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Deliberating the Call by Doug Somers [Email]
Genre: Classical

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 723
Comments: 28
Votes: 5
Plays: 59
Last Played: Oct 18, 2008 - 01:39:25 PM
Downloads: 28
Fans: 17
Uploaded: Mar 22, 2008 - 02:08:18 AM
Last Updated: Apr 04, 2008 - 04:44:41 PM
Fan List
Keywords:
Hero (9), Journey (42), Project (9), Doug (4), Somers (4), Heroine (3), Hero's (4), Contemplation (3)
Description:
In a small room facing the west she sits alone in the quiet gloaming and considers the events of the morning. Her world had been shaken to its roots by the strange traveller she had met after breakfast in the market. He spoke of ill events, misfortune and hardship for her village. Something had to be done to turn the tide of this doom. Something she, with the map and gem he had entrusted to her, supposedly had a hope of seeing through to its conclusion. What to do? Answer this call to adventure, leaving behind all she knows and loves, and taking on a quest with no plan of how to accomplish it? Or turn a deaf ear and hope the events the traveller foretold are just a frightening story. Either way she senses she will never be quite the same, whatever her decision.

Outside, the silence is broken by a sudden breeze rustling through the lofty branches outside her window. And she knows what she must do.

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An Updated version of this piece is also available entitled
Deliberating the Call (v3b) , which has an extended middle section.

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This piece is written around the heroine, to let a different kind of music flow forth for this project, and to illustrate that all people have their heroic moments, be they big or small journeys, and male or female protagonists. And while I have written a setting above that is mythical in its elements, I could have just as easily described a young woman heading off to study abroad for the first time in her life.

I intended to use a minimalist setting for this work and also am keeping to a detached phrasing kind of style that lets the music move more spontaneously.

As always, comments are welcome.

This piece is dedicated to my lovely wife and wonderful daughter - both heroines in my eyes.

Hardware:
MacBook Pro, Akai MPK49

Software:
Logic 7.2, Kontakt 3.0, VSL
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Deliberating the Call &mdash 03/22/08 - 03:07:32 AM
this is so imrpessive the flute and the orch ...
the story beside this ...what a master piece !!
thnx for sharin my friend !!

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I don't know how you get firsties so often &mdash 03/22/08 - 04:33:10 PM
But your appearance so often in comments about my work (or OUR work together :o) is always very welcome.

Thank you my friend for stopping by and leaving your thoughts.

Peace,
Doug

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Deliberating the Call &mdash 03/22/08 - 08:35:02 AM
Lovely flute driven piece, with some tasty shaping of the phrases and dynamics. I really like a lot of the chords, intervals and spacings. Some of the string volumes(at cadences were a tad low--one wasn't sure it if was over or not, because the phrase endings died totally away). I thought the ending a little bit of out place with the progressive harmony prior to it. It needs to be longer! Nice work here for sure!

[ Reply to This ]
Many thanks for the critical listening &mdash 03/22/08 - 04:40:39 PM
and feedback. I intend to package this piece up with some others that work together on the same theme and so have a chance to re-examine volumes and the sense (or not) of completion. I will also think about the length, and whether with the other movements a longer piece works or if the whole becomes sufficient to express the mood with enough time to involve the listener.

Thanks Soulima!
Keep well,
Doug



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Nice piece my friend &mdash 03/22/08 - 09:40:38 AM
And very nice done... I wish you and your wife & daughter all the best in this life.

Take care
--
Kenta

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Nice to hear from you Kent! &mdash 03/22/08 - 04:44:11 PM
Thanks for your kind remarks. I still have your piece you sent me in the works as well and I have not forgotten it!!! I hope it get to it soon.

Be well,
Doug

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Deliberating &mdash 03/22/08 - 10:14:15 AM
wow Doug - this is great! Beautiful musical environment for listening, delicate and tender. My only gripe is that it's too short! (You could always do a second and third movement!) Great work!

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Karen, &mdash 03/24/08 - 01:02:40 PM
I was going to publish this with a couple of other movements I made on variations on the Heroine's theme but elected to put it out on its own for now. That said, it could probably benefit from a bit more length. I'll revisit this in future for sure.

Thanks for your kind comments,
Be well,
Doug

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Very pretty piece &mdash 03/22/08 - 11:42:30 AM
and makes me think about a lot of situations. I wished to hear more.:-)

[ Reply to This ]
Hi Roxylee &mdash 03/24/08 - 03:07:22 PM
Thanks for stopping by for a listen and I'm glad you liked the piece.

All the best,
Doug

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Wow!!! &mdash 03/22/08 - 02:40:14 PM
The ending is absolutely magnificent....!!!!

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That is so kind &mdash 03/24/08 - 03:16:48 PM
Thanks for your encouragement and for having a listen. Your comments on this kind of work are most meaningful.

Best wishes,
Doug

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Thought provoking sounds &mdash 03/24/08 - 03:38:30 PM
Very delicate and minimal, which allows more images to flow and creates a very nice space of calm. Very cool track Doug, very peaceful.

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Thanks Diviner &mdash 03/24/08 - 09:18:40 PM
Creating that space was what I was after which, as you say, lets the images and thoughts flow. I appreciate your comments.

Thanks!
Doug

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Deliberating the call &mdash 03/24/08 - 07:19:52 PM
How intense is that - wow, an awesome flute, - beautiful setting full of atmosphere!

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Thanks Dirigent &mdash 03/24/08 - 09:21:18 PM
for your very kind and supportive remarks. I'm flattered that you liked this arrangement.

Keep well sir,
Doug

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Enjoyed &mdash 03/24/08 - 09:33:57 PM
and thanks for the great description! Terrific pic to go along with the other two creative endeavors!

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Thanks Mr. Tiler &mdash 03/25/08 - 03:51:38 AM
Very nice to have you stop by - thank you for your compliments!
Be well,
Doug

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Very nice... &mdash 03/25/08 - 12:02:34 PM
...peaceful...reminds me a bit of Copland...beautiful piece...

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Copeland-esque - sweet! &mdash 03/27/08 - 11:08:49 PM
That is a very kind remark, but now that you mention it I hear some similarities towards the end with the double basses coming in. Of course I have a long way to go to write an Appalachian Spring, but it will be a fun ride nevertheless!

Thanks Bob for your comments and for having a listen.

All the best,
Doug

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Delicate... &mdash 03/25/08 - 06:41:36 PM
serene, beautiful shadings. A quiet understated masterpiece Doug.
Very enjoyable.
Best,
Charlie

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Charlie &mdash 03/27/08 - 11:26:15 PM
You're a gent! Much appreciate your comments sir!

Cheers,
Doug

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Captivating &mdash 03/26/08 - 07:09:17 AM
The quietness of this piece really draws you in. I agree that it might should be longer, but not because it sounds incomplete at this length rather I just enjoyed being in the contemplative mood this piece almost forces you into. Very well done. Minimalism- it's the least you can do. (Ok that's like the 3rd time I've used that joke at MJ's and I promise it's the last.)

peace,
chip

p.s. this is going to sound weird, but suddenly your name popped into my head today, and I was like..."why have I not yet listened to his music?" so here i am. I look forward to hearing more!

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Kind of spooky &mdash 03/28/08 - 12:07:24 AM
to have my name popping into your head, but glad it brought you around to here (with your minimalist humour in tow!). Thanks for your kind remarks, and it was a pleasure to visit your own site and hear the great work you're producing.

Cheers,
Doug

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So peaceful... &mdash 03/27/08 - 01:19:49 AM
This is beautiful and delicate. The phrasing gives wonderful breathing room to the music and to the listener. The piece creates an atmosphere that is compelling, that I wanted to remain in. That explains the comments about us wanting it to be longer...

Gorgeous piece of music, Doug.

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I really appreciate your comments &mdash 03/27/08 - 11:33:32 PM
and after listening to the piece again many times it was clear that I should lengthen it now rather than wait. I feel it wants to be longer for the reason you and so many have said - the atmosphere it creates needs to give the listener a little more 'soak time'. So I have the addition pretty much done and should be able to post it very soon as version 2.

Thanks again for your generous remarks and to all who have got me inspired to give this piece the space it needs!
Keep well,
Doug

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Heard this one already. &mdash 04/18/08 - 01:14:09 AM
Wonderfully brilliant then - wonderfully brilliant now!

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Thanks! &mdash 04/28/08 - 07:20:28 AM
This was the precursor to the same tune version 3b that you heard before. The later version adds a middle section to further develop the piece and explore the tension in going back and forth between the options to stay at home or answer the call to adventure.

Thanks for the supportive remarks!

Best wishes,
Doug

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