Heart-warmed By My Fans

There was a post recently on reddit.com. Someone mentioned something about Civilization IV's music, and then all these people started chiming in about the new album. I had a nice boost in sales that evening. All in all, a happy moment for me.

But what I really found heartwarming was the fact that there was a genuine, concerted effort on the behalf of all those people to help support my music by buying my album, and encouraging others to buy it as well. There was actually one person who posted an illegal filesharing download link of my album--and when I saw that, I have to admit, my heart broke a little bit. But then his post was quickly deleted, and he was shouted down by several other posters who came in and suggested that people support my music.

I was touched. (Thanks Kardionoc, RedSnt, APeacefulWarrior and petawb.)

Many music fans don't realize this, but a lot of artists are severely emotionally attached to the work they do--myself included. And when people just post an album that you spent four years of your life perfecting onto some pirate site, it just kills us.

Gregorian Christmas Mass

I happened to attend a Gregorian Christmas Mass with my mother today--it was a totally new experience for me, and it was fascinating. For those who don't know, it's conducted almost entirely in Latin (aside from the homily). The Missal included an English translation so I could follow along, but even more fun was the fact that it contained the plainchant responses in Neumatic notation. It had been awhile since I had to read neumes (since I was an undergrad music major, really) so it was a fun exercise in refreshing an old skill.

The missal had this to say:

The liturgy for Christmas expresses the uniqueness of the day by providing three different Masses, one at midnight, one at dawn, and one in the day; of these, the first and the third are most frequently celebrated. While the mass at midnight is still and intimate, that in the day is festive and public. Christmas is placed on the calendar about at the winter solstice, symbolizing that point when the length of day--the light--begins to increase. This realizes the dictum of St. John the Baptist, "He must increase and I must decrease," with the Nativity of St. John celebrated at the summer solstice, when the light begins to decrease. Midnight of the longest night of the year thus represents life of Him who is God of God, Light of Light. Its obscurity recalls the obscurity of that night in Bethlehem, when, unbeknown to the public world, the Savior quietly arrived in the world, being adored first by humble shepherds, then by wise men. It thus harks back to unseen beginnings in an intimate way; the chants for the Midnight Mass express the mysterious eternal begetting of the Son from the Father.

Holiday Promo!

We're doing a little holiday promo at www.christophertin.com. If you buy two or more CDs, the price goes down to $10 per CD. AND, on top of that, each CD is signed. Because, you know, I just love signing hundreds and hundreds of CDs. ;)

Think about it: Calling All Dawns is a great holiday present. It's got a great message: unity, brotherhood, peace amongst differing religions and cultures. And a physical CD is a great present in an age of impersonal downloads... especially if it's customized with a signature! AND, on top of it all, you get to support indie music.

Go to the main page, www.christophertin.com, to get your copies. Happy holidays!

This Graph Really Makes Me Understand It Better

For more information, click here.

The Music Dreams Are Starting Again...

The music dreams are starting again. Maybe that means that I'm ready to start thinking about my next project?

It hasn't happened in awhile, maybe because of all the sheer craziness of the past few months, or maybe from the over-exhaustion and lack of sleep. It used to happen quite a bit. I think it's a sign that I may be getting closer to being ready to start thinking about the 'next step' after Calling All Dawns.

Last night's dream was a fun one. I had accepted a commission from the Angel City Chorale to write a new work. The piece was for chorus, classical guitar and piano, was in E major, and had a lot of sustained, minimalistic harmonies. (Not really a piece that I would compose in real life, since I can't stay to stay in one key for more than 90 seconds.)

The second part of the dream was closer to a nightmare, however. For some reason I dreamt that I had agreed to sing an unaccompanied solo on stage during their next concert. It was 30 minutes before show time, I was rummaging around in my closet looking for a suit, and I still hadn't picked a song to sing yet. My assistants Alex and Laren were waiting anxiously in the next room. I decided that I would try to sing 'Hey Jude', and hopefully get the audience to sing along with me.

Pics From Carnegie

Pics from my night at Carnegie!

Here we are on stage. From left to right, it's Meghan Asha (technology columnist), me (just some dude), Alex Rigopulos (created Guitar Hero and Rock Band), Melissa auf Der Maur (bassist for Hole, Smashing Pumpkins), Grandmaster Flash (founding father of hip hop) and Pete Wentz (bassist of Fall Out Boy).

And here we are before the concert, looking like a badass posse.

The evening was capped off with a demonstration of Rock Band: Beatles. Here you can see me channeling my inner Paul, playing a plastic Hofner bass. Now I can say I've 'played Carnegie'.

The afterparty. Here I am with Melissa auf Der Maur and Jimmy Zankel (he underwrote the event, and his family built Zankel Hall, one of the three concert spaces at Carnegie).

Photos by Craig Chesek.

Carnegie Hall Sent Me Flowers!

So classy.