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What inspires someone to create a piece of music? Films, personal experiences and existing pieces of music have captured the imagination of many a composer. In the case of avid fisherman, Paul Brett, it was a famous angling treatise by a local writer.

I have recently released a new 12 track album, entitled ‘Songs From The Compleat Angler’. On it I perform lead vocals as well as playing the guitar. I wanted to share the experience of creating an album with you.

Influenced by Izaak Walton

When deciding upon ideas for my new album, I immediately thought of one of the most popular fisherman’s reference books of all time - Izaak Walton’s 1653 work, ‘The Compleat Angler’. I instantly realised that I could form an album of exquisite beauty based on this literary masterpiece – which traces a our day fishing trip between two friends.

I have always admired ‘The Compleat Angler’ because it has survived through the centuries – having only been out of print once in 406 years and it is also believed to have sold more copies than the bible.

I visited Walton's Cottage in Staffordshire a few years ago but had not thought to give the book another read until I was prompted by a friend, during a fishing trip. I immediately wondered why these great poems hadn't been set to music before.

I was looking something to record on the guitar I had made and I realised that these poems would be perfect. I later added strings and woodwind sections at Woodworm Studios in the Cotswolds. The songs were then mixed, mastered and released.

Experimentation and Realisation

In my early career, I was a strident guitar player but in later years I have explored a more romantic style. I write my own baroque instrumentals and listen to Renaissance and Courtly music.

When reading Izaak’s book I could hear the guitar parts in the back of my mind and I realized the music would suit a small Parlour guitar. Shortly afterwards, I had a single-bodied, double-neck instrument commissioned (see photograph). The twin necks are close together to enable me to leap seamlessly between the two fret-boards.

At one point I realised that I could ALSO include poetry by 16th Century writer Christopher Marlowe and 17th Century writer Sir Henry Wotton.

Immediately I realised we would require a wide range of instruments to complement the different styles of writing. I contacted Carla Zappala who added diversity to the album with her scoring for string quartet, piccolo and oboe. Vaughan Jones's group, ‘The String Section’, specialise in studio work and they arranged the music to match my vision.

I hope that if Izaak Walton were alive today, he would be pleased with my musical interpretation.

For more information on Paul Brett and to hear tracks from his new album, visit: www.fret-dancer.com, www.paulbrettguitarist.co.uk and www.thecompleatanglersongsandmusic.com. For information on Izaak Walton and The Cottage, see link in the top right hand corner of this page.