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I loved this piece, by Doug Somers and richard13, when I first heard it (http://www.macjams.com/song/72014) and Doug suggested I contribute to its development by singing the vocal line. Doug gives the detail below, but is overly generous to, what feels to me, my rather feeble attempt. However, I enjoyed the challenge, as they say!
Doug says:
"Part of the artistic exercise in creating Angels originally was to keep to the restrictions of richard13's minimalist 3 track orchestration and chord progressions to the greatest extent possible. In the end I did break even these simple rules a little since I fiddled the chords and timing a bit and added a female vocal line that I thought was absolutely called for. I was not happy with the rendering of the vocal however as I found that as good as the samples from QL Voices of Passion were, I could not get the legato intervals to ever sound human. Many others said the same in their comments and so I went in search of a vocalist who could do this piece justice. I was bowled over when Rosalind (Mosaica), the first person I approached, agreed to sing the solo on this track. I think you will hear from the results that she brings the warmth, passion and intimacy that I had imagined when I wrote the melody, and then gives that touch of angelic purity and spiritual dignity as icing on the cake. Rosalind gives us an ethereal ride to a place larger than our day-to-day world.
"This version also has been altered in the orchestration and structure in response to other comments made on the first posting. I have added Violins and Cellos to the left of the soundstage to balance the Violas on the right and have added further dynamics to bring lush waves of strings to wash over the piano arpeggio. Moreover, the piano has new small but important figures to play that relate to what is happening in the strings, and the ending has been drawn out with a 3rd repeat and a longer final sustain to make the end sound less abrupt and to allow the listener to come down from the clouds and return to their listening seat with grace and ease. I tried to conceive of a fade out repeat but the inspiration was not coming in that direction.
"Richard, look what you started man, and where it has gone. Thank you again for the original inspiration for this piece!
"Rosalind, I am sincerely grateful that you agreed to collaborate with me on this project and hope that we may perhaps have the pleasure of working together again in future!"
I, in turn, am very honoured to have been included in the development of this wonderful work - Mosaica.
Artwork by Mario John Borgatti from the International Space Art Network.
Doug says:
"Part of the artistic exercise in creating Angels originally was to keep to the restrictions of richard13's minimalist 3 track orchestration and chord progressions to the greatest extent possible. In the end I did break even these simple rules a little since I fiddled the chords and timing a bit and added a female vocal line that I thought was absolutely called for. I was not happy with the rendering of the vocal however as I found that as good as the samples from QL Voices of Passion were, I could not get the legato intervals to ever sound human. Many others said the same in their comments and so I went in search of a vocalist who could do this piece justice. I was bowled over when Rosalind (Mosaica), the first person I approached, agreed to sing the solo on this track. I think you will hear from the results that she brings the warmth, passion and intimacy that I had imagined when I wrote the melody, and then gives that touch of angelic purity and spiritual dignity as icing on the cake. Rosalind gives us an ethereal ride to a place larger than our day-to-day world.
"This version also has been altered in the orchestration and structure in response to other comments made on the first posting. I have added Violins and Cellos to the left of the soundstage to balance the Violas on the right and have added further dynamics to bring lush waves of strings to wash over the piano arpeggio. Moreover, the piano has new small but important figures to play that relate to what is happening in the strings, and the ending has been drawn out with a 3rd repeat and a longer final sustain to make the end sound less abrupt and to allow the listener to come down from the clouds and return to their listening seat with grace and ease. I tried to conceive of a fade out repeat but the inspiration was not coming in that direction.
"Richard, look what you started man, and where it has gone. Thank you again for the original inspiration for this piece!
"Rosalind, I am sincerely grateful that you agreed to collaborate with me on this project and hope that we may perhaps have the pleasure of working together again in future!"
I, in turn, am very honoured to have been included in the development of this wonderful work - Mosaica.
Artwork by Mario John Borgatti from the International Space Art Network.
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richard13
Thank you, Rosalind, for agreeing to sing on this beautiful work of Doug's. I knew, as did so many others, that a human voice and sensitivity delivering that amazing melody of mystery and joy would lift the composition to the near ecstatic listening experience it could be, and now is. Your voice and performance are perfect here.
Doug: your 'alterations' are sublime. Congratulations. I'm proud to have inspired this.