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Drop by SmokeyVW [Email]
Genre: Classical

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 1038
Comments: 11
Votes:
Plays: 108
Last Played: Nov 19, 2008 - 10:38:34 AM
Downloads: 30
Fans: 3
Uploaded: Jul 25, 2006 - 07:31:03 PM
Last Updated: Sep 19, 2008 - 12:08:12 PM
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Description:
album: Plankton
track 1: 5:26 Drop
track 2: 4:46 Ocean Lady
track 3: 4:48 L'Heure Bleue
track 4: 3:31 Sink Into The Sea
track 5: 6:08 Steps
track 6: 6:36 Seven GHs
track 7: 2:32 Nautical Twilight
track 8: 12:48 See
...more albums...

Album Description

open your eyes
to the ocean waves

primitive atmosphere and lightning
a closed glass container

now close your eyes
enable your alpha waves

close down your i
feel your galaxy's spiral waves

employ meditation
let the sound take you away

ponder your DNA's spiral
the wheels within wheels

close to the edge
down by the river

surf your alpha waves
finally close your eyes

Note:

I recommend listening to this album on headphones, while lying comfortably in your bed. It is meant to be like those self-hypnosis recordings. It works best for me when I'm tired.

The artwork is a carefully selected screenshot from the iTunes 6.0.4(3) music visualizer.

Song Description

The word "drop" has a variety of meanings. Look them up. Many of these meanings apply here.

~~~ notes ~~~

Initially I was using the Electric Piano just to capture chords and melodic ideas, with the plan to remove that track once I was done. But, by the end of working on this piece, it just fit so nicely I ended up incorporating it too. There are no loops in this. Everything started out played on keyboard, followed by lots of editing.

I used the JamPack4 Steinway, Harp, as well as English Horn, Xtra Oboe Legato, Xtra Flute Legato, Viola Section, and Xtra Bass Section Staccato and Legato.

The piece is in 7/8 time, with 5 sections containing 18 measures each, plus a short ending. The first and second sections contain the main chord progression. The Steinway introduces the theme in section two.

The third section modulates to the relative minor, featuring oboe and flute on the theme.

The fourth and fifth sections repeat the original chord progression, while the strings do some variations on the theme.

The last part starts out repeating the chord progression, but basically switches to I-IV-V-I to end the piece.

There's some longish echo on the Harp to get a sort of arpeggio effect. I also used the echo on the Bass Staccato.
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Relaxing &mdash 07/26/06 - 12:16:07 PM
Very relaxing and melodious. I am always impressed with how well your
tracks are produced. It'll take me a day or so to get through the rest of
the new album, but this is a good start.

[ Reply to This ]
Relaxing &mdash 07/26/06 - 02:49:57 PM
thanks for the comment. i really have gotten into ocean concepts lately, it kind
of colors how the day goes for me. glad you liked it!

peace, dude.

---
B^)

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 07/26/06 - 04:03:05 PM
well, my first thought was that it didn't quite seem classical, but as it
progressed the genre seemed to fit more. As was alaready said, the
steady pulsing, very slow harmonic rhythm, and gentle tone colours
combine to create a very relaxing feel, almost lulling one into a trance.

My other thought is that it reminded me of music by the Penguin Caf
Orchestra; if don't know their music, I strongly encourage you to check
it out.

I think 'classical' as a category is fine for this, but it made me think
there needs to be some subcategories within classical; not exactly sure
what to call this, but it has the feeling of 'new-age' music.

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 07/26/06 - 04:03:59 PM
Penguin Cafe Orchestra

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 07/26/06 - 05:01:31 PM
i'm totally open to suggestions on the genre.

my guess is that the electric piano goes against the grain of classical... and it
starts out based heavily on that instrument. is that the problem?

i understand that genres help people find what they want to listen to, and yet, i
have great difficulty picking a genre for each of my songs. i just don't think that
way... i think it's that i can't "stand back" and get a good perspective on it.

---
B^)

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 07/26/06 - 06:14:28 PM
The electric piano and trance-like feel are initially what threw me off (i.e.
made it seem less 'classical,') but it is in no way a problem. Modern classical
music uses whatever instruments composers want to use, which can include
electric piano.

If you get a chance, check out some Penguin Cafe tunes and let me know
what you think. They have some stuff on iTunes.

Perspective is difficult to gain and easy to lose when it comes to things we
create (incl. children!). Feedback is a vital part of the creative process; I
would guess that's why most MacJammers are here.

Keep 'em coming!

---
Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 07/31/06 - 06:16:53 AM
i did a little research into Penguin Cafe Orchestra. they seem interesting, so i put
them on my wishlist. i think i've heard Telephone and Rubber Band somewhere
before, just can't think where... thanks for mentioning this group.


---
B^)

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 07/31/06 - 03:36:24 PM
I was pretty sure you'd like their stuff. I'm not sure if you've had a chance to
listen to it, but a recent submission of mine,
Steppin' Out,
was influenced by Penguin Cafe Orchestra music.

I read an interesting interview with the group's founder/leader a while ago, and
he said that their music was a reaction against the pressure he had felt within
classical music to embrace the avant garde if he was to be taken seriously. This
REALLY resonated with me, because I was going through something along the
same lines when I wrote Steppin' Out.

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Visit my website for lots more free MP3s and scores.

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 08/01/06 - 07:25:52 AM
i found a few sound bites on PenguineCafe.com and Amazon. enough to get a
bit of a sense of their style. i was saddened to find that the soul of PCO, Simon
Jeffes, had passed away a few years ago.

---
B^)

[ Reply to This ]
Glacial &mdash 07/26/06 - 05:04:47 PM
also, thanks for saying "trance" - that is definitely one of my goals in this album.
it's nice to hear that.


---
B^)

[ Reply to This ]
,-) &mdash 09/15/06 - 10:17:11 AM
Delicate e talent as well always

[ Reply to This ]
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