composed a lot of music. Most of these labours of love were "songs". Music with hopefully poignant, witty and captivating lyrics that make you think, laugh, smile or cry. One of the types of music many are unaware that I've written are classical pieces. Most of these are directly related to my training in music theory in college. Many times I've joked that I'm just "listening to the voices in my head". That's truer than you'd probably like to know. There are days when the music blocks out all else. Moments when conversations aren't relevant, unless they have a certain pentameter to them. A melodic quality. Otherwise they'll be lost in the cacophony that is my brain on music. The best way to describe it is; Immortal Beloved or Amadeus, two of my favorite movies. Both seemed to capture the madness and magic that is composition. One of my most enduring and endearing memories is of a place I lived in Germany. Idar Oberstein. It's a small village (or was small) nestled next to the Nahe river that winds past the village's cobbelstone streets under the watchful eye of the town's most famous landmark. The Church in The Rocks. The legend of how the church got into the side of that cliffside always intrigued me. Fueding brothers, over a woman of course. One pushes the other, he falls from the mountaintop castle. Brotherly grief results in the construction of this ggorgeous landmark. True? I don't know. That's why they call them legends, right? Read more about it here. I never could shake that legend and that indescribably beautiful place from my mind. I never did try very hard to rid myself of my most treasured memories. The cobblestone streets, the little shop with gummy bears, the bakery, the river and the ever present Church In The Rock and it's accompanying legend. That's the background to three "Songs for Idar Oberstein" that I composed for piano. The River, The Village and The Church in the Rock. With each note and silent moment I attempted to capture what to me is a very special place. You can listen to these here. They're nestled amongst my "regular" singer-songwriter music. I hope you can sit back, close your eyes and picture this special place while listening to the piano compositions. All in all I was very pleased when I re-discovered these little gems years later, from a composition and eclectic point of view. The piano playing leaves something to be desired, but I hope you'll come away with the uniqueness that inspired this labour of love. I've also arranged them for orchestra and a long time dream has been to have them performed by an orchestra in Idar Oberstein. On a side note, a gentleman from a heavy metal band called No World in Germany ran into these songs on line and loved them He lives about 50KM from the village itself and actually took it upon himself to write the mayor encouraging them to bring a hopeful romantic back to this gem from my youth. I'm not holding my breath, but I'll keep you up to date. Time to get back to the voices in my head, they're calling me. Michael More abour Idar Oberstein Michael Stone's Original Music-CD coming Fall-2006 Michael Stone's Morning Show 2006-07-29 14:23:30 GMT Comments (4 total) Author:bianca_alin Hello, Michael..I already told you I loved your music, but these piano pieces are just great! Thank you for sharing with us..and I'm really glad to hear that you're living in paradise and creating music - that's perfect! :) I visited a church in the rocks 9 years ago in the north of Italy, and I will never forget it! There were speakers hidden in the stone walls, and you could hear the wonderful Gregorian music...I felt it flowing through my body...it was like a dream! Unforgettable moments!:) 2006-07-29 15:46:36 GMT Author:sarahstrums Michael~ Thanks for sharing the legend of the Church in the Rock. What a fascinating legend! Pure irony for a thing of such incredible beauty and workmanship to come from such a sad and tragic situation. You have some amazing life experiences. I'm impressed that you can compose such beautiful classical pieces. Were you playing piano in the recordings? I have no musical training whatsoever, other than the music my dad exposed me to growing up and the people I pick and sing with now. I can't read music, don't understand theory and probably have no business writing songs, but I do it anyway! :-) Thanks for the encouraging words about my music. I look forward to hearing your cd when it's released. Keep up the good work and keep your heart and mind open to the muse. ~Sarah 2006-07-30 02:37:02 GMT Author:olive_oyl_1111 Pretty enteresting , thankyou for sharing . Also I can't get my speakers to work with the music you downloaded , it only playes for windows media and real player . 2006-08-05 14:13:55 GMT Author:susanelainejenkins Wonderful again... thank you...I love this photograph! 2006-08-10 11:46:22 GMT Site Home