For the past couple days my girlfriend Meg and I have been rehearsing in my little backyard studio, she on my keyboard, me on guitar, both of us singing under my Japanese lantern lights. We’re preparing the song “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, for my students’ Coffee Shop Jam next month. This is the first time I’ve made music with Meg. It’s exciting and a little scary.
The song’s written by the duo Glen Hansard (also of The Frames), and Marketa Irglova, who perform under the name Swell Season, and who were featured in the wonderful movie Once. “Falling Slowly” won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2007.
I’ve never played like this–just guitar and piano. I’m struck by how well the timbres of the two instruments complement each other. They blend without fighting, even when we’re playing in unison. The piano’s powerful low notes and delicate highs fill out the edges of the sonic spectrum, and I think the guitar adds some nice grit to the middle.
Meg and I are also harmonizing through most of the songs, and I’m loving that too. This must be what great dancers feel.
Here’s a live performance of “Falling Slowly”:
Comments 13
Great song. Great movie. Would love to see a tutorial on playing the song (hint, hint). :^)
I’m sorry I’m going to miss this! The final moments of the film with the song playing over the camera pan-work still give me the “tenor rush.”–Farida
Hope the coffee shop gig goes well guys. love the site.
great song. i wish i could play like that….:(
Once is one of my favorite musicals by far! When I read the reviews I wasn’t expecting much but after watching the film I immediately went out and purchased the soundtrack. I thought it was brilliant…
Superb soundtrack, and nice performance of “falling slowly”!
really cool song… very pretty – the song is very full, though the instrumentation is simple. cool video of the song too. Thanks!
One of the nicest timbre mixes I’ve heard was a classical guitar and harpsichord. They meshed perfectly. I have no clue what piece it was, though.
cool song and video, great post.
I love the music in that film. Esp. That nighttime hollering at the beginning, “Say it to me now.” Good one to strum too. Open E tuning. Don’t use that too much. Cheers!
That movie was absolutely great! I wanted to become a street musician after I saw it. I would recommend the movie or the soundtrack to anybody.
And yes, I think that piano and acoustic guitar really compliment each other. I’m doing some original tunes and having both of those instruments together seem to put real meet on the songs.
Hi Rob
good work on the blog. keep those chord charts coming.
just wanted to comment on this post as i work right beside where glen is standing in the picture.
A lot of great and entertaining videos