Music

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© 2008 Mark Collins

10-06-2010

My greatest love (and perhaps my greatest regret.....)

I play the piano and guitar, not brilliantly but enough for my own pleasure.  Many years playing hymns and choruses in church have given me the ability to pick up a tune reasonably well.  I find reading music very difficult for some reason, so it is fortunate I appear to have a natural ability! My greatest regret is that I didn't study music more seriously as a child - learning new things now is so hard, although I am now in 2004 having piano lessons again.

When it comes to listening, I have a broad range of musical taste - although I have to admit a preference for the classical composers.  The music of Mozart was my first love, Rachmaninov and Chopin coming close behind.  I also adore church organ music, as you will see from the midi files below!

At University I developed a taste for Pink Floyd and Mike Oldfield, and still have a (loud) blast from time to time! A short  flirtation with softer popular music such as the Carpenters and John Denver has thankfully passed!

Demonstrating the enthusiasm of youth, I built a complex electronic organ whilst at university.  I still have the beast, although Alan insists it is kept in the garage and it hasn't been played for years.  Here is a picture of it - don't tell Alan but I do want to return it indoors at some stage!

We both enjoy more modern music, but it seems to work best for us in bars and clubs.

I've dabbled with electronic music, although I'm no expert!  Here are a selection of midi files I've sequenced myself over the years.  Some are simply 'played' into the computer from my electronic piano, others are hand sequenced (the better ones!).  Public Health Warning - some are very rough and ready!