grimsby – greg z site

Greg Zbach – PhotoArtist “The art is in the telling”

My music CD’s – “Grimsby – A Children’s Ballet”

Grimsby – A Children’s Ballet

Photograph by Greg Zbach; Layout by Jim Zbach

Music composed, performed, and recorded by Greg Zbach. Digitally mastered at Studio Z

1. CHAPTER I	4:03	Play >>>
(GRIMSBY IS BORN)
2. GRIMSBY	2:33	Play >>>
(THEME)
3. CHAPTER II	6:36	Play >>>
(GUS THE GULL)
4. CHAPTER III	5:42	Play >>>
(STELLA STURGEON)
5. CHAPTER IV	8:44	Play >>>
(SPEED BOAT ASSAULT)
6. LADY OF THE LAKES	3:03	Play >>>
(THEME)
7. CHAPTER V	5:46	Play >>>
(MIKE THE PIKE)
8. CHAPTER VI	10:24	Play >>>
(THE GOVERNOR’S BOAT)
9. GRIMSBY	1:02	Play >>>
(REPRISE)

Total Length 47:53

PRESS RELEASE – FEBRUARY 28TH, 2002

GREG ZBACH RELEASES INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CD

“GRIMSBY – A CHILDREN’S BALLET”

Erie native Greg Zbach is releasing “Grimsby – A Children’s Ballet,” a self-published CD of instrumental synth music composed, performed, recorded and designed using a personal computer. The music is based on the story by Erie author Don McQuaid, and all CD photographs were taken by Greg, an avid nature photographer.

Grimsby is the third in a series of instrumental CD’s released by Greg that share a common thread, interpretive dance! “Dawn” and “Night Sounds,” from the CD The Seasons (1998), were choreographed and performed by Sandra Brown of Baryshnikov’s American Ballet Theater. “Legend,” from the CD In The Telling (2000), was choreographed by Christina Maria, director of Lake Erie Ballet, and performed at the 1999 Erie Summer Festival of the Arts.

With the release of Grimsby, Greg’s vision of dance rises to a new level. Christina Maria will be choreographing the complete ballet as part of the Lake Erie Ballet 2001/2002 season. The performance will take place at the historic Warner Theater in March of 2002 with original costumes and lights.

This is a home-coming of sorts for the composer. Greg served on the board of Lake Erie Ballet between 1983 to 1989, where he fell in love with dance. Greg edited sound for many of the performances and feels it is an honor and privilege to hear his music reverberate through the halls of the Warner Theater, where so many greats have come before!

The Grimsby theme, a simple haunting melody, came to Greg in 1996, only a few days after reading the children’s book (the result of sheer inspiration!). Ruth Jageman, producer of the Grimsby project, approached the composer in late 1999 with the idea of a full length ballet based on the theme. Drawing on melodies from an abandoned ballet written in 1989, assisted Greg in completing his work in the fall of 2000.

New age, classical and jazz forms were utilized to effectively recreate the story in music. Themes were developed for each of the main characters to assist in placement within each scene. Sound effects, such as waves and sea gulls were also employed to help transport the listener to the imaginary world of The Great Lakes Sea Monster. Although billed as a children’s ballet, the music will appeal to all ages!

Greg also writes music for computer animations, commercials, and video, and is still very active in the arts’ community. He formed “Computer Tools for Arts and Music” (CTAM), and “Festival of the Arts Computer Time” (FACT), to promote the use of computers as a tool for the independent artist of all ages.

STORY LINES:

Chapter I (Grimsby is born) 4:03

A large mysterious egg, stored in a freezer by Professor Bafflegab starts to thaw when a storm knocks out power.
Grimsby, “The Great Lakes Sea Serpent,” is born. MUSIC QUE 1:56
Hattie Hamster saves Grimsby by opening the freezer. MUSIC QUE 3:33

Grimsby (Theme) 2:33

o Grimsby jumps into the lake, and finds it to be his home.

“Grimsby” was inspired by the children’s book written by Erie’s Don McQuaid. I remember reading the book during the week, and having the melody finished that weekend, the result of sheer inspiration. This piece was originally published on “In The Telling.” My approach was to capture the “Beauty in the Beast,” with a simple haunting melody. It was no coincidence I picked a soaring flute-like sound for the lead, combined with a shimmering rhythm guitar. This helped to recreate the childlike qualities of Grimsby. The bass line gives the piece movement, with the strings imparting a nautical feel. “Grimsby” is wonderful children’s story, and I hope to have done it justice with this humble music.

Chapter II (Gus the Gull) 6:36

Grimsby swims awhile, getting use to the lake.

Grimsby becomes lonely. MUSIC QUE 1:41
Grimsby approaches a family. MUSIC QUE 2:25
Grimsby frightens them and they call him a monster. MUSIC QUE 3:45
He flees and becomes very depressed. MUSIC QUE 4:27
Along the way he meets and saves Gus the gull from drowning. MUSIC QUE 5:13
Gus assures Grimsby he is not a monster (Grimsby Theme reappears). MUSIC QUE 5:47

Chapter III (Stella Sturgeon) 5:42

o Grimsby meets Stella Sturgeon.

o Stella is attacked by lamprey eels. MUSIC QUE 2:33
o Grimsby saves Stella from the eels. MUSIC QUE 3:31
o Stella proclaims Grimsby is kind and brave. MUSIC QUE 3:59
o Stella sends him on his way with the words: “Find yourself, take the journey!” MUSIC QUE 5:02

Chapter IV (Speed boat assault) 8:44

o Grimsby continues his journey. (Grimsby Theme reappears)

o Grimsby notices something approaching. MUSIC QUE 1:05
o A boat is chasing Grimsby and he starts to flee. MUSIC QUE 1:31
o Grimsby is hit by the boat, and is badly injured. MUSIC QUE 3:34
o Attracted by the blood, the lamprey attack Grimsby. MUSIC QUE 4:26
o Grimsby starts to die. MUSIC QUE 5:30
o With blue light all around him, Grimsby is revived by The Lady of the Lakes. MUSIC QUE 5:45

Lady of the Lakes (Theme) 3:03

o Grimsby meets The Lady of the Lakes and learns The Great lesson:
“If you remember love, love will remember you!”

Chapter V (Mike the Pike) 5:46

o Grimsby continues his journey.

o Grimsby bumps into Mike the Pike. MUSIC QUE 0:36
o Mike the Pike tells Grimsby:
“Go for it, and knock the ball out of the park.” MUSIC QUE 2:41
o Grimsby is startled by the Lamprey King. MUSIC QUE 3:20
o With a horrendous sound, Grimsby is attacked by the evil Lamprey King. MUSIC QUE 3:59
o A shimmering blue light surrounds Grimsby. MUSIC QUE 4:35
o Grimsby is again saved by Lady of the Lakes; but the King announces “I will be back!” MUSIC QUE 4:57

Chapter VI (The Governor’s boat) 10:24

o Grimsby continues his journey – now in Lake Erie.

o A storm quickly moves in. MUSIC QUE 1:25
o Grimsby finds the Governor’s boat dead in the water. MUSIC QUE 2:14
o Grimsby starts pulling the boat toward shore. MUSIC QUE 3:03
o The storm worsens, and Grimsby loses his bearing. MUSIC QUE 4:18
o Gus the Gull and friends arrive to show him the way. MUSIC QUE 4:34
o Grimsby continues to pull boat toward shore. MUSIC QUE 4:49
o Lamprey King and soldiers attack Grimsby. MUSIC QUE 5:51
o Grimsby starts to die. MUSIC QUE 6:29
o Mike the Pike and friends come to the rescue. MUSIC QUE 7:07
o Grimsby is inspired, and pulls the governors to safety. MUSIC QUE 8:50
o Grimsby is honored by a wonderful celebration. MUSIC QUE 9:56

Grimsby (Reprise) 1:02

GRIMSBY STORY (SUMMARY BY ME):

1. Chapter I (Grimsby is born): A large mysterious egg stored in a freezer by Professor Bafflegab, starts to thaw when a storm knocks out power, Grimsby is born. Hattie Hamster saves Grimsby by opening the freezer.
2. Grimsby (Theme): Grimsby finds the lake to be his home.
3. Chapter II (Gus the Gull): After swimming awhile, Grimsby becomes lonely and starts to swim toward a family. Grimsby scared the family and they called him a monster. Grimsby flees, becomes very depressed, then meets and saves Gus the gull from drowning. Gus said he is not a monster.
4. Chapter III (Stella Sturgeon): Grimsby meets Stella Sturgeon who is attacked by lamprey eels. Grimsby saves Stella who then told Grimsby he is kind and brave: “Find yourself, take the journey!”
5. Chapter IV (Speed boat assault): Grimsby continues his journey, and notices a boat is chasing him. Grimsby starts to flee but is badly injured by the boat. Attracted by the blood, the lamprey attack Grimsby. Just as Grimsby is about to die, a blue light forms all around him, and Grimsby is revived by The Lady of the Lakes.
6. Lady of the Lakes (Theme): Grimsby meets The Lady of the Lakes, and learns The Great Lesson:
“If you remember love, love will remember you.”
7. Chapter V (Mike the Pike): Grimsby continues his journey and bumps into Mike the Pike. Mike the Pike told Grimsby to “Go for it, and knock the ball out of the park!” Grimsby is attacked by the Lamprey King. A shimmering blue light surrounds Grimsby again, and he is saved by the Lady of the Lakes; but the King said “I will be back.”
8. Chapter VI (The Governor’s boat): Grimsby is now in Lake Erie, and a storm quickly moves in. Grimsby finds the Governor’s boat dead in the water, and starts pulling the boat toward shore. The storm worsens, and Grimsby loses his bearing. Gus the Gull and friends arrive to show Grimsby the way. Grimsby continues to pull the boat toward shore, but the Lamprey King and his soldiers attack Grimsby. Grimsby starts to die, but Mike the Pike and friends come to the rescue. Grimsby is inspired, and pulls the governors to safety. Grimsby is honored by a celebration.