‘Songs for a Life’ a dream come true for Norwich man
NORWICH – Written over a period of two decades, Richard Elam’s debut CD – Songs for a Life – was inspired by his many experiences, the people he loves and the events which have shaped him throughout his unexpected musical journey, according to the local musician.
At 66 years of age, Elam said he never thought his musical vision would see the light of day, and considered the release of his first album a dream come true.
“It really is wonderful and I never thought it would happen,” stated Elam. “It was a labor of love; it’s all about beauty and I’m proud to say it’s beautiful.”
Classically motivated and drawing inspiration from the motion picture soundtracks of the 1950s and 1960s, the wholly instrumental effort revolves around Elam’s graceful piano stylings and, in many ways, is a tribute to his musically talented father.
In fact, the album’s title track and Elam’s first original composition, “Songs for a Life,” was directly inspired by his father, according to the pianist, albeit in a dream.
“Songs for a Life was a gift from my father,” said Elam, who added that, in the dream, his father sat down at the piano and began playing a beautifully melodic piece of music. “The tears that started in the dream were with me as I awakened.”
The song – and the album as a whole – evokes a feeling of passion and calm with its semi-classical themes, and Elam said he hoped people will be inspired by his unlikely musical creation.
“My life has been a song. Very full, very rich, sometimes with very discordant minors, sometimes with hushed melody and occasionally with the most beautiful sounds the universe could dream,” stated Elam. “All of my Songs for a Life are about people or events in my life and the journey that I am on in this life.”
According to Elam, music is the “purest form of communication” due to the fact that it depends on one person’s unique internal rhythms merging with those of another.
“I take pride and have joy in what is presented here,” said Elam of his first-ever recording. “However, my pride and joy, and my journey, can only really be shared if some of what you see and hear touches your heart as it has touched my life.”
Copies of Songs for a Life are currently available at the Made in Chenango Gift Shop & Gallery, 20 South Broad St., and online at www.cdbaby.com.
At 66 years of age, Elam said he never thought his musical vision would see the light of day, and considered the release of his first album a dream come true.
“It really is wonderful and I never thought it would happen,” stated Elam. “It was a labor of love; it’s all about beauty and I’m proud to say it’s beautiful.”
Classically motivated and drawing inspiration from the motion picture soundtracks of the 1950s and 1960s, the wholly instrumental effort revolves around Elam’s graceful piano stylings and, in many ways, is a tribute to his musically talented father.
In fact, the album’s title track and Elam’s first original composition, “Songs for a Life,” was directly inspired by his father, according to the pianist, albeit in a dream.
“Songs for a Life was a gift from my father,” said Elam, who added that, in the dream, his father sat down at the piano and began playing a beautifully melodic piece of music. “The tears that started in the dream were with me as I awakened.”
The song – and the album as a whole – evokes a feeling of passion and calm with its semi-classical themes, and Elam said he hoped people will be inspired by his unlikely musical creation.
“My life has been a song. Very full, very rich, sometimes with very discordant minors, sometimes with hushed melody and occasionally with the most beautiful sounds the universe could dream,” stated Elam. “All of my Songs for a Life are about people or events in my life and the journey that I am on in this life.”
According to Elam, music is the “purest form of communication” due to the fact that it depends on one person’s unique internal rhythms merging with those of another.
“I take pride and have joy in what is presented here,” said Elam of his first-ever recording. “However, my pride and joy, and my journey, can only really be shared if some of what you see and hear touches your heart as it has touched my life.”
Copies of Songs for a Life are currently available at the Made in Chenango Gift Shop & Gallery, 20 South Broad St., and online at www.cdbaby.com.
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