New at Spiritrax

benjie — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:40:00 +0000

A month ago, we got a visit from a wonderful, classically-trained soprano named Melissa Guiley. Guess I forgot to post them here at the time.

Wonderful Peace
I didn’t know this song before I arranged it, but it’s my new favorite. I feel like I managed a nice natural build through the arrangement.

Oh Chanukah
Just in time for the CCCCChhhhhhholiday.

S’vivon
For the klezmer kiddies. Melissa’s Jewish, so we got her to do these Chanukah tunes.

And Mandi Leigh did two more of my Christmas arrangements last week:

O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
Pretty traditional.

Jingle Bells
When I put this on, Mandi said, “Oh, I’m in Disneyland!” I guess that’s sort’ve what I was going for.

Lots more, but I’ll post them once they have vocals.

New Spiritrax Vocals

benjie — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:56:00 +0000

We ran out of friends to sing guide vocals for our Spiritrax songs, so we advertised for singers on Craigslist and were lucky to get a call from Mandi Leigh. Mandi just got back from a tour of the Carribbean and Central America, and is going on an American college tour soon to promote her debut album, so we were lucky to catch her while she had some down time. She sang over three of my arrangements and sounds just wonderful.

Oh Holy Night
This is an orchestral track, slow and dramatic, intended for a solo performance. I wrote this imagining my teacher Pam Wood singing it- she’s an astonishing soprano- but Mandi’s pop alto worked great.

My Country ‘Tis of Thee
Another classical track, but with a smaller orchestra. Trying to be sweet and not bombastic.

Go Tell It On the Mountain
A funky groove. I like the organ parts on this one.

Benjie Messer » Mandi Leigh

New at Spiritrax

New Spiritrax Vocals