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Vortigern's Fortress (EKNM) by TobinMueller [Email]
Genre: Classical

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 774
Comments: 21
Votes: 11
Plays: 82
Last Played: Nov 13, 2008 - 01:06:53 PM
Downloads: 22
Fans: 21
Uploaded: Jul 16, 2008 - 10:35:16 AM
Last Updated: Jul 17, 2008 - 10:21:04 AM
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Keywords:
organ (78), pipe organ (4), Merlyn (4), King Arthur (1), Rick Wakeman (1), Vincent Persichetti (1), Francis Poulenc (1), Michel Legrand (1)
Description:
In the hall of the King, behind a giant tapestry, a pipe organ was discovered. The King commissioned me to compose a piece for pipe organ to inaugurate the discovery. I used a variation from an earlier work, a solo piano piece entitled Chaos of the Subconscious*, for the opening and closing sections, but the middle is an improvisation fit for A Little Night Music.

The title "Vortigern's Fortress" comes from the scene in Merlin's youth in which King Vortigern is establishng his fortress yet it keeps falling. He forces a young devil child known to possess prophetic powers (Merlin) to tell him how to fix the problem. Merlin sees a vision and discovers that dragons are living beneath the foundation. (Merlin was also an architect/builder of sorts.)

I added tympani to the final variation for dramatic reasons, befitting a court appearance.

Thank you, again, Prince Feter, for introducing me to the Duke who introduced me to the King's concubine who helped me discover what was behind that giant tapestry and ended up helping me to get this gig.

*Actually, it's more of a fragmented variation, since it sifts out whole bits from the chaotic hodgepodge of that piano piece... and, actually, if you listen to this organ work before you listen to the piano piece, Chaos of the Subconscious makes much more sense.

Hardware:
Please turn this up as loud as you can! I couldn't compress it any more without wrecking the dynamics. (It's already too compressed, actually.)

Software:
11 different organ patches went into this pipe organ simulation.
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Vortigern's Fortress &mdash 07/16/08 - 10:50:26 AM
Ahh Lord Tobin this is a delightfull
dramatic organ work ..I love pipe organ ...
and you gave that massinieh(spell) feel for your
organ work ..you certainly one of the best
who wrote with drama on every piece of music.
the change of the paddle was amazing ...so angelic
the progress you made that began with the drums
then the orchestra ..exactly refelct what I said
in the beginning ..of your drama feel to all of
your music ..this is glorious ...large and magistic
and fits the King mood ..just fabulous ...
Deepest Bow my Lord !!!



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Nice Pipes &mdash 07/16/08 - 12:12:34 PM
I like the intro and close, but I love the middle improv section. Very cool piece.

In the interests of constructive criticism - I am not sure if the snare drum works for me. Could be my system, but the percussion overall sounded a little tinny, and did not add much drama. Again, though, that middle section is wonderful.

Now I will vote carefully following the pull down menu guidelines: 9-9-8-10

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Chaos &mdash 07/16/08 - 01:40:18 PM
Very cool how the organ makes the parts from "Chaos" sound so different. Must say that I admire your ability to use such sophisticated harmonies.

Thanks
Bill

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Very good work with the Pipes &mdash 07/16/08 - 03:06:17 PM
At first I wasn't sure were you were going with this, but as it progressed into the piece I began to understand the power of it all.

Very good simulations of the pipe organ and adding the drums in the final part was effective. On the JBL's I'm using to monitor the whole piece sounded stunning.

Excellent work Tobin thanks for sharing.

Votes: 9 9 8 9

Ed

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pentatonic visions &mdash 07/16/08 - 03:23:42 PM
I dig the pentatonic feel, the crazy chord clusters. and that middle swection, like the euphoria sandwiched between the insanity of visions and prophecy. man, you always blow me away. glad I checked back in after so long gone...

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French &mdash 07/17/08 - 10:18:57 AM
I was actually trying to give it a French feel. You know the score for the 1973-4 film, The Three Musketeers (music by Michel Legrand)? That was my main inspiration. Thanks for checking in.

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Tobin &mdash 07/16/08 - 06:59:20 PM
I'm a big pipe organ fan - this is not only a really good composition in the genre, but the production is superb. No nits that I can hear. Pro work (as usual).
Thanks,
Neil

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yes &mdash 07/16/08 - 07:10:53 PM
i mean Rick Wakeman, I mean Tobin. This is stupendous, really. I like the drums. I used to live in an abandoned museum and there was a giant organ there, my roommate was always playing it, and I wish he sounded like this. Very impressive.

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Rick Wakeman &mdash 07/17/08 - 10:09:07 AM
Cool. Thanks. Yes, he was on my mind, along with Persichetti and Poulenc.

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It transposes &mdash 07/17/08 - 08:03:18 AM
very well from the piano piece and has magical sounding passages as well as the grand sounding parts, definitely fit for a King and his Court, cheers M

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Power &mdash 07/17/08 - 02:44:17 PM

I love your chords .
Big organ sounds giving lot of emotional power to the music .
Bravo!

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yeah &mdash 07/18/08 - 02:49:03 PM
this is well done. i like the intensity of the playing in the beginning and end. the short but purposeful bursts. it compliments and contrasts the middle more freestyle section perfectly. the subtle percussion sits very well too. great piece and very cinematic.

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Very well done &mdash 07/18/08 - 03:30:29 PM
Great organ sound, and lovely production. The intro was almost startling, and really pulls you into the piece. The change to the gentler passage is very effective, and what a lovely passage it is, lovely sound and really nice sound. The percussion in the last section works well, adding a new dynamic to the track. Very appropriate for the setting, and very nicely done. Peace.

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The middle... &mdash 07/18/08 - 08:24:13 PM
...is magic, Tobin. Such sweet sounds that echo just "so" in the room you have chosen. (I don't "get" 18th c. sounds out of this composition, but I am really drawn into the composition as you have imagined it. The organ sounds and harmonies, while more modern, are very characteristic of this instrument and have a powerful effect.)... I enjoyed this number immensely.
Peace.
Paul

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Now from the... Hack gallery &mdash 07/18/08 - 10:05:30 PM
I really enjoyed this Tobin, although honestly my first instinct was to move on, because this isn't necessarily my cup of tea. Every time I come for a visit I am inspired and always walk away knowing something I didn't before. I really appreciate you as an artist and producer, and want to thank you for teaching me so much. Every comment I see of yours with constructive advice in it (never sounds like criticism to me) I find myself pouring over it to glean the knowledge and expertise you seemingly give to us from a very generous and patient spirit. Ok enough with the sunshine ;o)
This is beautifully composed and played.

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Such a &mdash 07/18/08 - 11:03:06 PM
musically diverse structure of extended chord figures that really takes on new musical meanings with each repeated listens.

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11 different patch's &mdash 07/20/08 - 12:18:40 PM
besides being a wonderful composition, I was struck by the authenticity and range of dynamics/harmonics I heard from the pipes. The mix also seems to capture the realm of having been recorded in a stone church. I closed my eyes for certain passages and felt I was being carried a way to old europe.

My neighbor actually has a massive (takes up a two story room) pipe organ and sometimes (he's well soundproofed) I can hear him playing in the dead of night. I love that sound.

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In the dead of night &mdash 07/21/08 - 08:41:41 AM
How cool is that. Like living next door to the Phantom. Thanks for the supportive comments. I'm really glad your ear caught the visuals I was striving for.

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Great &mdash 07/25/08 - 07:31:48 AM
Relaxing music.... Nice to hear it.... You're really good to arrange music.... Big thumbs up, for that.... Great work.....

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Love those Maj7 chords &mdash 07/26/08 - 09:21:00 AM
I can't remember coming across them when I played Widor.

This is great stuff. You clearly know your way back and forth through Mel Bay's 1001 Keyboard Chords :-)

Which organ did you use? I initially listened to this on headphones and I kinda missed the power in the pedals. On speakers it's better, but I think I'm still missing the 16' sound a bit. A nice 32' in the ending would of course be heavenly.

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Nice stuff &mdash 07/28/08 - 12:31:41 AM
and unusual too. I love organ music. the quiet section in the middle is quite enjoyable. Thank you

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