Do you know what sea smoke is?

On very cold mornings we see sea smoke in the bay. It's a thin layer of condensed water vapor right above the surface of the water. Sea smoke is caused by very cold air coming in over warmer water. The evaporating water molecules condense as they enter the colder air. Sea smoke is quite wispy and incredibly beautiful. As it is often windy here, we enjoy seeing the sea smoke being blown across the bay. 


Recently I observed two crows sitting in their favorite tree down by the water. Like me, they sat and watched. A short work for piano (or flute and piano, or clarinet and piano... oboe would be perhaps a bit melancholy) was the result. Strangely enough it is titled "Two Crows in a Tree Watching Sea Smoke." Here is an image of the first page. I'll post the piece to my web site in a few days. 

  

New Work: Devotional Chants and Mantras

I recently finished the score of a collection of fifty short chants and mantras that have "come to" me at various times over a period of years, from about 1992 to last month. Sample pages of the score and a link to audio clips of some of the selections are at posted at:  


http://www.johnnewellmusic.com/Vocal.html

It was quite a challenge to collect them from various pieces of paper lying about; often a chant would come to me at a time when I was not had no music paper handy, so I would quickly jot it down on whatever piece of paper I could put my hands on. I expect that the collection will continue to grow.  

I composed the texts, unless otherwise indicated. These chants are appropriate for personal devotion; many of them will work also in a group worship setting. Accompaniment is optional, and may be helpful in some cases. In a few of the chants I couldn't resist writing out simple chordal accompaniments; but again, these are not necessary. One may find it helpful to use a one or two note drone; a two note drone should be tonic and dominant notes (e.g. C and G). 

I notated the chants in a voice register that is comfortable for me. You should pitch them wherever it is comfortable for yourself.