Who's Online
Invisible Members: 4 Visitors: 162
Past 7 Days
Song Uploads: 204
Song Votes: 449
Song Comments: 2764
Forum Posts: 430
New Members: 72
Participation Points: 9145.85
|
Get Flash to see this player.
Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:
Attribution
|
|
|
|
|
Keywords:
quixote (1), dream (85), dulcinea (1), music box (2), cervantes (1), hoffmann (1), la mancha (1), windmills (1), drakonis (53)
|
|
Description:
Story (Cervantes meets ETA Hoffmann):
Our beloved Don Quixote has returned from an evening of drinking, after telling anyone who would listen about today's great deeds done for his love, Dulcinea. He knows Dulcinea has been captured by demons and trapped inside a music box. Up in his room, he now winds up the music box beside his bed, and falls asleep with the image of the figurine dancing in his dreams.
As the music starts, he is now playing his guitar for the beautiful dancing Dulcinea, who has broken free of the music box. As he plays his guitar, she hears his music and looks for him, dancing closer... until... the music box slows down, and he awakens as the demons return her to the music box, leaving him with the only memory of her music.
Composer's Notes: As always, this started as a melody I couldn't get out of my head, then I wrapped the other instruments around it and began crafting it into shape. Partway through, the above story line came to me, and propelled me to finish this first draft. It feels like a lot more can be done with it, but I'll offer this preview of my first draft for your critiquing. Any thoughts on instrumentation, tempo, mixing, story, etc... all welcomed. Already Magnatone, Anne, and Roxylee helped with early previews... Roxylee suggested that I could do a lot more with my early simple ending. So per her suggestion, I more obviously slowed the music box at the end. Then as a final touch, I added the wisp of the tune as a final waking memory.
Hardware:
Mac Pro Dual Core Intel Xeon
Software:
Harmony Assistant for 6/8 composition, GarageBand (Jampack 4 instruments) for playback.
|
Quixotic Dreams &mdash 04/21/08 - 09:53:43 PM
Yeah, FIRSTIES!! This has undergone major improvements since the preview I got a couple of days ago (or was that just yesterday?) Like I told you before, I'm amazed at what you're able to get out of the nylon string guitar on GB. I know you're doing some neat trick to make it sound so plucked, and I also know that's hard to do! I think the mix works very well. I wouldn't mind hearing more instruments- but as you know, I don't know when to stop either, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me.
But I think maybe more instruments coming in, letting it get a little bigger than it ultimately does could further the impact the song already has. That being said, it's fabulous just the way it is. You're so good at the slow build, backing off, starting the build over again. Your skill at that really shines through here.
I love the new ending, so glad I obeyed and listened all the way to the end! Great work drakonis! [ Reply to This ]
Secondsies! &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:13:44 PM
Thank you for previewing and suggesting it is worthy of posting... I really appreciate you taking time to listen to my little ideas here.
I probably over-obsess on trying to get clear instrument sounds (and in the case of the guitar, probably totally MISS the fact that nobody would actually play it this way, since I don't play guitar.) But I'm hoping to assault the many guitarists' ears here enough that they just grab the GB file from me in disgust and say "oh for goodness sakes, gimmie that! THIS is how it should be played!" and record a cool bunch of Spanish-style strumming over it, and then I'll study what they did.
I did try to do some builds, but I think more needs to be done, both with more dynamics, and with more variation and instruments coming/going. Thank you for the ideas, they fit nicely with what I'm thinking about.
The ending is *close* to what I want, but still needs tweaking... perhaps move the haunting repeated melody out a little further so it doesn't tangle with the ending chord as much.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Quixotic Dreams (first draft) &mdash 04/21/08 - 10:08:02 PM
this is way cool Draki ..just fabulous dreamy
tune ..havin trouble with the guitar chords ..
have you tried harp ?the pianolike tinkling
just wonderfull .wil be looking forward to
the next draft!! thnx for sharin !! [ Reply to This ]
pianos and guitars &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:17:03 PM
Hi Feter, so glad you like most of it! Yes, I need to do much more with the simple guitar part. I only strummed SOME of the chords, the rest are not arpeggiated. I want to rework that guitar a LOT. And I had fun with the off-beat piano, but it too needs a little more variation, I will have it flow in and out more. Thank you for listening and commenting, I value your thoughts very highly.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
You're a talented man... &mdash 04/21/08 - 10:26:34 PM
...blows me away that you can do this note by note like that. Really shows that you're hearing it and putting yourself in there. Bravo, drak!
I would offer only one suggestion (well:2), as this is in it's infancy and needs room to grow within you:
1) That ending is perfect. Really, really beautiful. Just as I was thinking that some changes in dynamics and texture would work well, there it was. Maybe you could work a bit more of that sort (or some varient) of change at different points of the piece. Give it a bit more 3 dimensionality.
2) Maybe a subtle melody that weaves in and out of view. Sometimes hiding behind the theme, then coming out and back again. Sustained notes. They'd provide a nice contrast with the staccato.
As I said, though: you know what's best for your li'l one. Very fine work, drak. Looking forward to more. [ Reply to This ]
noted &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:26:07 PM
It's all I know how to do. Now if I had piano lessons, maybe I could pour music into the computer faster.
Ooh, suggestions, yes please! 1. Yes, I wish to go off on a variation tangent in the middle, and as you and Paul Page keep urging me to do, actually try a DEVELOPMENT section... I need to do that. 2. Doh! Yes, I need some sustained notes behind the staccato chords, I actually totally forgot to do that! Maybe I'll have the brass do a sustained counter-melody here and there. Excellent points, thank you! I'm writing all this down for the update.
So Bob, what are you doing next week with your guitar? Got plans? (Evil grin.)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Quixotic &mdash 04/21/08 - 10:47:04 PM
Beautiful drak its gorgous I can just picture it Beautiful carnival
spirit in this or flamenco dancing.
Wonderful great Job And further more you know I Simply adore your music I bought the CD did I not/ :) Quixotic and Psychotic Rymes. lol
Peace Dee xxx [ Reply to This ]
Dancing Dee &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:29:17 PM
Thank you Dee for listening and commenting on this. I'm glad my music dances in your mind. May it always be a happy place!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
I like this... &mdash 04/21/08 - 10:50:51 PM
...just the way it is. Um. Is there some left-over material after the little flourish at the end? Sounds like it shouldn't be. You've got this south-of-the-border thing down. Cervantes? Well, maybe; but a Peruvian adventure of some sort for sure. There is such a comfortable feeling here and your use of percussion is really engaging...You are using4 chords, mainly -- not unpleasant... but I hear in my inner ear some pan pipe melody flowering out of the repetition of your pattern that could give this whole thing more breadth. But, of course, you already know I go for melody before just about everything else. I'll bet you could really go somewhere with this and still retain the comfortable, relaxing style you've already created.
Peace.
Paul [ Reply to This ]
type-cast with pan pipes... &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:38:02 PM
Uh oh, I better switch back to Eastern European styles on my next piece, so as not to get stuck forever in the Andes! ;-) Yes, there is intentional left-over artifacts of the melody at the end... however, if you did not read the story that goes with this (since this is programmatic music) it probably doesn't make sense. Which means, since not everyone would read the story, that this music doesn't really stand well on its own... so you make a very good and useful point here. I must think about how to adjust the ending so that it doesn't sound accidental, but more intentional.
I worked a lot on the percussion, lots of little experiments, and I think I like the pattern of the jingle-bells best in this :-) Thank you for noticing!
The Celesta/guitar melody that flows over this might need a little counter-melody, more legato under them... Guitapick suggests that too... I totally forgot to add a countermelody, and agree it is missing! Thank you for picking up on that.
And as for "going somewhere", yes, this is missing any development, and I intend to fill that in. Very helpful pointers and ideas, Paul, as always! I want to thank you again for your help and insight, they are invaluable to me.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Quixotic Dreams &mdash 04/22/08 - 01:08:25 AM
Wonderful work with the mallet sounds and the guitar. This character goes very well with the imagination of the windmills and a Spanish scenery. Great arrangement full of atmosphere, bravo! Nice postlude ... [ Reply to This ]
Tales of Hoffmann &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:43:23 PM
Thank you, Sir, always glad to have you stop by and listen! I'm happy to know that it evokes a Spanish feel. My orchestration still needs help (more variation in the bars for piano and marimba), and a nice big development section to play in, but at least I grabbed this melody and pinned it on the page for now. Now to build on it.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
A piece that somehow manages to be &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:04:02 AM
quirky yet somewhat dreamy at the same time - a feat! I like the question /answer in different voices - and the alteration in tempo at the end. And sorry Paul - I like the afters - sort of meanders off. But I did want to hear some variety in the main descending progression - ever so slightly though. Very nice piece! [ Reply to This ]
Quirky dreams &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:48:36 PM
YES! This is what I was striving for, especially with the opening raw "walking" melody, glad you picked up on it. Glad you liked the ending idea too. And as for your idea of some more variation in the sequenced melody, yes, I want to have a little more variation within the sequence, but also then launch into a whole development area where I play with the melody and build on it, in a Dvorak-ish folky/orchestral way. Wish me luck, because that is a HUGE endeavor for this dragon-of-such-little-brain. I'm learning slowly about music theory on my own, and hope someday to find out that FUGUE is not a four-letter word. :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Nice and charming &mdash 04/22/08 - 03:10:14 AM
Really nice and charming piece. Like Magna I am fascinated by the nylon guitarish sound. It is way charming in it's strange way. (Reminds me of the nylon guitar sound in Melody Assistant.
Johannes [ Reply to This ]
Haunted by Melody Assistant! &mdash 04/22/08 - 02:57:43 PM
Hehehe, Curry, thank you for listening and putting up with my terrible attempt at trying to mimic a guitar, note by note. Sometimes Henrik (Henke) will chastise my music for sounding like "Melody Assistant", and he is correct when he says this... I learned that it means the music is too exact and "mechanical" sounding (not imprecise and human-played.) In this first draft, I have not blended notes together and "humanized" the writing or playing yet. So I think the guitar (writing and playing) is still too regular, repetitive, and not enough dynamics applied yet. And I need to add my magic touch to the guitar chords to make them strummed like a real guitarist would do (up and down.) Or of course, I could just give it to a master to actually play real guitar over. Let me know if you can think of anyone who might like to play this when I get further along. (big smile.)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Wow! &mdash 04/22/08 - 07:04:34 AM
Nice track Drak! The mix and instrument sounds are perfect to my ears. Now as you know I'm not the greatest at an actual critique, but I'll give it a try :)
At the beginning you've got the guitar and bells/music box playing off of one another. I liked that and wished it would have gone one more round before the piano came in.
The slowing tempo was good, I thought. I think I would have preferred everything to come back in for 4 or 8 measures then have the ending you've got. I very much like the fade out at the very end, too.
[ Reply to This ]
mix sounds good? &mdash 04/22/08 - 03:10:47 PM
(I posted a comment that got cut off when it posted, weird... I'll retype it)
Excellent news, Mike, thank you! I struggled for a day just on EQ curves on the different tracks.
Great idea on extending the intro and the ending, I will work on your suggestions for those... thank you for taking the time to listen and critique!
I look forward to hearing your upcoming biggo-collab piece soon!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Neat and tidy! &mdash 04/22/08 - 08:45:28 AM
Cool ending! And fun piece! The basic challenge for me in this kind of piece is figuring out how to sustain the listener's interest while the chord progression never changes, and you have done a fine job of this through colour changes (bringing instruments in and out) and some melodic changes.
It doesn't need much more, IMO. If you like to tinker, you could try to build to a bigger climactic moment, then gradually come away from that in an ever-thinning texture (which essentially is how you end).
I would vary the harmonic pattern somewhat too in order to shake up the predictability a bit, and maybe start modifying some of the chords (for starters, adding 7ths), but there's no need to do this, because it's very neat and tidy just the way it is! [ Reply to This ]
Yay Clark! &mdash 04/22/08 - 03:18:18 PM
Always such a rush to have you look over my shoulder here, thank you for your comments!
Usually the way I overcome the challenge of sustaining the listener's interest is to just write a really short piece. :-) There should be a new music genre... "Laconic"
Needless to say, this first draft has no development section yet, but I wish to add one, and work on adding more variation in the repeated bass/chord patterns too... you noted I did *some* of that. Anyway, In the development section I will bring everything to a big climax as you suggest, then relax back toward the ending. I do have a couple of E7 chords in there, but they go by quickly, I may need to modulate into the development section... I hate doing that, it is so hard to do! Then I have to figure out how to get back to my native key. But the practice will be good for me... I can hear you telling me :-) OK OK, I'm on it!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
YEAH!!! &mdash 04/22/08 - 08:54:22 AM
I'm saved! New fresh music! Awesome Drak!
Simply Awesome! 6/8 huh... ok I'm lost already... I've tried to play to that a few times and well... I get lost after a few bars...
I agree with one post below... Well actually with most... The intro is so cool... I would swirl that around a little longer before the piano comes in.
Thank you so much Drak! [ Reply to This ]
Mark... just for you... &mdash 04/22/08 - 03:24:38 PM
Thank you for being so interested in my musical stuff, and letting me be interested in yours too! We software engineers should start a NerdNote club, maybe call it "Music of the Nerds" :-)
6/8 is much like a waltz, all you need is two left feet (and one right foot), perfect for me!
OK, longer intro (for us insomniacs who don't go to sleep right away)... got it, perfect helpful critique, thank you Mark!
Now it is my turn... tap tap tap... you ready with a new one yet? (smirk)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
You are most welcome! &mdash 04/24/08 - 09:19:13 AM
Drak, your music has been a source of inspiration!
No insomniac here! I listen with peeked ears!
I have been working on three pieces, none of which is worthy of even a remote listen. All are not what I want at this point so sorry... will be a little while. I'm trying really!
I started on a piano ballad that has been pinging in my head for sometime. But what I'm finding is that I don't like my style of piano playing. I'm untaught and when I play it live I enjoy it, but listening to the MIDI playback I find it stunted and very poorly timed.
Unlike Gail60 who seems to have this wonderful flowing piano style, mine is junky, jerky, stunted and feels off time. The funny thing is when I play it live it seems not that way. It's making me wonder if the MIDI capture is not quite perfect somehow. Who knows...
Lots of work to do. Basically I have a ton of cool melodies and ideas in my head but lack the skills and time to get them out into the software. Only one thing to do... Get better! [ Reply to This ]
hello drak &mdash 04/22/08 - 09:57:54 AM
right then just a few major nits ... naw.. lol ... some valid suggesstions made by greater than me ... so i will simply say i loved it ... and the ending was pure fun! [ Reply to This ]
what then? &mdash 04/22/08 - 03:29:07 PM
Hey Jack, thank you for listening and suggesting improvements by proxy from others :-) I completely agree, and will work to improve this per those excellent suggestions! And, I'm ecstatic to know you loved the music and ending... makes my week! I appreciate your thoughts a great deal.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Ahhh. yes... &mdash 04/22/08 - 11:18:34 AM
The ending is perfect now- the slow wake up, the lingering dream traces, just perfect. I've been humming this all day yesterday and this morning, so I can see why you had to develop this guitar melody into a story song. It just had to get out there and dance with the other instruments. Amazingly clear and realistic nylon, and as usual, your impeccable timing and build. It will be interesting to see if this turns into an Emberesque project, with many interpretations. Wonderful composing.:-) [ Reply to This ]
Happy Birthday Treat! &mdash 04/22/08 - 03:36:52 PM
Yay, thank you for previewing this and telling me to work on the ending, it got me thinking about how to finish it, and that was the result.
Sometimes I'll be driving or walking somewhere and invent and start humming some little tune, and it will stick with me for days... that happened here. I could hear the guitar playing it, and had to go home that night and start writing it all down. This is the first step. Glad you like the guitar sound, just the stock GB acoustic guitar, but with some (Harmony Asst.) dynamic markings and some (GB) EQ work.
I never thought of Ember-izing this... I already spoiled it by divulging my own story. But, perhaps, dare I even mention this out loud... it would make a really cool music video? Soooo many projects, so little time.
As always, thank you for your friendship and help.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
mood maker &mdash 04/22/08 - 07:14:53 PM
This piece is really good at setting the mood. I can see Don Quixote on a horse or imagining himself on one. Lots of fun and beauty here. Well done!
chip [ Reply to This ]
imagery &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:28:46 PM
So glad to know that this injects the images of humor and beauty. Off to polish my armor some more, and revise and improve. [ Reply to This ]
Enjoyed! &mdash 04/22/08 - 09:24:48 PM
Wonderful Drak. Your music is always enjoyed as
I find color & clarity and well recorded.
scotty MO [ Reply to This ]
the orchestrator... &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:31:35 PM
Hi Scotty, I admire your ability at keeping your orchestrations clear, and that is what I always strive for... glad this stays out of the mud! I've got some great suggestions here to work on, and I will keep your clarity in mind. Thank you for peeking at what I am up to, I always love your music and comments.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Great work &mdash 04/23/08 - 08:15:52 AM
Love the sound of the bass, all the sounds mix together really well.Very dreamy an story like all in one. [ Reply to This ]
I always like a good bottom-end &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:33:40 PM
I try to pick my bass carefully, in this case, something strong but acoustic-sounding. Glad you liked the story-music!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Poor Sancho Panza &mdash 04/23/08 - 09:27:37 AM
He has to carry a whole grand piano with him to play for his master! Good thing that it's only a badly sampled one....
No seriously, this is a fun tune and quite charming, evoking whatever pastoral Iberic mode you were going for.... until that piano comes in. Ditch it. Right now. [ Reply to This ]
Always so correct, Victor &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:39:47 PM
You are right, of course. I was battling with the piano through this whole piece, wanting something to fill in the mid-range, but it is too busy. I need a slower countermelody, but a softer instrument, clarinet or flute (though the flute may interfere with the guitar.) Anyway, you confirmed my concern, and much to Sancho Panza's glee, I have left the piano at the tavern, and I'll be looking for a woodwind player now. Thank you for your emphatic suggestion!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Busy busy, as we Bokononists say.... &mdash 04/26/08 - 07:49:24 PM
Actually, it's not the business of the piano part as such -- I think I'd tolerate a banjo part of equal business. To me it's the electronicness of the sound, in the middle of the more acoustic sounds. Now, a good sounding grand piano might work with other acoustic instruments, but not this particular piano, hence my comment about it being a "badly sampled" one.
Unless by "busy" you mean another thing that bothers me about the piano: the sound is too dense. It fills up too much of the spectrum.
Looking forward to the next revision..... [ Reply to This ]
Hi Drakonis.... &mdash 04/23/08 - 03:13:07 PM
Overall I think it is a great little piece. Well constructed and it all seems to fit together very well.
One comment though, the first time the pseudo guitar comes in, there is a bird-like chirping that doesn't appear on any other section of this instrument/effect.
Take care.
Paul [ Reply to This ]
Birdsong? &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:43:03 PM
Hi Paul, thank you for critiquing... I'll go see what flew into the guitar, and let it out. Perhaps it's the "f" (Forte) marking on the guitar when it first starts, I've lowered the dynamics to "mp" during the intro, hopefully that de-squeaks the guitar.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Quichotte &mdash 04/23/08 - 03:40:22 PM
was the name of a 1980 Tangerine Dream live recording (also?) released as Pergamon and (I think) most well known in the studio version as Tangram. Only that does not sound at all like your more "latin" sounding Quixote. With your piece I can find myself under a parasol shading the sun with a cold beer in my hand watching the street life and listening to the escapados of the Don himself.
Nice composition, as always, which I am sure you will enhance even further with future versions, maybe even polishing off a teeny bit of the Harmony Assistant tinge ;-)
Thanks for sharing in the process!
/Henke [ Reply to This ]
TD is everywhere... &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:49:29 PM
For some reason, when you said you could imagine yourself holding a "beer" and watching the Don, a bad bi-lingual bit of wordplay suddenly hit me... I heard you saying to the waiter... "Mas Cervantes, por favor!" (uh... instead of "Cervesa"... never mind, it was a bad joke.)
I am madly working on a new version of this, and I am DEFINITELY going to remove the HarmonyAssistant mechanical aspects of it, I now always remember to work on that before I finish a piece, by flowing sections together and working on dynamics and sometimes nudging notes around a bit to sound "human." I appreciate your careful listening and critiques, thank you!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Sweet &mdash 04/23/08 - 07:29:11 PM
Charming and so spirited! I haven't been to MacJams for a while but wanted to stop by and see what new music you might have. I'm very glad i did! [ Reply to This ]
Always a delight! &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:52:07 PM
It is always a wonderful day when you stop by! Thank you for listening to my latest work-in-progress. I know that you usually hang out elsewhere, and I must make a point of returning the favor, and listening to your latest music now too!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Great! &mdash 04/25/08 - 03:47:42 AM
Now this is truly fantastic work Sir Eduard. The composition is very fine and I'm in love with that guitar sound.... Wonderful by all means!
Thanks a lot for sharing..
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
You like the guitar? &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:54:53 PM
So nice to hear a great guitarist say that... well, I intend to keep the guitar sound then. I am working on some more "strumming" on it, as well as flowing dynamics so that it sounds even more like a real guitarist. Hopefully when I am done with this, you will like it even more. Good to see you again Yeman!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Riba Riba Babee .... &mdash 04/25/08 - 11:42:17 PM
... you have such a vivid imagination .. I always enjoy how you can wrap more than just a story .. but visions of a history and a future around your tunes .... the imagery is definitely there .... [ Reply to This ]
more than voices in my head &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:58:48 PM
I have all these stories, and music... mostly little snippets, but sometimes they start melting together into some big inspiration that I have to jot down... this one was doing that to me, practically screaming to get out. There's still a lot of it up there, not done yet. I'm happy you are enjoying the whole experience I'm putting together, Alannah.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
hey stranger! &mdash 04/26/08 - 05:39:52 PM
What a wonderful job here. So sorry I am late to the party but looks like I still got a nice surprise! You are just the most creative gentleman I know. I seriously believe that you could take a tin can and make it sound good one way or another. :)You have loads of talent and I always enjoy listening to your music. (Thanks for being you Eduard. That in itself is really awesome.) [ Reply to This ]
Gail! &mdash 04/26/08 - 06:02:21 PM
Ah, I can stop pacing now, wondering how you're doing.
A tin can? Maybe THAT is what is missing from this music, it needs more tin can! And speaking of people with loads of talent... I swear you could just LOOK at a piano, and it would play its heart out for you. Gail, you too need to keep being that great lady that you are! Thank you for listening to and enjoying my silly romps in adventure-land!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
What fun! &mdash 04/27/08 - 11:14:10 PM
I love the background story. The music box sound is great and of course the guitar playing is top notch. It's a very fun quixotic little piece. See you at tomorrow's meeting! [ Reply to This ]
MIDI-ochre guitar playing &mdash 04/29/08 - 10:18:00 AM
I look forward to re-working the guitar part to be even better (it is hand-scored note by note, not played by me, I cannot play anything), and replacing the piano with something less obviously "thrown in" (the KSA meetings are helping!) but I'm glad you like the overall story and feel... thank you for offering me your thoughts on this, and not being too hard on me for the obviously loopy piano.
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
There you go Drak... &mdash 05/01/08 - 03:27:18 PM
...tilting at windmills again! Ha ha...
Way cool! Has a very ethnic feel.
I was wondering though, if you could get eanbardsley to add some authentic Spanish guitar riffs here and there? Not that you don't pull yours off nicely...you DO. But it might add some more texture!
Anyway, very nice piece of work Drak. Very nice!
Be well! [ Reply to This ]
You got it &mdash 05/01/08 - 09:37:15 PM
and oh yes, I would love to have somebody come up with a real guitar performance for this (although I would like to extend this some more first, it was just a short sketch for now.)
Thank you very much Micheal for seeing what my latest musical folly is, glad it didn't knock you off your horse!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Off my horse? &mdash 05/02/08 - 02:32:03 AM
Off my HIGH horse?
Me too...it's a long way down and I have porcelan bones! [ Reply to This ]
process &mdash 05/02/08 - 09:45:47 AM
The creative process you write about sounds familiar. I went through similar steps when developing a recent drawing, which started out as a simple scribble (melody), then took on shape and form as color was added, and suddenly a specific title (storyline) manifested itself, which gave it a clear direction. That's always a great point to arrive at when developing an original piece, when clarity overcomes uncertainty.
I like the mix of marimba, music box, piano and guitar and how the music box and guitar trade leads with each other. At times it really feels like they are dancing together.
The ending (the sudden flourish after the winding down, followed by the distant melody) is the only thing not working for me. (I realize I'm in the minority on this - but that's feedback for you.) I think I'd prefer the slow fade ... as the dream dies ... to continue to ... the last ... note .... [ Reply to This ]
the Tao of discovery &mdash 05/02/08 - 02:23:39 PM
I enjoy the journey, and finding how others pick their way through the creative mine field too.
As for the ending, I toyed with a few ideas, and settled on the wisp of melody (after the sudden awakening) lingering faintly in the air... but for a stand-alone piece with less emphasis on the program/story (which people may not have read prior) and my lack of skill at really doing this justice, you may be right that a slow winding down to the last note would be more metaphorical and satisfying... hmmm. Thank you for such specific and useful thoughts/critiques, this is what I love about Macjams, much appreciated, Warren!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
big music box sound &mdash 05/09/08 - 01:20:20 PM
Delicate yet substantive. Has a nice momentum. A Swiss music box on steroids. [ Reply to This ]
such things as dreams are made of &mdash 05/09/08 - 03:52:00 PM
Glad you stopped in to listen to my first pass here, Richard... always good to see you. On the next pass, I hope to maintain the delicate balance without losing the momentum (otherwise I fall off my horse!)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
| |
But I think maybe more instruments coming in, letting it get a little bigger than it ultimately does could further the impact the song already has. That being said, it's fabulous just the way it is. You're so good at the slow build, backing off, starting the build over again. Your skill at that really shines through here.
I love the new ending, so glad I obeyed and listened all the way to the end! Great work drakonis!
[ Reply to This ]