Old-country chills &mdash 05/27/07 - 09:17:55 AM
Foxtrot? It is nicely-done, evocative of the things you suggest in your description, and quite clever, what with the switching back and forth between major and minor modes. It's a good vignette, works fine as it is, but I think it could be the first section of something longer; it would be interesting to hear a contrasting section ("B") that follows this, of equal proportions, to be followed by the A section again, perhaps shortened or otherwise modified.
Always nice to hear something nice from you! [ Reply to This ]
the short dance... &mdash 05/27/07 - 09:58:27 AM
and always a treat to have you stop in and listen too, thank you! I really liked the major/minor mode dancing throughout this too, that's mainly what I was playing with... it adds the bittersweet ingredient. And yes, this is a sketch for a longer piece, as time permits. I first wanted to see if this was any good... checking with my friends here :-) It began sounding Eastern European to me, with the oompah pumping backing and the longing melody, and since it is in 4/4 time, not 3/4, it is more foxtrot than waltz. So, I shall go back and work on a B section, then possibly a middle development section too, back to A then B, and extend my coda a bit. Endings are always difficult, especially when dancing so close to the one you love.
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 ]
And that sound you hear &mdash 05/27/07 - 10:06:40 AM
is of the dancers flying off the floor in suprise as the song ends while they still have plenty of impetus. Sorry, but a dancer likes some warning that a song is about to end. They can for instance strike a nice pose, or bow to their partner, or whatever.
Ok, my first thought was "that took him a while!". You must hold the record for being high in the participation picks with a song that you released months ago. Glad to see some new output from you, even though apparently it's not entirely new.
Now about this track. It has a dance-like quality, and the organ reinforces the English music hall effect. However, the dance is more abstract than specific. This would probably be great for a folk dance; it does not feel like any existing ballroom dance. The tempo could work for a foxtrot, but the feeling is entirely different. Personally, I think it feels like a waltz, and I would dance 3-over-2, making it a gentle vienese waltz.
Very pleasant track. [ Reply to This ]
great critique &mdash 05/27/07 - 10:27:42 AM
just the kind of insightful thoughts I need, thank you! Yes, it has been awhile, personal life and this music video DVD project have kept me from writing anything new, and finally I just had to get this down on paper... been working on it for a week now (boy I'm slow at writing music!)
Yes, the ending is way too abrupt, I need to write about 8 more bars of coda, as well as a whole separate B section as Clark suggests. I'd also like to try a middle development section, much like the Viennese waltzes have, but that will take me awhile to come up with.
I tried other instruments before settling on organs... the beat was almost too pronounced and harsh with sharper-attack instruments, but the organs make it almost too indistinct and mushy the other way. I may have to rewrite those staves and revoice them for violins and piano. But the way it came out (enhanced with some extra matrix reverb) it sounded distantly otherworldly...
So, thank you again for your thoughts, as always! I continue to learn and reshape my art.
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 ]
Eastern European ?? &mdash 05/27/07 - 10:37:55 AM
Draki ...beside all te chamr this piece
hold ..I m impressed by the style and scale
you used here .. Eastern European ?? I would
like to connect ...I ve been listening to many
kind o folk music ...this one certainly the very
new tatse to me ... and yes ...its awesome ...
and very tatsey....thank you Draki !! [ Reply to This ]
Eastern folk charm &mdash 05/27/07 - 11:48:44 AM
Hi Feter, good to see your comment, thanks for stopping in! I am trying to capture sort of an old 1880's romantic Bohemian or Hungarian style mood. Of course, if it is truly Hungarian, I should change the organs to be accordians... but unfortunately I am allergic to accordians. So I will be scoring this for a more orchestral sound, I think. :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis
PS - I like "Draki" too, that's a cute nickname :-)
---
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 ]
Haunting... &mdash 05/27/07 - 02:14:42 PM
Music which I would like to hear more of. I don't hear a foxtrot or a waltz there, but I was put in mind of some haunted ballroom in (as you say) some eastern european country. I could imagine watching people from the past dancing a gavotte or quadrille.... it is certainly different and very pleasant, M [ Reply to This ]
your wish is my attempt &mdash 05/27/07 - 06:37:14 PM
Hi Maurice, and welcome to Macjams. I've not listened to any of your music yet since we've just met, so I shall remedy that right after this reply! The initial harmony sections were initially too staccato, so when I changed to organs and added reverb to soften things, it got this dreamy/haunted quality that is really fun. Since it seems to be well received, I will work on it some more, make it longer and re-orchestrate it into something more danceable. I think of Gavottes and Quadrilles as more stately (or something from Alice in Wonderland.) Very glad to hear you liked it, I'll build on 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/24994">DidgeEmber</a> [ Reply to This ]
Yes, very Eastern European- &mdash 05/27/07 - 02:45:19 PM
You aren't a Hapsburg, by chance? This does evoke an ambivalent 'Aren't we privileged/ We're all doomed' sort of atmosphere. I love the celeste in there. And, accordians aren't really put on earth to make us all set our teeth on edge - they CAN sound perfectly musical, and very much like the voicing you have here, when played well.
Reading over the comments, it appears you have more plans for this fine little theme. Post again when you have more! [ Reply to This ]
Ich bin ein Hapsburg nicht &mdash 05/27/07 - 06:49:27 PM
Nope, I'm not a Hapsburg, but I visited their (Scho:nbrun) palace once (and long to go back to Vienna, hopefully in a few years.) I wanted a tinge of uneasiness in there, just to arouse a bit of anxiety... don't want to put people to sleep, after all... very glad you feel that. And yes, accordians played live, well, and in the background, are OK :) For some reason, the up-front French chanson style where the accordian is the predominant instrument is just not my cup of tea, and it is an unfortunate bias for me. Anyway, I will be reworking this, but given my lack of ability and time, it may be a month or two, don't wait up! :-) I enjoy your comments, thank you for checking this sketch out and letting me know what you think!
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 ]
Ahh YES! &mdash 05/27/07 - 05:51:53 PM
NICE one Drak! I would love to hear this piece on a cathedral-sized pipe organ. I get the haunted feeling, for sure. Transylvania....vampyres dressed in elegant period evening wear, a dark creepy olde european castle. Dusty, cobweb-covered candelabras, ahh.........I really enjoyed this. Slightly short and kept me wanting more! I think I played it several times. You always do such a wonderful job at creating melodic, orchestral-type pieces. I feel the mood in this track to be comforting to me, for some strange reason. Very much how I am more at ease when I am in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. Does that make ANY sense at all??? I don't know.......What I DO know is that I loved this track, Drak. Well done! Bravo! Take good care, my fire-breathing friend! Hope all is well with you. Peace!
-Richard [ Reply to This ]
dark luxx &mdash 05/27/07 - 07:06:25 PM
heehee, it makes perfect sense to me that you would feel at ease with this music going, it is right down your dark alley! :-) So glad to have you comment and like it, sir! I started orchestrating this with moog-ish synths, and it just didn't sound right, the organs added a better sound. I guess I should "pull out all the stops" and do a full-on organ version for you? :-) Things are good with me, and I hope all is well with you too.
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 ]
Nice one &mdash 05/27/07 - 05:57:01 PM
yes, it sounds like the echoe of a dance. Has some melancholic touch. It is short after midnight and cinderella hears the echoes of her last dance.
Something to dream on...Very enjoyable!
The organ is great, which gargaeband instrument have you used for it?
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Greetings,
Bernd
[ Reply to This ]
good dreams &mdash 05/27/07 - 07:38:30 PM
Hi Bernd,
Well, to answer your (and Darma's) question about organs, without giving away too many secrets, organs have many different registers, and so "one" software organ voice usually isn't enough. I used 3 here (from JP 4), Baroque organ, Flute Organ, and Fugue Organ (slightly tweaked from standard settings, and panned to different places.) The problem is I didn't initially write the music staves for organ... I chose that after importing it into GB. So it isn't really what an organist would play. Also, I have a little too much reverb on (to give the dreamy feel), so it gets a little mushy, I think. But it is a good start, and I'm learning a lot from the feedback... thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed!
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 ]
Thanks! &mdash 05/28/07 - 11:20:01 AM
Thanks for the information Drak(i)...
I never would say that your organ sound sucks... but, hmmm Darma is right, from the view of a Bach fan...
Anyway, I think we are free to use an organ sound as we want, that is one of the great possibilities we have, using programs like garageband.
My favourite organ work is the "Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543" from J.S. Bach. You have ever heard? There is a very nice record on I-tunes by Karl Richter, I don't know whether it is available in US...
Greetings!
Bernd
---
...if you´re looking for a sense, search with music!... [ Reply to This ]
comparing fugues.. &mdash 05/28/07 - 09:48:12 PM
I checked that out on iTunes, and don't recognize it... but I admit that my all-time favorite Bach fugue is his "Little G Minor", talk about a melody that sticks in your head, and such great countermelodies and harmonies. And I could listen to the Goldberg Variations (on piano) all day. Oh, and the B Minor Mass, and the Well Tempered Clavier, and... oops, sorry.
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 ]
Your organ tone sucks. &mdash 05/27/07 - 06:31:56 PM
If you're using GarageBand, get the orchestral instruments JamPack and use either the Orchestra Organ for chord work or the Toccata Organ for melodies. Otherwise you can add chorus and reverb to the organ you're using to make it sound better - that's what I did before I got the JamPack. (Sorry, but as a Bach fan I'm very picky about organ tone.)
Having told you that your tone is less than ideal (sorry for being such an ass), I will now tell you that WHAT you played and/or looped in this piece is very nice, and I'm going to give it a second listen now. Hmm...your string tones are very nice. This song juxtaposes something - I have no idea what exactly it juxtoposes but it seems like there's a contrast in something that I can't define that works very well. Overall a very good piece. I love minor key baroque sounding stuff. This piece is simultaneously creepy and sensual. Just use a different organ sound please! [ Reply to This ]
I never ASSume... &mdash 05/27/07 - 07:55:08 PM
Hi Dharma, welcome to Macjams! I'll tell you right away that the main reason I hang out at Macjams is to get constructive positive/negative critiques, so I can learn how to write better music. So, I don't see you as being assinine from your comment at all.
As mentioned above, I *did* use 3 different JP4 organs, however, the staff lines I assigned them to aren't really good/interesting "organ" style harmony parts (those lines were originally for guitar/strings), and the AUMatrix reverb was up higher than I normally use on pieces (it was around 35% wet mix) so it got a bit cavernous sounding. But the cellos sound pretty decent. I have a lot to do to make this a good piece. I want to rewrite some of the chorused harmony sections to be more interesting (it was a quick chopped chord thing to get harmonies) and re-score this for woodwinds, strings and piano instead of organ. Also, the main instrument is an English horn (doubled), and I think I want it to be a flute and/or piano. The best would be solo violin, but that would require a REAL violinist, because the jampack I have can't do a solo violin justice.
Anyway, glad to know we have another baroque organ guy here, cool! Someday I'll have learned enough to actually write a fugue, just you wait! Well, no, you probably better not wait... this may take awhile :-) Off to listen to your stuff!
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 ]
Cello and Violin &mdash 05/27/07 - 08:09:41 PM
For good solo violin and cello sounds (as well as several other good instruments) check out the Fitch/Boldt free instrument downloads. I have them, and they are quite nice. They better be considering the Fitch Cello is something like 47 MB. They are the only decent sounding solo strings I have found - they might be the ONLY solo strings I have found. They don't work for intense staccato stuff with lots of attack, but they are outstanding for more melodic stuff like you would use here. (Experiment with the modulation wheel of your keyboard.) I'm not sure if Garage Band automatically recognized these instruments or not. If you need help with it send me a message. http://benboldt.spymac.com/instruments.html [ Reply to This ]
Haunting and mysterious &mdash 05/27/07 - 07:02:02 PM
I'm glad you are eventually going to do a B part to this; we want more.:-) I like the minor/major switching a lot, and the bells added just the right touch. This is definitely gypsies dancing outdoors after midnight, and they are wearing wolfbane. [ Reply to This ]
long after midnight... &mdash 05/27/07 - 10:44:27 PM
I'm working on it, a longer version will be forthcoming! In the mean time, you should stop spying on my gypsies, they don't need to wear any wolfsbane, it interferes with their sensual dancing... in fact they're not wea.. HEY! Put DOWN the binoculars! Sheesh! Even the Black Forest isn't private any more! (smirk)
Thank you again for lending an ear!
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 ]
Nice &mdash 06/22/07 - 09:29:40 PM
Very haunting melody indeed!
It gave me the goosebumps and made me think of vampires tho, not gypsies. Oh well, it makes my imagination work either way.
You are very talented.
---
"Children and Mothers never truly part; Bound by the beating of eachothers heart." -Charlotte Gray [ Reply to This ]
Vampires, Gypsies, Same general area &mdash 06/22/07 - 10:50:55 PM
Glad you got goosebumps and got your imagination cranking... I intentionally went sort of "over the top" with the organ sound to make it sound gothic/vampire-ish, but I think the basic melody will be fun to make into a long dance with more earthly instruments... coming soon! In the mean time, keep your neck covered up :-) Thank you for visiting my music, and I look forward to hearing you record some of your wonderful singing... your mom says you have a beautiful singing voice.
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 ]
Very nice piece... &mdash 05/28/07 - 12:23:52 PM
...I love the chimes (glockenspeil?). Nice touch...
"A beautiful dance" it is, drak. You caught the ghostlike image of a time passed, remembered fondly. Very nice...
[ Reply to This ]
twelve o glock &mdash 05/28/07 - 12:49:24 PM
Thanks for stepping onto the dance floor and taking this for a spin. I actually used the Celesta here... the Glockenspiel might stand out more though, it has more overtones. It's funny, I added that very late in the game, to spice up the quiet passage. It does add some beauty to it, when lightly used.
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 ]
very nice drak... &mdash 05/29/07 - 01:35:36 PM
I see an accodian player on a cobble stone street somewhere in romania, filling the air with lovely musical lyriscism, while his wife accompanies him on cello. Everyone passing by, in love with the moment they are creating, because it speaks of the land that enchants them, and only add to the effect!!! [ Reply to This ]
infecting the romantic &mdash 05/29/07 - 07:50:05 PM
I knew this would trigger romantic visions in your head... thank you for checking this out, Ian. I do hope to move it off the back streets of Bucharest, and put it into a Viennese ballroom with a bigger orchestra soon, but that's a major rewrite away.
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 ]
Ghost Dance &mdash 05/29/07 - 01:50:34 PM
This is like two ghosts, or maybe more, dancing on a blighted ballroom floor, remembering happier times. Could even be a string quartet or piano trio. I agree that the chimes add a very nice counterpoint.
The melody is intriguing. More development would be nice, but what you have is very good.
Very good song. [ Reply to This ]
It went ghostly on me &mdash 05/29/07 - 08:20:46 PM
As I was working on the sketch, it began to get more ethereal, both in the melody and in the instrumentation. Pumping up the reverb helped too.
Thank you for coming out so late at night
to catch a glimpse of the unearthly sight
With such response after the initial spin
I must develop more and post again.
Stay tuned!
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 ]
Nice &mdash 05/29/07 - 02:12:19 PM
Nice mood creation here. Seemed like it would have gone well with a Tim Burton macabre animated movie. Even had visions of a Mel Brooks inspired version of the Wolfman dancing with the only woman in the village that was aware of his persistan problem and would care for him.
[ Reply to This ]
Eek, not another movie! &mdash 05/29/07 - 10:16:45 PM
Hehe, I'm still finishing up the music video that was spawned from the last piece of music I wrote... and I can't compete with Tim Burton (or Danny Elfman), but I'm glad to start little movies in your head! Thanks for taking time to check this little piece out. I shall return the favor!
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 ]
a dragon ride.... &mdash 05/29/07 - 07:54:00 PM
i feel the excitement getting on this ride.. large wooden hand carved dragons all in splashed with gold leaf trim..as we pick or favorite dragons and jump on their saddles we are ready..
the music starts... and we shout with glee as the wind picks up we feel like this ride will never end...
an amazing work of music drak...many thoughts of days gone by..when we where young and saw our first carousel...
one beautiful work...you wore out pencil tool for sure..lol
thanks ..woodie [ Reply to This ]
get the lead out &mdash 05/29/07 - 10:26:36 PM
Hey Woodie, there's still lots of life left in this pencil, don't worry! And thank you for taking me up on the free coupon to ride the dragon-go-round. I'll give you another free pass in a month or two when I have enough pencil-time to make this into something really elegant. I appreciate you coming by to listen and write your vision to me, 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/24994">DidgeEmber</a> [ Reply to This ]
Haunting... &mdash 05/30/07 - 11:22:29 AM
I kept expecting Leonard Cohen's voice to begin singing...
Like an old late-nite black and white movie complete with an abandoned (?) castle, a full moon, and the flutter of bats wings over head. Still...let's dance my love, before time and chance have their way with us...
Eeirie melody beautifully executed Eduard. Bravo!
Be well!
[ Reply to This ]
Where's Walter? &mdash 05/30/07 - 02:36:44 PM
Maybe I should get Moorlandt to add a nice deep accented hypnotic lyric over this... :) I dunno, this could go all sorts of ways. But I definitely want to expand it and orchestrate it better now... thank you for checking it out Michael! The night has always been my friend... :-)
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 ]
Vocally... &mdash 05/30/07 - 10:34:36 PM
...Walter would be an inspired choice! he has the most Cohen-ish vox at MJ. I think his voice would fit this tune like a velvet glove.
---
"We are put upon this earth a little space that we might learn to bear the beams of love." (William Blake) [ Reply to This ]
- &mdash 05/30/07 - 05:25:45 PM
Very haunting...this reminds me of what could be an Eastern European Gothic music box (especially when the glockenspiel comes in).
Eduard, I can see this being used in a Tim Burton film, no question!
Cheers!
Alf [ Reply to This ]
music box dancers &mdash 05/30/07 - 09:43:03 PM
I actually thought of scoring part of this purely for music box (I may still do that). Thank you for checking this Alf, I was wondering what you might think of it, if it called to your Gypsy blood at all :-) I need a good violinist to play the lead melody now... oh wait, I got Tim on the phone, he's got this new movie coming out called "The Dual Core-Bride", and needs some music, and oh darn, Elfman's busy! :-)
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 ]
Nice! &mdash 05/30/07 - 09:47:13 PM
Love the european flavor contained in this music, reminds me of grandpa's motherland [ Reply to This ]
sweet short satisfaction &mdash 05/31/07 - 07:54:42 AM
Well then, I pulled it off then! Glad to shake the family tree, I intend to water this and let it grow into something a bit more formidable soon. Thank you for listening and commenting!
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 ]
Repeated listening. &mdash 05/30/07 - 09:50:58 PM
This definitely gets better on repeated listening. Even the hideous organ tone becomes tolerable! LOL! This piece is definitely begging to be expanded like it's only part of the overture of a much longer opera. [ Reply to This ]
Hideous no... &mdash 05/31/07 - 08:41:41 AM
Perfect for the song ... yes. I happen to think that the organ tone is beautiful because it is perfect for the piece and helps to establish a mood in the piece instantly that captures the listener and draws him/her in. It would be hard to do that with a "better" or more "realistic" organ sound. [ Reply to This ]
moodal melody &mdash 05/31/07 - 10:43:34 AM
Definitely wanted to set a dreamy immersive mood, and the first 3 attempts at instrumenting this (a bunch of weird synths, just bells/glock, then harpsichords and pianos and strings) sounded awful. The organs gave a much softer attack, and tweaking the reverb up a bit made this trail off in the night. However, I need to go back to my original idea of rewriting some of the harmony sections FOR specific instruments now, and make this a big orchestral ballroom piece. However, I still may be able to sneak in my earlier ideas of a solo "music box" Celesta starting or ending the piece, and I may do a big real-organ version sometime (just for Aaron :-) . Thank you Bill for "stopping" by with your organ thoughts!
---
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 ]
I agree &mdash 06/02/07 - 09:24:26 PM
Just for the record &mdash 06/03/07 - 02:42:42 PM
I was agreeing with Announcer, not Drakonis; I'm not sure how my comment ended up there...... [ Reply to This ]
positively &mdash 06/04/07 - 07:48:46 AM
Thank you for being so agreeable and enjoying the piece! I shall be back with more soon. In the mean time, I'm off to listen to your music.
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 ]
There's a 'romantic' category? &mdash 05/30/07 - 11:05:58 PM
Nice to hear something new from you, Eduard. I can't believe I'm only a few days late to this (I'm wayyy behind on my MJ listening!) but it's already filled up with big interesting comments. And the song is so short that I keep listening over and over whilst reading the comments.
You know, the title is probably more hilarious than you think; ingenious and fitting for this haunted setting. It reminds me of, oh I don't know, Harry Potter or something. Movies or books that kids might watch/read but with sinister overtones... like James and the Giant Peach, or Lemony Snicket. Anyway, nice work. Someday I may make nice harmonies and melodies like this too :) [ Reply to This ]
daaaaave! &mdash 05/31/07 - 10:32:33 AM
Good to hear from you. This was a quick sketch to see if it was worth pursuing, and thus its brevity. But it looks from the comments that my experiment worked (Igor, pass me more of that bubbling purple liquid now!) so I must return to the basement to surgically enhance this creature of the night.
(spoken in the voice of Sesame Street's "The Count": "vun leetle quarter note... bwahahaa... tvoo leetle quarter notes (sound of thunder)... tree leetle quarter notes...)
As for the title, I too thought it was rather a cute bit of wordplay, but I also thought it was sooo obvious that I'm sure somebody else thought of it long before I did. Thank you for noticing it... there are many little nuances that I add to my works, and it is a joy when somebody spots them. Of course, not everyone enjoys a good pun, in fact, most people say that "good pun" is like "military intelligence"... two words that really don't belong together :-) But you and I know better.
James and the Giant Peach (shudder)... what a disturbingly dark and sinister story. But that's Dahl for you.
And as for music, sir, I am extremely envious of your ear for rhythm and for crystal clear mixing... I strive to be like you when I grow up!
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 ]
schaWEET &mdash 05/31/07 - 08:50:41 AM
the minor/major combo is wonderfully unexpected and edgy, and immediately creates a mood that i enjoyed falling into. i think the organ is the PERFECT voice for this mood. MORE PLEASE! i thoroughly enjoyed your creation - anne [ Reply to This ]
in the mood for more &mdash 05/31/07 - 11:48:13 AM
Since you asked so nicely... you got it! I am mostly interested in going back to an orchestral arrangement of this, but I think I'll also do a "spooky version" with organs and Celesta, maybe somebody will want to come up with some singing for it, Hooo nose? :) Back to the drawing and quartering board for me...
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 ]
i loved that deep pumpy thing... &mdash 06/01/07 - 11:39:57 AM
... i dunno what is was .. the bottom end of a church organ but it all sounded lovely to me - ty for pointing the way xoxoxox [ Reply to This ]
Deep and pumpy &mdash 06/01/07 - 11:58:11 AM
Well, normally being referred to as "the bottom end of an organ" wouldn't sound too flattering, but since you said you liked the "deep pumpy thing", its all OK. I believe you are hearing the low notes of the cello peeking through... or possibly you are marvelling at the organ's 8 foot diapason. Either way, given your and my predilection for innuendo, we shall just stop right now. Thank you very much for giving this a spin! See you soon. :-)
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 ]
Sorry it took me so long to get here &mdash 06/04/07 - 11:57:49 PM
Very nice Drak! This has a very nice melody. Are there plans for using this in another video? I admit I'm horrible at writing critiques, so I'll say that the song name also got my attention :) [ Reply to This ]
TMV &mdash 06/05/07 - 11:25:03 AM
No plans for a video (yet), since I'm still madly editing the "Behind-the-scenes" segment for my Technoids music video, but I *do* think that I want to expand this into a big orchestral dance piece sometime. I'm pleased to know you like the melody. This is the feedback I was wondering about, it helps me decide what is worth working on. 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/24994">DidgeEmber</a> [ Reply to This ]
Nice &mdash 06/05/07 - 11:51:39 AM
Sounds like a song in a halloween movie. I like how each part in the song is doing something different and not the same thing. Good blend between parts. [ Reply to This ]
blending the counterpoint &mdash 06/05/07 - 12:11:12 PM
Transitions between themes, and writing the different counter-melodies are always fascinating to me, but really hard for me to figure out! Even harder is then developing this into a longer piece where I chop up and rearrange the melody... that is next on my plate. We'll see if I can do it. Thank you for checking it out. I did want to give a sort of ghostly romantic feel... glad that came across.
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 ]
so,... it's &mdash 06/05/07 - 06:11:47 PM
short, but the cool pipe organ has me entranced... a dance, a spin on the floor, then the sermon was over and the congregation left and the Nautilus had open floor space for the summer solstice lover's dance. (Dang'd over-sized, multi-legged squid was a pain, too)
Ever wonder what you'd get if you threw a pipe organ and accordion with players in the same room and did a mix? hmmmmm.
Enjoyed this very much, a bit intoxicating.
. - Harold [ Reply to This ]
image - woops! &mdash 06/05/07 - 06:19:49 PM
No image embedding in MJ comments :( &mdash 06/06/07 - 07:57:36 AM
Wow Harold, I dunno what was in that barbecue sauce you just ate, bu I want some too! Cool etching... at first it looked like my favorite Gustav Dore guy, but it is somebody else. Happy to get you out on the dance floor, even if it was with that squid that had her suckers all over you. I think you liked it though.
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 ]
Happily haunting... &mdash 06/07/07 - 10:11:16 PM
...and merrily melancholy!
There is something jaunty about this piece--without being that 'over-cheery' sort of jaunty.
I can just see the spectres gathering for the dance; it very much brings to mind the Haunted House at Disneyland and that magical sight of the spirits dancing in the ballroom. Ghostly, yet gleeful.
Very delightful!
As others have said, a more realistic ensemble of instruments would help the grand ballroom style of this piece, but it's just so darned fun as it is, too!
Yes, the ending needs a more graceful sway to a close--even holding out those last two notes would allow for a proper pose.
Lovely! :)
[ Reply to This ]
graced by the myst &mdash 06/08/07 - 07:12:39 AM
Thank you Cat, for listening and critiquing... your thoughts help propel me into doing something grander with this sketch. For some reason, I wasn't sure whether this would appeal to anyone, I happened to like it but wasn't sure about pouring lots of orchestration into it if it was just so-so. One of the delightful things about Macjams is being able to find out the answer before moving on. So, consider this on the workbench for major expansion now, thanks!
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 ]
KIDDING &mdash 06/10/07 - 10:20:50 AM
it's nice music to hear it from you ..
i want to go and dance with my LOVE .. (Kidding LOL)
it's so wonderful .. also the organ is like church type in a romantic style .. i really enjoyed it ..
Thanks for posting
Regardz
================
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
LOL = Lots of Love &mdash 06/10/07 - 12:17:22 PM
Don't joke about it... I know you will someday dance with your true love :-) Thank you for stopping in to listen. This is just a short sketch of an idea. I hope to make it longer and more interesting. I am happy to know that it is something you liked, I'll work on it some more.
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 ]
Twisted minds think alike? &mdash 06/11/07 - 01:22:21 PM
What possessed (ha!) both of us to post haunted dance songs in the middle of sunny June? I love it! The sounds in this one make me think of an old carousel, long disused in an abandoned park, that some nights mysteriously starts playing all by itself again. And who knows what comes out to dance?? [ Reply to This ]
Something Wycked this way comes... &mdash 06/11/07 - 03:37:05 PM
Twisted minds *do* think alike. And after reading Ray Bradbury's story (and watching the great Disney movie version) long ago, I think I like to stay as far away from the Autumn People as I can... and in fact one of my favorite sayings to scare my children is "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." So your evocative carousel imagery gave me chills, good job there! Anyway, I've got plans for this sketch, check back in a few hundred years and I'll have worked more flesh onto the bones. I don't think it will ever learn to tango, however. :-) Thank you for writing twisted music, and commenting on mine!
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 ]
Great syncopations! &mdash 06/11/07 - 02:55:25 PM
synco swim &mdash 06/11/07 - 03:42:26 PM
I've always wondered if you need one leg shorter than the other to dance to syncopated music? Maybe that's why I can't dance? Hopefully it was just the music dancing in your headphones, and nothing (nobody) else! THanks for bouncing to the (off)beat.
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 ]
nice &mdash 06/19/07 - 01:03:27 PM
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Always nice to hear something nice from you!
[ Reply to This ]