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Jennifer · 08-07-2006, 02:04 PM

I've actually come back to this thread a few times to comment but just as I am poised to give my confident response I've ended up shaking my head and furrowing my brow... boy, this question is a toughie. LOL.

I will have to go with melody. One of the biggest influences on me musically as a kid was my fathers classical album collection. I recall listening to Mussorgsky - "Night on Bald Mountain" over and over and just being in awe. It evoked a lot of strong images without a single word. Later in life I because a big fan of atmospheric instrumental artists like Tangerine Dream, Vangelis and Patrick O'Hearn. "Northwest Passage" (O'Hearn) is so intensely haunting and evocative of the cold and forboding arctic, if you close your eyes but you can't help but feel as if you're there.

I've always enjoyed instrumental music, and instrumental interludes within songs, because I feel like it's a universal language that everyone understands.

I think what makes Lightfoot so extraordinary is his ability to communicate lyrically in such a poetic way, and also across that universal medium we call melody. i.e. the lyrics of Minstrel of the Dawn are breathtaking but what really takes it to another level is the brief guitar interlude. If I could do just one little thing to make that song different, that guitar would last a bit longer. It is nothing short of stellar.

Melody for me.

08-07-2006, 02:04 PM	#31
Jennifer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sweet Home Chicago Posts: 267	I've actually come back to this thread a few times to comment but just as I am poised to give my confident response I've ended up shaking my head and furrowing my brow... boy, this question is a toughie. LOL. I will have to go with melody. One of the biggest influences on me musically as a kid was my fathers classical album collection. I recall listening to Mussorgsky - "Night on Bald Mountain" over and over and just being in awe. It evoked a lot of strong images without a single word. Later in life I because a big fan of atmospheric instrumental artists like Tangerine Dream, Vangelis and Patrick O'Hearn. "Northwest Passage" (O'Hearn) is so intensely haunting and evocative of the cold and forboding arctic, if you close your eyes but you can't help but feel as if you're there. I've always enjoyed instrumental music, and instrumental interludes within songs, because I feel like it's a universal language that everyone understands. I think what makes Lightfoot so extraordinary is his ability to communicate lyrically in such a poetic way, and also across that universal medium we call melody. i.e. the lyrics of Minstrel of the Dawn are breathtaking but what really takes it to another level is the brief guitar interlude. If I could do just one little thing to make that song different, that guitar would last a bit longer. It is nothing short of stellar. Melody for me.