A friend asked me the other day to explain what I hope to accomplish by putting my songs & lyrics on the internet. I said that I am already accomplishing everything I truly want —just by composing and playing my music. And each day, my enjoyment can be fresh and new because I often try to improve my compositions with different arrangements, alternate lyrics, etc.
What I am not able to do is perform them as well I hope they can be performed. When I did perform (years ago), I faced stage fright and made many mistakes. Therefore, putting these songs on the internet is my attempt to find out if any people would like to perform them … and maybe even rearrange and improve them. However, even if I don’t hear from anyone … I’m still ahead of the game. I had my fun composing the songs … and I’m still having fun. That is why I call it “playing” music” — not “working” music.
I’ve been hearing music in my head all my life. Playing music is like breathing. And composing music and lyrics is like walking. I cannot live without it. My heart, lungs and muscles would shrivel up and die.
What comes first? The music or the lyrics? The simple answer for me is: the “inspiration.” Sometimes it is a musical phrase in my mind. Sometimes it is a thought, a sentence in a book, or a photograph … that inspires a story, or a philosophical theme, or just a bunch of images. Sometimes it is an occasion: like a daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, a nephew’s wedding, or my brother’s untimely death. Sometimes it is falling in love, disappointment in love, losing my memory, or playing with my children and grandchildren. I have planned four musicals. One I have accomplished: “Esther.” One I am currently working on: “David and the Psalms.” I like to write in any style that feels appropriate for the song: folk, country, pop, rock, jazz, … polka, New Orleans, waltzes, etc. Songs for different moments, spaces, people, places, feelings and ages.
Myrrh ~ Songs by Myron Schreck 