The harp is played beautifully, and the french horns are so
appropriate, but I would've liked to hear one of harmony
horns to play continuously throughout the melody instead
of following the breaks and pattern of the lead horn. That
may not make sense... sorry if I'm being ambiguous. I'm
not familiar with "Myth", so I may be way off here as well,
but I think in a song with so much darkness and implied
power, there should be more dynamics. In other words, I
kept thinking I was going to hear this long marching build
that was going to climax into a war zone (so to speak) and
then a resolution (think "Night on Bald Mountain").
Perhaps more crescendo/decrescendo (and note
velocity) with the percussion and strings would hold more
interest and keep with the warrior story. Of course, this is
just an opinion and small nit picks. I can't imagine the
time you spent keying the notes into an editor. I liked this
tremendously... and now I'll be humming the harp line for
the rest of the day. ;) I can't wait to hear more of your
stuff! 7-9-8-8
Miss Chaos (mmmm, dark chocolate & coffee...)

[ Reply to This ]

Thank you very much for taking the time to critique my song m?��lady! I
very much appreciate your thoughtful suggestions. I?��m also pleased to have
lodged the harp melody in your ear, hehehe, "mischief managed!"

but I would've liked to hear one of harmony horns to play
continuously throughout the melody instead of following the breaks and
pattern of the lead horn... Perhaps more crescendo/decrescendo (and note
velocity) with the percussion and strings would hold more interest and keep
with the warrior story.

That's an intriguing thought. When I revamped it this month I had the
french horns "bleed over" into the bridge more, and I also added more
dynamics to build it up to the middle climax before the troops regroup slowly
at the end. However, I can probably think up more harmony parts for my
second-chair french horn (though he'll probably want a raise then, hmm,
maybe an extra 2 bits.) And I'll think about how to give it more crescendo
punch.

I can't imagine the time you spent keying the notes into an editor.

I try not to think about it either, although now that you mention it, the
software ironically tracks the amount of time worked on a piece, hmm, I'm
sure I'll be embarrassed to find out... (goes and finds out...)

This document has been created 19/03/2002, 8:50:16 and modified
118 times. 46 hours 50 minutes 12 seconds have been spent on this
document. Music duration: 2 minutes 52 seconds.

Yes, now I'm embarrassed. But given that my only musical instrument
training was clarinet in high school (long ago), I've always preferred writing
music the old-fashioned way (dropping notes on the treble clef) and having
others perform it :-)

I can't wait to hear more of your stuff!

Well, I do have a small number of tunes that I am now slowly coaxing
into GarageBand as I learn more about its capabilities (Jazz, electronica, rock,
even a "Mexican Waltz?") I look forward to adding something enjoyable to
this great web community, I'm hooked!

ttfn,

Drakonis---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there

[ Reply to This ]

Sounds like one of those symphonic composers who has
suddenly discovered the joy of simple melodies and now
writes a folk piece, but can't resist using the resources of
a symphony orchestra.

Very nice piece. Folksy, yet sophisticated.

[ Reply to This ]

...one of those symphonic composers who has
suddenly discovered the joy of simple melodies and now
writes a folk piece, but can't resist using the resources of
a symphony orchestra.

Hmm, like Dvorak, or Liszt maybe? Great composers who loved to sneak in
folk tunes... and I can't remember which piece it was, but Beethoven wrote a
piece that has the tune "The bear went over the mountain" in it :-) But yes,
you've come close to pegging me :-) Now if only I could use the resources of
a symphony orchestra well! I'm working on that... thank you for the
insightful comments!

ttfn,

Drakonis---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there

[ Reply to This ]

Well considering that a jam pack four would have made a
world a difference back then, and the amount of work that
went into this as I know how hard it is to score this way, I
am impressed.

That said, the instrumentations are really fake sounding,
and it just makes me thankful for how far we have come
wth digital audio sample quality. Again Jam Pack 4 if you
don't already have it.

The piece is really nice and everything, but almost too
nice. Not much of a build throughout and I think that the
melody gets boring really quick. OF course that is
personal opinion, but I really think that you were limited
somewhat, by the technology that was around, as to the
authenticity that would have helped deliver a more
dramatic performance.

I would say throw this one out and get on something else.
Good Job all around though.
MMM

[ Reply to This ]

Hmm, you say that this could benefit from me using Jam Pack 4, but then
that you think it is done and I should move on to something else. OK, I
accept those two suggestions, and will either work on it more, or not. :-) I
have been eyeing JP4 for the very reason that I love composing for orchestra.
And Tiger is coming, and there's iLife 5... However, my budget constraints
don't allow me to bleed money on toys for my hobby, so I have to make do
with my current minimal setup and minimal knowledge. The latter accounts
for "the melody getting boring pretty quick", as you point out... I am slowly
learning how to write key changes and write for more than one index finger
at a time :-) Thank you for critiquing!
ttfn,
Drakonis

---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there

[ Reply to This ]

I agree that some of the instruments, like the horn and harp, could maybe use a re-scoring with some Jam Pack 4 instruments, but then again since it is inspired by a video game the sound does work well for that. I would have liked to hear much more percussion, like some timpani and a stronger snare. Right now it has a pretty, ambient feel but I think it needs to be more of a soldier's march. The melody would still work perfectly.

[ Reply to This ]

I love the fake instrument sounds,
you have put so much work into this
piece, and I think it paid off.
Totally got into warrior spirit.
Fine choice of instruments and harmonies.
The overall level of the piece could come up a bit.
Inspires me to actually play a computer game
some day.
Cheers

[ Reply to This ]

hand-scored note by note? very impressive...great composition...original film score?

[ Reply to This ]

Nice song drak, does sound like a slow march through rain.

[ Reply to This ]

Very nice track. It really reminded me of Myth - perhaps it was just the
song art, but that's beside the point - and it brought back a lot of horrible
memories of my brother slaughtering my men, again and again and again
etc.
Really nice work. Especially liked the harp.

[ Reply to This ]

Funny, your comment brings back similar memories of a younger boy
slaughtering my men (blowing up my archers) over and over again, but it was
my 8 year old son at the time. I always smiled and let him think that I was
going easy on him. Thank you for stopping by & commenting! I look forward
to re-orchestrating this soon in JP4, if I get my Christmas wish.
ttfn,
Drakonis

---
deja vu, it's the next best thing to being there

[ Reply to This ]

Nice going here. Like those horn combinations, The marching percussion
has a real nice feel to it indeed. Like the cello and the list goes on. . . . .

[ Reply to This ]

The composition is pretty good. The french horns are the weakest as
far as realism of sound....they could be a bit brighter and have a little
more dynamism, resonance and reverb/slow decay. The harpsichord is
very fine.

[ Reply to This ]

great medieval feel to this piece... I love the combo of horns and harp
you chose.

[ Reply to This ]

it makes me think of a fantasy land, the beggining with the thunder makes me think of merlyn, and it sort of has a zelda game sound to it. this would be great video game music for an enchanted forest or something. parts make me think of unicorns as well. it's beautiful.

[ Reply to This ]

Totally reminded me of Myth... has that sort of epic quality to it. And I
enjoy the 'fakeness' of video game music. For people like myself of the
Nintendo generation, video game music was never at risk of people
wondering if it was real instruments playing it, and it was/is cool
despite that. The very fact that it obviously isn't a real orchestra
playing it just adds to the nostalgia for me; some of the best sounds in
game music are completely accidental side effects created more by
hardware limitations than by compositional intent.

Nice work,
-Theis

[ Reply to This ]

Hey,
I could see this in a game, some of the parts reminds me of the music in
call of duty. Did you get the rain SFX from The Vision of Escaflowne?
maybe not, but hey I really apreciate the fact that you didn't use loops.

[ Reply to This ]

I haven't played Myth, but this really does belong in a video game... some kind of adventure, role playing thing. I'm still laughing here about this bit of advice from an earlier post: "I would say throw this one out and get on something else. Good Job all around though." Ever feel like you're getting mexed missages?

[ Reply to This ]

finally having a little time to enjoy macjamspace. NIce use of special
effects superimposed on a simple catchy melody. very cool.

[ Reply to This ]

Hi Enrique, thank you for taking time to listen to my pieces, I appreciate you
listening and commenting. I must tell you, this is the very first piece I posted on
Macjams. I even have a newer version of this (with Jampack 4) higher in my list
after I got feedback and learned a little more... so you are listening to an earlier
"me" :-) Happy to hear you liked it!

ttfn,
Drakonis

---
Deja vu - It's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song:<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/23351">Sometimes - Magic Flute mix</a>

[ Reply to This ]

I wanted to give one of your songs a listen before i went to sleep, and the word "rainy" caught my attention.

This is really beautiful. I'm not the best at critiquing anything, but i can say that it is a most pleasing listen for me.

[ Reply to This ]

Thank you for visiting my spot too! You chose the very first tune I posted on Macjams... and while I like this piece, there is a newer version of it here that is longer and sounds a lot better... (I learned a bit more about music writing/producing.) I'm glad to hear you liked it, despite it being an early offering.
ttfn,
Drakonis

---
Deja vu - It's the next best thing to being there<br>
### Today's song:<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/28669">Dance of the Technoids</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Hello Drak I am at the moment doing the rounds visiting first posts
and I found your little gem. Its lovely to my ears.
But I am not an expert. Well done,it sounds lovely:)
Peace Dee xx

[ Reply to This ]

Thank you for checking out the very first thing I posted at Macjams... hopefully I've gotten better over the years :) And you ARE an expert at what you like in music, so your opinion and thoughts mean a lot to me. Thank you for taking the time to listen and comment to my piece, and so many others! I learn a lot from getting feedback, and really appreciate it!
ttfn,
Drakonis

[ Reply to This ]

A catchy tune, enjoyed it :-) Like the medieval celtic atmosphere ...

[ Reply to This ]

wow, my very first tune on Macjams... I hope I have come some way since that first tune... but I admit I have a soft spot in my heart for this piece, and I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for listening and commenting on my works, Andreas, I really appreciate your great ear and thoughts!
ttfn,
Drakonis

[ Reply to This ]