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The Minstrel Boy by Jim Bouchard [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 1051
Comments: 21
Votes: 5
Plays: 238
Last Played: Oct 12, 2008 - 03:12:57 PM
Downloads: 77
Fans: 20
Uploaded: Jul 24, 2007 - 08:09:51 AM
Last Updated: Jul 24, 2007 - 08:09:51 AM
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Keywords:
MH Vocals Game: V4C01 (1), Rebsie (46)
Description:
This is my entry in the MH Vocals Game: V4C01. Rebsie's singing to a heartbeat loop. Then I sing 5 tracks of harmonies and my son, Gray, adds 6 tracks of high Beach Boys types of vocals which I mixed in sort of quiet. There's some additional loops and the heartbeat loop again. I don't think this what I initially set out to do, but taking some time to line things up and really got into the singing.

Lyrics:
The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!"


Hardware:
Rode NT1000 mic, ART Tube PAC Tascam US-122, eMac

Software:
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This game just keeps getting better &mdash 07/24/07 - 08:28:17 AM
and better - the bar going up with each entry. Truly inspired treatment Jim. Beautiful harmonies and additional effects and music. Very emotional - quite moving.

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The Minstrel Boy &mdash 07/24/07 - 08:58:39 AM
Giant work and the choir just fit the mood
what the MOST wonderfull the last drum pattern
a perfect touch .. KUDOS !

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deeply emotional &mdash 07/24/07 - 09:25:01 AM
with every new version, the bar goes up...this one has such depth of emotion to it. it seemed to take me there, by the virtue of voice alone.
i like the stripped down versions of this equally as well as the full instrumental ones... this is way too much fun!

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.. and now ... &mdash 07/24/07 - 10:43:37 AM

.. with 'real' harmonies. Cool take - I too dig these
stripped down as well as the fuller takes, curry is
the spice of life .. or something like that.

Great singing from Gray and great mix, production, singing and arrangement from yersel'

The choir-esque touch is very fitting to Rebsie's rendition, good call on that one Jim/Gray.

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very.. &mdash 07/24/07 - 10:58:01 AM
emotional this one and great effects with the choir and drums, M

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Excellent &mdash 07/24/07 - 01:37:21 PM
I really like the choral arrangement as a back drop for Rebsie's vocal. So many different versions of the same song :)

Thanks

Bill

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This is &mdash 07/24/07 - 02:57:43 PM
brilliantly clever and imaginative. The production is also great.
Cheers
Len



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Haunting &mdash 07/24/07 - 04:16:35 PM
Your sparse accompaniment, especially the synthetic textures in the second verse, call up an atmosphere very effectively. The not-quite-in-tune choir is particularly impressive.

Victor.


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Wow! &mdash 07/24/07 - 06:40:10 PM
Jim (and Gray) - what a fantastic piece of work. You took Rebsie's very English vocal and made it something different again - my imagination flew to the US civil war (probably the kettle drum). The choir is superb, and special mention has to be made of Gray's harmonies - obviously takes after his dad.
Excellent!
Neil

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And another take &mdash 07/25/07 - 01:10:52 AM
It's truly amazing what people are doing with this.

Wish I had time to have a go :-(

This is great, almost hymn-like in its execution.

How can there be a winner???

Cheers

Dick

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remarkable entry &mdash 07/25/07 - 02:48:01 AM
Jim, this is a very nice version !
Fine choice with the choral and harmonies, that sounds true and gives an emotional dimension to this piece, with a great production, as always, to crown the whole.
Congratulations to you and your son...
Thanks
Marc

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wow! &mdash 07/25/07 - 09:44:32 PM
having all the harmonies come in behind rebsie and the heartbeat make this have a real sense of power!
excellent take!

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wow intence &mdash 07/26/07 - 07:09:51 PM
very good job on production and this one really grabbed me by the Yarbals . wow......insanely beautiful job indeed .

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Could anything be more fun than &mdash 07/27/07 - 05:16:40 AM
this Voice4Choice game? Probably not.
Great track here Jim.

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A heartbeat... &mdash 07/27/07 - 08:42:03 AM
...how much more perfect could you get?

Beautiful, Jim...

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Outstanding &mdash 07/28/07 - 08:04:20 AM
What a great track, brilliant harmonies, and stirs the emotions wonderfully. Brings forth images of the sadness of war, amazing.

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Truly beautiful &mdash 07/28/07 - 10:21:34 PM
and an amazing contrast with some of the other entries. Once again, it just shows the astonishing range of talent, and the sheer breadth of imagination people here bring to bear. The harmonies are very nicely done, and the whole piece is moving and sombre. Very cool. Nice work. Peace.

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Amazing... &mdash 07/29/07 - 07:37:32 PM
Not much I can add about the vocals that hasn't already been said by many before, but I'd like to add my compliments to your amazing entry. This is beautiful, crafted like a diamond and as gentle as a kiss.

Thanks for this lovely moment.

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Stunning! &mdash 07/30/07 - 09:00:05 AM
Absoloutely remarkable entry!

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singalong &mdash 07/31/07 - 02:33:26 AM
Beautiful soundspace. Wonderful feeling of victory over war through sheer force of hearts and wills. Would that peace prevail and reclaim the clodded, bloodstained battlefields of this problematic miracle we call Life on Planet Earth.

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Hey Jim, &mdash 11/23/07 - 11:37:06 PM
Just browsing through the archives and found this unique challenge from quite a few months ago. When I saw your name on one of the entries, I knew it would be a pleasurable listen and I was not disappointed. Well done.

Joe

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