BRAD BURG: Outside The Lines Music: Songs About Playing

Brad Burg

Outside The Lines Music: Songs About Playing

© 2007 Brad Burg (634479350351) (format: CD-R)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

These songs reflect the actions and feelings of play, from "Jungle Gym" to "Kites," "Slide," "Swing," "Play In The Snow," and more--based on Brad's award-winning Penguin children's book, "Outside The Lines: Poetry At Play."

notes

The enclosed CD is based on my book of children’s poetry Outside The Lines: Poetry At Play—-and the songs and arrangements are based on an unusual approach.

Each song concerns a different kind of play, and it's not just “about” that play, but evokes the feel and mood of the activity involved, using the elements of music: melody, rhythm, instrumental sounds, even placement of voices.

So in “Catch,” the singing proceeds one quiet syllable at a time, as the two singers on the left and right take turns; the melody becomes the ball they are tossing, as the lyrics may suggest:

Friend . . . throws
To . . . . friend
In . . . slow
Tick . . . tock,
The . . . slee-
py . . . sound
of . . . sum-
mer's . . . clock . . .

In “Jungle Gym,” an aggressive rhythm and angular melody suggest the effort—-and the occasional rivalries—-of small climbers.

The music in “Hula Hoop” twists around itself, then slows to half-time whenever the hoop falls to the ground:

Don't slow up, or it . . . slides right down -- you . . .
Feel it . . . fal - ling all around you . . .
Til it . . . winds up all unwound . . .
Down there upon the ground!

In "Skipping Stones,” a quiet koto-like accompaniment sets a dreamily placid mood--varied when the melody itself "skips" and then rushes, as stones themselves do, when pirouetting across a pond's surface.

The melody in “Slide” ascends with some effort, of course, followed by a rushing descent that is definitely breathless.

This concept was an outgrowth of poetry book it's based on. The book consists of “concrete” (that is, graphic) poems, in which the design aspects of the poem playfully recreate some of the motion and feeling of each activity involved. These songs are the musical equivalent: Instead of playfulness that can be seen, here the images and feelings are reflected in the music’s shape, structure, and mood.

Here's hoping you and any children you might share this with will find a lot of enjoyment in listening to these songs. My own family had a good time creating them. (I wrote and arranged the material; we all participated in vocals.)

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Outside the Lines
    author: Patricia Hawkins

    I liked this so much I gave copies as Christmas presents to all my cousins who have children. For me as an adult, these songs enchant. The lyrics are beguiling. They come from the heart with not a hint of sentimentality. I love the arrangements, which are beautiful and surprising. The songs are satisfying to the part of me that wants to play, even though I am grown, and also serve as invigorating pick-me-up for my adult, distracted mind. Original, sparkling--a delight!

  • Outside the Lines; Songs about Playing
    author: Jean

    The entire CD is a delight. My two favorites are Leaf Pile and Kites. I loved the description of a leaf pile as a "crisp, October featherbed". The kids can't help but play in the pile even though their dad has warned them to keep things neat. This song brings back memories of the fun of childhood and makes me want to forget acting like a proper adult all the time. And if you have ever struggled to get a kite to fly and then hated to bring it back down when it was time to go home the Kite Song is for you. The book of poetry (same name as CD) that this CD is based on is as appealing visually as the CD is musically. I recommend them both!

email

Please log in to email this artist.