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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.
And, completely nrelated to the above story, I recently chose this music as background to introduce a short "nature video" where we watched some Elephant Seals up in Northern California...
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.
And, completely nrelated to the above story, I recently chose this music as background to introduce a short "nature video" where we watched some Elephant Seals up in Northern California...
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magnatone
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!