Tag: original work

Open Mic Adventures LVIII: “Kartofelsalat”

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Amid last week’s chaos I managed to squeeze in a little composing one night.  I was messing around with yet another waltz in my music journal, which I then edited quite a bit once I got into Noteflight and started putting in the notes.

I did not start out with German potato salad (the meaning of “Kartofelsalat”) as what I hoped to portray musically.  I was just scribbling around, and when it came time to assign my little piece a title, “Kartofelsalat” popped into my head.  It perhaps makes sense:  it sounds funny, it’s vaguely German (this waltz has a bit of a German flare to it), and it’s a mix of various musical ingredients, much like the delicious side dish.

Read More »

Open Mic Adventures LVII: “Firefly Dance”

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Over Thanksgiving Break, I renewed my subscription to Noteflight Premium and began fooling around with the software again.  My niece and nephews found it fascinating, and starting writing their own little compositions.

They asked me to write something, and I started with a simple theme in 3/4, which would become “Firefly Dance.”  After they left to go back to their home, I buckled down and expanded the theme into the piece I’m featuring today.

In order to have a working YouTube version available, I scheduled the video to go live this morning (Tuesday, 28 November 2023).

Read More »

Open Mic Adventures LII: “Minuet for a New Moon”

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Now that school is back in session, yours portly isn’t making it out to open mic night much, so I’m doing what I do best:  mining the rich veins of my old, neglected works.

This week I’d like to share “Minuet for a New Moon,” which I composed on 9 February 2022 as part of Péch​é​s d​’​â​ge moyen, the highly unpopular collection of lo-fi solo piano pieces I released largely as part of an inside Internet joke.

Read More »

Open Mic Adventures LI: “Bigfoot Boogie”

The Portly Politico2 Comments

I released Spooky Season II: Rise of the Cryptids last Friday, 6 October 2023.  Sales were… disappointing, but actually exceeded my normal sales, so I suppose I am happy about that.

Regardless, I am proud of the album.  Most composers are not appreciated in their times, and my instrumental music is definitely “niche.”  I enjoy the process of composing, editing, and publishing music, so that’s something.

But I digress.  This week, I thought I’d feature the opening track from the album, “Bigfoot Boogie.”

Read More »

Open Mic Adventures XLIX: Sloppy “Hipster Girl Next Door” Medley

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

This past Friday, 22 September 2023, I played a gig at a local coffee shop with my buddy John.  I was recovering from a sinus infection, but through a combination of cough drops, water, and tea, I soldiered through and managed to hit quite a few high notes—woooooot!  It also helped having John there to carry lead vocals on several tunes.

It was a sloppy performance on my end—I mixed up the lyrics to a song I have been singing for eleven years!—but I’m chalking that up to the sinus congestion and my slowly diminishing mental faculties.  The result, regardless, was an absurd, self-indulgent, over-the-top, ridiculous, long closing number to a very fun show.

Read More »

Open Mic Adventures XLVI: “Canon Event”

The Portly Politico5 Comments

As I’ve delved deeper into YouTube, I’ve discovered the platform has a little blog for creators that points out the major Internet trends of the moment.  The Internet is constantly evolving, with new trends and memes coming and going the shifting tides—but faster!  Apparently, Gen Zers are running around calling charisma “rizz.”  We have always been at war with Eurasia!

One meme doing the rounds is the “canon event” meme.  The meme comes from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), where multiple Peter Parkers (or their equivalents) from multiple universes all experience certain “canon events,” which are (allegedly) unalterable:  the bite from the radioactive spider; the death of a beloved family member; the loss of the love interest; etc.  In meme form, YouTubers and TikTok(k?)ers will feature milestone or rite-of-passage events as “canon events,” often remarking, “I cannot interfere.”  These events are typically something cringe-inducing or silly, like picking a weird name for PlayStation online.

I find the concept of “canon events”—what we used to call a “rite of passage”—interesting, and thought I’d hop on the Internet bandwagon with a little piano piece called “Canon Event.”

Read More »

Open Mic Adventures XLIV: “Skeleton Dance No. 1”

The Portly Politico2 Comments

Ah, yes—another Tuesday, another edition of Open Mic Adventures in which I thwart Ponty’s dreams and feature a super short, experimental piano miniature instead of a gutsy, flabby live performance.

No worries—there will (probably) be more sweaty, robust live performances soon.  But as we endure the heat and misery of August, I’m already looking ahead to the coolness and fun of Halloween.

So, what better way to get in the spooky mood than with a little skeletal gyrating?

Read More »

Lazy Sunday CCXVI: Weird Piano Music

The Portly Politico2 Comments

There is little I love more than playing and singing my humorous original songs.  But a close second is subjecting my readers to my bizarre short piano compositions.  So, why not look at back at some of my weird piano music?

Happy Sunday!

—TPP

Other Lazy Sunday Installments:

Open Mic Adventures XLIII: “Greek Fair”

The Portly Politico18 Comments

Back on Thursday, 20 July 2023 I made a pilgrimage back to Lula’s Coffee Company, which for several years before The Age of The Virus was the epicenter of a flourishing of musical and cultural activity in Florence, South Carolina.  Then the management dragged its feet on resuming open mic post-pandemic, and I largely wrote it off as a venue.

Fortunately, I am overcame my stubborn resistance and occasionally make it out there for open mic night.  It is a long way from my home now, so I don’t get out there much, but I found my most recent visit to be quite rewarding.

My buddy John Pickett and I played “Greek Fair“; I regard this song as the best I have ever written.  Others have proven more popular, but I’m really proud of this one.

Read More »