LYLE MAYS: The Composer (Part 2)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ค. 2020
- Lyle Mays, one of the greatest musical minds of our generation, has passed.
In order to honor him, and to shed light on a musician I feel whom is often overlooked, I've begun putting together a series of videos that analyze Lyle's playing and compositional style. In this second part, we'll be taking a look at his use of rhythm in Minuano and Third Wind, his motivic development in Fictionary, and his orchestration and development of ideas in Episode d'Azur.
Hope you all enjoy this one!
Watch part 3 here! • Lyle Mays: The Pianist
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Lyle is a true master of music. He mastered every dimension of music and developed his own approach there. There is no dimension which was immature yet he preserved his childlike wonder, exploration and lightness.
I agree¡¡¡
00:37 Here are some of the answers to your questions! This is Lyle’s own words about the composing of Minuano 6\8 (copied from “WORDS” on Lyle’s website)
- “Pat invested some money to buy a marimba, a set of vibes and rent Aerosmith's old rehearsal warehouse in Waltham, MA. So for a while we worked like research scientists, showing up everyday to explore the properties of our materials. Pat had already written the whistled tune part of Minuano, but that was it - 16 bars of 6/8. I loved it, but it wasn't enough, so I retreated to my own room and wrote the sultry intro, imagining it as a feature for the two new vocalists we had hired to replace Pedro. Pat loved it so I continued and wrote something for the marimba Pat had just bought. I wrote that passage to feature a new instrument we had to play with. Pat had no clear idea of what he wanted to do with those instruments. I simply started composing for them. Pat loved that too and suggested that I follow that up with an energetic interlude. So I composed the brass section counterpoint to get us back to the recap, and then wrote an ending. So that's how that particular 16 bars of Metheny turned into 9 minutes of PMG.”
Your assessment is absolutely 100% right on. Lyle was a master creative musical architect. No one ever like him.
That interview where Lyle said he didn't see himself as a jazz player just floored me. What was even more surprising is that he went on to say that he saw himself more in the vein of orchestral keyboard players like Rick Wakeman! At first that seems silly, but there's a reason so many of us Yes fans are also big Lyle/PMG fans.
I will be 83 in June. So glad I heard this and compositions like Minuano, First Circle, Third Wind, Episode d’Azur, Proof and others before I die. I feel enriched by and grateful for the experience.
More !!! I want more !!!
Lyle was a master musician, arranger, soloist... There is nothing I didn't admire about him. It broke my heart when I got the news. Thank you for the music and the memories.
Ryan: I can easily spend 20 videos analyzing Lyle's great moments.
Me: I'll take you up on that! Wait, let me get my wine, cheese and HIFIMAN headphones.
Wow, Ryan. If you end up with 20 videos on Lyle's work and genius, I'll gladly watch every one of them over and over! Bravo! I know intellectually that these guys write down the notes and they must all be able to read and play from sheet music...but the complexity of the PMG music seems, to me, to defy the notion they ever read any music at all to play that. I appreciate the great technical depth you employ here in analyzing Lyle's technique and compositional elements. I hope that in a future video you will also concentrate on his abilities as a performer. Like you, I agree he is overlooked and underrated. To me, his genius as a composer, and as a performer, stand WAY above the guys you mentioned in Part I. WAY ABOVE. Is Chick Corea a great performer? Sure. A great technician? Sure. But he can't come close to producing what I feel listening to Lyle's music, and I don't think anyone else can either. Thanks again for a most interesting and great tribute. More, please!
"So then Lyle writes THIS:" 2:21 4:31 Killer groove. "Absolutely fascinating" 5:12 In sum, I LOVE the way you listen. Ditto. (Thank you Internet and specifically TH-cam.) But there is no way I would have put this all together. Hats off. Excellent presentation and editing. ...that whistling section IS truly beautiful. Great analysis. Lyle Mays.... thank you.
Love those epic Pat/Lyle compositions. Third Wind; Minuano; The First Circle. Fictionary has a strong Keith Jarrett vibe.
I drove Lyle in Rome to a concert back in the early 90's, I was a huge fan of him since the beginning but that night was unforgettable, a quite man but a very loud musician with a lot to say. Miss you Mr. Mays.
Was the concert in Rome at the Palladium ?? :) I also remember the concerts at the Pat Metheny Group Rome Jazz Festival in the Eur area, which have been really memorables :)
YES Paolo the very one at the Palladium, what a night.
Grammies 2020, in memoriam segment, Close to Home underneath 🎹, they come to Lyle and extended applause loudly erupts. And he’s “discovered”. Probably not. But I prefer to envision it that way✌🏻
The way it SHOULD BE!!
(I like your “VISION”)
Thanks for this, finally seeing this. Been a Lyle Mays fan since about 1977 when I first heard the NTSU 1:00 lab band "lizard" album. Amazing album and gives you a sense of what Lyle could do with composition, orchestration, and improvisation with a good band. You do a great job here going into some of the ways his musical heart and genius manifested in brilliantly conceived musical composition. He was one of a kind, but his ideas can live on through his inspiring music and through your exposition of some of the details involved. Thanks a ton!
"and then this next section": my favorite Mays bit...having always assumed it was Mays. So rich and moving.
You're awesome Ryan!!! I'm such a fan of Lyle and Pat.. thank you so so much for this masterful and eye opening analysis. Love you man
Man I was so expecting to hear a Lyle Mays Ocarina synth example in your demo video of the Prophet 5! Here's an article on it if you haven't tried it already www.keyboardmag.com/lessons/the-art-of-synth-soloing-lyle-mays-signature-synth-sound
@@ohwhen7775 I want to learn how to get this on the Nord Stage 2.
Please make 20 videos!
Thanks for this. I miss Liles. His music always had build up with the Pat Metheny Group which I loved. On his own LPs he was more classical which showed his versatility. He was an all around genius. Pat and Lyles always told stories together for life
Hi Ryan.
Just a music consumer here, and fan of Pat & Lyle, especially their Brazilian influenced period. But thanks to you, I am finding the how and why I am attracted to their sound so much. I can only understand a fraction of your analysis, but appreciate just hearing you talk about the structures and thought processes that went into their compositions opens up a wider horizon of listening pleasure for me. Much thanks from Japan.
Superb Ryan, thank you. Your approach and manner is great. I first heard PMG in the mid 80's discovering pieces from Still Life (Talking). I thought I had gone to heaven in the harmonies, melodies and arrangements I heard. Like so many it was the beginning of my life long passion for Pat and as a pianist myself, Lyle. It's strange to think that you were probably not even born back then, which shows how their music has become a standard of this art form and I hope will continue like the music of the great masters of the 20th century. You Analyzed all my favorite compositions so I was entranced. Keep on sharing the magic!
Incredible videos! I truly believe that, at its peak, PMG created the greatest American music ever. I mean, what even comes close? And by the way, I feel neither Pat nor Lyle could reach their personal best without each other.
Super. Thank you
Excellent analysis. Thanks for this second part of your tribute to Lyle's genius! These are a few of many accolades which pay tribute to Lyle far better than I ever could. Producer and musician Greg Wells: “Lyle’s playing embraced both true modernity and tradition, and his deep musicality evoked a dreamlike evocative state regardless of a fast or slow tempo. Lyle Mays was a musical lock for me, and he is still who I’d like to sound like when I grow up." Prince collaborator Ricky Peterson: “truly an inspiration with genius creativity. He slayed me.” Rolling Stones collaborator Chuck Leavell: “Wow... just wow... Lyle had such a unique touch…an even flow, lyrical, smooth, but powerful all at once.”
Great work! Thanks.
Brilliant analysis about Lyle's talent! THX!
Thanks for showing me what I have always felt from Lyles music
Excellent analysis, approach and theoretical framework on Lyle's work. Thanks, amazing research and transcription work. Congratulations, greetings from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Argentina.
This was truly insightful. I love hearing Lyle's music so much. I never stop to think about his musical process. Thanks for honoring his musical genius
Part 2 just as good as the first one. I've always been puzzled by the rhytmic intricacies of the bridge in Highland Aire, among countless other tunes. He added so much to music as an art form. Thank you again!
Great both videos. The saddest thing is, we will never seen lyle and pat performing together
Some of the greatest structuring I have ever heard before or since!
Thanks Ryan for showing us in deep what we already knew. Lyle was a composer so ahead of its time that we forgot to celebrate his contribution while he was alive.
You can expand your excellent work for us the listeners and fans not to forget him and remember his love and sounds. ❤️ Thank you.
Amazed by the 🎹 playing on video
Ryan: I like your analysis very much: they show your profound knowledge on music and ists components.. In the Lyle Mays case, I want to highlight the strong influence of brazilian music of Minas Gerais movement "Clube da Esquina" on both Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny (who is a kind of "honorary member" of the Clube da Esquina). This music movement was born in the 1960`s in Belo Horizonte and is one of the world greatest and most creative and melodic movements ever, for its richness both for the instruments and the vocals. I am mineiro and very proud of the extreme quality of the Clube da Esquina! I suggest an analysis of this movement, that probably will take from two to five "blocks", given the huge amount of musics, composers and players! Thanks and congratulations for your excelent work!
Lau
I love Clube da Esquina. Amazing musicians. Some of my absolute favorites.
Pisno vs Guitar as compositinal tools? Thank you for revealing so much about Lyle's music and the collaboration with Pat. I've sew the PMG live seversl times and have over 20 of their individual/combined vinyls/CDs. In your several Lyle videos you explore the compositional styles of Lyle and Pat. The illumination of the manuscipts from the songbook is fascinating. Is a big difference derived from how their ideas arrive and develop. I feel that Naturally Lyle will sit down with the piano and Pat with a guitar. The scope and physical nature of how the instruments can be played makes a huge difference (of course!!) ti how a piece of music can be developd. I think the piano has the grester scope by far if only in allowing for more complex chords and harmonies. As a guitarist and amateur songwriter myself I always wished I'd learned piano. But of course a guitar is a much more mobile instrument so much easier to simply pick up and start "noodling" which is how my ideas arrive.
Anyway, just a thought! Thanks for the great insights. At the PMG concerts we would alwsys be waiting for the magic moments when Lyle would start a solo.
The word genius is overused but Lyle certainly was a genius.
Awesome, again, big big thank you
Lyle ROOLED and his partnership with Pat was one of popular music's greatest. Thank you very much indeed for these videos, Ryan.
Peace... ☝️😎
Great video man! Episode D'Azur has always been one of my favorite tunes by Lyle, really an underrated composition!
In this tune I have always heard the influence by Herbie and Miles.
I don't have enough understanding of music theory to comprehend your [Lyle Mays] videos, but I enjoyed them quite a bit. I agree, Lyle Mays was an underrated treasure. Thank you.
SUPERB presentation! I've been a fan of Pat Metheny since "Bright Size Life" but...you've brought out extremely interesting and provocative features that Lyle Mays possessed that I wasn't even aware of. Episode d'Azur IS quite a gem..."We Live Here: is ABOSLUTELY a favorite of mine. KUDOS...and you seem to be quite an accomplished musician yourself. Great job!
Just discovered you tribute to Lyle Mays.Thank you.A very good thoughtful insight to the Metheny ..Mays musical combination..Thank you for this , lyle Mays RIP.He will be nissed but not forgotten.
Thanks, Ryan.
This video is SO good. Thank you for the effort in compiling this. I've been obsessed with Lyle for the past few days and this is so great to watch!!!
This is amazing! Thank you for presenting these ways that Lyle was such a genius. You've picked some of his greatest examples, and you really have helped me to appreciate these compositions on another level. Episode d'Azur has always been a favourite of mine, but more for the great solos that Lyle played on it more than the composition that went over my head. I could always feel Lyle's intent, but now I can better understand it thanks to you.
What a great presentation! It was Lyle's playing on the song "Tell It All" that really attracted me to PMG. Their sound truly blew me away the very first time I saw them live and it was Lyle's performance that confirmed his greatness to me. I'm so thankful that you took the time to acknowledge him in this tribute. I miss him and his contributions to the amazing art form of music. Thank you Ryan!!!!!
Wonderful... how you describe. The language and power of music...
Lyle's music just feels good and communicates the way you describe! Thank you for taking us deeper into his methods and revealing his gift.
YUP, MISSED DEARLY.
I would love to hear your analysis of "The Way Up". An absolute genius composition in my book. Look forward your next post!
The Way Up is a masterpiece.
That would be a huge undertaking! No sheet music exists for this (that I'm aware of) so it would be a huge transcription project for one. Although I do have some theories about what it was like writing it (for example, I'm pretty sure Lyle wrote the intro and Pat wrote the main theme which kicks of the first part) but that would require a lot of speculation. Maybe someday!
Sheet music for TWU does exist :) Publisher:
Hal Leonard
@@RyanSlatkoMusic I think you're right. Pat would not have done this had he not written the main theme (and he wrote it back in the 1970s!). I would venture to guess that every major thematic statement started as Pat's idea. Pat also writes almost every solo form he plays. He is very particular with the solo forms he likes to play over. The intro has Lyle's trademark style of development. But unlike their earlier works, this work is a much different kind of collaboration, with so much of it that can't be separated into Pat's part and Lyle's part.
Steve Rodby made the score in conjunction with Pat and Lyle, it is extensive and well made. I’ve owned it and used it a ton since 2009
high Ryan! that‘s just soooo great analysis of Lyle‘s music!
great work!
love You for that!
Ryan, just finished your first and now this one. You must continue with the remaining 18 videos, seriously! I will probably view Parts 1 and 2 on a regular, just for the education (also homeschooling my son and music is in our curriculum)
Now, my PMG listening is enhanced thanks to your analysis. Again, great work!!
Excellent video, thanks for taking us into the mind of a master. Lyle will be missed.
Such a phenomenal analysis!
Episode d’Azur is my favorite of Lyle’s pieces for the exact same reasons you stated and you explained its composition so well!
Lyle was my favorite pianist and favorite member of PMG.
He was my angel that flies over the keyboards.
He is irreplaceable. A genius.
Mind = Blown !
Beautiful video! Where can we find the sheet for Episode D'Azur?
I have plans on making all the transcriptions available to the public. Stay tuned! :)
Excellent look at one of the all time all times! Thank you
You play pretty well too! Cheers!
Wonderful
Adds to my enjoyment of the music
Wonderful work from a very creative angle. Thank you Ryan. From Caracas, Venezuela
I love Lyle’s solo in the live version of “First Circle” you chose as the backdrop for your commentary. Awesome! It’s one of my favorite LM solos.
BRAVO!
really great, thank you
Nice part 2. I enjoyed the very subtle humor. More! Bat as it’s subtle, wouldn’t “more subtle” translate into “less?”.
Remember! Less is more, Lester Moore. What’s that score, Mr. Lester Moore?
Another great video! I truly admire your synthetic power to condense so many important concepts into just a few moments. You truly have what it takes to go on with this. Thank you! Lyle was a master and one of my main influencers so I am all eyes and ears for this wonderful work you are doing. Thank God we still have Keith Jarrett but Lyle was definitely gone too soon....Why that happens so often with these geniuses?
Man, this (and also part 1) is excellent! Thank you for in-depth analysis and your expertise. Waiting anxiously for part 3...
Well boy do I have some good news for you! th-cam.com/video/oxcEBlxWT6k/w-d-xo.html
@@RyanSlatkoMusic Oh, that was fast, haha! Thank you!
This absolutely made my day, my week, my month, maybe my year. Had a tough time personally and musically lately. Words can’t thank you enough Ryan. peace bro! KR
These are great. I intuited a lot of this contrast in his and Pat's writing, and Lyle's was always my favorite writing by far. Sometimes to the point where I dread when Pat's parts enter. His first 2 solo albums include amazing orchestration.
Nice¡¡
Awesome video , thanks for this
Thanks a lot for your interesting musical analysis, Ryan! I look forward to see your study on Lyle's "Au Lait".
P.S. I read the G#dimMaj7/D chord as a E7#9/D, which works as a tritone substitution for Bb7 that resolves to Eb minor (Eb-7).
John said exactly what I was going to say TWU! This video is just as great as the first. Looking forward your next video.
I remember playing some of Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny's big band arrangements in High School from when they were studying at NTSU. Also, You might want to check out some of their earlier recorded compositions like "The Epic" which Lyle had much to do with.
Ryan, thank you, that was PERFECT! that is so many thing, all about Lyle, and I agree with all of your analyses. sooooo deep, so meaningful, thank you again
Loved it!
It's obvious that you put a great deal of effort and expertise into this deep and revealing analysis (along with Part 1). Thank you.
The polyrhythms you refer to around 8 minutes I've heard in Ghanian beats. I thought Lyle had borrowed those from there. Great stuff! Miss him terribly!
These episode are very enlightening. I’m a big fan of Lyle and Pat. There music fits no norm and its beautiful. Thanks for your musical analyzation!
"One cohesive voice" !!!
I like the analysis. Subd ya channel. Keep up the good work.
I think you chose the most interesting PMG tune to dissect but there are so many. Still, this one!
Great job for the 2d part Ryan. "Episode d'azur" is truly a masterpiece. You could also speak about sound. Lyle had a real personal touch on the piano in terms of dynamics, but also the sounds he used with his synths.. For me Zawinul and Mays are on the top in terms of sound personality when they play synths. They sound like them! Thanks again for your analysis! ;-)
Gosh! This was satisfying to watch. Know all this by heart, but broken down like this was awesome. Well done Ryan.
Wow.....a great contribution and analysis for a great composer and musician, thank you for sharing with us🙏
Hearing the analysis of how Mays crafted his music only makes it more enjoyable. Metheny and Mays have provided the soundtrack for my life. So Much Thanks !!
Melody;harmony:rhythm;;nice sound and deep musical exploration day to day hardly ¡¡Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny group¡¡
Muchas gracias ryan por todo esto.lyle mays y pat metheny junto con sus otros musicos son muy importantes desde lo musical.yo diria brillantes.hay un lenguaje increible en su musica.yo soy percusionista.muchas gracias¡¡¡¡!!!!
I am a life long fan of Pat Metheny Group, and of Lyle Mays in particular.
Could you possibly do a video analysis of The Search from American Garage? To me, that is the quintessential Pat Metheny Group tune, and the one that is closest to my heart.
Thank you so much you're way over my head but I could follow and really appreciated both your videos.
Your analysis of Lyle & Pat is the gift that keeps on giving. I've been hooked since Bright Size Life, and attended a few concerts. You really brought the methodology out in a way that is easily digestable. I hope you do more in the future. Thank you.
Yeah at some point years and years ago I remember listening over and over to this last excerpt from We Live Here. Compelling! Well I am a 60yr old expat pianist composer living in Copenhagen DK. I have been told my common tone studies sound like Lyle.. maybe if you have time go to this channel and listen to "Music for Film" built around this fulcrum if you will. [(Bb,Eb,and F) or Fsus] initially C-11 to Ab-11 ie C,G,Bb,D,Eb,F to Ab,Eb,Bb,Cb,Eb,F. Anyway very cool analysis peace. ☯️
te felisito por tu gran trabajo de analisis de la composicion, e introduccion ala teoria de los grandes , gigantes como lyle mays y sus trabajos perfectos de composicion . vi un gran trabajo de parte tuya, obviamente es solo para entendidos y dse alto nivel de interpretacion musical como vos. un maestro. segi asi. este mundo nesesita mas gente como vos. y que se pueda entender y comprender el legado de los gigantes , grandes como lyle mays. saludos desde argentina.
First time l heard PMG it was clear that Lyle had an enourmous presence in the band. I'm still waiting the DVD of their last performance, "the songbook tour"...why it was not yet released?
Good question!
3:42 Very Weather Reportish!!!
Man, congratulations on your very well articulated description of Lyle and Pat genious music creativity ..it really makes justice to their outstanding art. Thanks for sharing. Cheers !
Thank you Ryan for making & sharing this great videos, giving a tribute for Lyle and his wonderful music...one of the greatest musicians ever.
Thank you so so much. 🙏😢
I loved Lyle Mays like a brother. Thank you, Ryan, for your detailed analysis of the mastery Lyle displayed throughout his career and life in the Pat Metheny Group. Most PMG fans know of the extraordinary symbiosis Pat and Lyle had. They were one greater entity together when composing. It really makes me proud to see young artists like yourself directing attention to these great master musicians. An attention that is certain to endure the passage of time. Keep up the good work! I suscribed.
Yes, Pat and Lyle is (was) a duet for all times, two complementary characters like McCartney and Lennon.
3:12 yeah, I've always counted those sevens, it's easier. Anyway, great content here Ryan, excellent work mate!
Thanks for this. Lyle's music has often made me feel as you describe, but your depth of analysis clarifies the reasons. Are any of your transcriptions available in pdf? I was also wondering why some bars are blurred out in this part.
Thanx, Ryan. 🌹🌹🌹