We Dined by Candlelight

kristyjo

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Description

This song is based on a theme that I developed using the words of the title. It started out as a piano solo, and I then added the oboe and string parts. I ended up using the pencil tool to smooth out my piano playing. I hope I managed to walk the fine line of smoothing it out enough to be appealing, but not too much to lose warmth. The oboe sound is not too bad - it's the GPO sound from my Finale program. I also tried to put breathing spaces in there, and give it some internal dynamic movement. I did the arrangement, let it 'simmer' for a couple of weeks, and then, after coming back to it, ended up changing it around a bit to add some textural interest. Comments, shout outs, and crits are welcome.

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Song Stats

Hits: 947
Comments: 19
Fans: 17
Plays: 77
Downloads: 54
Votes: 5
Uploaded: Oct 19, 2008 - 12:48:22 PM
Last Updated: Oct 19, 2008 - 12:48:22 PM Last Played: Nov 19, 2009 - 10:38:15 PM

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Creative Commons License:
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Keywords:

song (218), oboe (25), piano (715), easy listening (42), kristyjo (7), romantic (38)

Comments

saymme	saymme said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)
	We dined in Candlelight : ) ...getting this in my email this evening just blew a warm wind into my Heart & listening to this is amazing...fantasizing of we dined in candlelight. . I'm humbled Many Beautiful Flowers to You : )

kristyjo	kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 20th, 2008)
	You get firsties- I always am pleased that you enjoy listening to my little pieces. Thanks for always taking the time to leave your nice comments! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

peacepiano	peacepiano said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)
	Enjoyed I liked this one a lot. DL'd :) Thanks Bill Check out my latest song called I Should Have Known

kristyjo	kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 20th, 2008)
	Bill - I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Henke	Henke said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)
	Well written as always! Liked it a lot. It's very "candlelight" in mood, which is nice always, but maybe especially this time of year. Can't think of anything to make it better, seems you've thought about pretty much everything... Stay well! /Henke Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

kristyjo	kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 20th, 2008)
	This time of year - does make me think warm thoughts of fireplaces and candles. maybe that's where the tune came from. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

drakonis

drakonis said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)

heartwarming
OK, suggestions first... there are a couple places where the piano and oboe are playing the same notes, same octave, same duration, same beat, and they "get lost in each other" (something I do with my sweetie during candlelight dinners, but I think it's not what you intended here.) For example, at 0:51-0:54 you have nice harmony (different notes and durations), but then at 1:03-1:05, they combine and are almost indistinguishable... I might rewrite that little passage a bit for separation? The countermelody around 1:28-1:36 is really pretty. And the unexpected drop at 1:45 was really nice. The last 1/3 of this was really pretty, I like how you built to that and finished it up. Its hard to find much to nit-pick with your stuff, I always enjoy just listening to your works first.
ttfn,
Drakonis

Check out my latest song called Lullaby for the Inner Child

MarkHolbrook

MarkHolbrook said 401 days ago (October 20th, 2008)

Drak
Picked it spot on KristyJo... This is excellent but there are a few places where they tangle up a bit.

For me personally I've never been an oboe fan... It sounds good here but I keep wondering what a different maybe deeper instrument would sound like in combination with the piano.

My personal suggestion is don't smooth the piano out with the pencil too much. If there are minute timing differences, keys hit a bit to soft or hard it just makes it more "human".

But like the rest this is really beautiful. Great melody and great orchestration.

Check out my latest song called Never Say Goodbye - Bond Challenge

kristyjo	kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 20th, 2008)
	Drak- Your listening ear and comments are always appreciated! I took a listen, and I know what you mean at 1.03. I'm still not done experimenting with this little melody, so there may be some changes in the works, there. I'm glad you liked the keychange. I used to use those all the time, and decided to throw one in here. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Ed Hannifin

Ed Hannifin said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)

This has a quality that I always like...
...and that I find in the instrumental work of Paul Page and Cori Ander as well, which is, a melody phrased as the human voice would phrase it, so that it not only cries out for lyrics, it almost suggests them. Listen to this, and you hear almost-lyrics just on the edge of one's hearing/consciousness...

I could also see this 'danced' very easily...

It achieves that other Very Good Thing, which is, to be romantic without being glorpy...

Really nice...

Ed

Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

kristyjo

kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 21st, 2008)

lyrics -
Hmmm...
We dined by candlelight,
We talked through half the night,
The moment was so right,
and then ...
great - now I sound like a stupid Viagra commercial.

I used to do lyrics with my music, but it's so cringe-inducing to read them a couple of years down the road. I'd gladly go for a collab on that aspect of the music. I don't even mind singing - just getting the words is my battle.
Thanks for the listen, comments & suggestions, Ed :)

Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Ed Hannifin	Ed Hannifin said 399 days ago (October 21st, 2008)
	Let's not be hasty.... Lotta money in Viagra commercials... Ed Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

Ed Hannifin	Ed Hannifin said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)
	AND.... ...it needs and deserves a cool graphic... Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

kassia

kassia said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)

candlelight
Sweetly perfect for a romantic evening. The piano is simple enough to not detract from the beautiful oboe line, but also very melodic as well, really carrying the piece. i agree with drak, the build up to the last 1/3 of the piece is great and it all ends beautifully with the strings and oboe, fading into the sweet piano. I'm such an abuser of reverb and pedal on my piano, that my only real suggestion here would be to add a little sustain to the piano to get a little fuller, more mellow sound. This is a beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing it.

Check out my latest song called Deep Majesty

kristyjo

kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 21st, 2008)

Shay -
Thanks for coming, listening and commenting. I haven't got ivory, or another high quality keyboard sound package, so I've made do with the orchestra Steinway in the jampack from Apple. What I wouldn't give for a physical pedal on my keyboard controller! I've been playing around with this since posting, and have added some extra reverb to the piano, as well as to the main track. Hopefully not so much that it's muddy, just enough to add some warmth. Great suggestion.

Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Feter

Feter said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)

We Dined by Candlelight
what a sweet gentle piano sphere here that set a sweet
green meadow for the oboe to sing over ..this is a real
sweet piece of Art my friend ..yea certainly you
succeeded with describing such spiritual and warmth
on this song ...thnx alot for the gem !!!!

Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

kristyjo	kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 21st, 2008)
	Feter - I like your picture of a green meadow for the oboe to sing over. You have a great way with making the music visual. I'm glad you enjoyed this, especially after hearing some of your romantic offerings, recently. Thanks for listening and commenting! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

thetiler	thetiler said 402 days ago (October 19th, 2008)
	One of the best I think I've heard you do, love the emotion of it. Flows quite nicely. Seems like this would be very nice wedding music. Thanks for sharing! Check out my latest song called The Bluebird Cafe (with two other guest)

kristyjo

kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 21st, 2008)

Bill -
Thanks for the listening ear. I like your thoughts on the 'wedding music' aspect of this. It does have that kind of a vibe. Thanks also for the compliments. As I do different things for my 'day job' (elementary school music teacher) I sometimes have trouble settling down enough to explore more grown-up themes in my music. This was a chance for me to do that.

Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

paul f. page

paul f. page said 401 days ago (October 19th, 2008)

Lovely...
You have such a wonderful gift for melody, KJ, and that shines through beautifully here. Your piano is understated and never gets away from its position as accompaniment (and it sounds very authentic to my ears, too.) The oboe could use some "space" -- is there an EQ on your Finale program or some way to get a little extra reverb into it. That would soften things up a little... Also, you might consider another solo instrument (flute/clarinet?) that could take the pressure (and insistence) off of the oboe on occasion, perhaps allowing for a counter melody. That might provide you a little more sonic variety...Nevertheless, the composition itself is very very appealing and such a pleasant listen.
Peace.
Paul

Check out my latest song called Double Etude

kristyjo

kristyjo said 400 days ago (October 21st, 2008)

Paul-
You are 'king' of this style here at macJams, so I'm really glad to get your input. I wish I knew how to get that 'space' around the oboe- I managed better with that on some of my other pieces, but I don't know how I did it. Sometimes I play around too much with the sounds, and then they get kind of muddy, which is what might have happened here when i tried to take a bit of the sharp edge off of the oboe. I could get a couple more woodwinds or a french horn to carry some of that melodic load, too. I still write as if I'm going to have to pay all of the players, so they'd all better be doing something most of the time :) I'll be working on this more, so I'll play around with different instruments, and see if I can get more textural variety by realizing that if a clarinet plays only two measures, it's o.k.
thanks!

Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

elektronix	elektronix said 401 days ago (October 20th, 2008)
	Lovely I like this kind of music very much. Your piano tune is great. I want to agree with Drak and Paul. The oboe sometimes disappears because it plays the same notes like the piano and a little more space for it would be great. But anyway, it is a great composition! Thank you for sharing! Greetings from Germany, Bernd Check out my latest song called moonlight on my face

kristyjo	kristyjo said 399 days ago (October 21st, 2008)
	Hi, Thank you for coming all the way from Germany to listen to my song :) I'm always glad when other musicians are willing to seriously listen and give suggestions for my music. I'm glad you enjoyed this composition. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

HenriROGERsoloandbands	HenriROGERsoloandbands said 401 days ago (October 20th, 2008)
	Oboe The piece has very nice expressions , classy . About the playing : the piano left hand line could be different at some parts , like playing one whole note only per bar, or changing it's notes order and number . Maybe the piano could play chords softly while the Oboe is soloing. Maybe maybe maybe :-) Check out my latest song called HyperKineziK 1/1

kristyjo	kristyjo said 399 days ago (October 22nd, 2008)
	It's wonderful - to have fine musicians like you make suggestions for my music. Yes, I think some rhythmic or tonal variety in the left hand would enhance this piece. I tend to arpeggiate when I don't know what else to do, so that's what I did here. Even a few changes would add some variety. Thanks for listening and commenting! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

guitapick

guitapick said 401 days ago (October 20th, 2008)

~
First: It's a beautiful tune, kristy. As always, I'd love to hear it with the true instruments...but we don't have that luxury...do we? And it's beyond fantastic that we can play around like this...isn't it?

Some good comments and suggestions here. I'd like to chime in with Paul Page's, specifically. Not sure...perhaps a touch deeper reverb and eq on the oboe would help to "round out" that sound. And an added instrument could be a nice touch as well.

But those are points that really don't need to be addressed...as this is a fine, fine piece, as is. Thanks for posting.

Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral

kristyjo	kristyjo said 398 days ago (October 22nd, 2008)
	Bob- Thanks for the listen. I'm glad you enjoy the piece, and I'll keep working on that oboe sound. I would love to take a course on recording sometime (I learn best in an academic environment.) Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joe Brady

Joe Brady said 399 days ago (October 21st, 2008)

Nicely done
I like your sense of melody, a natural fit for my ear. A sense of warmth is definitely achieved. I like the oboe especially on the first go-round with it. Maybe the oboe should step back after that and let the piano take the fore for one more go-round before they cresendo together. I think you should consider a steel string acoustic guitar part 'cause it sure is fun to play along here;-). Beautiful piece.

Joe

Check out my latest song called The Refugee Blues by Feter with Jiguma

kristyjo	kristyjo said 398 days ago (October 23rd, 2008)
	Joe- I'm glad i gave you a chance to play along. Maybe a collab sometime. Drop me a note if you have an idea for steel string acoustic & oboe:) Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

dirigent	dirigent said 396 days ago (October 25th, 2008)
	We Dined by Candlelight Awesome atmosphere, a song full of feeling, simply beautiful, fine arrangement and orchestration, excellent work, love it!!! Check out my latest song called Autumn

Roxylee	Roxylee said 396 days ago (October 25th, 2008)
	Warm and peaceful Yes, like a romantic candlelit dinner. With slow dancing after dinner. Two people sharing thoughts with no need to speak, just watching the light dance off their smiles... Ahhh... lovely song, Kristy. Check out my latest song called Sweet Grace

Firesign	Firesign said 394 days ago (October 27th, 2008)
	Wonderful I had a candlelit Chinese meal with my wife a little earlier - we should have had this playing in the background! Check out my latest song called December 1985-2008

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 393 days ago (October 28th, 2008)
	Dinner for two? You and your oboe playing friend? Sweet piece, but after a while I could use something more than just 3 chords (4?). Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

kristyjo

kristyjo said 392 days ago (October 28th, 2008)

Hi,
Actually, there are 6 chords, 10, if you count the key change as different chords. There IS quite a bit of repetition here. That's so that it gets stuck in your head, and you have to come back to listen to another song to get this one out of your head. (mwa-ha-ha...)
But seriously, thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts.

Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

LunaTrick	LunaTrick said 391 days ago (October 30th, 2008)
	Lovely arrangement! I love using reeds for main melodies - and this is a treat! Check out my latest song called Luna Gypsy Heart II (Eternal Firelight)

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Artist Info

Name: Kristine Johanek

I've been performing, composing and teaching music for many years. I enjoy arranging traditional and classic pieces, and also enjoy composing original music. I'll write for whomever will perform my music, so I've written for children's choirs, co... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

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