Nightwind

Colors of Cello - Release date 3/21/08
Five new tunes posted on my website!11/2/07
Biography
Don Rath Jr. – Composer, Arranger & Guitarist
On January 14th 1956, in a small suburb of Cincinnati Ohio, a healthy lad was born to this world. He would later become a Composer of instrumental music. The road to his success was long and contained many detours and rest stops.
Don was raised on a Dairy farm in Illinois. As a toddler, he would sit in awe listening while his Mother played amazing music on the organ. It was from this early impression that he began to pursue his interest in music.
During his fourth year of Grade School, Don began to play an instrument known as the Flute-O-Phone and later the Cornet. During his freshman year in High School he was introduced to the Guitar by one of his High School friends. After a few basic guitar lessons, he began to pick out some musical ideas that were later to become his first completed compositions. It was from these beginnings that music became his prime passion and interest for personal expression. The Guitar remains his instrument of choice.
I think you would agree with me that a hand injury is devastating to a guitar player. Don suffered a left hand crush injury in 1993 which caused him to realize the importance of formalizing his original music. Fearing the inability of being able to play, he used the guitar to his advantage, as Physical Therapy. Not permitting multiple surgeries to keep him from his musical pursuits, Don continued to practice the guitar daily, study music, music composition and music notation enabling him to maintain his music interests, to develop his original music and to notate his works using the Sibelius notation software program.
Also, in the midst of the 1993 Great Flood in St. Louis, again he was interrupted in his efforts to complete the goal of recording his first album, Nightwind. He was able to complete Nightwind in 1997. It was a collection of 19 original short pieces for solo guitar. The album was never formally released since his playing skills were lessened due to his injury and the recordings were not at the level he desired for a public release. He continues with his efforts to play, arrange and compose original music for the guitar and various other instruments as a solo arrangement and/or for small group ensambles.
The loss of his mother in late 2005 was another turning point in his life. This had a profound influence on Don where he completely changed his focus. He is now pursuing a new goal, to establish himself as a composer of music. The emotional impact over the loss of his mother resulted in the completion of over 40 compositions in 2006 alone. Also, he is now arranging his music for the string quartet and quintet, including instruments in the woodwind family, to "dress up the string sound".
Modern computer technologies have played an important role in producing his music for public distribution. Late in 2006 he met Alan “Big Al” Wagner of BigToeStudio . Alan expressed an interest in providing CD mastering services enabling Don to complete the production of his first album. Using the East West computer sound sample program as the source for the instruments and arranging the mastering of the CD over the Internet with Alan.
As Allen puts it, "This is a very interesting project that involved the emulation of an entire orchestra using only technology. Therefore, it features, even more, of the talent and skill of the writer and arranger, Don Rath Jr." Further, "I used some of the very latest recording technology (called "convolution reverb") to place these virtual instruments into a "real" space from an actual physical location. This served to enhance their realism and the overall listening experience.”
A fan comment on our website reads, “Awesome. Beautifully orchestrated! What you have created here is what music is all about.” It is from comments like this that motivated Don to complete his debut album, “Heart Strings” and release it through CDBaby on January 3rd 2007.
Don has completed his second album titled Dawn of a New Day released on the first day of Spring, March 21st 2007 also through CDBaby and from his official website StringTunes .
Don is hoping to release, later this year, a collection some of his arrangements for traditional Christmas music.
His long range plans include redoing Night Wind, the production of 5 additional original instrumental music albums, music notation books for each and a surprise for his Cello playing/performing friends!
Don states, "Playing guitar remains one of my strongest passions and enjoyments in life with the exception of playing with my Grandchildren and Composing music."
Don says, "I have been fortunate enough to be able to create my own original CD's. Unbelieveable! I am pleased to be able to give to the world a little bit of me through my music."
When visiting our Official Website , you can listen to the full length of the 24 compositions included in his albums for free!, purchase the complete CD or purchase single song downloads of your favorites pieces.
Don has included the stories behind the songs to read while listening to them. We'd love to hear your comments, so please sign his secure guestbook while you are there. Thanks in advance.
Stop by my Myspace Music site at StringTunes There are four songs posted there for your listening pleasure.
Remember, I am now on iTunes too!
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