Roll Over

I Want More Life

mike — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:51:30 +0000

I was fortunate enough to receive another commission last January from The Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus to set a text from Tony Kushner’s Angels In America. The piece is called “I Want More Life”, and Brent just finished mixing a recording of it in our studio.

Dr. Stan Hill, Artistic Director of TCGMC, (also responsible for my last TC-GMC commission, Through A Glass, Darkly) asked me to write “I Want More Life” for the Tony Kushner Celebration at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. The commission was made possible by the generosity of Jeffrey Bores and with the permission of Tony Kushner.

I Want More Life
Vocals by Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, Drew Santini, and Mike
Music by Mike
Text adapted from “Angels In America: Perestroika”, Scene 5 by Tony Kushner
Produced by Brent
(c) and (p) 2009 FatLab Music
All Rights Reserved, Text used by permission of Tony Kushner

Previously:

Demo Reel of Children’s Theme Park Show Music

brent — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:50:28 +0000

For three summers now, FatLab Music has supplied soundtracks to theme parks for IAAPA Award-Winning medley shows, fireworks spectacles, and lately, more and more kids’ shows. We provide original theme songs, reinterpreted arrangements, karaoke-style transcriptions, audio editing, pre-tracked vocals, and so on.

We are the “music guys” for two great companies: RWS & Associates Entertainment, Inc., whose live entertainment character properties include the CBS Television lineup and HIT Entertainment’s portfolio (“Thomas and Friends”, “Barney”, “Bob The Builder”), and Manhattan Creative Group.

Our shows are wrapping up their summer season, so we thought it was a good time to share a demo reel of some of our Children’s Show work to-date.

[0:00] “Beyond The Castle Walls” – Original music and lyric
From Beyond The Castle Walls (RWS)

[0:39] “Garfield The Great” – Original music and lyric
From Garfield The Great & Friends (RWS)

[1:04] “Believe” – Arrangement
From The Spirit of Christmas (RWS)

[1:18] “Kidapalooza” – Original music
Lyric by Stephen Tomac
From Kidapalooza (RWS)

[1:35] “Rockin’ on Route 66″ – Original music and lyric
From Rockin’ on Route 66 (RWS)

[1:53] “Who Left My Bologna In The Sun?” – Arrangement
From The Hopsicals (MCG)

If You Only Knew

brent — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:27:43 +0000

Here is track 13 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “If You Only Knew”. Zack knows what he must do, and leaves, hoping that one day Sebastian can see in himself what Zack saw in him.

Mike originally wrote this for my sister’s 21st birthday present, a little EP called brina.21. At the request of Dr. Stan Hill, this song was incorporated into “Darkly” and expanded from a solo into the choral finale heard below.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

If You Only Knew
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Vocals by James Sasser and Michael Marcotte
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

What Problem

brent — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:23:54 +0000

Here is track 12 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “What Problem”. Sebastian hurls a string of excuses at Zack in a desperate attempt to make him stay.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

What Problem
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Vocals by Kevin Massey
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Messages

brent — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:16:20 +0000

Here is track 11 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Messages”. Voice mails to Sebastian’s cell phone go unreturned as people try to reach him in vain.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

Messages
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Vocals by James Sasser, Michael Marcotte
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

We Hope

brent — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:11:28 +0000

Here is track 10 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “We Hope”.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

We Hope
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Did You Know

brent — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:51:37 +0000

Here is track 9 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Did You Know”. Addiction affects more than just the addict.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

Did You Know
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Any Minute Now

brent — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:44:31 +0000

Here is track 8 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Any Minute Now”. Even though they are worlds apart, Billy and Zack worry about Sebastian and wonder what they did wrong.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

Any Minute Now
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Vocal by Michael Kadin Craig and Michael Shaieb
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Let’s Pretend

brent — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:36:12 +0000

Here is track 7 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Let’s Pretend”. Not talking about things doesn’t mean they go away.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

Let’s Pretend
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Making It

brent — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:32:57 +0000

Here is track 6 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Making It”. It’s toxic, but not difficult.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

Making It
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Announcer: Todd Alan Johnson
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

The Ordinary Things

brent — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:26:11 +0000

Here is track 5 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “The Ordinary Things”. A picture album sparks memories of happier times between Zack and Sebastian.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

The Ordinary Things
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Just Another Night

brent — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:42:28 +0000

Here is track 4 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Just Another Night”. Sebastian abandons Billy in the hotel room as he ducks out in search of his next conquest. Meanwhile, Zack waits.

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

Just Another Night
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Vocals by Michael Marcotte, Kevin Massey, and Michael Shaieb
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Transitions

brent — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:07:38 +0000

Here is track 3 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Transitions”. Billy is lost to his first high.

(We just got back from the GALA Choruses Festival 2008 in Miami. At least two major choruses will be performing “Darkly” in the coming year. More as this develops.)

See the Official Site for complete information on Through A Glass, Darkly.

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Previously:

Stay A While

brent — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:22:06 +0000

Here is teaser track 2 from Through A Glass, Darkly, “Stay A While”. Sebastian and Billy hook up in a hotel room somewhere.

(It’s 6 1/2 weeks until the Minneapolis concert.)

Stay A While
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Lead Vocals by Sebastian Arcelus and Michael Kadin Craig
Ensemble Vocals by Sebastian Arcelus, Michael Kadin Craig, Matt Hinkley, and Steve Morgan
Guitar by Jeff Widenhofer
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Previously:

Opener

brent — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:53:00 +0000

We just received confirmation that Twin Cities Public Television will be broadcasting the World Premiere concert performance of Mike’s new oratorio Through A Glass, Darkly, a work commissioned by the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus that looks at the rippling effects crystal meth addiction has on the community.

I also promised we would post a couple of teaser tracks from our demo. We can’t give the whole thing away (there’s a DVD in the works, too), but here is track 1, “Opener”. Expect a couple more in the upcoming days.

The concert performances are in Minneapolis on March 29 and 30 in Minneapolis (more info, tickets) and as an encore, the Chorus is performing Darkly for their slot in the GALA Choruses Festival in Miami this July.

Opener
Music and Lyrics by Mike
Lead Vocals by Sebastian Arcelus, Michael Kadin Craig, and Steve Morgan
Ensemble Vocals by David Giuliano, Matt Hinkley, Michael Marcotte, Alex Richardson, James Sasser, and Joe Spieldenner
Guitar by Jeff Widenhofer
(c) and (p) 2007 FatLab Music (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

from Through A Glass, Darkly – commissioned by Dr. Stan Hill and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Previously:

“Through A Glass, Darkly” to premiere in Minneapolis