Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968
Front cover art for Still Gazing at the Moon

Still Gazing at the Moon

John Mills is an Australian composer working and recording in Melbourne. Raised in a musical household that nurtured his love of the guitar, he was already a keenly sought-after performer and teacher by his early twenties.

  • CatalogueMCD 327
  • Released2007

Listen & tracks

2 of 13 tracks have a preview · 11 works

  1. 1 Wish John Mills
  2. 2 Left Counting the Stars John Mills
  3. 3 Joy John Mills
  4. 4 Still Gazing at the Moon John Mills
  5. 5 Out There John Mills
  6. 6 Cherry Pie John Mills
  7. 7 Into the Blue John Mills
  8. 8 Rosebud John Mills
  9. 9 Morning's Mist John Mills
  10. Facing into the SunJohn Mills 3 movements
    1. 10 Part 1. Sunrise
    2. 11 Part 2. Mirage
    3. 12 Part 3. Sunset
  11. 13 One Small Step John Mills

John began composing in the early 1990s and was invited to record with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The album opens with the bare essentials of Wish, then the melancholy of Left Counting the Stars, with light string embellishments. In contrast comes the optimistic, invigorating Joy, a memorable melody that leaves a smile and sets cares aside. Mills then introduces a touch of saxophone on the title track, a new texture for this mild but inspiring artist. Percussion drives Into the Blue, yet the pastoral and passionate pulse stays in balance.

In the artist’s words

My latest work Still Gazing at the Moon, is compositionally more detailed and textured than past works. It is definitely more of an emotional journey ... I've had the pleasure to work with some amazing musicians on this project who have added their beautiful playing: Helen Mountfort on cello; David Hewitt on vibes; Lisa Harbor on violin and viola ... I can't thank enough the enormous assistance and support from Adrian Hannan at The Songstore who has always understood what I've been about, and has enabled my compositions to speak.

Reviews

It takes more than technical mastery to compose music and play it on the guitar in a way that really touches people's hearts. Australian John Mills, has just such artistic talent..... John Mills also happens to be among the ten best guitar players I've ever heard and this makes Hallowed Moon just that more special.

Still Gazing at the Moon is an uplifting collection of compositions that is definitely worth a listen

Artists

Photograph of John Mills

John Mills

guitar

"It takes more than technical mastery to compose music and play it on the guitar in a way that really touches people's hearts. Australia's John Mills, has just such artistic talent. He uses even the silence between notes to shape his tender, lyrical melodies. Rather than blister the ears with cascades of notes, Mills has the courage to place each note like a precious star, allowing the emotion of the melody to carry through. . . . . Mills also happens to be among the 10 best guitarists that I've ever heard."

Buy now

$25.00 AUD

Compact disc

Performers

Details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Release date
Categories
Australian, Classical
Musical work copyright
© 2007 John Mills
Sound recording copyright
℗ 2007 John Mills
Catalogue
MCD 327
EAN
9314574032727