 As a pianist and professional musician, I use my full name. As a composer, I use just my middle and last names, and in everyday life, for obvious reasons, I sign my name "D.G. Bowie."I received twelve years of private piano lessons in my youth, played church organ during college, and have played piano for hotels, restaurants, weddings, and private parties for the past thirty years. I also collect and archive printed piano music; presently my library consists of more than 500 books, and 3000 pieces of sheet music. My database and card file of titles exceeds 13,000, but another 15,000 remain as "unobtained." Original melodies and improvisations first visited me at the piano when I was twelve. Most of my early melodies were lost to memory before I could write them down. Fifteen years ago, the personal computer and MIDI software made it possible to save most of my composing. At present, I have hundreds of original improvisations stored on my computers, dating back fifteen years, all of which await my attention. New melodies arrive weekly or monthly. Revising and editing them into finished recordings and fixed in print is where most of the time and effort are spent. Creating and performing piano music gives me a keen sense of purpose. I'm often thrilled and moved by what I hear, which convinces me that I must share these melodies and not hoard them away. I continue to perform piano standards and instrumental background music for local restaurants, hotels, private parties and weddings, enjoying every minute of it. NEWS FLASH!! This summer I attended the International Film Maker Festival in Kent, England, and received the award of "Best Soundtrack" for music I composed for the recently completed independent film, "Portrait in Sepia Tone," which also won "Best Feature Film" recognition at the festival. Getting this recognition for my very first film soundtrack, in competition with more than 300 films submitted to the festival is extremely gratifying! More information and photos of the June 27th red-carpet awards ceremony can be viewed at http://www.filmmakerfestival.com |