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Elegy for Harold

by Kevin Keller

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about

In loving memory of Harold Budd (May 24, 1936 - December 8, 2020), the godfather of ambient music and my earliest inspiration. May he rest in peace.

This music began as an "étude" that explored the "RNDM" setting on the Moog Grandmother arpeggiator. I spent several hours creating a custom patch on the Moog, and then held down a 6-note chord. After engaging the HOLD button, the Moog then randomly arpeggiated through these 6 notes for many hours. I was hypnotized by this beautiful, non-repeating pattern of notes, and recorded a 6-minute snippet (with a touch of reverb).

Sitting down at the piano, I started playing a "duet" with the Moog that eventually settled into a slow waltz. The chords reminded me of the beauty and simplicity of Harold Budd's music.

Later, I added a lush pad using my Juno-106, and the finishing touches were created in Serum, using the same 6-note chord that I'd held down on the Moog, and again using a random, non-repeating arpeggio.

All technical notes aside, my aim was to create the most beautiful music that I could, in memory of Harold Budd, who passed away this month following a stroke, and complications from COVID-19.

I wish Harold a safe journey.

credits

released December 18, 2020
Composed and performed by Kevin Keller on upright piano, Moog Grandmother, Roland Juno-106, and Serum

Recorded at Summit Rock, New York, NY

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Kevin Keller New York, New York

Kevin Keller is an American composer who has worked in the spaces between neo-classical, ambient, and electronic music for over 30 years.

Often combining acoustic piano, strings, and woodwinds with electronic instruments and effects, his style has come to be called “ambient chamber music”.
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