Instrumental music is a truly magical language. It can tell a story, comfort the soul, stimulate the intellect and create pictures in the mind. And all without a single word being uttered.
Felix Mendelssohn probably said it best -“People usually complain that (instrumental) music is so ambiguous, while words are understood by everyone. But for me it is exactly the opposite...what the music I love expresses to me are thoughts not too indefinite for words, but rather too definite.”
And from Carlos Santana -“I realised a long time ago that instrumental music speaks a lot more clearly than English, Spanish, Yiddish, Swahili, any other language. Pure melody goes outside time.”
I'm a pianist, guitarist, violist, arranger and composer of instrumental songs. Using topical and universal themes, I like to inject a sense of poetry and imagery into my music. What you'll hear is music created for a mixed acoustic and electronic chamber ensemble from classical, electronica and jazz blues influences.
This web site is my "living album", I sincerely hope it brings pleasure to your life.
Robert Cook Sier
MAY FEATURED TRACK
"All media exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions and arbitrary values." - Marshall McLuhan
Video link: https://youtu.be/eO42ZFKAP2Q
With my latest track Into The Light, I've taken a slightly more cinematic approach. It's a track I drafted originally for a movie trailer submission but decided it was better suited for my own repertoire. I'm currently reworking it and will let you know when I have a release date in the next few weeks. Thanks as always for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Update May 2nd: Coming soon - audio done, just working on the video and admin. Thanks for your patience!
RCS
Just dropped in to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year, and to say thanks as always for visiting here and for following my YouTube music channel. From a Railway Carriage seems to be growing in popularity on streaming channels which is very exciting. I'm still planning to release an album later this year and will keep you updated on progress.
RCS
I'm very happy to announce that my single A Walk On Main Street is now available here and will become available on all major platforms in due course. The video is still a few days away but nearly finished. I can only describe this new track as an "upbeat Euro post-covid back-to-city-life" celebration.
Please have a happy and safe Christmas and I'll be back in the new year with some new music and, hopefully, my first album Old Town later in the year. Best wishes and thanks as always for your ongoing support and encouragement.
RCS
My next track, A Walk On Main Street, is a musical impression of heading out on foot into a busy street with people, shops and a general social buzz, something we haven't experienced for quite a while in our towns and cities. Due for release in December (exact date yet to be confirmed), stay tuned!
RCS
I chose From a Railway Carriage as my featured track for this month in memory of my late mother who passed away three weeks ago. She was a great fan of this track and its video (https://youtu.be/l3pvvW9q8qU), especially as it was inspired by poetry, one of my mother's great loves.
My new track release for this month has been delayed by this sad news, but I'm hopeful I can still get it to you later in the month. Thanks for your generous support and encouragement as always. RCS
Being in the midst of yet another Covid lockdown, I decided to take some time out in September to revisit music composition study and some practice (especially the viola which is new to me). But I'm back in the studio now working on a new, more up tempo track for release in early November, and reviewing my material for an album release next year. Thanks for continuing to visit this site and for supporting my YouTube channel! More news soon.... RCS
After several years of experimenting with various singles and videos, I'm finally considering an album of the best of these tracks and some new material. With the benefit of experience and hindsight, many of my existing tracks will be reworked for the album.
At this stage I'm only planning for a digital release, but please do let me know if you'd be interested in a CD or USB physical release. Thanks again to everyone for your ongoing support and encouragement! RCS
Just dropping in say thanks for the kind feedback about my version of Für Elise. Tackling such an iconic piece of music always creates a lot of anxiety! I have a new original track Old Town in the works for release in June, and have started working on some production music opportunities to supplement my very personal music here on this website.
A big thank you to Francisco from Madrid who is featuring Through the Ages in a Spanish speleology video clip commemorating "The International Year of the Karst and the Caves"!
RCS
Just a quick update to let you know I'm currently working on an interpretation of Beethoven's iconic Fur Elise, due for release in early April.
Thanks to everyone who has enjoyed my latest track From a Railway Carriage, and apologies for uploading the video again to YouTube (I noticed a frame problem half way through the video). Many people have commented on its "Downton Abbey" flavour, which isn't surprising given it's also a period piece. Stay tuned and please feel free to get in touch! RCS
Due for release here on Sunday Feb 14th, my next track is possibly the result of watching too many historical Euro drama series during 2020. It shares its name with a Robert Louis Stevenson poem, From a Railway Carriage.
Following the ongoing success of Air on a Canon (Pachelbel), I'd also like to release another classical cover track this year. If you have any suggestions please do drop me a note on my Contact page. RCS