Among The Trees by kassia
Genre: Cinematic Soundtrack
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Description:
Well, since I didn't have much to say in my last song notes, I'll make up for it here. First of all, this piece has been very exciting for me, and quite an obsession for the past few days. I've really pushed myself to try a bunch of new things - including expanding the number of instruments used (and thus, the number of tracks fighting for screen space), working both on and off the grid (damn metronomes), and ALL of the percussion is completely done BY ME (not recorded live, just written into GB)! That was scary - let me know what you think!
The song title comes from a poem by Mary Oliver, my favorite poet, and the picture was taken by me a few years ago standing in a grove of redwoods in northern California, looking up, up, up. Every morning, I go for a walk through the woods by my house, and have watched in wonder as, once again, Fall enters in. As I began working on this piece, I had an image of a bright yellow Maple leaf, falling from the tree and being bounced joyously along by a crisp, Fall breeze, traveling it's way through the trees. But as I continued creating this music, it grew into so much more than just a leaf's journey. It has become, too, a soundtrack to accompany me each morning as I move Among The Trees.
Enjoy!
The song title comes from a poem by Mary Oliver, my favorite poet, and the picture was taken by me a few years ago standing in a grove of redwoods in northern California, looking up, up, up. Every morning, I go for a walk through the woods by my house, and have watched in wonder as, once again, Fall enters in. As I began working on this piece, I had an image of a bright yellow Maple leaf, falling from the tree and being bounced joyously along by a crisp, Fall breeze, traveling it's way through the trees. But as I continued creating this music, it grew into so much more than just a leaf's journey. It has become, too, a soundtrack to accompany me each morning as I move Among The Trees.
Enjoy!
Lyrics:
When I Am Among The TreesBy Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
Hardware:
GEM PS1600 keyboardSoftware:
Garageband 4, Symphony JampackYou must be registered and logged-in to comment.
KissMeKate
The drums are great. This one has been getting often replayed in my head since I first heard you working on it.
Smooches.
Drew Kopr
You did all that percussion? Wowsa. Man this work rocks. Very well done.
LunaTrick
I can tell that a lot of work went into this. Lots of interesting rhythm, great use of stereo field, nice dynamics. I love your other stuff too - but this has to be one of your best pieces to date.
Enjoyed the Oliver poem while listening - and was filled with light!
futzpucker
Leaps and bounds, Shay, leaps and bounds...
Keep going... You're doing just great.
Feter
what a nice winter song .. absolutly an impressive
writing ..AND playing ..there s an elegant feel among
a foggy shpere there..your style just so deep with the
chords sequence you putted there ..enjoyed much ,thnx
alot fo rsharin such gem !!!!
magnatone
This piece represents a gigantic leap forward in your music, Shay! The drumming here is just fabulous, and the intricacy of your orchestration is a thing of beauty. Clean, crisp, moving, exciting - congratulations on this very impressive work.
MarkHolbrook
This is more than just a little gorgeous. Obviously as you can see it is spectacular!
I continue to be awed by you and your musical talent...
Gorgeous! I just wish it were a little longer!
Parichayaka beware my friend... this girl is moving up into your realm. You and Magnatone might have to make room for a third here pretty darned quick!
particledots
Lots of space yet lots going on. Great choice of sounds/tones and great arrangement
I think one of my faves of yours
b
EEFliess
this is such a nice piece, good production. It's the caliber of Enya...no, in fact it's better, it has more classical in it, a very nice epic piece, I can hear a symphony doing this piece
Morning Light
Beautiful Obsession! :)*
TheKapitols
This was really fun to listen to. The percussion sounded great and really accentuates the feeling generated by the different portions of the song. I especially liked the marimba.
lavalamp
Percussion was very impressive. Great piece.
Thanks for the picture of home. Sometimes I miss it.
Dave
elfdaughter
This is just amazing. A definite fave and download. Thanks so much for sharing. Amazing percussion - I know how tough it is, and I only did it for the cymbals in my version of the Nutcracker March
saymme
I love this right away , listened severaltimes before reading the lyrics - when I did that this just makes me melt, my chin dropping !! it added a dimension so great when listening - WOW (!) ! ! don't have abetter word I'm sorry : ) !! Courtseys & Flowers to You My Pleasure ...!!! lena
AWESOME YES AWESOME
TX
WildlifeAnalysis
The percussion really seals this one for me. Lovely tune is capped by swooping orchestral drums and a rich sonic backdrop. I'd love to chat with you about how you got to these sounds... very interested in incorporating them into these types of patterns myself :)
thetiler
Thanks for sharing, lots of neat sounds that are well put together.
Mystified
Of course, the fact this is related to nature makes it all the more rich and rewarding--nature-music-girl that I am!
The percussion here is fantastic...and adds a wonderful dimension to this piece. Just beautiful :)
thank you!
damiengh
Your efforts paid off bigtime. All the contrasts of sounds and tempos, made for a most enjoyable listen.
I have never tried the tempo changing on gb, that must have been fun figuring out. This song would fit in well on Sirius Radio's Spa 73 ( http://www.sirius.com/spa73 )
khanusx
this is sooooo good, actually its more than good its fantastic!!! im really impressed thanx for sharing this with us all!! i listen to the song before i read the description,just to see how it makes me feel, and your desciption was pretty close. well done!!!
drakonis
Very very nice percussion work, sheesh! And as always, beautifully flowing piano work. The whole thing really gets the heart pumping here and there, just like a movie soundtrack does. I live how you pass the theme off to different instruments through the piece. Maybe use longer-note countermelody for the oboe at 0:42 against the piano, they compete. Other than that, really stunning work here, and at 1:35, the synth and harmony reminds me a bit of (the other dazzling) MissChaos. Love it!
ttfn,
Drakonis
Alannah
... all the elements here .... there is the softness ... and then there is the "EPIC" .... my only wish would be to hear the whole thing LOUDER ... I think its (me) tho ... and my weirdo computer not putting the full vol into what I am listening to .... either that or I am going deaf ... hmmmm ... but nonetheless ... you have done something truly artful and fabulous here .. and I can hear all the hard work you have put into this .... (and) ... I can always plug anything I want into my own software and CRANK the vol (for my own evil listening purposes) ....
poodyglitz
Very clean. Beautiful feel. Evocative. Great production. Music is fun, isn't it? It comes through here.
Roxylee
Wow, Shay, this is awesome good! Majestic and delicate at the same time. Thank you for the poem, too; I'm going to read more of hers.
RickB1
I can't add much more than what has already been said. This is a beautifully expressive piece that conveys tremendous sincerity and sense of wonder.
Well done!
kristyjo
The variety of instruments is impressive! I really like your use of the marimba. Percussion was very well laid out, although at 1:06 the bass drum was distractingly 'boomy' -everything else was well spaced and layered in very nicely. Sharing the poetry is also a very nice touch. Thanks!
Bowman
A fresh and organic work that I very much enjoyed through all its lovely twist and turns.
Best,
Charlie
Garni
Love this kassia, Love the way this builds up to a real full on orchestral piece.
Thanks for the welcome into Macjams too.
G.
Doadars Uncle
Nice range of changes. It eases nicely from one moment to the next.
"... hints of gladness."
I think I could loop the whole thing and play it for hours. That's just the kind of guy I am!
btw I lived in Grand Forks for a few years. It was character building! lol
mjAlbumPods
featured in B O U N D A R I E S
http://www.macjams.com/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=6;showtopic=151051
Char
poem. Trees seem mighty and eternal. We don't often enough stop to see how very large a tree has grown and to think about how long it has lived. Awesome. Thanks.
Schello
ascolto tutti i tuoi tune a bocca aperta!
SlideOfHand
For about a 50 second from just before the 2:00 mark, that section that went really.... introspective... I could definitely imagine walking through a giant sequoia forest and just looking up through the trees. Maybe with a little bit of cinematic haze for that dreamy affect :P. Bravo.