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Keywords:
caroline (57), bear (16), rag (11), ragtime (20), bouncy (19), harmony assistant (15), calliope (2), pink & fluffy (2)
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Description:
This little ragtime number began life as just a 20-second snippet, written as background music for a home movie last year. But recently I filled it out into a full piece, renamed from its original "Lickety Split Rag" to "Caroline's Bear Rag", and for this version, I slowed it down slightly and re-orchestrated it for calliope, to give it a merry-go-round feel. The photo/artwork is a picture I took last year of a young bouncy orangutan at the San Diego zoo.
For the hard core ragtime buffs, I know this is not quite syncopated enough to be true ragtime, but hopefully its fun and bouncy and makes you smile anyway. Please leave me a comment and critique this, let me know what you think about the music, style, mood, technique.
The prior version of this song can be found here (http://www.macjams.com/song/17641) for comparison.
Hardware:
Dual 1 Ghz QuickSilver Mac, syncopated shot of triplesec liquor.
Software:
Harmony Assistant, GarageBand 2
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Like this alot &mdash 03/28/06 - 08:09:16 AM
Love the carousal sound like in a theme park. Very interesting and that of
course is a playful sound. Plus the terrific picture you have with it. I really
like this sound. Brings me back when I kid riding around in the horses.
This is truly one of my favoriates. It really has a very strong cultural fun
feeling. Don't know how to put that in words, but I love sounds like this. [ Reply to This ]
Like this alot &mdash 03/28/06 - 09:28:56 AM
Glad you enjoyed the childhood memories revived, and that you liked the playful
picture. One of the great things that we have as adults (and here's where I
completely disagree with "Peter Pan"), is our ability to be both adult and child...
we can visit any time we want, because the child is always a part of us.
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19109">Ember Imbued with Amboo</a> [ Reply to This ]
Clever Dragon &mdash 03/28/06 - 08:42:43 AM
This is happy music, but this time, there's a hint of melancholy or
nostalgia to it, which is a very nice contrast to the joy that's usually
bursting out of a calliope.
The only suggestion I have is that you might want to look for a slightly
more realistic sounding calliope instrument sound. This sounds
synthesized to me, not that it takes away from the song at all, but if
you wanted it to sound more like a real calliope, I think it's worth
continuing the search for that sound.
I love the way you revist and get the most from you compositions. It's
lots of fun to see what you do to pieces just by changing the details.
It's a good lesson on the impact of choices in music.
When can we expect the pan pipes version? :-) [ Reply to This ]
Curses! &mdash 03/28/06 - 09:50:41 AM
There are still minor chords through this piece, which gives it a slightly
longing quality, especially when slowed down a little. As for the synthetic
calliope, you are right... unfortunately there are no sampled calliopes in any
of the jampacks, so I had to "synthesize" my own out of multiple instruments.
I also added some (large room) reverb to give it a bigger outdoors feel. I
think with a couple more days of tinkering, I could probably make it sound
much closer to the calliope on the Delta Queen steamboat I rode on long ago.
Ugh, you are soooo mean! You know how a dragon cannot back away from a
challenge... pan pipes, aye? (must... avoid temptation... to keep... playing
with this...) Maybe I should just send the sheet music to "bwhite" here and
have him play it? Or print the guitar tablature for the Tiler? Hmm....
ttfn,
Drakonis, plotting and scheming...
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19109">Ember Imbued with Amboo</a> [ Reply to This ]
merry &mdash 03/28/06 - 11:53:01 AM
such whimsical fun! i love it.
go round! and round! with the bear!
what a lovely thing to wake up to. :) [ Reply to This ]
merry &mdash 03/28/06 - 01:27:46 PM
Ah, have a free ticket any time to Pandemonium Drak's whimsi-go-round. :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19109">Ember Imbued with Amboo</a> [ Reply to This ]
Love this &mdash 03/28/06 - 01:13:36 PM
Drakonis, you know that CBR is one of my all-time favoorite MJ tunes.
when I saw that you changed it, I was nervous. But true to form, you
excelled again and it is lovely. Very Between and dreamy with the
slower tempo. Downloaded and favoritized. :-) [ Reply to This ]
Love this &mdash 03/28/06 - 01:34:57 PM
Ah, I am very glad to know that this was not gimmicky or muddy, but still held
its charm for you, and captured that dreamy quality I was looking for in this
rendition. I wonder... for this ride... should I have Caro sell tickets?
ttfn,
Drakonis (GR&D)
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/18903">Ember Poem-Caroline</a> [ Reply to This ]
sweet sound.... &mdash 03/28/06 - 01:27:59 PM
honestly drak - i never thought that you could get those kinda sounds with a melon - sheesh - what on earth would you be able to achieve with the entire fruit basket!!
thank you for continuing to honour the bear with this pink and fluffy tune - i shall be listening to it as much as possible after the convention and ....
i loved the twiddly bit at the end - thank you! is the cd of bear rags coming out before or after the embers collection??
xoxoxoxxo [ Reply to This ]
nice melons! &mdash 03/28/06 - 01:49:56 PM
Ah, you're a dear Lassie, a melon collie! From dictionary.com: "Calliope: A small
sweet purple melon from melonesia, which when dried and a hollowed out with
a small hole at the top, can be played like a pan-pipe. Not to be confused with
the earthy Caroliope, or the recalcitrant cantalliope, or the greek Muse, Calliope,
or the 17th century vegetarian vampire, Calliopula."
I'm very relieved and happy that you and THE Bear did not have an aversion to
this version. I went round and round as to whether I should post it.
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/18903">Ember Poem-Caroline</a> [ Reply to This ]
Yup &mdash 03/28/06 - 06:35:41 PM
definitely a calliope! Wait... a calliope is a fruit? What does that have to do with wooden horses and golden rings? Well, it sounds to me more like the carousel-type thing, and I agree with thetiler's words. This evokes more nostalgia than anything else, and I like that aspect of it. [ Reply to This ]
Yup &mdash 03/29/06 - 08:54:04 AM
Maybe a calliope isn't really a fruit, but I'm glad this was nostalgic dessert for
your ears. I never wanted to ride the merry-go-round unless I could get on one
of the few horses that went up and down, otherwise it didn't seem worthwhile.
Thank you for checking this variation out, and I'm happy you liked it. Now you
can get back to practicing that new technique of juggling cantaloupes.
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/18903">Ember Poem-Caroline</a> [ Reply to This ]
Yup &mdash 03/29/06 - 02:10:57 PM
I agree about the horses... what's the point of riding one of the ones with a constant altitude? None. There is no point. As for juggling cantaloupes, I can juggle four no problem, but not on a variably heighted horse, so I'm back to practicing that. By the way, that's a great orangutan photo! Of course, apes are cute when they're young. Once they're old enough to lift your car, look out!
---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/18805">Ultimatum</a> [ Reply to This ]
i had to close my eyes &mdash 03/29/06 - 11:13:50 AM
because I couldn't "bear" to look at a monkey during such a lovely,
pensive song. The image I had was much more complex: I'm riding
peacefully on the carousel with a blinding flash of sunlight each time I
come around to face west. And as the sounds blend together in a
dream, the horses start to slow down... way down... and I'm lifted off!
I'm floating on my carousel horse but the grown below starts to morph
into film footage of my past and all the little trivial moments of bliss.
I'm smiling, floating, feel as peaceful as can be. But there's a bit of
sadness there too because as I'm looking back, I'm remembering how
serious life becomes and how unappealing a simple carousel can be
when we lose touch with our inner children. Sappy? Absolutely. The
moral: Never, never turn down a ride on the carousel. Well done, Drak.
You stuck to the K.I.S.S rule: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Well done. [ Reply to This ]
i had to close my eyes &mdash 03/29/06 - 01:15:59 PM
I'm a total sucker for sappy... and so, when you expand this into a short story,
I'll buy the book. Or we can get PerceptualVortex to render your story into a 3D
movie, and I can supply the background music :-)
Seriously, do you write? What a wonderful seed to a story you have there.
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/18903">Ember Poem-Caroline</a> [ Reply to This ]
Caroline's bear rug? &mdash 03/29/06 - 05:33:32 PM
Nice sound - not sure how Caro would enjoy the bear rug
reference though .......... oh, it's bear RAG, I get it : )
Takes me back to when we took our then 13 year old daughter to
the Fasching celebrations in Marienplatz in Munich (except I'm
much much warmer now).
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Caroline's bear rug? &mdash 03/29/06 - 10:35:08 PM
Hey there, glad you picked up on my long-stretch wordplay on bear-rug, you're
the first to mention "getting it". And I was at Marienplatz too several years ago,
just took some pix and dashed on our way back from Vienna. The English
garden was pretty. This seems to trigger lots of memories for people, that is
wonderful!
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19437">Caroline's Bear Rag-Calliope</a> [ Reply to This ]
Bloody &mdash 03/29/06 - 07:27:52 PM
I wonder why it is that I'm hearing something that is dark and twisted,
as beautiful as it is... - I have visions of a dead corpse w/ head hanging
off the side as it drags the ground while going rond and round... - Uh
Ohh! Didn't take the meds today - Wait..., I'm not on any medications -
Oh yeah, that's the problem - It was still a delightful listen though - I
have no idea how you did this - I wonder what mister pain would think
about it - No I don't - I enjoyed it and that's all we need to know -
Drak, I have a really funny story that I will send to you soon - You'll
appreciate it - I think = But I'm running now, I'll send it late tonight or
tomorrow - Thanks for this sir! Dion [ Reply to This ]
Pandemonium &mdash 03/29/06 - 10:43:33 PM
Are you one of the Autumn people too? Love/own that movie. Didn't have it in
mind when I wrote this, nor when I re-instrumented it for calliope, but this piece
has always had a minor key tinge to it, so that may be where the longing comes
from. Ooh, a story, from you, I can't wait! Now you got me all bouncy! I'll send
you one in return, which you may or may not be interested in :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19437">Caroline's Bear Rag-Calliope</a> [ Reply to This ]
Calliope sound really isn't bad &mdash 03/30/06 - 08:28:33 PM
Although, yes it's obviously synthesized. (Although where you'd go at this
point in history to play a real authentic calliope is beyond me!) I liked you
song in its original version, too. This is different, and the calliope gives it
a nostalgic sound. The slower tempo fits. Now, you could also add those
percussion effects, like at circus world museum, to give it a bit more -
bounce! [ Reply to This ]
Calliope sound really isn't bad &mdash 03/30/06 - 10:00:45 PM
Thank you for comparing/commenting on this different take. I actually got to
play some notes on a calliope when I was 15, on the Delta Queen paddleboat
on
the Mississippi river... so they're still around (that was a fun time, and a whole
different story!) As far as bringing the drums back in, interesting idea, I still
have a version of this with drums and a clarinet counter-melody... it would
begin to sound like a Nickelodean (no, not the TV channel, the old giant
mechanical "band-in-a-box" contraptions at the turn of the century.)
Hmmm... I knew a guy who was restoring those machines, and was adding
MIDI connectors to them so he could extract/copy/playback the piano rolls as
MIDI files on computers. Ah, piano rolls, the ORIGINAL MIDI files :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19437">Caroline's Bear Rag-Calliope</a> [ Reply to This ]
calliopic &mdash 03/31/06 - 08:06:42 AM
Well - who knows the definitive sound of the calliope - since few working ones have survived? Invented in the mid-19th Century, the steam-powered pipe system lasted for about a hundred years, and then disappeared with the decline of steam power itself. The only working models left are on those few paddlewheelers (as you have already pointed out). What I mean is, in its heyday, I'm guessing the sound of calliopes widely varied for a number of factors involving design and material. So what we have here is the Drakonis Model No. 1 which, to my unschooled ears, sounds delightfully calliopic. If it has a touch of the synthetic to it - well, that's what a calliope has evolved into in the 21st Century.
Maybe the wistfulness running through this song is a touch of calliope deja vu - which we know is the next best thing to going back in time and actually being there.
It took a while for my ears to accept the syncopation. When I first heard it, I thought there was unevenness in your performance. But as so often is the case when you first encounter the unexpected, it is your own expectations that have to be adjusted. After about the fifth or sixth playing, I noticed not only did I attune to the syncopation, but I also started anticipating those starts and stops along the way, which made the whole listening experience that much more ... holistic.
[ Reply to This ]
calliopic &mdash 03/31/06 - 01:32:38 PM
Thank you for the critical ear, the enjoyably steamy deja history, and getting into
the syncopation... I guess if there's a rest where a note should be, it could be
considered hole-istic?
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19437">Caroline's Bear Rag-Calliope</a> [ Reply to This ]
A little dreamy and melancholy &mdash 04/02/06 - 07:21:27 PM
But definitely fun to listen to. It's funny, but the elements that give this
tune a whistful feel seem to be emphasized by the calliope voicing as
opposed to the just strainght piano feel.
I've really liked hearing the different versions of this one as well. I hope
you keep playing with it, changing the sound, the style, to see what you
come up with (like Ember, maybe). When I listen to this tune, I can hear so
many different tunes just below the surface - all unique, but from the
same source. And that, sir, is amazingly cool. [ Reply to This ]
A little dreamy and melancholy &mdash 04/03/06 - 07:00:49 AM
When I wrote this, there were several melodies whispering in my head, and I
captured a few here, but I do find it interesting that you mention hearing more
under the surface, that is very perceptive of you. I'm so glad to have portrayed
emotion here for you, and even happier you stopped by to respond, thank you!
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19437">Caroline's Bear Rag-Calliope</a> [ Reply to This ]
How can this not &mdash 04/04/06 - 12:34:29 AM
How can this not &mdash 04/04/06 - 06:43:42 AM
Yay Kevin! Putting smiles on faces, on country at a time, that's what I want to
do!
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19437">Caroline's Bear Rag-Calliope</a> [ Reply to This ]
How this has morphed &mdash 04/07/06 - 04:56:46 PM
It's been an enjoyable ride as this piece has grown and changed with each new approach, and I have to say that this one is my favorite. The mood is both playful and dark; it certainly does bring these carousel images of smoky mirrors and the flashing golden manes of twenty wooden horses - some of the syncopated stuff towards the end, the minor off-beats - I saw shots of each horse - each with a name, and each with a different story of how it came to be there. This is a carousel with lot to say and sing - the calliope in the middle of the whole dealio is churning this tune out and everyone gets sucked away into a parallel dimension. I liked this one - totally took me away! [ Reply to This ]
How this has morphed &mdash 04/07/06 - 09:44:27 PM
Very cool, Bing! To transport you like this, off into your own "cartoon" is exactly
what I want my music to be able to do! Sometimes I hear a piece of music on
here, and I cannot write down anything until after listening several times,
because each time I start to listen, I get transported into a surreal dream-
world... that is perfection for me, to take the listener somewhere else! Reading
your imagery gives me goosebumps... I may have to work on this some more
now and enhance the calliope to be more realistic, start with a carnival crowd
sound, fade into this song, hmm... So, thank you again for listening and letting
me know your thoughts!
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19437">Caroline's Bear Rag-Calliope</a> [ Reply to This ]
What a find! &mdash 04/21/06 - 04:45:12 PM
What a sweet and unexpected find this was. Almost like discovering the
Central Park carousel for the first time! It sounded just like that. I went
so often I had whole songs memorized note for note. And some of the
horses went up and down and some were fixed in one place, but they
were all exquisitely painted and maintained. I rode every one many
many times. Into my twenties.
It's amazing that you could get a calliope sound out of mixing several
instruments. I'm having a hard time getting real instruments to sound
real.
Thank you so much for being so talented with the keyboard.
[ Reply to This ]
What a find! &mdash 04/22/06 - 03:11:37 PM
Hi there BethRobin, and a pleasant surprise to have you come visit my carousel...
here's a free token for another ride! I must remind you and others though, that
this was me adding and tweaking notes on the computer, one-by-one, not
actually playing this on a keyboard... I cannot play piano :-) But it *was* me
bending synthesizers in Garageband to my will, contorting them into a calliope...
that was fun tinkering. And I'm glad this transported you back to a fun
childhood memory or two... perfect!
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song: <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/18959">Legend of Drakonis</a> [ Reply to This ]
Silent Movie &mdash 08/16/06 - 08:24:12 PM
who let the monkey out of the cage? &mdash 10/19/06 - 12:55:48 AM
this one is funny! I really liked it! Awh! if life were only so worry free!
that's why I really love music. welcome t the circus! [ Reply to This ]
Happy Mirth-day! &mdash 10/20/06 - 02:08:48 PM
It would be nice if life had more ups than downs, but I agree with you that music
allows us to paint in our own "ups" as we go on the ride. Thank you for
stopping by and getting a smile!
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
Deja vu - It's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song:<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/23351">Sometimes - Magic Flute mix</a> [ Reply to This ]
Ragtime &mdash 11/13/06 - 09:20:52 PM
One of the folks who wrote you a note (below) mentioned a melancholic feeling in this piece. I felt that, too. It's kind of like watching a carousel--one of those glassed-in ones--from the outside on a rainy, drissley day. I thought of that film "Punch Drunk Love" that was out a couple years ago. All of the music was just slightly out-of-tune, like a calliope usually is. A very arresting sound, but charming nevertheless. ... I enjoy listening to this one -- nice to get lots of sides to a composer's take on things. ... As I said on Border Merger, I sort of wish this would "go" somewhere else for a while and then reprise the top. You've certainly got the skill to do that, but maybe you just need the encouragement to break out and go for it. .. So, that's just a thought. As it is, it's a good number that tends to put ME in a sad mood because of its inherent fuzzy sound and rhythmic presentation... I don't think its ragtime. THAT form is very specific. Hey, but you can call it whatever you like! ... Thanks for not messing up the sound with any other orchestration. If nothing else (and there's plenty ELSE that's good here), you've created an honest calliope piece worthy of any sad, lonely day. (Have you ever seen "The Lost Weekend" with Ray Milland? This would capture the mood of that movie perfectly. Ah, the wonder of a programme to drive the music.)
Paul [ Reply to This ]
cool &mdash 06/22/07 - 09:40:06 PM
Hey man while i listen i got to ask...
how do you do the highlights and little fires on your dates when they get comments. I like the little fire. Hot!
I saw a thread in the forum once but i cant remember the forum key word.
Help me out here, you seam to be pretty good at fixing up you're page.
This tune is a great back drop for a video. I could imagine some family activity going on and the music kind of animating it. Maybe an old B&W without sound. Very nicely done. Reminds me of a sound i used in my tune here called "To me Pop" written around the same time as "Hot Spot"
I was looking for a carnival type sound.
[ Reply to This ]
carnival indeed &mdash 06/22/07 - 10:44:38 PM
Yup, this was written as accompinament for a video of my parents' 50th wedding anniversary party... and I extended it as a piano piece, then I created a different version here for "calliope"... definitely gives a carnival feel. Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for stopping in and commenting! I'll send you a note about Deputy Doofy's magic script (I copied it and modified it a lot for my page, but he gets the credit.)
ttfn,
Drakonis
---
Deja vu - It's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song:<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/24994">DidgeEmber</a> [ Reply to This ]
yea &mdash 06/22/07 - 11:32:20 PM
Deputy Doofy's magic script
thats what i read
thanks
send it please.
what is IT?
---
"Sooner or latter it all gets real...Walk On" [ Reply to This ]
Round and Round and Round &mdash 12/24/07 - 01:40:34 PM
Eduard, I liked your calliope music very much. Perfect accompaniment for the 50th wedding anniversary celebration video, I bet your parents loved it. This reminded me of Merry Go Round music. Markkoch and I recently wrote a little piece of similar "happy" music, and your tune reminded me i ought to get it posted on MJ (I'll try to get that done in next few days).
Thanks for sharing this lovely tune!
Cheers,
-- Alan
[ Reply to This ]
from me to you to me to you... &mdash 12/24/07 - 03:46:59 PM
Hi Alan, thank you for checking out some of my music in return! My parents (and other family members who got a copy of the video) did indeed enjoy the memories and music captured there.
As for the merry-go-round reference, yes this gives a strong feeling of that... I've even been tempted to do a little music video someday with this, and a surreal merry-go-round, but that has to wait until my other music video project is done :-)
I shall visit more of your music (and look forward to your mentioned upcoming music) after we get back from our end-of-the-year getaway trip up the CA coast. Have a great Holiday, and I'm glad I've inspired/coaxed you into posting more music!
ttfn,
Eduard [ Reply to This ]
Bear Rag &mdash 05/25/08 - 11:45:14 AM
Coasters! &mdash 05/25/08 - 05:00:02 PM
Not being from Ohio, I had to find out what a "Cedar Point" is... the "Roller Coaster Capitol of the world?" Uh, I'm booking my tickets now... you don't mind a house-guest for a few days? :-) This "Calliope" version of the rag does have an amusement-park feel, it's true. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for swooping through.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Calliope &mdash 06/09/08 - 03:34:20 PM
loved this rendition with the carousal kinda like
organ ...very genuine tune thats why you can just
shape it anyway you like ...thnx alot for sharin it !! [ Reply to This ]
versatile ragtime &mdash 06/09/08 - 03:56:41 PM
It was fun to connect up the pipes in GB to invent this sound... but you are right about too-much-reverb, I needed to tone that down a bit. Thank you for stopping in to listen and enjoy!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
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course is a playful sound. Plus the terrific picture you have with it. I really
like this sound. Brings me back when I kid riding around in the horses.
This is truly one of my favoriates. It really has a very strong cultural fun
feeling. Don't know how to put that in words, but I love sounds like this.
[ Reply to This ]