You just seem so 'at home' and comfortable with any instrument that's put into your hands (albeit via the keystation).
Orchestral and now World instruments...
It's a joy to hear these pieces and see what you come up with next.
I liked the use of the theme from American Plain. Just different enough to set it apart, yet happily familiar.

(Steal or borrow from your own music.... ? Go ahead; Bach and other classical composers did it, too!)

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Thanks, Cat. This was written first without a melody at all, as more of a
rhythmic, minimalist piece. But it seemed to want something, so I went
melody shopping and the theme from Kansas was on sale. The melody used
here is really a variation on that theme. Thanks again, pardner.


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This is very soothing and melodic. I really enjoyed the combination of
instrumentation you used. What "voices" did you use to achive the choral
effect? Also, would you be willing to share your settings (aatack, release, etc.)
to achieve a better sounding string section? Mine seem too synth-like and
"tinny". I really enjoy listening to your compositions and learning from them.

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I would share my settings, Rick, if I could. But as far as attack and release,
that is mainly done on the keyboard. The Casio is a touch sensitive keyboard
and the instruments do respond to the way the keyboard is played. What I
think is important is to find instruments, or combinations of instruments, in
Jampack that sound real. Some are much better than others, especially among
the strings. (I like legato cello, staccato cello, and staccato violin 1.) Using
dynamics is also helpful, which I guess is part of the "attack" and "release"
you mentioned. But those are not really settings. Reverb often takes some of
the "synthiness" away. On the master track I use Classical Hall, sometimes
Majestic, or Modern. Again it depends on which instruments are being used.
Bottom line, I guess, is that for me it is pretty much hit or miss. Sorry I can't
be more precise. Thanks for listening and for your kind words.

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I take back everything I've ever said about lyrics. I have a new favorite
MJ instrumental, that I think will be hard to ever knock from its perch.

Wow, Tom. WOW!

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Thanks, Lisa. You are forgiven, for all your various and sundry, too-
numerous-to-mention-here transgressions. Go and sin no more.

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Slightly non-western sounding. I very much like the quiet Sunday pace of
this (on a Monday morning).
Yes, you may steal from yourself, as long as you get permission from your
publisher. ;)

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Thanks, BIll. Just listened to InGlorious Noise. Glad to see a Mungo piece
again.

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You're welcome, Tom. I'm glad to back submitting a Mungo tune. It's funny though - after releasing a bunch of 45 second pieces over the holidays, InGlorius Noise (at only 2:40) sounds long to me.

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Ars longa, vita brevis.

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my favorite part is about 3/4 the way thru where it's leading up to the
break. i was hoping to hear more cacophonous/flashback/outside the key
stuff going on, kinda like when an orchestra in tuning/warming up, but it
was cool. that horn player at the end either has HUGE lungs or circular
breathing is second nature to him cuz i didn't hear him pause to take a
single breathe!

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Thanks, Ray. Some are using the circular breathing technique; others, who
are unable, are staggering their breathing. Amazing, isn't it?

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Tom, your grasp of differing instruments is extraordinary. Marvelous
talent.

By all means, use your own over and over again. As Cat said, classical
composers have been doing it for hundreds of years, as has many
other composers. Authors of fiction do it also. So do computer
programmers--it's called 'code re-use'.

God bless,

Rick


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Thanks, Rick, for stopping by and listening. Glad you enjoyed this.

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Another beautiful and heart-warming piece, Tom. Another journey. Nice
to hear the new world instruments in there. I just got mine and look
forward to using them. The only nit I'll make is that there are some times
in the piece where things get a little too jumbled rhythmically.

While you may have cannibalized some of your own music to use in this it
still is a very unique piece. It has your signature sound to it but it's no
rehash.

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Thanks, Peter. I went back and forth over removing or lowering the kalimbas,
which do seem to compete for attention at times, almost acting out like
unruly children. Bad kalimbas! There are so many layers toward the middle
that the wall of sound may feel a bit jumbled. Maybe I went overboard?

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Its very nice pieace. Makes me happy:o) I lisetened to this song and
thought that I have to buy that newest JamPack.

And ofcourse I dowloaded this song and faved;)

thanks for sharing.

- Hawks

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Thanks Jem. I recommend the new Jampack (if you can talk your parents into
buying it for you!)

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Very pleasant listening. Great. Thank you Tom!

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What can I say that hasn't been said already? Gorgeous...Downloaded!

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Thanks Curry and Roxylee, for listening and for your comments.

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that you're taking us on, Tom - the kalimba really adds a nice, intimate feel to your rich and full arrangements. Nice dynamics and spread - this conjures up images of a teacher in a classroom, expressively going into a passionate lesson involving Sequoias (this brought up very specific imagery) - sweet!

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I'm listening to this with my daughter, who says that she really likes this. Were the strings done with Jam Pack loops or a software synthesizer?

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sounds good... but my favorite here is the backing strings. This will make a great soundtrack when it finds that soulmate film.

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Tom, I think the quote from Igor Stravinsky would be appropriate -
"Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal."

Monty

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