The Quest

Sometimes you come to that point in your life where it is clear what you need to continue the work before you. I have come to this place. There is so much that has been within my reach and so much to grow. In 2009, I started a musical, somewhat unknowingly. It began with some characters that showed up in a song and kept coming back. Often as a composer, I write a song, and it is finished. Then I write another, and another.

For whatever reason, these characters kept returning, and I began writing a story of two dream lovers, an island woman and a sea captain. Set on an island, the characters developed, gained names and story arcs set to orchestral strings, large drum ensembles, and a Gypsy band underpinning. As the music developed, I began to know the characters and get a strong feeling that a story beyond my previous 'one off' songs was emerging.

After nine months sitting at an upright piano in Portland, Oregon, I had a string score penned on staff paper, and auditioned a cast of players on and off of my newly formed record label GYPSYPOP. Ensemble rehearsals followed into the next year resulting in some demo recordings, along with some early drawings of the characters, comic book treatments, and a start at choreography for a theatrical production. All together I had written music for piano, violin, viola, cello, upright bass, brass, woodwinds, Japanese flute, a Gypsy band, ukulele, timpani and taiko drums. The central musical twist that interested me was that I kept hearing a cross between classical music full of strings and Gypsy music together - a blend of seemingly opposing styles.
As a composer, I love Gypsy music for its wild drive, transcendent quality of master musicianship, and its long rich history of musical excellence. To cross a tradition so vast with a newer (albeit 500 years) western classical string score seemed like a trainwreck waiting to happen, or the best thing you have ever heard. Remains to be seen. All I know is, I want to hear it.

So as the musical production proceeded to develop over 2009 into 2011, I had cellists, violinists, pianists, etc., and a cast of singers. Eventually, it came down to the last player needed, someone who could transcribe the taiko and timpani drum score into sheet music for the troupe. Initially a remote troupe of taiko drummers in Japan were to be tapped for the production, as it was my intention at the time to bring the musical first to Japan. The story arc, characters and score I felt would be recieved there, and I had already written treatments for numerous Manga Comic books to be produced alongside the theatrical production.

Enter Tory Elena. We met March 11th, 2011, and she auditioned for the role of drummer to assist in arranging and transcribing the drum charts for the taiko/timpani. On that day, I had finally completed casting and the production was ready to take the next steps toward bringing the musical to the stage. Hurray!!!!!

However, the universe has a funny way of changing plans for us mere mortals.
After playing the parts with Tory Elena, and confirming her position within the troupe, Boom: news of a tsunami hit Japan. If the tsunami had only hit the east coast of Japan with everyone safely far away from the shore, it would have been one thing, yet as you may well know - it hit a nuclear power plant.

I sat with the inital news, heavy hearted, and spent time considering Japan, the safety of the cast and crew, and came to a decision. Theatrical production postponed, tour plans canceled, releasing of the cast until more knowledge of the tsunami's effect was known. With all the inertia of the past two years behind me, I turned to Tory and asked her if she wanted to start a two piece rock n roll band - she said yes, and Sea At Last was born.

JUNE, 2023

After touring with with Sea At Last, making vinyl records, sitting in crop circles in England, camping in Shasta, and generally living a wondrous life - years went by. The musical behind it all quaking within me, yet unknown to others. When Sea At Last went on hiatus in late 2019, I focused my composing and producing to Fire Mist, my solo project. Putting out records and producing songs with other musicians filled my time for a while, and then the dream returned.

While camping in Shasta next to a lake, 'What about the musical?' popped into my head. It had been 13 years since I had considered bringing the production to fruition. It became evident to me that the story of the island woman and the sea captain needs to be told.

There are times in a composer’s life where you have the sense that what you are working on is your master work i.e magnum opus. I feel strongly that indeed, this is what I am embarking on. Once in a lifetime. So in light of this, I built a mobile recording rig, got a waterproof case, and began revisiting the musical. While I find myself living on the island of Maui, I am arranging and producing the original paper score using libraries of string samples.

About a year in, and going strong. I wake typically at 4am and compose on headphones while the island sleeps. At present, a good number of musical sketches of the compositions are done. I call them sketches, as they have the main melodies and some of the sounds that will appear in the final work, yet they are missing many of the instrument parts, due to the need for a more complete sample library.

I am committed to completing the musical score, the first step in realizing the dream of it. From there, my aim is to cast the players and crew again, approach executive producers, and present the theatrical production to the world, starting in Japan. While the story, characters, and music have a global appeal, a universal arc, and can be translated into many languages, I feel Japan has always meant to be the birthplace of the live musical performance.

To do this, I need a robust professional sample library, a budget for auditioning live players to work out and record the parts, a solid condenser mic, and another waterproof case. Easy!

The Question

Would you want to be a part of this creative work from the beginning? If so, would you support a creative process that remains largely invisible to you until a future time? If the answer is yes, it means a lot to me and there are many ways you can support the musical.

I am committed the to completion of the score (shooting for being done by Feb, 2024) so that it can become a full theatrical production. It is my sole focus, and I am seeking patrons to support the current pre-production phase. There is a growing list of sample libraries and recording gear needed to complete the task at hand and they are listed below.

Typically when someone like myself reaches out to friends and patrons for support on a creative work, a sneak peek into the process is offerded. There are tiny windows where certain compositions will be shared - however, due to the deep focused process required on my side to build this initial foundation for the musical, I am keen to keep the work largely private and develop it. This also comes from the desire to honor the integrity of the story, the music, and collaborators. Once some basic intellectual property rights are in place, I will be letting investors into the world being created.

I invite you all along for the journey from the start. Although there is not a formal outline of perks for investors and patrons, there will be benefits for each of you who helps along the way.

Thanks You - Cohen (Fire Mist)

WAYS TO support!

Buy GYPSYPOP Hi-FI TRACKS
> Paypal: gypsypop@gmail.com (Click Here)
> Venmo: Cohen-Cohen (Click Here)
> MAIL A GIFT: Cohen - po box 231 hana, HI 96713

Please write me if you have any questions or simply want to say hello: firemist@gypsypop.com

Here is an initial list of what is needed for me to complete the score and generate the seed of what will be the core of the musical:

The Score
Music Production

In order to make the theatrical score recordings, taking the string score to the highest possible realization is nessesary for the musicians who will eventually record the live performance. The score I am finalizing digitally with samples will inform each player what the parts are and how they are articulated. This high quality digital score will provide the foundation for launching the project, as it makes the music real and listenable for the first time.

The following list outlines some of the initial producing tools (sample libraries) and musical gear (mics, etc.) needed. This list is the base of what is needed to complete the entire score. Your support goes directly to the purchase of these libraries and musical gear. I will update this list as acquisitions occur, and as the musical grows, I will update the list with any additional gear needed to move it forward to its theatrical debut.

Sample Libraries

Below are the libraries of sounds I am keen to aquire to continue the work. I wrote brief descriptions next to each sample set and made the image clickable for those of you who may wish to explore the sounds of each library at the native site (Spitfire Audio). In my research of string samples, I have not found a sample company whose libraries’ sound quality surpasses that of Spitfire, additionally most of the Spitfire libraries are recorded at the same studio and share a true reverb of the space in which they were recorded. This allows for the final score to be presented together with a real room sound and a beautiful tone.

MUST HAVE for SCORE>>

To complete the final movements of the theatrical score, I absolutely need these two sample libraries. I have written for over a year on the other movements using the samples available to me, and have hit the limit of what they can do. The remaining musical themes require solo strings and orchestra drums and percussion to continue working at this time - March 27, 2023 -Fire Mist

PURCHASED>> CONDENSOR MIC & DOEPFER(your support ASSISTS IN THE PAYMENTS FOR THESE)

To record live instruments, sound design and vocalists, this mic is essential. It was financed on Mar 27, 2023 with the first payments being covered by the patronage from the si•de•re•al exclusive! - The Doeplfer keyboard was financed Sept 2023. (thank you sweetwater!)

Thank you for your support!