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I am pleased to announce the online release of my new album, "In the Wilderness". 16 solo guitar pieces. Progressive Acoustic without compromise. Brutally honest (I left the squeaks in :-)).
Please check it out at my web site: www.billvencil.com
There are samples of all songs, and the full album download for $9.99 (USD). I've got MP3, lossless WMA and FLAC formats available.

In addition, my music is also available at Many Miles Music, a new label focused on instrumental music. Check it out!

Finally, for those of you who prefer the "big boys", you can download "In the Wilderness from iTunes, AmazonMP3 and CDBaby.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my music. I play progressive acoustic guitar, sometimes mixing in a little electric guitar and various textural sounds. You'll even find an ambient piece or two as you delve into my work.

I've been plying the craft of guitar playing for a good while. I got interested in the instrument at the age of 13, after my mother purchased a "cheapie" with Green Stamps. One thing led to another and a Fender Mustang and a Gibson LG1 and an Ibanez PF200 and, well you get the picture.

I spent some time in college studying theory and composition, which was a valuable learning experience. Ives, Copeland, Hindemith, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, just to name a few. Ear training, vocalizing, inversions, rules of harmonization, atonality, polytonality, dueling perfect 5ths, polyrhythm to name a few more. If 'twer possible, I'd go back in a moment to pick up where I left off.

My involvement in a progressive rock band called Tetelestai (see John 19:31) was an important milestone in my musical experience. Francis Schaeffer's "Art and the Bible" and Hans Rookmaaker's "Art Needs No Justification" helped form a basis for our musical creativity. We played in the Baltimore area, creating a quirky brand of prog-rock. A follow on band called Return from Exile also occupied much of my time. Between the two groups, a significant recorded body of work was produced, including a vinyl album, and several cassette albums.

I am now exploring melody, rhythm, texture and sonority in a mostly acoustic guitar setting. I look forward to sharing the musical result with you.