New CD, House Concert, and more-

[Matt]

Bits of music news from Blacksburg!
One of the reasons it's taken me a while to get a news email out is
that I ported the list to a Google group. Turns out it was not a
trivial task- hopefully it will have been worth the effort. At the
bottom of this email is information that can help you find it. You
can remove yourself, or just reply and ask me to if you'd rather not
receive my occasional news email.

- --- THANKS ---

Thanks so very much for your amazing response to in small hours. I
have received many beautiful emails and notes. Truly, that is what
makes the enormous amount of work worth it.

(Now for the big news....)

- --- NEW CD ---

There is a new CD far along in the works! Here's a sneak preview of
the cover:

http://www.matthewlabarge.com/img/october.jpg

After the release and distribution efforts of in small hours, I
intended to take at least a year strictly to work on my playing
abilities, rather than writing and recording. Best laid plans! The
first half of these pieces wrote themselves in the nooks and crannies
of practice time, and I soon realized that they were preparing to
assemble themselves into a new album whether or not I was ready.

It was the easiest time I've ever had finishing a composition. The
pieces are musically the simplest I've written to date, but as the
work neared completion, I realized that the piece as a whole had taken
on a life of it's own, despite the simplicity of its parts. I'm very
happy with the music.

As to the recording, I'm in the midst of an experiment- I've decided
to try to record it myself. A big part of the year has been spent
researching equipment and software, and an even bigger part has been
spent learning how to use the software. I've concluded that I might
be able to do a pretty good job of it!

(Another bit of big news...)

- --- PERSONAL ---

The way this album got started- the first piece that was written was
the wedding waltz, which I wrote the week I proposed to my now
fiancee, Shawn Brenneman. Shawn is a great contradance pianist, whose
music you will probably very much enjoy:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/housered

- --- HOUSE CONCERT, CHARLOTTESVILLE ---

I'll be premiering the new CD material at a concert in
Charlottesville, VA on July 20 at 3pm, at the Brooke Dezio piano
studio. If you are interested in attending, please let me know and
I'll send you details and directions.

(On another musical front...)

- --- NO! NOT THE ACCORDION! ---

I've always enjoyed traditional-style music (Irish & Scottish music,
Canadian music, bluegrass, etc), but touring with Shawn to most of her
gigs the past year, I saw some of the best traditional musicians in
the world perform live. It had had a big impact on me, and it's time
to confess: I've taken up the accordion. Shawn and I have a fledgling
band in the works that I'm very excited about. More as things
develop...

- --- SHEET MUSIC ---

Thanks so much for your requests! I don't have any completed yet, but
I have made a lot of progress. This summer I will publish Three Love
Songs, which will contain the love songs from first fall night, in
small hours, and the one that will conclude october. Others will
follow soon after.

- --- MYSPACE ---

I may release some previews from october on my myspace site, so if you
are a myspace member, please become a friend!

http://www.myspace.com/matthewlabarge

- --- IN CONCLUSION ---

Thanks a whole bunch!

~matt
http://www.matthewlabarge.com/
http://www.myspace.com/matthewlabarge