Listen to Chip describe how childhood treks into the field at night with his grandfather formed a fascination with the stars in him. Watch this short clip to see why “The 7 Stars of the Big Dipper” is dedicated to Chip’s grandfather and first piano teacher, Dr. Ray Louis Sr.
Learn more about the recording challenges and inspiration behind this Fresh Aire IV classic, “G Major Toccata.” Watch Chip describe what went into capturing the powerful horn and trumpet sounds of a magnificent Kansas City church pipe organ in this short video.
Obviously, we don’t have an ocean in Nebraska, but we do have an equally beautiful sky. Listen to Chip describe the inspiration and story behind Fresh Aire III’s “The Sky” in this short video clip.
Hopping in from the trees surrounding Chip’s Raven Oaks home, a cricket had gotten itself trapped beneath a wicker plant stand. The rhythmically even sound it produced inspired Chip to grab a microphone, record the beat and use it as the basis for a new musical track on Fresh Aire III. Click play to listen…
DetailsDid you know that Johannes Keppler’s observations of the moon and sky inspired the creation of “Dancing in the Stars” on Fresh Aire V? Listen to Chip describe his love for telescopes, space and Keppler in this short video clip.
Originally found on Fresh Aire II, “Velvet Tear” is an expression of sorrow over the loss of someone close. Watch Chip explain the backstory behind this moving song.
Watch Chip describe the origins of the beautiful ending he wrote to Fresh Aire VI. That album, which is dedicated to Greek mythology, concludes with the song “Nepenthe” which was an ancient drug that induced happiness. Listen to Chip reveal how he discovered Nepenthe in this quick clip.
A fox hunt on Sunday is an ancient tradition that still finds expression in Nebraska where Chip Davis lives. As Chip explains in this clip, participants donned in ‘pinks’ and riding boots are gathered together by the melodic call of French horns. Learn more about the inspiration behind this Fresh Aire 7 tune in this…
DetailsWant to take a step back in time? Watch this music video created for “The 7 Metals of Alchemy” on Fresh Aire 7. See synthesizers move independently and children transform into adults while they enjoy a magical journey into a sorcerer’s lair. Watch until the end to discover a familiar identity behind the mystical sorcerer.
It’s reported that there were seven metals used by warlocks and wizards to try to make gold. That art became known as alchemy. See why Chip wanted to make a song about it for Fresh Aire 7.
Mannheim Steamroller’s spectacular Fresh Aire album series started with this song – Fresh Aire, or “Fresh Song.” See Chip describe the inspiration and meaning behind it in this short clip.
Fresh Aire I, the first in Mannheim Steamroller’s series of 8 groundbreaking albums, starts with a sonata. Listen to Chip describe the basic form of a sonata and discover how the sonata on Fresh Aire I runs all the way back to the classic 18th century form.
Fresh Aire I debuted in 1974. That album opens with a Prelude followed by a song called Chocolate Fudge. See Chip explain the meaning behind these songs and their significance to the entire Fresh Aire series.
Just as there are seven colors in the rainbow, there are seven notes assigned to each color of the rainbow in this song for Fresh Aire VII. Watch Chip describe what went into creating this musical description of the various colors of the rainbow in this short clip.
As Chip describes in this short clip, the title of this song belies its true origin. Contrary to what you might think, “Pass the Keg” is not a drinking song. It comes from Pass the Kalla, which is a form of music from the 18th century.
Toccatas, which mean “quickly moving fingers on the keyboard” are usually played on an organ. Listen to Chip describe how he wrote a toccata on a sequencer with a synthesizer as a tribute to one of his favorite composers, Johann Sebastian Bach.
See the original music video for God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and discover what Chip had in mind when he ‘mannheimed’ this old Welch Christmas carol. Watch a rousing horseback ride through the woods culminate in sweeping landscape views of beaches, fields and castles.
In old English, this popular carol expresses a sentiment of happiness as in “God rest ye merry, gentlemen.” Today, the refrain has lost its pause but not its fervor in Mannheim Steamroller’s rousing rendition of the timeless carol. Listen to Chip describe what he envisioned as he composed his version of this tune for Mannheim…
DetailsJourney back to the time when wise kings traversed deserts vast and empty to see the Christ child. Get swept away in the sounds and sights of the time with this remarkably well done music video of “We Three Kings” from Mannheim Steamroller’s classic album, “Christmas.”
In 1852, John Hopkins Jr. wrote a carol that described the journey of three kings to take gifts to the Christ child. Chip explains his desire to recreate the feeling of that ancient time with dulcimers and other period instruments in this short clip.
