Archive for June, 2009

Creating the Universe in Music

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
This afternoon I am once again with Tony Barr at Solid Sound studios in Hoffman Estates, IL. Tony is working on serial CD projects. Having finished the massive Light Eternal project - currently with the duplicators - which I co-produced,  he is now working on 20 tracks for ‘Where Might We Find You’. This one I’m just helping out with on an occasional basis – guitars, synths at chez moi etc. Right now I’m listening to the great Joe Dilillo shred it up on electric guitar in a trio with French Horns! Berlioz meets Pink Floyd!

That kind of sums Tony’s music up. Tony sees few stylistic barriers in music. He can come up with the most gorgeously complex cathedral styles, and then turn around and channel the Beatles with overtones of the theme music of Star Trek, and a little Avro Pärt besides. Tony likes to say that his brother, Paul Barr, who was one of the leading astrophysicists in the world until his untimely death some years ago, used to explore the cosmos of the physical universe, while he – Tony – explores the metaphysical cosmos through theology and musical composition.

Tony Barr and John Towner record Fred Vipond on organ back in February.

Tony Barr and John Towner record Fred Vipond on organ back in February.

 My involvement in Tony’s music has been long and comprehensive – I’ve probably spent more time on his work this past year than I have on my own. I’ve also got to spend several hundred hours working in a recording studio, one of my favorite places to be, at a professional level. And been paid for it, even! It has at times been frustrating, at times exhilarating, but always interesting, skillbuilding, challenging.

Anyway, by the end of the month Tony will have completed three projects (the fourth is in the works, of course), hopefully in time for the NPM convention in July. I’m just grateful to my friend for letting me be a part of it, and for giving me the opportunity to learn so much in the doing of it.

Now . . . Back to Pink Floyd! (Or is it Berlioz?)