Passing a Message (Deluxe Edition) Cover Image

Passing a Message (Deluxe Edition): Hardcover Limited Edition Book & 7" Vinyl Record

$55.99 USD

Passing a Message (Deluxe Edition): Hardcover Limited Edition Book & 7" Vinyl Record

Name: Passing a Message (Deluxe Edition): Hardcover Limited Edition Book & 7" Vinyl Record
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 12-0571543111
Price: 55.99 USD
Availability: InStock

The Lyrics and Artwork of Conor J. O'Brien, for the Music of Villagers

By Conor J O'Brien / Villagers

Item: 12-0571543111

$55.99

Shipped

One moment…

Collected for the first time in one volume, Passing A Message contains the lyrics to over 80 songs, with artwork and photographs, along with previously unseen notebook lyric drafts and drawings curated by Conor J. O'Brien, for his musical project, Villagers. Presented as a full-color hardback book, with a unique glow-in-the dark cover, this limited edition also contains the previously unreleased song, "Pictures of the Floating World", as an exclusive 7" vinyl.

Passing a Message (Deluxe Edition): Hardcover Limited Edition Book & 7" Vinyl Record isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample audio found.

No sample videos found.

Publisher: Faber Music

Page Count: 240

ISBN10: 0-571-54311-1

ISBN13: 978-0-571-54311-3

UPC: 9780571543113

SKU: 12-0571543111

More about this title

About the Composer: Conor J. O'Brien

Conor J. O'Brien is an Irish singer-songwriter and the creative force behind Villagers, a project that emerged from Dublin's folk and indie music scene in the late 2000s. His songwriting blends introspective lyricism with carefully crafted pop and rock arrangements, earning critical recognition across multiple albums and establishing him as a distinctive voice in contemporary music.

Beyond performance, O'Brien's approach to lyrical storytelling and compositional detail makes his work valuable to singers and musicians studying craft. His attention to narrative structure, emotional precision, and the relationship between words and melody offers concrete lessons in how language functions within song composition.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

This collection gives singers and vocal students direct access to a substantial catalog of carefully constructed songs, complete with lyrics, drafts, and visual documentation of the creative process. The inclusion of notebook sketches and previously unreleased material provides insight into how contemporary songwriters develop and refine ideas, making it as valuable as a study resource as it is for repertoire selection.

What to expect

The collection unfolds with the intimacy of a songwriter's notebook, moving between polished final lyrics and the handwritten fragments that preceded them. O'Brien's voice emerges across these songs as reflective and observant, often finding quiet beauty in everyday detail and emotional complexity beneath understated arrangements.

Who it's for

Vocalists exploring contemporary singer-songwriter repertoire, music students studying lyrical composition and song craft, and performers looking to expand their understanding of how modern pop and rock songs are built. This collection appeals to anyone interested in the relationship between lyrics, melody, and creative development in recorded music.

How to get the most out of it

Study the lyrical drafts and finished versions side by side to understand how O'Brien shapes phrasing, line breaks, and emotional emphasis through revision; this reveals how small word choices affect vocal phrasing and interpretation.
Use the artwork and photograph context to anchor the emotional tone of each song, building a visual and thematic understanding that informs your delivery and character choices.
Work with the exclusive 7" vinyl recording of 'Pictures of the Floating World' to hear how O'Brien's vocal approach, dynamics, and timing function within the song's arrangement, then apply those interpretive choices to other selections in the book.

How to use it

Use this as a study resource for vocal students examining contemporary song composition, pairing specific selections with discussions of lyrical structure, metaphor, and vocal interpretation. The book also serves solo performers seeking cohesive, artfully presented material for recital programming or personal repertoire development.