I've listened to this one before, both logged in and as a lurker - first because the concept was so intriguing. Then it was because it's such an excellent track. I've meant to review this piece for a while now, and apologize for taking so long.
What to say? You've got everything right here: the arrangement is truly fantastic! It's one of those pieces that's hard for me to imagine that it wasn't recorded live with a handful of musicians involved. Yeah, this is HAPPENING!
Wow, thank you. The first minute isn't even the best minute. My favorite part is where the left hand drops down an octave and the right hand starts banging back and forth, from low to high.
I made sure the song is actually playable, although it does require some good pedal control; there are a few places where you have to use the spot sustain if you want it to ring the notes exactly the way it's "played." Sadly, I'm not sure if I'm skilled enough to play it.
Definitely interesting glad you said everything you did about it in your description because it makes it quite dynamic in the end, and really captures some moments interestingly. Cool
this is obviously a labor of love with such meticulous preparation..there is something Philip Glass like about it but only a little i think! would really like to hear this again when more rested in the morning...i'm on a sort of funky hip hop crusade right now myself, but i'm also well versed in the classical and jazz disciplines and would like to hear your composition again when completed...then again is anything ever really completed?? i'll leave you with that...lol!!
thank you for sharing your work!
victormusic01x.....pondering all this technical talk but appreciating the outcome nonetheless
I actually just acquired a bunch of Philip Glass from my roommate, but haven't gotten around to listening to it yet. I'm channeling him on some unconscious level, I guess...
I feel like I've actually spent less time on this than I usually do, at least in terms of composition. I recorded most of the instruments on my first take, with minor adjustments to timing and occasional reworking of the parts by hand, leaving the note velocities as they were but changing timing/volume/volume ratios.
I appreciate the review. If you get any ideas on a fresh listen, please don't hesitate to share them.
This is a great track. I can't explain this next bit very well, but, some of it reminds me of Glass ( can't remember if it is Peter or Philip...?? his best album is Glass Works ) which is a good thing. Too bad I could not download it. Again, well done.
Downloaded! I'm hoping you'll appreciate when I say this piece reminds me so much of the music that used to play in Tomorrowland at Disney World (Behind the Waterfall by David Lanz, Bubble Shuffle by Larry Carlton, etc.). Your style reminds me of Suzanne Ciani in particular. Listened to several of your tracks and this is one of my favorites.
This is actually one of my favorite tracks as well. The animated filters just kinda worked, and I made a few good drum loops for once. I wish I could remember what my process was like when I wrote this one.
I'm not familiar with Suzanne Ciani, nor have I ever been to Disney World (despite having been to Universal Orlando six or seven times and Sea World Orlando three or four). I'll try to find some Larry Carlton, Suzanne Ciani, and David Lanz and see what I think.
Wow! This is such a fun track. Love the voice of wind instruments. And you incorporated it in such a playful way. Great job! I want to hear the full arrangement when it's done.
Thank you for the review. I should have some time this weekend to work on it, and I feel like the part I have done is as fleshed out as it should be, so the next update should lengthen it significantly.
Oboes are indeed fascinating and the people who play them more fascinating still. Who would deliberately select an instrument that looks like a huge elephants trunk with a chrome doodad stuck on the side of it? It's good to see that someone out there is experimenting with such sounds - good stuff.
You typically only have a single oboe in an orchestra, 'cause you can *always* hear them when they play. So, naturally, I used two.
Now I really want to learn to play one. There's something about playing "an elephant's trunk with a chrome doodad" that just seems like something I'd do.
My first musical memory is "Peter and the Wolf" and I've never really recovered from initially hearing the oboe and French horn. Hearing how you've used soundfonts really gives me encouragement to keep experimenting with these, as you've been far more successful than I have. Seeing you've used DSK Akoustik, I'm wondering if you've tried DSK Stringz, and if so what you think. I hope you extend this one.
PS(16 Sept) - Man! I really dig what you've done here, and reading others' comments I can see the Phillip Glass connection. Since you're one that actually wants suggestions (refreshing that) might I suggest you give this one a Title? Faved without hesitation.
Having recently been experimenting with bring "field recording" ambient sounds into my own work, I'm really excited to hear someone else doing it as well. The piano in conjunction with the storm is really compelling. Nice work with this (though I concur about the mic situation). Hope it goes well for you with Erin (one of my daughter's has this for her middle name). Cheers.
I used five different rainstorm and thunderstorm field recordings and panned them around the head to give a nice stereo sort of feel to it. They add a nice background that can really flesh out an otherwise empty piece. I hope you make something interesting if you try messing around with them. I'll check out your track list every now and then.
The clarinet (?) melody is nice and the piece has a trppypoppy (again, ??) feeling. It's short but I liked it but.... the strings are distant and and should be an octave lover IMHO, why not try to replace them with a cello solo melody? There's good public domain soundfonts for strings (Cadenza is good for violin for example).
I lowered the strings at the beginning (they're pretty terrible sytrus voices still though) and it definitely helps. I couldn't find the Cadenza soundfont anywhere, although I did find a DSK strings rompler I used later in the song.
Thanks for your input. I've added to the song considerably since you reviewed it, so if you have a few minutes, I'd appreciate another listen.
i thought i should review as i love tracks that have been created and composed by the user rather than just loops the drum sound has a really nice metal tone that is really laid back and relaxed. I also love this tune as it is one of my fav genres which most of my tracks are this genre.
To bad the recording wasnt better! The peice sounds great but the recording! Great playing ont he piano! Im a sucker for piano work like this! Rain is always cool as well very calming! would love to hear a better version!
Thanks man. I sat down and this came tumbling out of my fingers. If my piano was tuned better, I might bother getting a mic, but since I leave town for 9 months in a week, I don't think it's worth the investment right now.
Thank you. I've been trying out a new minimalist approach to rythm, which seems to work better than my usual "puke notes onto the pattern until I get into it" method. I appreciate the review.
Hey man, didn't expect this track to develop the way it did, I really like the bridge(?) that comes in around 2:00 - 2:05 or so,I wasn't expecting that, cool vocoder/synth pad blend...i also noticed a little bit of a reggae feel with the keyboard grooves too...nice!
thanks for sharing your track!
Reggae, eh? I can definitely hear it now, but I most definitely did not write it with that in mind.
I just sort of... write tracks. Development usually happens when I find an interesting voice and try to make it fit. The bridges are usually spawned from my playing around on the piano and then deciding to include it on a whim. I'm glad this one worked out.
on Acapella RPG by JHolmes
on God of the Gaps v2-0 by JHolmes
What to say? You've got everything right here: the arrangement is truly fantastic! It's one of those pieces that's hard for me to imagine that it wasn't recorded live with a handful of musicians involved. Yeah, this is HAPPENING!
Faved without hesitation.
on unsure hands by JHolmes
on unsure hands by JHolmes
Faved
French Kid
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
on unsure hands by JHolmes
Deep, impacting song, loving it and hating it at the same time. Well done.
I made sure the song is actually playable, although it does require some good pedal control; there are a few places where you have to use the spot sustain if you want it to ring the notes exactly the way it's "played." Sadly, I'm not sure if I'm skilled enough to play it.
on unsure hands by JHolmes
on Song for Erin by JHolmes
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
on Song for Erin by JHolmes
gr8 piano
gr8 effects
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
thank you for sharing your work!
victormusic01x.....pondering all this technical talk but appreciating the outcome nonetheless
I feel like I've actually spent less time on this than I usually do, at least in terms of composition. I recorded most of the instruments on my first take, with minor adjustments to timing and occasional reworking of the parts by hand, leaving the note velocities as they were but changing timing/volume/volume ratios.
I appreciate the review. If you get any ideas on a fresh listen, please don't hesitate to share them.
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
The download option is now available.
Thanks for the review.
on Quiescent by JHolmes
I'm not familiar with Suzanne Ciani, nor have I ever been to Disney World (despite having been to Universal Orlando six or seven times and Sea World Orlando three or four). I'll try to find some Larry Carlton, Suzanne Ciani, and David Lanz and see what I think.
Anyway... thanks for the kind words.
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
The song is now finished-ish.
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
Now I really want to learn to play one. There's something about playing "an elephant's trunk with a chrome doodad" that just seems like something I'd do.
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
PS(16 Sept) - Man! I really dig what you've done here, and reading others' comments I can see the Phillip Glass connection. Since you're one that actually wants suggestions (refreshing that) might I suggest you give this one a Title? Faved without hesitation.
I found/downloaded every DSK VSTi I could find. Stringz is nice; I added in a channel that comes in with the tenor sax and synth oboe.
on Song for Erin by JHolmes
on I Love My Mom by JHolmes
See you,
k
I lowered the strings at the beginning (they're pretty terrible sytrus voices still though) and it definitely helps. I couldn't find the Cadenza soundfont anywhere, although I did find a DSK strings rompler I used later in the song.
Thanks for your input. I've added to the song considerably since you reviewed it, so if you have a few minutes, I'd appreciate another listen.
on September Synth by JHolmes
on God of the Gaps v2-0 by JHolmes
on Hapi by JHolmes
lk productions 09
on Song for Erin by JHolmes
I appreciate the review.
on Hanging Out v1-1 by JHolmes
on Hanging Out v1-1 by JHolmes
on Sore by JHolmes
thanks for sharing your track!
victormusic01x...in the nyC..jammin'!
I just sort of... write tracks. Development usually happens when I find an interesting voice and try to make it fit. The bridges are usually spawned from my playing around on the piano and then deciding to include it on a whim. I'm glad this one worked out.
Thanks for the review.