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Introspective


by

MarkHolbrook

 Genre: Classical

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Description
My shot at anything remotely classical. In fact I'm not even sure if this is the right genre for this.

I've had this piano passage in my head for a while and it sort of went this direction on it's own.

The piece is somewhat repetitive. I tried to emphasize different instruments in different parts. Any suggestions from those of you with classical arrangement experience would be much appreciated on ways to broaden it and give it more depth.

The piece features piano, viola, cello, french horn, harp, flute and choral all playing different parts.

This song comes as a result of realizing that some of my favorite little friends (pets) will soon be passing on. I grew up with all kinds of animals all of my life and the hardest thing has been watching them move on when ti was time. In their short times on this earth they bring immense amounts of joy and love for how little they ask in return.
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Song Stats
Hits: 1090
Comments: 33
Fans: 21
Plays: 100
Downloads: 45
Votes:
Uploaded: Mar 30, 2008 - 01:10:21 PM
Last Updated: Mar 30, 2008 - 01:10:21 PM Last Played: Nov 05, 2009 - 12:11:07 PM
Song License
Creative Commons License:
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Hardware:
Intel Mac Mini, Keystation 61e
Software:
LE8
Comments
droop said 588 days ago (March 30th, 2008)
Very nice Mark!
I'm lost with the classical thing myself, but I do really like the melody and overall direction of this. I also feel the same about animals, I often find that I prefer them over most people.
Very well done.
Check out my latest song called Last Teardrop
MarkHolbrook said 588 days ago (March 30th, 2008)
Thanks Droop
The cat in the picture is named Max and he's 16 and I can see the slow decline happening. He's been the most amazing cat I've ever had. From the first day home from the pound he simply knew exactly what to do, when to do it, I cannot remember a single time we had to scold or discipline him. He just knew how to fit in perfectly.
Check out my latest song called Never Say Goodbye - Bond Challenge
gail60 said 588 days ago (March 30th, 2008)
Hey Mark!
This is very pretty. I think you did a fine job here. You know that I am pretty close to being a "classic" myself so I could not teach you anything about what is right or wrong in music...lol! Seriously, this is very nice and I wish the very best to precious Max and your other friends. A sweet dedication to them. Thanks for sharing.
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Feter said 588 days ago (March 30th, 2008)
Introspective
very nice placed all over ..nicely ornimented and
arragened .the piano is marvelous leadin all the
surround into a total beauty ..thnx alot for sharin !
dajama said 588 days ago (March 30th, 2008)
Beautiful melody
and great arrangement. You do a good job of building up the elements, and the melody draws power as it grows. I like the use of the different sounds, too. As for genre - who knows, and really, it's not that important. If it has soul, it has soul, however you label it. Nicely done, my friend. Peace.
Check out my latest song called Across the Wire (MJRF)
Remark80 said 588 days ago (March 30th, 2008)
Great Melody
This is really a pretty song. I like how you layer different sounds as the song goes along. This has movie score written all over it. Nice job.
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davisamerica said 587 days ago (March 31st, 2008)
right then
here's to max ... and nice tune mark.... all the best man
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bonnieprincejohnny said 586 days ago (April 1st, 2008)
Brilliant.
The recurring theme makes me think of black holes for some reason - I love it.
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jbazemore said 586 days ago (April 1st, 2008)
Very nice
Kind of catchy, found myself humming along afre a minute or so.
Jarvoid said 585 days ago (April 2nd, 2008)
Classical,Orchestral...
Cholestrol,it don't make no never mind ..really pleasant piece and given the inspiration and subject it is just spot on...I,ve lost three ,very elderly ,feline friends over the last few years but for the all the pain the little buggers cause when they
shuffle off I wouldn't have done without them...this piece reflects what you lose and what you've still got without being maudlin or oversentimental.Another one for the Trophy Cabinet,oh and regards to Max and many more purrfect pussycat years....Jarvo
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said 585 days ago (April 2nd, 2008)
Really beautiful


How beautiful, serene,relaxing and fantastic this sounds to my ears
this is a serious Heavyweght post :) Well done. You should be very proud of this. reminds me of a cinima track.
Peace Dee. xx
Doadars Uncle said 585 days ago (April 2nd, 2008)
It starts up pensive
then moves into breadth.

Nice ensemble. I understand the premise and it carries through the music.

Well done!
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Soundhound said 585 days ago (April 2nd, 2008)
Excellent
Orchestration with style..... nice work..


I........LIKE IT.............
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SJB said 584 days ago (April 3rd, 2008)
Beautiful
I've already faved all your acoustic pieces - I'll have to start with your orchestral works now. A really lovely arrangement that flows so beautifully. Great work!
Give Max a pat from me.
Steve
Check out my latest song called Short tune
Skean said 583 days ago (April 4th, 2008)
Wow
I'm sorry I'm little late to this one.. This is beautiful in many ways.. Love it.

Peace
---
Kenta
Check out my latest song called Walking seeking & depressed
stevel said 582 days ago (April 5th, 2008)
Lovely melody on this
Very nice orchestral piece...everything works very nicely here
Cheers
Steve
Check out my latest song called Electricity
branchgraft said 582 days ago (April 5th, 2008)
Beautiful
.....and a beautiful tribute.. I do understand about your cat.. mine is very special to me.... we have lost others.. I still miss them .. but don't write Max off... I have had friends whos cats lived into their twenties and that even after they started looking like they were not long for the world... You never know... plus there are some on record that have exceeded 30 years! ... I hope Max will be one of them.
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jiguma said 582 days ago (April 6th, 2008)
Lovely tune Mark
Not sure it's "classical" - maybe "ambient", but very nicely done whatever you want to call it!

I can hear a vocal in this - not for me really, but maybe a female voice. It would be great if someone picked it up and ran with it.

Good post!
Neil
Check out my latest song called Under My Skin
said 581 days ago (April 6th, 2008)
Very Nice MH
I put the classical tag out of my head while listening to this because I wanted to enjoy it for what it is but I did hear a medieval theme in this perhaps its the flutes, but I would love to hear this with added mandolin and oboe, it is a treasure on its own as well, thanks!
drakonis said 579 days ago (April 8th, 2008)
hard to be objective here...
So, I had many cats through my life, and the last one lived to be 19, he was there before my kids and grew up with them, was part of the family, came with me in the divorce, one of the sweetest gentlest people I've known. He brought incredible joy to the family, as Max has done.

Anyway, on to the music. You've stumbled upon a very strong beautiful poignant theme here, I can see why you return to it (I hear bits of Enya, and bits of MissChaos, interestingly... both meant as sincere compliments.) Its genre borders on movie music, sort of a romantic movie theme. Your orchestral writing here is pretty good, and shows it off nicely. You do a good job of building on the theme. My suggestions for improvement would be that near the middle things get a little muddy, due to the chorus, piano and strings being panned close to center and being close in pitch and having similarly slow held notes (need some countermelody.) The flute stands out nicely, and because of that it should be closer to center, or have another instrument (glockenspiel?) balance it on the other side with off-the-beat notes. I would add a little embellishment to the flute on later repeats... the theme is strong enough to not get tiresome with this length piece, but a little more tweaking of some notes here and thee would really add depth and sparkle. Thems my thoughts... oh, and mostly, this is WELL WORTH working on some more, it has the makings of a really breathtaking piece of beauty.
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magnatone said 579 days ago (April 8th, 2008)
Introspective
Mark - this is sensational. Drak just sent me here, sorry I missed it before. What great work - you're dripping with talent! Thanks
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composerclark said 578 days ago (April 9th, 2008)
Very pretty
Very pretty; kind of sad-sounding. I listened to it first before reading the description, so I now see why it has a bittersweet quality. Very well done. Opens with the chord progression from John Lennon's "Julia." I think, which also evokes a similar emotional response. I like the way that it ends with an unresolved feeling.
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Bob6stringer said 569 days ago (April 18th, 2008)
Apt...
I just want to acknowledge what all have said, that this is a very sweet piece of music. Aptly named.
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dirigent said 566 days ago (April 21st, 2008)
Introspective
Fantastic track, full of atmosphere. Beautiful!!!
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LunaTrick said 558 days ago (April 29th, 2008)
Nice dynamics and production
Good dynamics always compensate for repetition - also tonal movement. Great for your first orch foray!



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kassia said 516 days ago (June 10th, 2008)
introspective
Beautiful cat you have there. (We have 4.) Mark this is a gorgeous theme. And I LOVE french horn. I think the horn line in this was fabulous. The flute sounded wonderful. I'm not a fan of the fake voice sounds - but that's just me. Wait - I have to listen again...

Okay - the staccato string that come in right after the piano intro - beautiful. I love that sound. And of course the horn. I read drak's comments and I agree, if you wanted to polish this up a bit, maybe spend some time working on the panning and balance. But overall this is a beautiful piece of music - tender and sweet and full of love. Knowing that you wrote this for your pets makes me believe that you are a fabulous person.
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sloparts said 514 days ago (June 12th, 2008)
Hello Mark
Since I'm way behind in my listening, I thought I'd drop in and check out some more of your music, and now I'm clad I did. Since I recently posted my first attempt at a classical piece I was drawn to this one right away especially after reading your intro.

I have a very old cat that may be leaving me soon too, so I can relate to this piece of music on a personal level. And in this piece I can feel the emotions you've put into it and understand why.

This is beautifully done Mark. I can't think of anything that you could do to make it better because it's beautiful as is.

Say hello to your Max, from my Gizmo. Take care and be well my friend, I love what you've done here.

Ed
Check out my latest song called Just a little Something
said 456 days ago (August 9th, 2008)
Oh Please
this is cheese. Get a life.
saymme said 388 days ago (October 16th, 2008)
wow..
kinda speechless..magnificent...
TX
Courtsey To You

saymme said 388 days ago (October 16th, 2008)
( :
My neighbour has a cat thats 25 & still going strong -
How Your pets doing..? I remeber You taling bout loosing one - : / : / We have 2 cats...have to get ri of'm cause allergy gets worse wish You could have'm & lisa ! LOVE THIS PIECE !!!!!!!!!!!!
Char said 383 days ago (October 21st, 2008)
Mark,
This is pretty. I have lost three cats in the last 20 years. They live to 18. If one thing doesn't get them it's something else. They become stoic and will rest near you but won't cat lap you because of pain from arthritis, etc. They are good as long as they eat. Cats tend to lose interest in their food. Rapid weight loss causes even more problems. I let one go on too long. A big lesson learned. I cuddle my dear buddies every chance I get.
I can see this with some sweet singing and purring or tail wagging and happy barks. You could have a furry choir. Big Fluffy. It is worth doing more with. Thanks. :)
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Bowman said 334 days ago (December 9th, 2008)
A lovely and very touching work.
Brings up lots of memories and a few tears.
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maxruehl said 68 days ago (September 1st, 2009)
Pretty Theme
I like the choice of instruments and the nice spread of the mix. I'm rather fond of using flute myself and this is a great use of it. Very moving track, bud.
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Artist Info
artist photo
Name: Mark Holbrook
send a note
What does one say about a hacker... ? My Cat Max: Today, July 28th, 2009 I lost a best friend. For the past 17 years the little white cat in the picture above has been a constant best friend and companion. He brought me more joy and happiness... [see more]

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