Welcome to the Washentree store!
Here is where you can download and enjoy Lenny Rountree’s unique pop, R & B/Jazz tunes, “Aftermath” and “Gainful Enjoyment” respectively. The two songs are released from the upcoming album “Gainful Enjoyment.”
You can purchase “The Notable Characters” book as well as the e-book download. To purchase the physical book, click in the small black box directly below containing the words “Buy on Amazon” in white letters.
Scroll down to access the e-book, underneath the illustration of the Notable Characters. Click or tap in the black box with white letters. With the e-book you get wonderful songs to listen to as they unfold in the story. The Notable Characters is highly recommended for music teachers and anyone exploring music theory at the start of their musical journey, taking lessons or participating in any band or vocal group.
![The Notable Characters [e-book]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/584c2b7ce4fcb581bf62f3d1/1515682435732-5U34XUIIUO8Y9BAY3OAN/The+Notable+Characters+Front+Book+Cover%2C+170713.jpg)
The Notable Characters [e-book]
$9.99
Let us introduce you to the Notables seen here on the front cover. From left to right we have: keyboardist and recent immigrant from Jamaica, Eighty-eight, bassist and recent immigrant from the Netherlands, Dutch, their drummer and leader, the eldest Notable, and obviously very perceptive, Wholesome, guitarist and recent immigrant from New Orleans, Qwater and the lead singer, the high-spirited Suite Sixteen. Note how they wear note symbols on their shirts, hence they are the Notables. This unabridged audiobook features narration and sound effects by Lenny Rountree who along with Rachael Byrd provides voice characterization for fourteen diverse personalities. The running time is 34 minutes. The songs mentioned in the story are here in the soundtrack. Notably, you hear, “We Had Our Nap We Had Our Meal and Now We Feel Okay” and the Rests’ theme, “Doing the Rest Stop.” Lenny Rountree created the music and the musical “Swirl” which is based upon this funny and enlightening story where empathy steals the show. The illustrated storybook is a nice complement to the audiobook and vice versa.
Listen to “The Notable Characters” theme song by clicking or tapping the play button below for “We Had Our…”
“Swirl” is a musical based on the Notable Character’s story. Two of the songs from the show are available, the rockin' "Bully Bully" and the dance hall flavored "What's Your Dream?"
Find articles exploring the subjects of music theory, history, arts integration and influencers like Motown and Antonio Carlos Jobim for example. The most recent article is called “The Neighborhood Music Fair – For a New Music Culture Paradigm.” Click below, on the blue lettering “Music Artistree School of Thought….”
Welcome to my website. My name is Lenny Rountree and I am the sole proprietor of Washentertainment, whereby I share, teach and commercially distribute my works of music and art. I am a professional musician, recording independently of labels and streaming services. Here is where you and I can have a positive exchange directly without monthly fees and exploitive practices. Hopefully you will not take this to mean the quality of my music is lacking in any way, quite to the contrary!
My recordings are available to you in the form of a digital download. Simply download the music into your digital music folder and enjoy it going forward. Some of you may not have a digital folder for your music collection, but you can always create one, to store and access the work of independent recording artists you sincerely wish well.
I wrote, arranged, performed and produced these tunes “Aftermath” and “Gainful Enjoyment.” Please listen to the excerpts. If any one of the songs offered here hit ya’ and you’re groovin’ to it, you really like what you are hearing, then downloading it for less than the cost of a protein bar actually lessens the financial blow of putting the production in front of you. Move the track into your personal playlist; repeated fun for your ear drum for years to come. Your download purchase is logical. It’s that simple. Join the people who make my future recording, mixing, mastering a lot more likely. The downloading process is quick, easy and again, excessively affordable.
You have the option of choosing the mp3 version or the mp4 or FLAC version. The larger file size called "FLAC" (Free Lossless Audio Codec) has superior audio quality compared to the mp3 so we recommend you choose the FLAC version to download.
Thanks for discovering my art!
“Delightful and unique!! Consuming Lenny’s work gently carries one’s imagination to happy, hopeful, and innocent places of the ideal. Then lingers the imagination to slowly wrestle one’s thoughts over why not? He succeeds in making a meaningful contribution to a brighter view. And that’s a big deal!!”
Aftermath (FLAC Download)
$1.29
From the song's opening line, Lenny Rountree’s mid-tempo, groovin,’ melodious tune deals with the tenuous tether between two lovers with one willing to stray, and the other willing to stay in the aftermath of an affair gone awry.
"Aftermath" was written, arranged, performed and produced by Lenny Rountree in the Washen Machine, Cheverly, Maryland. Lenny is a superb songwriter and multi-talented artist.
Like a Lenny tune on SoundCloud. Inquiries can be sent via email to: info@washentree.com. We would love to hear your feedback.
Gainful Enjoyment (FLAC Download)
$1.29
Lenny Rountree gains more funk-laden ground in his album’s title track “Gainful Enjoyment” released as a single and now available as an mp3 and Flac download. With tightly stitched vocal harmonies, the ebony and flow of Lenny’s fingers tickling the ivories in a wicked piano solo, this jazz-influenced tune speaks to optimism despite the indifference of life’s changes. From top to bottom, it is clear that extolling the virtues of the homestead through music is a dream job.
What's Your Dream?
$1.29
“What’s Your Dream” is a song composed for the musical Swirl. This version is arranged, superbly performed and produced by Lenny Rountree. In Swirl, the lyrical phrases are sung by actors portraying the characters Diamond Duds, Wholesome, Dutch, Wholelotta Rest, Half-heart Rest, Footsy Rest and Eighty- Eight. These characters were first illustrated and woven into Lenny’s children’s book “The Notable Characters” before coming to life in theater. Swirl features ten of Lenny’s compositions and touches on the topics of bullying, immigration, single parenting, music education, empathy and rising above impulsive pettiness.
The Notable Characters
If you are a teacher, parent or guardian and your learners are embarking on a musical journey through their participation in music lessons, chorus, band or general music classes, then “The Notable Characters” is a great way to immerse students into music literacy. Feel free to contact me for lesson plan ideas. The book is also a pathway for them to learn the power of empathy and conflict resolution.
From left to right, on stage we have: Dutch on bass, Wholesome on drums, Suite Sixteen on lead vocal, Eighty Eight on the keyboard, Qwater on the guitar, and a happy mongoose enjoying their theme song "We Had Our Nap We Had Our Meal And Now We Feel Okay." Some have noticed the Rest siblings are poised to wreak havoc from the side of the stage! For young readers seeking to enter the school band, orchestra or vocal ensemble, this book is a great introduction to notes, rests, and other musical symbols. Music terminology is woven into this delightful, funny story, affording teachers and parents the opportunity to help kids discover the language that expresses basic concepts in music theory.
Experience the sound of the young Notables Characters and their grade school rivals, the Rest siblings, journeying down a path of music education. They have two different approaches to songwriting and performance. The Notables make music that is widely popular in Poplar Park in the city of Metronoma, while the Rests take a lot of breaks during their songs and are not as well received there. With jealousy and envy in the hearts of the bullying Rests, the Notables find themselves in a confrontation with them. Their conflict culminates in the most unusual of situations at the annual Realla Battle of the Bands contest. Lenny Rountree created the music soundtrack as well as the musical “Swirl,” which is based upon this story of empathy. The audiobook will download immediately upon the completion of payment processing.
Rest! Are you readaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!! - Blane Bling
Aftermath (MP3 Download)
$1.29
From the song's opening line, Lenny Rountree’s mid-tempo, groovin,’ melodious tune deals with the tenuous tether between two lovers with one willing to stray, and the other willing to stay in the aftermath of an affair gone awry.
"Aftermath" was written, arranged, performed and produced by Lenny Rountree in the Washen Machine, Cheverly, Maryland. Lenny is a superb songwriter and multi-talented artist.
Like a Lenny tune on SoundCloud. Inquiries can be sent via email to: info@washentree.com. We would love to hear your feedback.
“We tend not to value things we can get for free.”
Gainful Enjoyment (MP3 Download)
$1.29
Lenny Rountree gains more funk-laden ground in his album’s title track “Gainful Enjoyment” released as a single and now available as an mp3 and Flac download. With tightly stitched vocal harmonies, the ebony and flow of Lenny’s fingers tickling the ivories in a wicked piano solo, this jazz-influenced tune speaks to optimism despite the indifference of life’s changes. From top to bottom, it is clear that extolling the virtues of the homestead through music is a dream job.
Bully Bully (From the musical "Swirl")
$1.29
All sounds arranged, produced and performed by Lenny Rountree. The song is performed in the musical "Swirl" by the actors portraying The Rest Siblings.
The e-book version of the Notable Characters is only available here. With this mp3 download, you can listen to the songs that The Rests and the Notables perform in the story (Recorded by Lenny of course). Also Lenny and Rachael’s voice characterizations are splendid! Take the story wherever you travel.
About “Swirl”
If you are researching and choosing a musical production for your school or company, I urge you to take a good look at my musical called Swirl. Download the perusal materials now for $2.99, and read through the script passages. You might find it’s the perfect fit for your organization. My songs “Bully Bully” and “What’s Your Dream?” are featured in the show. The Notable Character’s theme song “We Had Our Nap We Had Our Meal And Now We Feel Okay” is the first song performed in the show. Scroll upward to hear it in its entirety. The musical was first staged in 2016 at Barnesville middle school in Maryland.
Swirl Perusal (Script Excerpts, Character Description & Appearance Guide)
$2.99
If you are interested in staging this musical and would like to acquire the Production Contract and Dramatic Performance License, fill out the form upon purchasing the perusal. Contact me at LennyRoun@gmail.com to request the application. You will receive the contract via certified mail in 7 to 10 business days. Upon receipt of your completed application, you will receive the Swirl Show kit which will contain:
(2) Director books
(30) Librettos with blocking instructions
(2) Guide vocal CDs
(2) Production Accompaniment CDs
Production Tip Sheet for Sound and Lights
Suggested Warm-up Activities for Actors
Choreography Tips
Costume & Make-up Tips
Prop List
The music is written, arranged and performed by Lenny Rountree
If you choose “Swirl” you will receive two guide-vocal CDs so your actors can learn how to sing the songs and two accompaniment CD for the actual performances. You may request sheet music if you are using a pit band. The music unfolds in the show in the following order.
Scene 1
We Had Our Nap We Had Our Meal and Now We Feel Okay (Featuring the Notables)
Noise Will Be Noise (Excerpt) Note: Use the instrumental version here
Scene 2
Bully Bully (Featuring Arma Rest and the Rests)
Scene 3
Ode to Pumpkin Hill (Featuring Eighty-Eight on piano)
Jealousy & Envy (Featuring Mrs. Sparkle, owner of Soulshine Seafood Eatery)
Scene 4
Don’t Blane Me (Blane’s rap song)
Scene 5
Taking Sides Story (Features Rests and Notables in confrontation)
What’s Your Dream? (Featuring Diamond Duds, the Notables and the Rests)
-Intermission-
Scene 6 – 7 – No Music
Scene 8
Noise Will Be Noise (Featuring the Notables)
Scene 9
Doing the Rest Stop (Featuring the Rests and the Notables)
Swirl (Bow’s and Exit Music)
If the actor chosen to play the character Eighty-Eight happens to be an accomplished pianist, they can now begin learning to play “Ode to Pumpkin Hill” from scene 3. In this scene, Eighty-Eight, along with Wholesome and Suite Sixteen arrive at Mrs. Sparkle’s Soulshine Seafood Eatery for lunch. There is a piano there and Suite Sixteen request Eighty-Eight to play the song he played at the school morning meeting, “Ode to Pumpkin Hill.” Noone sees Arma Rest hiding under the piano and as he plays she ties his shoelaces together. She is a bully and this sets in motion the community coming together to address the problem of bullying. If the actor does not play piano, you can use the track on the accompaniment CD which you can listen to by clicking or tapping below.
Barnesville School Staging Swirl
Student’s set depicting Tone Row where the five Notable Characters reside - Barnesville Middle School, Barnesville, Maryland in May 2016
How Do You See Musicians in Today’s World?
How Do You See Musicians in Relation to Your Life
