Ron's original music

 
uno, two, three

I write words for a living. But my greater love, and by far, greater talent, is writing music. My genre used to be called "pop" or "top 40". I feel the words "thematic" and "theatre" are appropriate. <> This is my music. Every note, composed at the keyboard. I cannot explain the inspiration or how the process works. I sit. Fingers find their way, phrase by phrase, to the right combination of notes. And there is a song. I know my chord theory and I play the piano. But I am not a virtuoso, barely a performer. Still, I imagine the performance of my music. And the fun begins. At the keyboard, I go back and bring out certain harmonics … create and add counterpoints and rhythms … introduce new voices. I develop a multi-layer “performance”—a dimensional interpretation of the original song. <> I have segmented this collection into three parts, categorized by the intent or inspiration of the particular song. Listen as you like. --RonP

(TRACKS ARE MP3. DIALUP USERS WILL NEED TO DOWNLOAD FIRST.)

* uno, EN ESPAÑOL *

1. QUE PENA ME DAS (3:31) Written to a passionate Spanish poem/lyric. 2. YO NO SE (2:55) A funky Spanish lyric plus my funky English translation with music to fit. Plus counterpoint fun. 3. AMOR INFINITO (2:53) Written to a passionate Spanish poem/lyric. 4. SOÑANDO (I’M LOOKING) (2:57) Music composed to a Jacque Brel /Charles Aznavour type of lyric and translated into Spanish.

** two, LOVE & JAZZ **

5. TROPICS (2:52) Originally written to a sensual poem. Look for little counterpoints and inner accompaniments. 6. MAGIC (3:45) My lyric. Chorus: “I’ve Known You For A Long Time/I’ve Loved You Longer Still/You’re All I Ever Dreamed Of/All I Ever Will…” A magically true story of falling in love. 7. NOT AN ORDINARY GIRL (3:22) Written to a “female” tour de force, fast-paced lyric. 8. APARTMENT 19E (2:26) My lyric. Written as “his or her half” of a conversation. “Well Hello…I’m Surprised To See You…I Didn’t Think You’d Come…Come In Sit Down…Can I Get You A Drink…On The Rocks?…Of Course…How Dumb…” 9. STRAWBERRY AIR (2:35) The lyric was a eulogy to the loss of a young child. The minor mode of the first section reflects sadness; following the transitional interlude, the major chords of the final section reflect sweet memories. 10. OH HOW I’VE MISSED YOU (2:47) A teenager in love kind of rock ‘n’ roll ballad. 11. I’M LOOKING (jazz version) (4:34) “I Sit Here Waiting Till The Sun Goes Down/Then I’m On The Town/I’m Looking…” Music composed to a Jacque Brel /Charles Aznavour type of lyric. 12. THINGS JUST AIN’T THE SAME (2:06) A torchy jazz song with just the piano. 13. TIDINGS (WHERE’S MY SANTA THIS YEAR?) (2:57) A sad Christmas love song.

*** three, STAGE & SCREEN ***

14. OVERTURE (5:25) A montage of parts of songs structured as a Musical Theatre Overture for an imaginary show called “Grand Central Station”. 15. HOMAGE TO JERRY HERMAN (4:33) My tribute to THE MAN’S(!) showstopper style. Hopefully you’ll be humming it after one or two listens. 16. SHE’S THE KIND OF GIRL THEY WRITE SONGS ABOUT (2:33) One of my musical enjoyments is to create an enigmatic intro, middle “cadenza” and/or ending. 17. ANNA (4:00) My mother will put a rose between her teeth and dance with little urging. I tried to capture her essence and the symmetry of the art deco era. 18. AWAKENING (2:16) A musical renaissance. 19. THERE’LL NEVER BE ANOTHER TONIGHT/ALL MY DREAMS (3:45) My tribute to the style of Richard Rogers’ waltzes. Two separate pieces, segued. 20. THEME IN MINOR & MAJOR (2:34) A “classic” theme.

ALL SONGS WRITTEN, ARRANGED AND PERFORMED BY RON PLOTKIN ©
  

(RON'S COMPLETE BIO IN 5 SHORT PARAGRAPHS)