This is my own arrangement of Paul Simon's American Tune. I think it's one of his best songs, and he's written many.
This arrangement was made in Notion and then transferred to Studio One for final recording and mastering. I've had fun with Realitone Fingerpick Guitar here (it's a great little Kontakt library at $89), with Bohemian Violin solo, Spitfire Sacconi Quartet, and Spitfire Chamber Strings. Let me know what you think! phpBB [audio]
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Great job, Michael. Love that song myself.
Did you know the tune is a nearly complete borrow from a 17th-century hymn, "O Sacred Head Now Wounded?" https://hymnary.org/text/o_sacred_head_now_wounded#tune |
Nice work Michael! It's nice to hear an arrangement of American Tune. What led you to this song? Did you put the heavy vibrato on the solo violin to make it sound more folksy?
Interesting contrast in lyric from the 1600s original and Simon's. Different times. Many’s the time I’ve been mistaken And many times confused Yes, and I’ve often felt forsaken And certainly misused Oh, but I’m all right, I’m all right I’m just weary to my bones Still, you don’t expect to be Bright and bon vivant So far away from home, so far away from home vs. O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown. O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine. |
DaddyO wroteGreat job, Michael. Love that song myself. Thanks for listening DaddyO. I was aware of that hymn from my youth singing in choir on Sundays, but never put the two together. Thanks, for pointing that out.
Last edited by michaelmyers1 on Sun May 20, 2018 10:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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craigdukerschein wroteNice work Michael! It's nice to hear an arrangement of American Tune. What led you to this song? Did you put the heavy vibrato on the solo violin to make it sound more folksy? Thanks for listening, Craig. I've always loved this song, and as I said, I think it's one of Simon's best. I've always heard it in strings, even when it wasn't... If I could sing, I would have sung the lead, but I can't so I tried to emulate a singer with the violin.
Last edited by michaelmyers1 on Sun May 20, 2018 11:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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From soaking wet Montreal, on this early Sunday morning, I wish to thank you all for helping me solving what had remained up until now a mystery, inevitably creating instant havoc in my memory whenever I heard it. . . The Simon and Garfunkel rendition of the song in the Central Park Concert recording always rang a far away bell, triggering a instant malaise. There had to be an explanation somewhere deep in my personal souvenir chest. . . but I wasn't sure what it was all about until I read your messages. Wow! Now I remember!
Cheers! |
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