SKYSCRAPER SONGS - 1) On the Shore of the Hudson

[andrewclunn]

This is beautiful. I do wish the video was broken up a bit over time by shots of the sky line though.  The personal effects of live performances are diminished by the transition to video.

[guerilla1284]

A brilliant performance, Mr. Halley

[Lisawsome]

Beautiful. I hope they do a good job on the movie and the music for it or I will have to kill everyone involved ^-^

[nihilvox]

damn this wonderful music! now i can't read the quotes you used as lyrics without singing in my head

[nihilvox]

...have you ever considered changing your middle name to halley?

[Merryjest]

Hi Richard! Did you get any of my emails regarding the files you sent me for the songs??? I never received a reply!

[XCowboy2]

No i didn't- did you not get the files???

[nicolemasian]

The music is nice, the vocalist ok, but the cross in the background?!!!

[XCowboy2]

Unfortunately, churches can be the only available performance spaces in Manhattan. I had no choice in performer or venue- the pieces were commissioned by New Music New York.

[hithatsmybike]

The music is extraordinary, and so is the woman's voice but I don't really like the lyrics =/

But again, the music is superb. Student of Richard Halley? ;) Just kidding

[XCowboy2]

I have a favorite T-shirt that reads "Richard Halley School of Music" :)

[Nac117]

There any place I could find that t-shirt, or is it self-made?

[traptluva4ever]

The lyrics quote Ayn Rand in The Fountainhead

[DagnySTaggart]

The Composition and its Meaning as a Whole

or, The What vs The How:

This is a good place to elucidate a particular passage in Atlas Shrugged @ Galt's Gulch.

In a private recital Richard Halley says to Dagny:

"Miss Taggart do you see why I'd give three dozen modern artists for one real businessman? Why I have more in common with Ellis Wyatt or Ken Danagger - who happens to be tone deaf - than with men like Mort Liddy and Balph Eubank?"

*Grasping The Whole Composition is key to Full Appreciation

[nine9s]

I really hate to be the lone party-pooper.... but I didn't like it. The words are barely intelligible, and the music doesn't seem to fit the lyrics - the lyrics are hard and clear, while the music is wistful and sentimental.

[nine9s]

When she sang "leering stone monster created by some leprous savage," she sounded the same as she did when she sang "The sky over New York and the will of man made visible." I wasn't moved at all.

"A" for effort, though, XCowboy. Sorry this was so blunt, but I don't know how to do honest criticism any other way.

[XCowboy2]

No need to apologize. I achieved exactly what I wanted to achieve and I know the worth of the piece.

[snake9bake]

That is incredible. How truly wonderful.

I am so glad I subscribed to your channel, XCowboy2.

[Atlantist]

O8$ Objective Ovation $!O

***** and congrAdulations all *****

A $ A

[7NTM61Ic]

This is the highest-quality classically styled explicitly Objectivist musical piece that I have ever encountered. Congratulations! I would love to see the score just for interest--PDF is OK. May I have a copy?

[XCowboy2]

Sure. Send me a private message with your e-mail.

[XCowboy2]

did you get the score?

[7NTM61Ic]

Nope. I emailed you back saying: "Hi Richard, I am having trouble opening any of your files in Finale Notepad 2008. I get:

Invalid file type, file C:\Users\rr\AppData\Local\Temp­\QZTEMP\Skyscraper 1 - HUDSO#3E62E9.mus ///////// Best,"

--then I e'd again suggesting you not compress the files.

[XCowboy2]

Sorry- I'll send again.

[MichaelNewberry]

Richard,

Congrats. This is wonderful to see and hear! Keep up the creativity.

Michael

[Merryjest]

Cowboy, I can DEFINITELY sing this song without a problem. I would love to perform this piece, I sent you a private message with my phone number- feel free to call me, as I shall have the phone by my side.

[XCowboy2]

Great- I'll give you a buzz or drop a line tonight. I should have the other two up shortly if you want to consider doing the set.

[Rorshak1313]

Nice!

[Merryjest]

Excellent! I look forward to seeing them and hopefully they'll be as good for my fach as this one is! I would definitely love to perform the set.

[XCowboy2]

Great! What's your age/background and where do you perform?

[Merryjest]

Let's see, I'm a tenore leggero, 29 years old, just recently had my operatic debut in Colorado at the Rialto Theater as prince Tamino in Mozart's "Die Zauberflote." I have waited to make my debut in order to be technically ready. This summer I am singing at the Colorado Vocal Arts Symposium. I've been studying vocal technique and operatic performance for 8 years now. I speak Spanish, English, French and Italian.

I was introduced to Objectivism 4 years ago by my boyfriend.

[XCowboy2]

I'd love to hear what you do with the songs- keys are adjustable. I'll touch base tonight. Do you have access to Finale or Finale Viewer? I can send the score in that form- pdf files seem to be iffy.

[Merryjest]

I don't have Finale, but I imagine the Finale demo will allow me to see the file :)

[XCowboy2]

Hey Mery- sorry I didn't get the files out last night- working on videos of songs 2&3. Hopefully tonight!