Throughout all my life I have liked the Pipe organ and the Syntesiser plus all the usual musical instruments. So in many respects though these are “centuries apart ” they both have a vast sound range and as such they make an ideal medium for composition and conveying deeply powerful musical themes and some good quieter relaxing sounds. My first synths was back in the 1970s with influence from the Switched on Bach series (1968) and later Tangerine Dream’s Rubicon album. I learnt Piano and later went to night school to learn Bass guitar which Is a great instrument to have because there is always work for a bass in bands. My interest in electronics led to moving into electronic music as I felt it was a great way to produce new works which packed a punch. I had the privilege of being the first to ever play an all synthesiser concert outdoors in my home city, which
turned out quite good ( 1978). After this period , I spent decades doing sound engineering for others with both my own gear and what was provided at the venues. It was a good learning experience and helped develop my ear for music and presentation. I remember sounds like a recorder which is handy because I may want an oboe sound from a synth and will adjust it till it sounds right. Knowing the basic wave forms needed and hearing the harmonics helps emulate the sounds.
Now as far as composition goes, I have had to do at some stages hand written sheets ,which I hate because errors are hard to “remove”, I had to write a whole play in the 1908s like this and it took 18 months to produce and get a recording made inly to have the play wright pass away a bit later.
I now use a music score programme for my more formal works like the String quartets , and the Organ Symphony 4 works. Other methods are “live” recorded direct to a device and are treated as if it was at a concert. I think this gives the music a more flowing feel. The finals masters are finished off on a DAW and usually only minor tweeks are added. I may also post these works as a Youtube video and seem to get a regular following .
Now as far as kind or type of music goes , I may draw upon several centuries of music and revamp it for synthesiser etc, but retain some of its more traditional feel. The Gothic look is more of my trademark and I think it fits the grand sounds used. I will listen to many kinds of music including medieval, gothic era , folk, rock , pop , big band swing , country , film tracks , and even a bit of hip hop etc. There is a lot of good talent out there so I respect what they are trying to do.
My favourite composers are to many to list in all fairness but they all have something that inspires me. I do get bad times when I get down and depressed ,so I take a break and get inspired from just being outdoors etc.
Lastly It would be an oversite that In much of my theme music ( like the Outer Darkness album) there is a sense of the Divine interacting with the world and us.
Links
.http://www.youtube.com/@roniesanderson
https ://open.spotify.com/artist/4scp1XG9uRZ8BXkh2L6A9a?si=FjWse9w5SpiuR5ZPZzBdyg