Dark Seas

maxruehl

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Description

Having previously only worked with loops, I set out to create a wholly original piece (sans existing loops) which would evoke the feeling of a motion picture main title theme. This is the result.

Here's a video featuring some of my art/photography that I used this track on if you're interested.

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Song Stats

Hits: 1108
Comments: 18
Fans: 4
Plays: 216
Downloads: 60
Votes: 5
Uploaded: Apr 15, 2006 - 10:40:57 PM
Last Updated: Sep 01, 2009 - 05:46:23 PM Last Played: Oct 04, 2009 - 02:52:57 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

Soundtrack (195), Score (24), Orchestral (100)

Hardware:

G4 Dual 1.25 GHz

Software:

Logic Express

Comments

	said 1319 days ago (April 16th, 2006)
	Awesome! Congrats on your fine graduation from working only with loops. This is an inspiring piece. I love the melody and the foreboding ambience throughout. Very soundtrack, this. Well done! Peace!

maxruehl

maxruehl said 1319 days ago (April 16th, 2006)

Awesome!
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm encouraged that you found the
piece inspiring--the notion that you found it so is inspiring to me.:) I
must admit I felt some trepidation in posting this (and another) piece here.
There are so many fine musicians at MJ, so I, a relative non-musician, was a
bit unsure about it. Thanks again for helping ease my mind.:).

Check out my latest song called Shaolin Munk Funk (w/ musichead & awigze)

maxruehl	maxruehl said 1319 days ago (April 16th, 2006)
	Awesome! Oh, and by the way--I see you use a Yamaha PSR-170. I composed this piece on an old Yamaha PSR-510.:) Check out my latest song called Shaolin Munk Funk (w/ musichead & awigze)

MissChaos

MissChaos said 1309 days ago (April 26th, 2006)

oooh
wow, you really have a feel for those horns! You've just inspired me to go
mess around with them myself! there's a real nice balance in this, though
I think the melody gets a tad repetitious as it's played throughout. It has a
bit of a celtic feel; maybe I'm crazy. The intro is sweet and builds to a
powerful cinematic resolution. did I mention how great those horns are?!
More of this!

Check out my latest song called Mama Cries - Album Version (MJRF)

maxruehl

maxruehl said 1304 days ago (May 1st, 2006)

Thanks!
Thanks so much for the nice comments, MissChaos. They mean a lot coming
from someone so well regarded here at MJ. I was beginning to think I'd gotten
the only comment I'd ever get, so yours was a pleasant surprise.:) It's so easy
for a track to get lost in the unrelenting tide of new music here.

I'm glad the horns worked for you. Something about them felt really cinematic
to me--or maybe I was just feeling a little "horny" that day.:) As far as the
repetitious melody thing, you may be right, but then you should have heard it
before I added that little chord progression bridge.;)

Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment. I'm glad it moved you in
some way.

Check out my latest song called Shaolin Munk Funk (w/ musichead & awigze)

drakonis

drakonis said 1304 days ago (May 1st, 2006)

nice square-rigger
Overall, I like this, it does have a grand, open rolling sound, and a nice
melody that caught my ear (actually sounds sort of Russian, reminds
me of something by Prokofiev I think, didn't Sting re-use that melody
in a cool Mother-Russia song long ago?) this melody reminds me a bit
of that, but now of course, I can't remember where it came from.
Anyway, I liked the orchestration, handing the melody to different
instruments to keep it from getting tooooo repetitive. A second
counter-melody would help give more interest here, and allow you to
make it longer (which it feels like it should be :-) Also, this is in 4/4
(get it, square-rigger?), and composers have found one of the secrets
of making music roll like the sea is to write in 3/4 or 6/8.
ttfn,
Drakonis

Check out my latest song called Lullaby for the Inner Child

futzpucker

futzpucker said 1279 days ago (May 26th, 2006)

You'll never need loops again
I really enjoy the drama of this very well-done piece. I like the way you
orchestrated it. Nice idea start with a piano and flute stating the theme
over a drone, and building from there.

I'd call this composition a success. I believe if you added a contrasting
section, even a short one, you would add even more drama, and would
bring the piece to a level even higher than the one you achieved.

Overall, I think this is something to be proud of, and to build on.

Check out my latest song called Just As It Is

Andronis	Andronis said 1228 days ago (July 16th, 2006)
	Nice It takes a lot of courage to show up in the Cinematic Soundtrack category without using loops here on MacJams. But you've really pulled off a nice piece entirely on your own. :) Check out my latest song called Dance at Merry's Tavern

basil81	basil81 said 1224 days ago (July 20th, 2006)
	Whenever I hear brass.... ...I go nuts! This was a great piece. The melody was indeed dark and ominous, and would go well to a scene of a pirate ship in treacherous waters. Awsome! B. Check out my latest song called Score This Draft 1

composerclark

composerclark said 1202 days ago (August 11th, 2006)

Good orchestration
You're a natural. Very good use of colour, creates a majestic, powerful
feel.

I personally think you overuse your main theme, attractive and
catchy as it is. I hear this theme growing and evolving in all kinds of
wonderful ways. One of the composition guidelines I teach students is
the old 'less is more' axiom; don't allow a musical idea to wear out it's
welcome by overuse.

On the other hand, too much less is no good either; this is a
fine and (as already said) catchy tune, and I'd have been disappointed if
you'd given us only 2-3 playings of it!

Anyway, I'm rambling, but really good work, and I would encourage
you to do more of this stuff!

Check out my latest song called Scarlet Nightfall

tsand19151	tsand19151 said 1200 days ago (August 13th, 2006)
	awesome...... epic for sure. movie soundtrack absolutely. high class artwork here........ Check out my latest song called Kool Hot Flashes

ktb	ktb said 1093 days ago (November 28th, 2006)
	creative i'm envious. the build and choice of instrumentation here, is first rate. stellar mix and great progression. Check out my latest song called Texas stump

perceptualvortex

perceptualvortex said 1091 days ago (November 29th, 2006)

You know
Dark Seas is a remarkably appropriate title--it really sounds like that. I mostly use loops myself, and I'm also learning to play software instruments despite my lack of training... so I think I can relate to the challenge you put to yourself. I think this could use some contrasting parts, big changes... but what is here really sounds good.

Check out my latest song called Machine Man (w Beastie Boys)

said 1082 days ago (December 9th, 2006)

Yep, I like it too
I'm a Logic Express user too with a weakness for horns (although you wouldn't know it from the songs I've posted), and I know how tedious it can be to get them to sound "good".... Well, these sound GREAT!! You must've tweaked them a lot. I agree with the other comments about over-repetition of the theme, but that can be taken care of with editing; a really good feel for the arrangements can't be faked. Great great job.

onesweetworld	onesweetworld said 1016 days ago (February 13th, 2007)
	nice one strong, intense, full of emotion! has a familiar melody--can't remember where. Really nice choice of instruments. bravo Check out my latest song called Hopes and Dreams

MarkHolbrook	MarkHolbrook said 116 days ago (August 1st, 2009)
	Nice I like the rich sound... This is pretty amazing... Check out my latest song called Never Say Goodbye - Bond Challenge

maxruehl	maxruehl said 116 days ago (August 1st, 2009)
	Thank You Yeah, this was my first "real" track. No existing loops, etc. I amazed me the sounds that can be coaxed out of a little ole Mac in my bedroom.:) Check out my latest song called Shaolin Munk Funk (w/ musichead & awigze)

Char	Char said 84 days ago (September 2nd, 2009)
	It appears that I mistakenly was remiss. I forgot to click on the post comment button. My original comment was, well dramatic and heartfelt. Alas, no inspiration brings back that lost greatness. I love it. Happy, now? Check out my latest song called Break Away (Mark Holbrook & Awigze)

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