MUSIC Competition - Theme: LOVE - March 2017

[Dualnames]

What is a Music Competition?

Well, a music competition, is a competition where music composers can compose and release their musical creations to compete for the ultimate priz, acceptance and recognition.
It's meant to be fun, no one should care about winning, but improving their own skill set. Or trying new things. Be creative!

Who is hosting it? And why is this back again?

I'm hosting it, and the reason it's back, is to make it interesting again.

The main problems of the old tune competition, which explained the lack of entries, were:
1) Unclear deadlines.
2) Very strict themes.
3) Very strict rules.


THEME: LOVE

Definition of love

• 1

       a :
           (1) :  strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties maternal love for a child
           (2) :  attraction based on sexual desire :  affection and tenderness felt by lovers After all these years, they are still very much in love.
           (3) :  affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests love for his old schoolmates
       b :  an assurance of affection give her my love

• 2

      a: A warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion love of the sea

• 3

      a :  the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration baseball was his first love
      b :
           (1) :  a beloved person :  darling â€"often used as a term of endearment
           (2) : British â€"used as an informal term of address

• 4

      a :  unselfish loyal and benevolent (see benevolent 1a) concern for the good of another: such as
                                                                                                                                                             (1) :  the fatherly concern of God for humankind
                                                                                                                                                             (2) :  brotherly concern for others
      b :  a person's adoration of God

• 5

      :  A god (such as Cupid or Eros) or personification of love

• 6

      :  An amorous episode :  love affair

• 7

      :  The sexual embrace :  copulation

• 8

      :  A score of zero (as in tennis)

• 9

capitalized, Christian Science :  god

[/list]
RULES:

As long as it fits the theme (and that should be fairly broad), you can compose and post from at least one to x songs. You can even make an EP.
For example you can compose a hip-hop beat that samples the world LOVE and makes a pun as you hear a tennis crowd cheering at the end. You can do anything, as long as you can explain (if needed) how it does fit.

          No limit on duration:
          -You wanna make 2 bars, make 2 bars.

          No limit on genres:
          -Any genre goes, death metal love songs are fine.

         No limit on covers:
          - You can cover an older composition of yours or someone else's, as long as the cover is obvious and you are being honest (aka posting the older song)

          No limit on file type:
          - MIDIs are fine.
          - OGGs are fine. (Preferably at 320kbps)
          - WAV are fine.
          - FLACs are fine.
          - MP3s are fine. (Preferably at 320kbps CBR or V0 VBR)

          For the lossy filetypes (mp3, ogg) above 128 CBR (Constant Bitrate) plz.

          Limit on the time deadline.
          -Entries that are delivered late, unless I'm notified before, won't be accepted, unless the entry is delivered within 24 hours after the deadline.

Deadline:

The deadline is till the 30th of April, that is, because on May 1st I'll post another theme, while this competition goes on the voting part. Voting will be public, and can be done by anyone. We'll see more rules about it, when we get there.
There is over a month for this, because I want to get this started and yeah, normally it would take 30 days per theme, but you know, it isn't bad to have extra time.

Workshop:

If you wanna do your entries, workshop style, that's highly advised. Going into detail, explaining your process, and how you work, if you want. No harm in sharing, people can input on that, but please do so in a respectable manner.


TL:DR

Code: ags

Theme is LOVE. 
Compose a song.
Deadline is April 30th.

[Ibispi]

my entry:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aeilco5m9wajqg0/irecommendlove2d.mp3?dl=0

EDIT: for those that want to play the song from their browser, but the dropbox doesn't play it https://clyp.it/3bsc1ew2

[[delete}]

Also he's our team's musician!    Just saying, since BSP now is getting famous. Well done, Bospi.

[Ibispi]

thanks amy

[Dualnames]

My entry!

https://soundcloud.com/ledzepforever/p-r-o-m-i-s-e

[Mandle]

My entry!

https://soundcloud.com/ledzepforever/p-r-o-m-i-s-e

I really felt the music going through the stages of love, from not-quite-sure at the start with a feeling of a heart beating fast, and then through an initial crescendo of feelings, and then backing off a bit, and mellowing out towards the end...

I felt you were telling a love story with this piece and it would be awesome paired with a visual montage of a young-to-old couple over the years...

[Mandle]

my entry:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aeilco5m9wajqg0/irecommendlove2d.mp3?dl=0

Perhaps you could host it on a site like DualNames did?

People might not want to download the music just to hear it...

But I really want to hear it!

[Dualnames]

My entry!

https://soundcloud.com/ledzepforever/p-r-o-m-i-s-e

I really felt the music going through the stages of love, from not-quite-sure at the start with a feeling of a heart beating fast, and then through an initial crescendo of feelings, and then backing off a bit, and mellowing out towards the end...

I felt you were telling a love story with this piece and it would be awesome paired with a visual montage of a young-to-old couple over the years...

Awww, thanks Mandle, I have to say this is one of the songs I've enjoyed more composing over the last 2 years. Glad to see you picture it like this. I personally think of a couple running around dancing (old musical of the 60s-70s) and then at the end, one remains on their own and the other person fades away like a memory.

[Ibispi]

my entry:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aeilco5m9wajqg0/irecommendlove2d.mp3?dl=0

Perhaps you could host it on a site like DualNames did?

People might not want to download the music just to hear it...

But I really want to hear it!

hey Mandle,
sorry about that, it's supposed to be playable from dropbox without downloading but it might not work on all computers.
I also uploaded it on this site https://clyp.it/3bsc1ew2 you don't have to download it there either, hopefully that works 

[bicilotti]

Here is mine: https://clyp.it/rsqitt32

Thanks to ibispi for having uploaded it for me.

[Tournk]

My entry!

https://soundcloud.com/ledzepforever/p-r-o-m-i-s-e

I love it! It calms me.

[Kumpel]

Here is mine: https://clyp.it/rsqitt32

Oh that was very nice You've got a really good feeling for harmonic, renaissance-like composing. Thanks for gifting that little gem to us. I would love to hear a more looped version of this in some fairytale-like medival adventure game at some time

[bicilotti]

Oh that was very nice You've got a really good feeling for harmonic, renaissance-like composing. Thanks for gifting that little gem to us. I would love to hear a more looped version of this in some fairytale-like medival adventure game at some time

Thanks Kumpel, I am teaching myself some music and decided this competition was a great way to get started.

I liked the entries so far, I hope to see more!

[[delete}]

Whohooo, bicilotti returned to the AGS forums, finally  That's a lovely little chamber melody! Eco would've listened to when the stars coming out, and truth and fiction becoming the same.

[Creamy]

Great to have the music competition back! A perfect opportunity to try Magix Music Maker (thanks Captain). It's buggy on my laptop but here's my attempt :
Her number on my palm
Basically, this is a collage of pre-recorded tracks with guitar on top.

Each composition sounds quite different :
- Ibispi went for an electronic ambient track with an ethereal feel.
- p-r-o-mi-s-e is mellow, with a distinctive melody and mixed ending.
- It seems to me that the Viola and Oboe could represent two lovers. A straightforward piece with nice harmonies.

[dactylopus]

Really good stuff, guys!  I'd love to participate, we'll see if I have time.  Not that I think I could top any of these, but I do find these competitions to be fun, and they stir my creative juices.

[Dualnames]

I really like the diversity of everything posted so far. Very different approaches to well, a very open-ended theme, but I'm glad to see every one of them. <3 so far. When we get to voting, I'll gladly share my thoughts on them. But I'm loving them all so far!

[Ogon]

https://www.homeofjones.net/temp/2017-03-20-love-competition-ags.ogg (might still get some slight updated revisions until April 30th)

[[delete}]

Nice, Ogon. The enchanted sound of the Schwarzwald. I could almost see the fairies romantically waltzing with the bees on a forest meadow.
In German, there's even a saying: Im dichten Fichtendickicht tanzen die Feen tüchtig.

[Ogon]

@Embla: I'd prefer not to receive comments from you, as you should know. (or interact at all)

Sorry to everyone else, I really don't mind comments at all if you have any.

[DBoyWheeler]

I didn't take part in this because I'm not that skilled in making game music (or much any music for that matter)... but if there were another one, I'd like to do it as a rap (similar to Knuckles' levels in Sonic Adventure 2, as an example).

[xBRANEx]

Sorry, I'm little late: http://www67.zippyshare.com/v/N7J7DGjV/file.html

Never did got around to finish it up. Just a sketch but it will do!

[Ibispi]

Sorry guys, this ship is sinking, so someone has to replace the captain temporarily (I don't know where the captain is, here's hoping he's okay).
Anyways, I'm sure he would've wanted this, since:

The main problems of the old tune competition, which explained the lack of entries, were:
1) Unclear deadlines.
(...)

Current score:

#1	P R O M I S E by Dualnames	15
#2	irecommendlove2d by ibispi	14
#3	Viola and Oboe by bicilotti	8
#4	Her number on my palm by Creamy	8
#5	Ogon's entry by Ogon	12
#6	Trouble in Paradise by xBRANEx	3

The voting is going to work this way: You can give 3, 2 and 1 point respectively to different songs you choose. It also be nice to give an explanation behind your vote, but it's not necessary.
Also, you cannot vote for your own entry.

Let the voting commence!

UPDATE: The voting closes on 15th May.

[bicilotti]

Let the voting commence!

Promises (dualnames): probably the most developed song of the contest, having a definite begin/middle/ending and a recognisable love thematic. Liked the nippon vibes! 3 points

I recommend love2d (ibispi): saturnine and deep, the most moving of all tunes and probably the one with most interesting sound choices. 2 points

Ogon's entry by Ogon: very well orchestrated, albeit in my opinion the "love" theme is scant at the beginning and gets lost in the second part. 1 point

"Her number on my palm" and "Trouble in Paradise" were quality entries too, with their distinctive flavour. Really great entries this month!

[Jim Reed]

Creamy, bici, xBRANEx.

[Creamy]

#1 P R O M I S E by Dualnames â€" fuzzy love written all over it.

#5 Ogon's entry by Ogon - Gorgeous instrumentation. Love may not be the first word that comes to my mind when I hear it but I think it could fit that bill.

#3 Viola and Oboe by bicilotti â€" I  picture a young couple in a Jane Austen movie when I hear it.

Trouble in paradise is is nice and laid-back but doesn't particularly remind me of love.
I couldn't give a good reason as to why I didn't choose irecommendlove2d.

[Ogon]

#1 (3 Points) Dualnames - very bubbly, funky & jazzy piece. It has a certain quirkiness about it that I both love and hate!

#2 (2 Points) xBRANEx - I like how dreamy the instrumentation is! It fits the atmosphere perfectly, but otherwise it is a bit unremarkable in terms of melody (especially in comparison to Dualnames' submission).

#3 (1 Point) ibispi - lovely instrumentation and I like the varied melodies and beachy sound. Sometimes the melody is a bit 'matter of fact' though, and the background instrumentation gets a bit overly busy in some places.

I also found bicilotti's piece somewhat fitting to the theme, but the other submissions seem to have put in considerably more work into a more complex arrangement and sound which I wanted to honor accordingly in the voting.

[Ibispi]

I guess it's my turn to vote.
xBRANEx, like you said, your composition feels kind of unfinished/a sketch, so you should still work on it and finish it. If I could give a 4th vote it would be for your entry.
Creamy, nice guitar track, but I feel your guitar was a bit out of tune when you recorded the song?
I felt as if Ogon and Dualnames have put the most work into their songs, it's just that Dualnames' song feels more like it's about love than Ogon's song.
So...

#1 (3 points) Dualnames
#2 (2 points) Ogon

and bicilotti's song is #3 (1 point) because I am a stupid millennial and I don't appreciate baroque music enough.

[Creamy]

Creamy, nice guitar track, but I feel your guitar was a bit out of tune when you recorded the song?

The guitar was tuned before the recording so I'm probably to blame if it's dissonant.
Maybe I haven't bent the strings enough to reach higher notes in the last solo?

[Ibispi]

It sounded dissonant to me, if it the guitar was in tune, then yeah you probably played some notes that were not part of the scale. But, nice entry, anyways, I also play the guitar in the spare time and I appreciate to hear some more guitar playing.
Keep it up.

[xBRANEx]

My votes are:

Ogon's Entry - 3 points
irecommendlove2d - 2 points
Her number on my palm - 1 point

Ogon, I would love to know what VSTi's did you use for your composition, especially the starting choir part? I agree it doesn't speak love to me but it sounds so good I had to give it 3 points.

The atmosphere on irecommendlove2d is brilliant, I can hear it in a game or even a movie without a problem.

"Her number on my palm" sounds nice too. I loved the start but after the break on the first minute it loses the magic for me.

[Dualnames]

Glad to see bsp starting the voting, so here are my votes

irecommendlove2d - 3 points
Viola and Oboe - 2 points
Ogon - 1 point

[Ibispi]

I've updated the score post with the date for when the voting will stop.

[gameboy]

Ibispi - 3 points
Dualnames - 2 points
Ogon - 1 point

[Cassiebsg]

3 pts = Her number on my palm by Creamy
2 pts = Ogon's entry by Ogon
1 pt  = P R O M I S E by Dualnames

Good job everyone! 

[[delete}]

Ibispi - 3 - Been loop-listening to this Bitwig-arranged song during long pixel-sessions - personally feeling the desire of longing for someone. I'm enjoying the fine mix of icewind chills, carefully placed breaks and sputtering 8-bit sounds. Therefore a fitting title. Added to my longplaylist. Can recommend also his worthwile Twitch streams on occasion.

bicilotti - 2 points - Impressively composed with abc music in ViM texteditor, on a ten+ year old notebook with broken LCD display. Yet nothing can becloud the beautiful clearness and strict musicality of baroque chamber music. So one point for using efficient computing as logical counterpart of Bach's epoch. And plus 1+ more for applying opensource instrument sound libraries. Well done!

Creamy - 1 point - And I thought Marc being just an overly talented painter and animation artist from France. Now he's also stunning in composing. Or, like in 'Her number on my palm', in collaging tracks with relaxed electronic beats and straightforward guitar play. Catchy track, with the second half being the best.

xBraneX - Underrated in this competition, yet worth your time: An open sounding ambient wavescape, mixed with dolphin sounds and a reduced, iterative base melody. I like it, reminds me a lot of space travelling internet radios. (Besides, not being appraised enough is also kinda cool. Some of the best albums like The Beach Boys 'Pet Sounds' were overlooked at their time.)

[Ibispi]

The voting has ended. This is the final scoreboard!

#1	P R O M I S E by Dualnames	15
#2	irecommendlove2d by ibispi	14
#3	Ogon's entry by Ogon	12
#4	Viola and Oboe by bicilotti	8
#4	Her number on my palm by Creamy	8
#5	Trouble in Paradise by xBRANEx	3

Thanks to everyone who voted and participated, it was a fun experience.