Robert James Thoms
Lives in NL, Canada
I always felt that rather than being a spectator when it came to music I should be a participator.
I was 26 years old before I struck middle C on the piano seriously. At that time, I gave myself wholly over to the study of music for about 4 years and then gave it up. During this period, I wanted to pursue "musical composition" at the university level but was denied entrance because of not being able to play an instrument at a grade 8 level. . .Whatever! Nevertheless, that did not stop me from generating my own music program, so to speak. I took Piano lessons, Violin lessons, and with the aid of a private tutor finished the Royal Conservatory's basic music theory, harmony, and counterpoint programs -- not to mention holding down a 9 to 5 job in the process. My passion was never to perform music, but only to write it. During this 4 yr. period, I wrote down tons of themes, most of which were a single line in the treble clef. Notating music was always for me a wearisome task, but I always saw myself as a good tune-smith. What once was hard has now become easy thanks to computer software. I probably wouldn't have written music had it not been for this... that's just me!
In Aug. of 2001, approximately 10 years after giving up music, and a few days short of 40 yrs. old, I started writing seriously for the first time in my life. I don't play an instrument as such (I can play the radio rather good if that counts!), but I can bluff my way on the piano enough to compose but not to perform. Approximately half the themes used in my compositions to date were scribbled down years ago. The element of interest now is to both "develop" and "orchestrate" the one-finger melodies of days gone by. I guess I'm presently making good a part of my past. Most of my music is either a waltz or a march. If you don't like waltzes and marches, chances are you will not like my music. If you like waltzes and marches, you just might. Update:Since May of 2004, I have put music on the back burner to give myself wholly over to the writing of a book entitled "The Faith." This book is being written to fully restore "the faith" once delivered to the saints. A massive undertaking to say the least, but God is with me. If the Lord graciously wills, I plan to revisit some of my music, pieces that are already started and in some cases 95% completed, to finish it; composition will undoubtedly come to an end then.
There is a controller just under the "guestbook" if you prefer to have the music off, or turn it down - dare I say turn it up!
What kind of Dog did Johann Strauss own?
 ? 
|
