music, songs, publishing, scores, jazz, band, orchestra, trumpet, sax, composer, arranger, musician, songwriter, conductor Rob Birdwell's musical site showcasing music, products, services, recordings and creative works.

I'm Rob Birdwell - thanks for visiting! Explore my music, videos, projects, arrangements & articles.  Contact me anytime! My latest release is "Quietly" and available on all major streaming platforms.

 

Where Did Those Yesterdays Go

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Morning was written during the late summer of the pandemic in 2020. I'd recently purchased a ukulele as I was feeling a bit down (who wasn't?) and thought it might cheer me up. (If I were a stand-up comedian, I'd open this story with, "You know, a guy needs something small to play with once in a while.") The ukulele was sort of my own pandemic pet, only this one didn't bark and all I needed to do was strum it. As I began to learn chords and fumble my way on the instrument I found myself writing songs on it. I honestly didn't expect that to happen. I normally write at the piano, so this was sort of a new experience. As many may recount, the pandemic produced a fair amount anxiety in friends, family, co-workers, and in the community. And though I was privileged in so many ways (able to work from home, family close by, a community that encouraged mask-wearing and social distancing, and a pool that I could finally swim in regularly) I still found myself experiencing a sense of dread like I'd seldom experienced before. The ability to be creative, to laugh and be at ease - these things seemed elusive, especially at night. But waking up after a fitful night's sleep I would find those feelings mostly gone, vanishing with slumber, at least for a while. The morning was a welcome time and with the sun shining there was hope even during a very uncertain time. So the song became a bit therapeutic for me in some ways. It's a song I wrote for me and sang to myself, over and over, night after night. Playing and singing it got me through a funk and allowed me to imagine a world where there wasn't an awful weight of despair.
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Quietly

Quietly contains nine songs written, performed, and produced by Rob Birdwell.

The following is an excerpt from the second track, Punkie and the Spitfires.

It's a song about a three-piece band - perhaps the ultimate band - who save the world!

she was a young woman living in dystopian times

fighting "The Forces" any way that she could...

More About Quietly

Feeling Good

Rob Birdwell's arrangement of Feeling Good for Halie Loren and her band. Words and Music by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse. Featuring the Corvallis-OSU Symphony Orchestra, Halie Loren (vocals), Matt Treder (piano), Mark Schneider (bass), Bill Marsh (guitar), Brian West (drums), Rob Birdwell (arranger/conductor).  Audio engineering/recording by George Relles and Diana Robson.

More Rob Birdwell Arrangements

Memories of Senegal

LMNO perform Memories of Senegal live for a Funk in the Forest concert. Featuring Rob Birdwell (trumpet/keys), Nick Rivard (guitar), Page Hundemer (bass), and Brian Bucolo (drums)

More About LMNO

Arrangements by Rob Birdwell

I've always been interested in ways to express ideas and emotions through music. As a kid I would write my own lyrics to popular songs. As I learned to play trumpet I would create my own melodies. As I became interested in singing I began to learn more about chord progressions. By the time I was in college I started to get more serious about trying to compose and arrange - turns out it was hard! I attended the Grove School of Music and Dick Grove's teachings would provide me with a solid foundation and I'm still building upon that and continue to learn with every new song, composition or arrangement.

More Arrangements by Rob Birdwell

Cry Me A River featuring Katie Smith

Featured video related to Arrangements by Rob Birdwell

Public posts from Rob Birdwell on @birdwellmusic@mastodonmusic.social

Saturday, September 09, 2023, 1:59 AM

Where Did Those Yesterdays Go?
youtube.com/watch?v=1uJKNsJFFf
Tribute to .

Saturday, July 15, 2023, 9:48 PM

Walking on Air - acoustic uke/vocal performance

youtube.com/watch?v=JWgqHCp92e

Music and lyrics by Rob Birdwell

Monday, June 26, 2023, 9:37 PM

"Punkie and The Spitfires"
youtu.be/XYoVFigzn5Q

This song was from my "Quietly" CD release of 2021. It was one of the few first songs I wrote (mostly) on . It's a story song - lots of lyrics! I have some ideas for how to perform it live, but we'll see!

Saturday, May 06, 2023, 11:53 PM

Gazebo Days - for solo Clarinet and Concert Band / Wind Ensemble
youtu.be/29_N5ZMCKR0

During the winter of 2022 I hunkered down to write this and the debut performance was a lot of fun, but wow it was lot of work too!

Sunday, April 23, 2023, 3:23 AM

Jeffries Tube Rendezvous

I had fun with this one - enjoy!

youtu.be/u2V0RwL5-z4