After several weeks of work, this piece got finished (apart from minor adjustments that may follow) with every detail considered.
After Green-Eyed and Blue-Eyed girl, this is the third orchestral song in this series.
Again, it should convey pleasant feelings and calm mood.
I'd like to hear any feedback possible, any comments and thoughts you may have.
Get it here: http://oliwerko.ic.cz/Oliver%20Meres%20-%20Grey%20Eyed%20Girl.mp3
More background info about the concept:
Quote
This song represents a Grey-Eyed girl, a symbol of calmness and understanding.
The first part stands for an early conversation, when you both know very little about each other.
Then, after a rush of enjoyment, a more personal conversation takes place, being represented by the second part.
After getting to know her better, you begin to see her beauty in another light. Her deeply hidden glory is represented by the fourth part.
Then, looking back, you realize that there's a lot more to her than you initially thought. The fifth part stands for the exange of feelings with each other, being not that different from your very first conversation.
In the end, being grateful for knowing her, you are as calm and reassured as she is, having her by your side...
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End of story.
Finished on 8th of May, 2010.
Thanks :)
Wow. I am totally blown away by this song. Simply beautiful. ;D
Hard to say something more specific, there were so many great harmonies and melodies that appeared troughout the song.
You really managed it to create a fantastic, chilling and surreal athmosphere, I imagined the beginning of an epic fantasy movie while listening to this song. I also loved the little melody that came in around 01:52, among many others.
Did you use soundfonts? I write music too and I would love to use some of them.
Hey, thanks for feedback!
I'm glad you like it. Actually, it's not midi. It was made in Renoise (a tracker) using VSTs.
Some good orchestral sounds can be found in the reFx Nexus Dance Orchestra expansion (http://refx.com/?lang=en&page=products/nexus/expansions) (sounds in this song are from there). Further, I was recommended (but not yet tried) the Miroslav Philharmonik VST (http://www.ikmultimedia.com/philharmonik/features/).
Edirol Orchestral is quite solid VST...
On topic, I like what I hear! Not getting concept though.
The concept is on a thin ice as it is. I had a concept with the preceding tracks, so I maintain the theme. I always try to make up a little background story with these songs, and try to retain the theme while composing. I get more concrete ideas that way.
The other side of the coin is the perception, which is quite different from person to person, so don't worry about not getting it. As I said, it's pretty shaky as it is.
I like that you like though :)
I like it. Like the softness of your strings and lead instrument. Also the multi layered style, Just too short! Only 1 minute 14?
Can you provide links to the other two songs that mentioned?
Did you try to stream it? It's over 16MB big and the server isn't the fastest one out there, sorry, but I don't have anything better at hand.
It's actually 8 minutes 50 ;)
Here it is zipped with the other two, I hope it's faster:
http://www27.zippyshare.com/v/29000589/file.html
Listened to the rest of them... super awesome. Listening to them makes me wish they were in the game as part of a story...
Hi Oliwerko,
I like what I'm listening to and streaming was no issue here. My connection is fast enough...
First of all a small note on the samples you're using (Edirol). They are far from good, and rather outdated. Just thought you should know that todays technology has outreached many previous generations of samples by stunning performances and technical abilities.
On the track now.
Your track has a rather 'modal' mood. The chord change which seems to linger on the same chords forever and the melody brings in mind a rather 'irish' tune (if I could say that. It's not that exactly, but can't find the right word). A forest of some sort, traveling, etc...
And while your track is solid on what it brings in your mind, it lacks greater technical exploration. Orchestral music needs some knowledge, official or not, self - taught or not.
Some ideas to try:
* Vary the strings and not have them playing 'block chords' all the time.
* Change the register of the strings and change direction to the chords. Am is ACE, but you could play it as AEC or even more wide, thus opening a whole section.
* You keep using the same 'tricks' in orchestration which do get tiresome after a while (after all it's close to 9 minutes). The flute, with some strings on the underneath for example and the harp playing faster arpegges to the chords.
The track seems a little directionless. It's got some beautiful parts, no doubt there, some things that I don't thing I'd be able to write myself (being too complex usually :-[), but the lack of some difference in the dynamics, or orchestration create a static scenary.
I would urge you, also, to change the tempo map (trackers have this?), as well as velocity. It all sounds 'the same'.
But still it's a track that reminds me of older computer games music, and that's something I have to say. Brings back memories. :)
Thanks for sharing.
Hey Nikolas, thanks for taking your time!
First, you probably confused InC's post with my post, I'm not using Edirol, I'm using Nexus (and planning to check out Miroslav Philharmonik).
Anyway, you pretty much pointed out something which definitely is an issue with all the three orchestral songs so far. It's one theme that I keep repeating over and over, then switch into another one and keep up the principle.
I'm still nothing close to what you call an 'experienced composer', so I expect to take on greater technical exploration in time. What do you think is the right approach here? More instruments simultaneously, or simply breaking up the too-fixed chord pattern?
I'm already using chord inversions, but as I said, my progress isn't that fast.
The 'tricks' you mention are used maybe also because I write these orchestral tracks as a break from often complicated and exhausting (instrument-wise) electronic music. Here I don't have to worry about filters and whatnot, everything stands on the melodies and harmonies. Also because of that I like simplicity here, but yeah, looking back, it's maybe a bit overused.
I don't know what exactly is 'tempo map' (I guess I know it in Slovak, but not in English). I can change the tempo during the track, of course.
And dynamics - good point. I keep overlooking it, even if I use its possibilities here and there.
Thanks for formulating the issues I have to cope with in concrete words for me, it really helps me concentrate on them better.
Anyway, I am very very glad that you people like the song. Hell, it's only the 3rd orchestral track I wrote!