The name of this album has Christian implications, and being a Christian myself, that’s great, but the title is meant to encompass all forms of “grace,” not only the grace of God that saves us from sin.
It particularly references “grace” as the beauty in all things pure and good, and this is essentially what I shoot for when I compose. I like to write pretty stuff.
The name is taken from one of the verses of Amazing Grace:
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come.
T'was Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The idea is that we are cared for; we experience good things in our lives; we learn through every experience, and we are all in some way or another blessed-and that is beautiful.
I do believe that beauty, purity and all things good stem from the grace of God, but maybe you don’t, and I don’t believe that you have to.
In March of 2009 a bunch of paranormal bustle went down in my apartment in Bowling Green, OH where I was living with some of my best friends in the world. It was a demon-there is no doubt in my mind that it was a demon. I’ll spare the details here but essentially, a group of us performed an exorcism in the name of Jesus; we held hands in the kitchen and prayed, and when we finished there was a loud crash from the basement. We went down stairs to find that a very large, industrial strength window had been removed from the wall and had fallen over. And the Demon was Gone.
This was one of the most redeeming and beautiful experiences of my life, and reinforced my faith ten fold. It was a terrible but amazing gift and I just had to make an album out of it. A number of the tracks are in direct reference to those events. I bet you can’t figure out which ones.
And Grace Will Lead Me Home
Speed Limit Enforced by Aircraft
This was the first tune that I wrote in this style when I really decided to try and make this tapping stuff my thing. I believe I began writing it in October, 2008 on my single neck Epiphone after a summer of teaching guitar in Bowling Green and practicing a lot of classical guitar. I don’t remember any of the pieces I learned that summer, but it was still very beneficial. Anyway, I probably finished the piece around the following February, all on a single neck; the album version of the tune is played on my ovation double neck, but everything you hear can be played on a single guitar neck; the double gave a lot more control in the studio. Both necks are in Open D (DADF#AD) tuning.
Novelty Theme Park Items
So I worked at a theme park for the past 8 months before releasing the album…DADGAD with a capo on the 2nd fret.
Indigo Child
I was so tired of this piece by the time I was done writing it just because it took me months to finish something that I was happy enough with to record, but I owe a lot to this piece because it (and Mr. Justin King) gave me the idea for the double neck. I had set up a guitar in its case laying on a keyboard stand, and another that I held while standing up in order to write and practice the piece. I’ll tell you, nothing strokes your ego more than playing two guitars at once, and basking in the novelty of it all, I probably accomplished a lot less with my time and energy than I should have. When I purchased the double neck in March, the composition became much easier. Top neck is tuned DGDF#AD and the lower neck is open D.
Stairs, Two at a Time
Also DADGAD tuning, capo 2. I believe I started writing this one right before I left Bowling Green, and it’s probably one of my favorite tunes I’ve written.
The Descent
This tune is in DADGAD but with the Kyser Short Cut Capo on the 4th fret, covering strings 2, 3 and 4 (usually B, G and D). I bought the damn capo because I was under the impression that I could place it anywhere and cover as many (up to 3) or as few string as I wanted because I had this grand idea for a piece in standard tuning…anyway, how disappointed I was when I spent $16, got the capo home and found that it wasn’t going to work out. So I wrote this piece a couple weeks later right after I moved to Williamsburg. I actually finished it in just a few days which was great because that never happens for me. I called it “The Descent” because I moved from Ohio down to Virginia. Get it? Just kidding, that’s not really why.
Capo 4
This was the most recent piece that I finished for the album, and I’m very happy with it. Open D tuning with—get this—a capo on the 4th fret. I’ve come up so many better titles since Moses put the art work together. Oh well, I guess that’s what the next album is for. This piece actually began as an idea for a cover of the Postal Service song “Recycled Air.” As you can hear, it sounds nothing like the song at all.
Tide Pools at Monterey
Not much to say on this one. I was going for something pretty. I actually composed a good bit of it off of the guitar in finale before trying to play it. That’s not something I usually do. Top neck is in open D and the lower neck is DGDGAD.
Mythical Reptile Surge
As I stated, I don’t often write in Finale, but oftentimes I’ll come up with an idea on the guitar that I just can’t play at any acceptable tempo, in which case I will write it into finale so I can hear what it sounds like and decided if it’s worth the hours of practice. When I put this piece into finale it sounded like something the band Dragon Force would have written and I said “Cool, my metal friends will like it…” and since the name “Dragon Force” was already taken, I went with Webster’s most simple set of synonyms: “Beast Power.” Now that name sucks quite a bit so I was very happy when my friend Nick Stuart from Bowling Green proposed the actual title to me. Thanks Nick, it’s a winner. This one is in DADGAD tuning, played on a single neck, but I actually recorded it on the top neck of my double neck just because it felt right.
The Demons Were Gone
Yep, I wrote this one a few days after that story I told you. Coincidentally, that was the same day I received my double neck in the mail, and I think about 2 weeks later I had this tune finished. Top neck is in open D, bottom neck is in DADGAD, and it’s super easy!
The Redemption (Here you are, Glowing Sun)
This piece was inspired by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros. They are one of my favorites. And yes, it sounds like Journey. I know. Tuning is CGDGGD.
Amazing Grace
Open D tuning
Big thanks to everyone who in any remote way helped to make this album possible:
God, Whitney, Mom, Dad, David and Heidi, Carrie, Jack, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, Lindsey, Tim and Zach, Sophia for all of her help and support, Moses for the artwork and photos, Troy in the studio, Sameer, Guaresh and Suman Kashyap, Grandma and Grandpa Kroos, Janet, Jim and Donna, Shawn and Mary, Stef, Alyssa, Jena, Zach, Cheri and Jamie, Ethan, Zoe, Myra and Jim, Grandma and Grandpa Stork, Aunt Mary, Sam Wagner, Travis, Sam Muller, Mr. Andrew Marunowski, Clint Dye, All of those who ever were Argonauts: Curtis, Aric, Chris Lennard, Tommy, Jason, Chuck, Jay, Chris Prokop-we rocked pretty hard. All of my friends at BG Music: Mike, Melody, Zach, Andy, Pat, Gina, Carlyn, Debbie, and all of my former students. Teachers both in and out of music: Mrs. B, Paul Theroux, Mr. Campeau, Dr. Ardizzone, Chris Buzzelli, Roger Humphrey, Ms. Holmes, Frau Floyd, Piya, Scott Parnell, Frank Dewald, Dr. Laberge, Clint Fox, Russ Schmidt, Russel Decorte-you all made a large impact, for better of for worse! The country band: Zach, Cami, Erin, Bruce, Topher, Diane, Tippens, Lindsay, Josh, Bryce, Rob, Ammon, Steve, Kristiana, and the Frankenrock band: Dimitric, Travis, Jeff, Shannon, Paul, Lauren, Mark, James, Adam, Haley, John, Scotti, Amon, Clinton, Terrance, the deck the halls group: Brandon, Jim, Dave, Don, Mike and Mike, Amanda, Lauren, Steven, Ross, Jess, Jenna, Cassie, Alyson, Sam, Teanna, Ryan, Jaymez, Donnie and Myles, Cory, Kristin and Mark, and of course all of you crazy groupies ; ) You guys made for an awesome 8 months-thanks for making me feel so welcome while being new in Williamsburg. More friends: Jay, Bridget, INGMAR, Christine, Smithers, Laura Gillis, Kanoa, Roxanne, Rachel, Dave Chester, Kenan, Ian, Matt, Snake, John, Scott Padden, Melanie, Molly Jean, Dave Miller, Mark Miller, Andrew Hoyles, Allie Gruner, Erica Ruff, Hasib, Dillon and Sean Carney, Kyle, Brett for making booking a little less stressful when I played in a ska band, Britney, Hero-I hate this dog so much, Donna, Elaine, Alex, A Jay, The crew of Brian’s Moving Out, my favorite Cincinnati ska band, Lisa Lepard/Bell, John Lepard, Dan Weber, Dan Burris, Victor, Jon Torrence-Best voice EVER, Brian Bennett, Christin, Shantel, Sarah, Jenny, John Leefers, the rest of the ABO cast, Kyle Altman, Nick Stuart for the title “Mythical Reptile Surge” and otherwise being a badass, Mark Plaid, Sarah Long, Heather, Myra, Elizabeth, Erin, Jeff, Erica, C Topher, Lora, Jazzy, Danny Burns, Phil Smith, Brandon Delong. All of my old friends from RTC: Joel, Mark Thomas, Brian Willats, Laura, Cheryl, you guys taught me a lot about playing music. Kevin, Shannon and Gene for the help with recording “The Descent.” Every single member of the Mark Kroos Guitar/Friend club, and everybody who bought this CD of circus tricks made into music. If you did not find yourself on this list or in any of these categories and feel that you have been wronged or cheated by our friendship, you can address your complaint to me at kroosms@hotmail.com. It’s too bad you already bought the CD. Good day to you.
And Grace Will Lead Me Home
Copyright 2009 Mark Kroos
All pieces arranged and performed by Mark Kroos
Photos and artwork by Moses Castillo
