Background

        Over the years, I had the habit of writing down some of my more philosophical thoughts in the form of verse, with the idea that such things were more easily remembered when presented with rhythm and rhyme.   Over those same years, I was greatly intrigued by the subject of music — its structure and theory.

        One day while sitting in a recording studio, watching and listening while a friend was being recorded, I was struck by the way music was actually done in a modern studio.   I was excited by the technology that went into it.   My thoughts turned to my poetic writings.   "Would it be feasible to present my writings in musical form?"   I directed this question to James Cory, the engineer who was doing the recording.   That was the beginning.

        As the idea evolved, I eventually set up my own recording studio at home, with the encouragement of James.   I learned enough of the rudiments of sequencing to lay down bass and drum tracks, and to create melodies.   I recorded all of my own vocals, with the exception of the first one, "Beyond the Bounds," recorded by James.   Seven of the fourteen tracks are the result of my taking them as far as I could before turning them over to the expertise of James for his additions and tweaks, including his playing live drums and guitar in a few instances.   Five of them are completely the musical works of James with my recorded vocals, and the remaining two are totally mine.

MUSIC: the cosmic code.

        Having heard many times that some form of music has existed in every culture, I wondered what it was about music that placed it amidst human affairs to the extent that it is.   Why does music have such an attraction for human beings?   There is one theory that I like.

        Julie Andrews sang, "The hills are alive with the sound of music."   I believe that the whole universe is alive with music.   This is not a new idea.   The universe is many times referred to as the "cosmos," a Greek word meaning order and harmony, from ancient times when philosopher-scientists believed that the universe actually sings! Today's scientists have had to reevaluate that idea.

        One of them, Dr. Donald Hatch Andrews, was a professor of chemistry at Johns Hopkins University for over 25 years.   In addition to a textbook on chemistry, he wrote another book, entitled "The Symphony of Life."   In it, he stated that atoms "...consist largely of vibration with harmonic relations that are in many ways similar to the harmonic relations found in music..."
and... "Thus it begins to look more and more as if our universe is constructed not of matter but of music."
        Is it any wonder then why we humans are universally so inclined to regard music as we do?   Its existence not only arises from our minds and emotions — it resides within our physical being.