An American Lament

awigze

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Description

Recently we have heard The National Anthem in a number of settings. As I was listening to it during the Inauguration Ceremony I could hear in my spirit a counter melody that I had never heard before. A few days later I heard the song again and I could hear the counter melody even more pronounced. This song, An American Lament is my attempt at rendering this counter-melody. I was not going to write anything, thinking that the music should be able to tell the tale of how much I love our country and how much sadness... and hope I have for her. Politicians cannot solve our problems. We have to do it on our own. The longer we stand by and allow this, the deeper we will go into being an unrecognizable America. Freedom is never free. The more power that government has the less liberty the people have.

I plan to add a trumpet.

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Song Stats

Hits: 622
Comments: 42
Fans: 15
Plays: 74
Downloads: 49
Votes: 2
Uploaded: Mar 16, 2009 - 08:39:46 PM
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2009 - 08:39:46 PM Last Played: Nov 07, 2009 - 08:02:47 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
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Song Actions

Keywords:

America (34)

Hardware:

Cannonball Tenor Saxophone, midi files, M-Audio 1814 Firewire, Mogami V69 Tube Microphone,

Software:

Comments

egobandit

egobandit said 250 days ago (March 16th, 2009)

Ill have to admit
Im no fan of borders Im more of a planet human fan. I must say that the music here is exceptional. Cant wait to hear the trumpet. Love the part where the drums come in and the anthem. Its almost like it swings in and out of cohesion nice contrast. In my own humble opinion I think It could have been done without the anthem part, but then it wouldnt have the contrast. Anyway great playing on this!

Check out my latest song called when its love

awigze	awigze said 250 days ago (March 16th, 2009)
	egobandit I had considered deleting the anthem part and using it as a template - which is still a possibility after I gather more parts or horns or whatever... Thanks for the comment and glad you listened. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Feter

Feter said 250 days ago (March 16th, 2009)

An American Lament
what a sweet lament here ...the sax sound so soulful ..great great arrangement
very very moving when the deep horn sound came in ...the intro just perfect
for the hymn ...wonderful orchestration ...trumpet might be so harkin all
over ..ye it can be perfect to add it ...very nicely done my friend ...
thnx alot for sharin !!!!

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

awigze	awigze said 250 days ago (March 16th, 2009)
	Feter Thanks as always for the encouraging words. Thnx for listnin' Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

LunaTrick	LunaTrick said 250 days ago (March 16th, 2009)
	Nice work I'm with ego - the music is very nicely done - hypnotic! Check out my latest song called Luna Gypsy Heart II (Eternal Firelight)

awigze	awigze said 250 days ago (March 16th, 2009)
	Lunatrick Thanks- the more I think about it, the more I should go without the midi parts and build around it and take it somewhere completely different- such is music. and so it goes.... Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

spitlogic	spitlogic said 250 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Nice trip I enjoyed the take on the national anthem. The synths bring about a good atmosphere and makes the playing seem almost dreamlike. Check out my latest song called Guillotine

awigze	awigze said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Mitchell Thanks logic. Thanks for all you are doing! Andy Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Char	Char said 250 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	You came up with a very original intro and re-work of the anthem. I was lost in reverie while listening. Thanks. Check out my latest song called Break Away (Mark Holbrook & Awigze)

awigze	awigze said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Char Thanks for the listen.Glad that you got what I was after in this song. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Day-Dreamer	Day-Dreamer said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	love that Sax! This so cheered me up Wonderful production and the way you bring it all back in to play for the build up. Sounds amazing:) I loved every second :) Very proffesionally produced. :) Check out my latest song called IT'S OVER (V2)

awigze	awigze said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Dee Thank you for listening. I am very happy that you got the reaction that you did. Although I was going for the sadness I began to realize that the meaning of this country and what the song represents transcends day to day concerns into hope. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

magnatone

magnatone said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)

Lament
wow - this is quite mind blowing! i'm mixed about when the actual anthem comes in - i see ego's point (well, both of his points), but without that contrast it would probably lose something. the first part, with your counter melody truly is hypnotic and really does have the feeling of lament. this is off the scales in the creativity department - GREAT work!

Check out my latest song called Symphonic Smackdown

awigze	awigze said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Magnatone taking all suggestions on the mix of this tune... I only think it's done. Leave it in the can a day or two and see what incubates. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

awigze	awigze said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Magnatone And... oh ya - thanks for your comments and taking the time to listen Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

mowguy3	mowguy3 said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	The song itself is remarkable. Your twist at the end of the anthem section is awsome. The description that you wrote I would agree with for the most part. "We have to do it on our own" I agree with totaly. Very tasty in my opinion. Be well, Russ Check out my latest song called A Different Shade Of Moonlight

awigze	awigze said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Russ Thanks for the listen and comment Russ. It's hard not to type a diatribe right now... so.... THANKS !!!! Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Joe Brady	Joe Brady said 249 days ago (March 17th, 2009)
	Powerful piece hits home; feels like we've been for sale for quite awhile. Buying our freedoms from us with promises of security and using the fear of losing creature comforts. We will lose them anyways, but each sale leaves us less room for comment. It is sad, and the music, fitting. Nicely played, loved the sax. Check out my latest song called The Refugee Blues by Feter with Jiguma

awigze	awigze said 249 days ago (March 18th, 2009)
	Joe Great Comment, Joe. Thank you for the listen. I just feel as though the slate is being wiped clean and it will be replaced with a less robust vision of America. I tried to subdue the anthem with fewer flourishes to denote this feeling... less cymbal crashes, etc. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

davisamerica	davisamerica said 245 days ago (March 21st, 2009)
	very huge production ...quiet impressive. Hats off to you.... Check out my latest song called No Son(egobandit band)

awigze	awigze said 244 days ago (March 22nd, 2009)
	davisamerica Thanks for dropping in. appreciate the comment. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

WharmtonRise

WharmtonRise said 245 days ago (March 21st, 2009)

Very creative
I actually sang a version of America the Beautiful tonight in a gig with my Barbershop Quartet that includes a simultaneous quodlibet in the second verse. The lead sings the usual melody while I as Bass sing a melody loosely based on the Stars and Stripes at the same time while the other two parts Oooo a two part harmony which could be considered homophonic. It works really well. Which is a long winded way of saying that this works well!.

Its great that you were able to reach back into your brain and give loose to that darned tune that runs through it constantly when you hear a different piece of music (or is that just me?... erm apparently not ;) )

Anyhoo... really good stuff.

I have downloaded it and I will see if I can add anything as per your suggestion.

Cheers!

Check out my latest song called Footprints in the Sand - Final

awigze

awigze said 244 days ago (March 22nd, 2009)

It's off to the dictionary for me
to look up quodlibet... sounds latin though and probably means 4th part adlib something or other. But appreciate the listen and am looking forward to whatever you can parse into it. the comment of the darned tune, is right on. I was wishing for something diva-esque as I was working on it and wished for a similar sound that you had expressed in your song that I heard and when I heard it I thought- YA! that's it.... thanks a lot for listening and commenting.
Andy

Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

awigze	awigze said 244 days ago (March 22nd, 2009)
	quodlibet I looked it up- several different melodies - usually popular tunes.... America the Beautiful was almost in there ... whatever you 'hear' will be fine with me. I am also talking to trumpet player. more later. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

mvh9591	mvh9591 said 244 days ago (March 22nd, 2009)
	Very Nice_____ I enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing, mvh : ) Check out my latest song called Maggie Rodriguez tribute

Kicbal

Kicbal said 243 days ago (March 23rd, 2009)

This is so cool
Love what you've done with the sax parts, the mix, the effects and all. Very pretty tone and tasteful melody. Everything is fitting together so well. I get a sort of hypnotic U2 feel once the ambient synths come in. Also the low sax note is awesome. My only comment is that when the national anthem comes in, I wonder if if would fit better with the sax part if it were played by the trumpet or even with the sax. Perhaps the synths could be more in the background to support the horns. Seems to me like the horns, sax or trumpet or both should be the focal point throughout. Excellent job on production, very full and complete sounding.

Check out my latest song called Falling Stars Forgotten

awigze

awigze said 243 days ago (March 23rd, 2009)

Kicbal
From a fellow Sax Player I am honored by your asessment... I have had similar thoughts about the song and spoke with the trumpet player to think about that and then we would duet through the proper song. Your comments are consistent with others that I have received and is very much appreciated. I am looking forward to more from you and your wife. Thanks Chris!

Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

bud

bud said 241 days ago (March 25th, 2009)

Beautiful and inventive work
really love the tone of your sax and the atmosphere you create up front. Not wild about the anthem as it comes in - not for political reasons - I just prefer the organic sounds you were working with earlier over what sounds more midi to me in that section. Perhaps you could introduce the melody in a more integrated way.

Check out my latest song called eye for you (w/particledots and michael2)

awigze

awigze said 241 days ago (March 26th, 2009)

bud
I think I saw you on Mars.... Thanks for the comment and the listen. you are most correct in identifying the midi aspect of the song. You seem to have keyed in on the consensus here about this song with other comments saying pretty much the same thing. What's been good about going this direction is that this is the first song that I have submitted here that I have been encouraged to do a rewrite and make it more of my own. Will be adding trumpet and when that occurs I will likely drop the midi all together.

Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Bob6stringer

Bob6stringer said 237 days ago (March 29th, 2009)

rev it up!
I think we'll have to wait and see what happens on the political front. I'm just saddened to tears to have lived in GW Bush's America. In you feel differently I'll say TO HELL with political talk, at least here. Your music deserves respect that rises above that chatter. This is pretty breathtaking. A good one to close the eyes with. Excellent rev-up into the drummed section. Fly the flag, bruddah.

Check out my latest song called Yours and Mine

awigze

awigze said 236 days ago (March 30th, 2009)

rev it up
Thanks Bob - great and very complimentary comment. I am pleased that you like the song. In 1963, I had just turned 7 when President Kennedy was killed. There have been many times in our lifetimes that a lament could be penned for this country. It's just that now, I happen to have that ability. Afar from the current political happenings, the anthem is timeless. Blessings...
Andy

Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Calchas	Calchas said 229 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	Wow... Beautiful music here man, irrespective of the theme. Like egobandit, I'm done with nation-states of whatever stripe, and only care about the planet as a whole. But in my own mind I can easily transpose this marvelous piece into a more universalistic key. You're really on to something here friend! Be well! Check out my latest song called All Is Quiet

awigze

awigze said 229 days ago (April 6th, 2009)

Calchas
I am all about sovereignty and freedom. The globe is much better off with nations sovereign and the will of the people find freedom and democracy. Cant do that under globalism. I do however believe that it is good stewardship to care about this whole earth. It is this love of country that evoked the song and thus is difficult to separate it from the body politic. I do agree with you that the song can appeal (transpose) on many levels. Such is the universality of music. Thank you sincerely for your comment and for listening.

Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Calchas

Calchas said 226 days ago (April 9th, 2009)

I also...
...have serious misgivings re globalism friend. There's nothing but a pot of fool's gold at the end of THAT rainbow of naivete!

On the other hand, I eschew most forms of nationalism. My politics tend to be more Libertarian than conservative or liberal. (However, more and more I look back on the ancient Greek polis with admiration and envy...)

Be well man!

Check out my latest song called All Is Quiet

kassia

kassia said 228 days ago (April 7th, 2009)

andy
first of all, sorry i'm so late in getting here. i've had this bookmarked for awhile, but am only now finding the time to sit down and really take it all in. I pushed play and started to listen to it on my crappy laptop speakers...then, wow, I had to pause it and go get my headphones. So I am now starting over at the beginning with my headphones on...and wow again. This countermelody intro is hauntingly beautiful. The panning and fading is absolutely perfectly done. I love the mix of your sax and the synths. This is just fabulous.

Check out my latest song called Deep Majesty

awigze

awigze said 227 days ago (April 8th, 2009)

Kassia
Thanks a lot Kassia. You have blessed me with your kind words and very glad that you stopped by for a listen. I created the song in Garage Band. For the panning and fading I used Real Instrument---> Effects---> Long Panning Echoes in GB on sax2 track. Kept the track pan at 0 and let the effect do the work. It seemed to work ok and at first I thought it was too much, but I made no further adjustments to the track.

Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

haribo	haribo said 206 days ago (April 29th, 2009)
	pure depth love the abstract yet highly emotive phrasings and the atmosphere established from it! when the national anthem kicks in it adds in a brand new dramatic, rapturous light thanks for creating & sharing this track Check out my latest song called Fragment

awigze	awigze said 206 days ago (April 29th, 2009)
	haribo Thanks Haribo. you have blessed me with such kind words about this song. I poured more into it than I knew at first and glad that you were here to take a listen. Andy Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 130 days ago (July 14th, 2009)
	Made me want to stand up It was that good. Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

awigze	awigze said 128 days ago (July 16th, 2009)
	Tom Thanks Tom. your comment made my day! Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Martin_Leroy

Martin_Leroy said 14 days ago (November 7th, 2009)

HEAVY
This is very appealing. It's like the pride of the anthem is melted down and reduced into lament. The basic tonal elements are still there but the colors are running together. Halfway through I wonder if there is anger building up to the synth or is it a restoration of american pride and values? In the end it all melts down again. Are you a pessimist? Ha Ha.

Check out my latest song called My Jacket (A POEM)

awigze	awigze said 4 days ago (November 17th, 2009)
	Martin I did take some of the flourishes out in the form of subdued cymbal crashes... The synths at that point you mention is like a reemergence and a restoration that you mention. The woodwinds call out a warning. There is a prayer at the end. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

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Name: Andy Wigzell

I have discovered that Collaborations are the most rewarding. They require less work and you get the same amount of kudos. Ha! I am entering a time of Kitchen Remodeling and so some collaborations are put on hold for a while. It could be that I can ... [see more]

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