A very very nice composition.. Kudos

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For listening and taking the time to comment!

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this is nice realy ..impressive strings section ..
very 20th century I might say ..loved the piano .
I can see how you made alot of scenes all through
this lovely piece my freind .very well written
thnx for sharin !!

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I was trying to approach the piece from the mind of a child (wonderment, curiosity, etc.) rather than the cliche gothica associated with graveyards. The main theme is purposely constructed to transpose indefinitely, cycling through the keys until it finally gets back to the tonic.

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wow a whole lot going on here...just like the mind of a child though, never still. You are very creative. The drums were very surprising and the odd notes were a bit scarey. You created a graveyard scene and all the fears that can conjure up. Great job.

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Really enjoyed your recent song too. You might like my Swimmer & the Siren song - when you get a chance.

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cool stuff. I love the chimes/bells section. The piano section that comes in after the chimes is really great - but maybe a tad too long. I love all the different moods - frightened, wondrous, daring. The mix is great - everything well balance. Maybe work on making the transitions a little smoother - the one I really notices was at the very end when the "hero" section stops suddenly and the solo piano comes in....is there some way to lengthen/smooth that transition? Great composition....interesting and intelligent. Thanks!

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I take all your points - although I was working on slightly jarring transitions on purpose. Yes, I think the last section might have been a bit drawn out. I really look forward to more of your work!

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yeah - this starts out eerie, goes to intense scary feeling. Puts me on edge - so I guess it did it's job. Really inventive - I like how toward the end the first theme is repeated. The drums are pretty "in your face", but that might be exactly what you had in mind. Nice work Luna!

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The theme keeps modulating but it's fairly cosy until the second round where the harmonies escape from the tonal structure. I was trying to craft different sensations using modulation, rhythm, and instrumentation. I'm learning!

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Starts out somewhat calm as you state the theme, then wanders off the path into dissonance. Nice handing of the theme off to other instruments.

A couple of minor suggestions... usually I suggest SPREADING things more, but in this case, on headphones the instruments are pretty heavily panned to left/right, I might move some of them closer to center, especially the main string section that comes in around 3:20 is way off to the left and felt lopsided. Also most of the instruments sounded correctly placed in orchestral seating, except the flute (around 3:00) that was off to the right, flirting with the trumpet section... get her back over to the woodwind section! :-)

Overall this was a fun listen. You rolled the theme around and sequenced it and chopped it up quite expertly, it was fun to hear it mutate. This did not evoke graveyard scenes for me, but seemed more abstract... actually, due to its repetitive and growing-then-shrinking nature, it reminded me a bit of Mussorgsky's "Bydlo" from Pictures at an Exhibition (one of my favorite segments of that work... the farmer's giant ox-cart slowly coming up the road, passing you, and then continuing on down the road.)

ttfn,
Drakonis

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- and I love most things by the Big 5, Gliere, Glazunov, et al. I was trying to emulate traditional orch seating within the pan - but may have been off with the flute. Good ears you have. I can see how it might not be very graveyard like - but there again - I don't have traditional associations with graveyards.

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i am completely blown away by this. i really appreciate the dissonance, and how it shifts to the music box sounds is very childlike. makes me think of being a child and death was such an abstract thing. i think this is an incredible work.

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For this - and all your comments. As you say, it's a song of innocence and experience - of innocuous sensations and associations. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed this piece.

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I pretty much agree with what Michael2 says here.

Admirable restraint and elegance intertwined in the dissonance.

b

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but to agree with both of you. Thanks!

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Love how you go off into that weird key. And there is so much happening here - always kept my ears glued to the speakers.

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Seriously - thanks for all your thoughtful comments. It's a big help!

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...is the relative simplicity of your counterpoint. You never clutter things up with too many instruments competing for center stage. You have a good ear for what works well in dissonance without letting it become so strange that it is unpleasant. You always seem to make good choices. Mid section = yes. Scary. Kind of catches one off guard. I think the perc. might be a little heavy-handed. I want to continue to be startled by those string clusters. ... Anyway, you have created something truly unique and have done it in a most engaging and inventive manner.
Peace.
Paul

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I have a penchant for dissonance and experimentation - but I had to reign it in for these pieces. One of my fave things about contemporary composers (Estonian School etc.) is the more subtle use of dissonance. I really enjoy your comments - and look forward to part 3 of your project.

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I always appreciate the fact that someone has taken the EXTRA effort in attempting to create ACCURATE soundstage imaging and therefore, enjoyed the realism that resulted here. Maybe it's a matter of personal taste, but I think that you were pretty "right-on" per my aural sights!. As far as the use of dissonance and dischord, it was your experience and to me, it made it sound more like what seems to be happening, and in the life of most while in those "uncomfortable" and "child-like" state of minds... If I were gonna reflect my childhood in this fashion, it might hurt the ears of most, and no one would be able to make sense of it. Maybe now is the time for me to make sense of it, but musically. You have inspired me.

What a great composition! Thanks for sharing! Wish I coulda taken one to go ; )

Macca

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I appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment. I am enjoying your work - hope you continue to listen to mine.

Cheers!

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Initially I couldn't hear the music in your piece because of the, eh, mediocre samples you use. I know that Jampack was cheap, but unfortunately it also sounds cheap.

But while you're saving your money for the Vienna Cube (just kidding)....

First off, on the whole this is more film music than "real" classical. The piano probably has something to do with it, but the whole atmosphere is rather panoramic. Definitely the way you use percussion in the second half.

You may also want to give some thought to the mix of this piece. That celesta is 10 times as loud in your mix as it would be in real life. This is a really soft instrument! Think of ticking a fork against the side of a wine glass.

Ok, for the good bits. The part with all the percussion is pretty cool. That brass sounds really impressive. But what I like most is much earlier in the bit starting at 0:46 where you have a bunch of added voices that are not in simple harmony but extend the harmony beyond what the piano is doing. Really cool.

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I would love to have the best system and software - believe me! Having said that, I don't think the GB orch pack is so bad that it obscures the music - many people have done well with it on MJs. I take your point about the mix - and it is an ongoing battle to get everything as close to live as possible. Thanks for listening!

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...on my birthday...bet you didn't know you were giving me an extremely precious, macabre, brilliant present...

Fanastic...I love it...fine painting of the setting...

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I'm glad you enjoyed my piece on your special day!

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Another masterful work from you my friend. Great piano sound, the strings are wonderfully played.. Great piece! WOW... wish it was available for download!

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

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It is available on CD - which is why I block the download. But I may reconsider that policy. Thanks for your words of praise!

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