Some experiences stay in the body and soul longer than others. I’ve a funny feeling that, long after the bruises and blisters have faded, I’ll always remember our extraordinary journey up and down Kilimanjaro.

There were so many triumphs and difficulties, large and small, that it seems strange to pick out particular moments. However, breaking things down a bit, I would say my my spiritual highlight was watching
Jamie’s determined walk, surrounded by the amazing porters who could recognise courage in any language. Their support for all of us was so much more than carrying our heavy bags.

My physical highlight would be the final walk through the forest to the exit gate, in light, cooling rain, downhill all the way home, and mercifully out of the high altitude zone.

Musically, it became clear that the uplifting qualities of music and song are universal. Hearing the porters sing us to the top of the mountain and down again has changed many of the ways that I think about the purpose and meaning of music, and I’m still absorbing whether or not it’s appropriate to use any of that material on screen.

And technically? Well, sitting on a rock at 15,000ft, cutting recordings on Protools, editing Podcasts on Avid and notating musical ideas on Sibelius, before sending them back home via a Satellite uplink, all solar powered, was definitely a first. It was a bit chillier than my studio at home, but the view was pretty awesome!

Thanks to everyone who read the blog, sent in music and left comments. It really meant a lot.

Michael

Hi everyone – we’re all back safe and sound in the hotel now. It was an incredibly arduous last couple of days but everyone did amazingly well. Three of the disabled climbers reached the summit, as did the majority of the buddies, and the whole film crew (just!). There will be lots of photos and videos and more audio to come, but we get on a plane in a few hours so I’ll catch up on everything tomorrow when there is an internet connection that actually works!

Thanks for all the compositions. I’ll go through them all as soon as I get a chance. Here’s a post I wrote for the blog a few days ago, but due to technical problems we weren’t able to publish it…

Hi all. I’m writing this in the mess tent at approx 15,000 feet. Tomorrow we have another big climb, have a rest in the evening, then get up again at midnight for our summit approach. Five of the party have gone down, but everyone achieved at least 14,000ft and there are some amazing stories to tell. We’re all safe and well, within the parameters of doing something crazy like this, and missing all our loved ones (my beautiful girlfriend in particular!).

Sorry to not have been in touch as much as I would have liked. We’ve been having an amazing experience as the videos and stills that will hopefully emerge over the next ten days or so will show, but the key thing that has added an extra challenge has been the huge range of speed of the climbers. This has meant that we have had very little time at the beginning and end of the day, and also it’s put an extra pressure on all our solar technology and charging.

I’m sure the guys at Sibelius HQ have been logging and listening to all the pieces that have been sent in, and all the messages of good luck. I’ll definitely be listening and reading everything that’s been sent in and will respond as soon as we’re back down.

Wish us look for the summit ascent and we’ll be in touch with many more pics, videos and hopefully music when we’re back down.

PS Here’s a heartbreaking recording I made up here of one of the guides, Frank Mgoya, singing a song which I’ll tell you more about later.

Cheers
Michael

Intro music by Martin Higgins, 18 years old, from Tewkesbury School Sixth Form, Gloucestershire.

Ending music by James Cocker, age 14, from Hallows Catholic College, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Michael says “Please keep the music coming in. We won’t be to receive or send anything else until after the summit attempt, but spirits are high and we’re all really excited and appreciate all the entries and support you’ve given us. It really means a lot.”

See the videos of climbers mentioned in this video podcast here »

Intro music by Chris Ward, age 18, from Spennymoor Sixth Form , County Durham

Ending music by  David Collins, age 16, from Compton House School in Oldam

“A” marks the spot – here’s where the Machame trailhead camp is…

And here are the latest student compositions that you’ve sent in. They’re really great - keep them coming! (Here’s a link to my initial theme in case you’re reading this and want to have a go at composing, too). Thanks to all the students who have sent in compositions, I’ll get back to you all with thoughts on your pieces – just as soon as I get my breath back!

Sent in by Oliver Till, age 15, from St. Albans School, St. Albans, Hertfordshire:

Another composition from Chris Ward, age 18, from Spennymoor Sixth Form, County Durham:

Sent in by Martin Higgins (Martin, please email me your age and school):

Sent in by James Cocker, age 14, from Hallows Catholic College, Macclesfield, Cheshire

Keep them coming!

Hi everyone. I’ve been thrilled and moved by all the messages of support we’ve received over the last few days, and particularly pleased by the pieces of new music we’ve been sent. Thank you so much.

Every single one had something great to offer, and I really hope we can attach them to the videos while we’re on the mountain - technology permitting.

I’m writing this late at night in the hotel in Arusha, where we’re frantically packing and preparing all our gear for day 1 of the climb tomorrow.

We didn’t have the easiest journey over with flight delays, ‘challenging’ customs issues and luggage which made its own relaxed way here, but, apart from that, we’re getting there, and it’s going to be wonderful to be actually outside and walking.

There’s a real sense of anticipation within the group, which is marvellous to see, and a real sense of achievement of even getting this far.

We’re hoping to do a video blog tomorrow night, if we can’t tonight, but do keep posting and writing. You’ve no idea how much the group are taking heart from your support.

Cheers

Michael

It’s less than 48 hours to go until we get onto our plane, and there still appear to be at least 1000 things to do. Or is it 1001? I think I’ve lost that bit of paper.

We’re mostly tied up in doing last minute tests of all the various systems we’re taking to communicate with the outside world, and in the inevitable admin of flying people and machines around the world, but we’re also trying not to lose sight of the main aim of the trip, which is to make the best film we can for the people at Enham.

From a musical point of view, I’m wondering how much of the initial material I have in mind will turn out to work with the finished picture. Sometimes on a film your only connection with the picture is downloading quicktime movies from a remote ftp site, and getting on with it. This time I’ll actually have experienced pretty much the same thing as the ‘cast’. Well, that’s the plan anyway.

I’m really looking forward to hearing anyone else’s compositions and thoughts, both during the actual trip and after. 

Bye for now!

So that we had a musical ‘logo’ to attach to any bits of footage we edit for now, I made this quick mockup from the first 3 chords of the initial sketch I posted. It’ll be lovely with a real orchestra!

Looking forward to everyone else’s pieces . . . 

Hi and welcome to the blog. What’s this trip all about? Watch the 1 minute video above and all will be revealed. Our journey will start on Saturday July 5th and last for 10 days. Make sure you sign up in the top right corner of this blog to receive our progress updates and video podcasts by email.

Compose and send in music for our video podcasts.

If you’re a school-age student and want to have a go at creating 15-20 seconds of music for our video podcasts, you might want to use my initial theme idea for inspiration. You can hear it and download it in various formats below. You don’t have to base your composition on my theme though; you can send us any composition you think will work well on our podcasts.

Take a listen to my initial theme here (it starts very quietly)…

…or see and listen to the score online (requires the free Scorch browser plug-in)

Download it below in different formats:

Sibelius 5 file including themes in the Ideas Hub (zipped)

Sibelius 2 file - for Sibelius 2, 3, 4 and Sibelius Student users (zipped)

MIDI file - for importing into sequencers (zipped)

MP3 audio file (zipped)

Send your 15-20 second compositions to michaelsblog@sibelius.com (.sib or MP3 file, max 1MB), and I’ll include two of the best ones in each podcast we produce. You must agree that by emailing in your music, you relinquish any copyright over it, else we are not legally allowed to use it in a podcast.

We’ll produce up to six video podcasts during the trip, which runs from July 5th to July 15th. Remember to sign up to receive email updates whenever I post a new blog by entering your email address at the top right of the home page of this blog.

Oh, and please do include your age, and school or college, if you’re a student, then I can credit them properly.

Cheers - and get writing!

(a slightly nervous) Michael.