Carolyn Downie

 Here are some of my homemade piano recordings made from scratch!

Notes from New England

A long walk in the historic woods of Massachusetts. A quaint yet haunting Civil War farmhouse. Hard urban streets and boarded up buildings felt in stark contrast to softly winding rural backroads. Solitude in an empty colonial home... These are some of the images and settings found in Notes from New England, an Americana-themed recording of original piano music & songs. Created as a musing on the architecture, history and landscape of New England in 2009, this album documents the time and place in a musical journal with impressions and realism. All tracks were recorded live with some additionally mixed in real-time with subtle effects applied. Cover art: "Mountain Laurel Flower" by Harriet L. Keeler (1915). ©2009 cmd.
  Track Title  
Mountain Laurel [5:56]   
Secular Hymn [4:31]   
Smokehouse Blues [3:15]   

Etudes

"Etudes features live, acoustic piano pieces and one flute solo in a combination which is both mathematically precise as well as organic. Carolyn cites many sources of inspiration, such as: Morton Feldman, Jane McKay, Messaien, Arvo Part, Bartok and Webern while drawing on worldly influences as Lithuanian and traditional Japanese music. This recording can easily be played for a wide range of audiences and situations and is both inspirational and meditative. Enjoy!" ~Brian Ball, WomensRadio.com Cover art: "Daybreak" by Jane McKay. ©2006 cmd.
  Track Title  
Austa [6:26]   

Waves at Bathsheba

Drawing inspiration from Debussy, Morton Feldman, Chopin and Alberto Ginastera (as well as the ocean in Barbados), "Waves at Bathsheba" offers a collection of original ambient and abstract solo piano music. A blend of Impressionist & Expressionist aesthetics, these pieces combine classical and modern textures with lyricism, polytonality and free improvisation. Recorded live in 2001. All pieces by Carolyn Downie. Cover art: Carson CT Collins. ©2001 cmd.

  Track Title  
Waves at Bathsheba [3:59]   

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