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ibechane (at) gmail.com

I've been meaning to write a tune for so long.  I didn't want to say anything to commit myself to a piece (not that anyone cares) but I do want to put in for your contest.  I like the open-endedness of it.  Please don't end it early!

@Woodban

Wow, I really liked that. I haven't heard a MIDI in a while.  It instantly sounds like incidental game music.  And I think it fits the scene too.

My only suggestion is to consider not hard-panning the instruments, particularly the bass.  Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's because I'm on headphones, but having the bass only on the left feels unbalanced.

Are you referring to the fact that it wasn't written for the contest?  I've always assumed that we were supposed to write something new specifically for each contest (as a composition exercise).  That's not to say that older stuff is not good.  But it might not be so fair to submit a lifetime masterpiece when other people work hard to make something in the given 10 days.   I haven't been here too long, so I don't know what the convention is.  It would seem too difficult to enforce anyway.

@Funkmast

Interesting lyrics!  Did you write that for this contest?

When you say "captures the theme" do you mean like a recognizable musical phrase or the upbeat dancy mood?

Also, do you have the lyrics to this song? 

I just noticed that you gave us 2 weeks.  How generous

Very interesting.  I can't wait to start.

Oh and sorry about being a bit pushy about making a contest.  I just wasn't sure if you were still around since you hadn't posted since the last one ended.

Well, it seems like Bartillier never came back to claim his victory.  Like I said in my last post, I don't know what happens if the winner doesn't create a new contest.  Maybe Hammerite should do it.  I think we've waited long enough for a new contest.

So, it's only been a day, but out of curiosity, what is the protocol for waiting for the next person to post a contest?  (Sorry, I'm kind of anxious)

Oh well.  Two entries is enough for a contest   

I don't know what the protocol is so I'll comment on the pieces first.

Bartillier: I was impressed by the composition.  The multiple voices were distinct, but worked together nicely.  The balance of the instruments was good and the samples were pretty (I assume you didn't record this live).  The voicing gave it a very awe-inspired feel, which certainly can be applied to the story.  Really the only thing that struck me as odd was the ending, which was rather abrupt.  I don't know if that was your intention or if it's unfinished, but that was somewhat upsetting considering how nice it was sounding 

Hammerite:  The background TV was created an interesting context to the electronic sounds that you used.  It made me think of a somewhat scatterbrained focus that suddenly gains lucidity, and I think that change is a strong point in your piece.  As far as criticism, I think there were some specific sounds that transitioned rather startlingly.  I think if you layer your sounds a bit more judiciously and give them more gentler entrances and exits, it would sound more together.  Also, I would suggest playing with stereo offsetting to make your sounds more expansive.  I happen to be a fan of electronic music, so I'm glad you chose this route.  But electronic music is a tough beast because of the huge possibilities of sounds and lack of historical context to make it as easily accessible to average people.  It seems to me that you have a good ear for it though.  You just need to show those sounds who's boss 


Thank you both for submitting entries.   We almost ended without a competition, and that's no fun.

Anyway, the winner is....... here

Aw, come on.  One more entry? 

Only 6 mo' daythe!

Hey Hammerite - thanks for entering.  I would have commented already but I'm waiting till the last day to listen to them.

Jelfish

Hi all

I've written a very short story for this contest.  Please read it first:


***************

I felt warm, I remember.   I opened my eyes and looked to my left and saw Geordie still sleeping, curled up in a ball wearing our matching blue and yellow airplane pajamas that Mom thought were so cute.  It only made it harder for her to tell us apart.  I always woke up first as the window was on my side of the room.  It was still pretty early and only light blue seeped through the side of the closed shades.  The floors creaked gently as hot water rushed into the radiator, the heat comforting me like a loving embrace.  I hugged my security blanket.

Geordie woke up, probably sporting the usual menacing grin on his face.  I suddenly felt a ballistic plushie contact my head and I knew my few moments of peace were over.  I pick up the poor stuffed hippo and aimed as Geordie jumped out of bed, ready to dodge.  I fired, right at his head, as Geordie ducked and ran to my bed.  Before I could figure out what was going on, he jumped up from the edge and grabbed my beloved blankey.

Enraged, I leapt out to chased him, the most violent possible thoughts of a 5 year old entering my mind and aimed at Geordie like laser beams.  He ran around his bed, with me close behind.  Just as I thought I had him cornered, he jumped over his bed, ran across the room, and jumped on to mine, teasing me all the while.

I slowly crouch, feigning defeat, and pick up a small stuffed cow.  I stared at him waving my security blanket in victory, and waited for the first moment his attention slipped.  And like a flash, I raise my arm and torpedoed the cow.  Geordie turned around and tried to dodge, but miscalculated his proximity to the bed's edge.  His arms twirled as he fell back, looking for something to grab.   His hands found a cord and the blinds flew up.

A bright flash hit me like nothing before and as my vision returned, I saw what I must have thought was sugar falling from the sky and a coating of icing on top of the buildings.  The orange street lamps were adorned with white party-hats and the cars were lumps under a blanket of cotton.  All the while, Geordie was starting to cry.  I turned to him and said "Look!" and pointed.  He stumbled over, rubbing his head, turned and froze in awe.  We stood, silent, and watched as the flakes swirled behind the window and yellow light from snow-plow beacons passed through the metal bars of the fire escape and swept across our room.  And as we stood the floor creaked again.  Water rushed into the radiator sitting next to me, the metal fittings crackling like a purring kitten, and I felt warm, I remember.

******************

For this tune contest, I want you to write music that somehow captures the very last moment of that story, either the events of the scene, an encapsulation of the emotion, or both.  You may want to consider the human context -- children seeing snow for the first time, the setting -- an apartment building in a city in the morning, and what's happening -- a heavy snow storm falling.

There are no limitations.  The music can be abstract or literal.  It doesn't have to be melancholy or upbeat or happy or pensive.  You can use any sort of instruments in any combination.  It just has to be appropriate as far as how you interpret the scene.   After all, most game music is incidental music!  You can explain your specific motivation if you'd like, but it's not necessary.

Good luck!!

Hah - I admit I sort of gave an eye roll at that having download a video to see the winner.

This was a lot of fun to do.  It was interesting trying to find a way to interpret/incorporate the wavy lines and dots in your picture.

Thanks for choosing my piece!  It was a pleasure to make.

Hi guys

So I was listening to all your submissions and then I listened to mine and realized that mine was a lot quieter, even though it was normalized.  So I went in a played around with the levels and discovered the compressor  .  Now you can actually hear everything:

http://www.mediafire.com/?8zwjgdp1cgf

I've updated my original link as well.  Mediafire seems to be the popular host, so I'll use that as well.

Jelfish


Permanent Link: http://www.chenkaili.com/ags/Alien_Message.mp3

Hello everyone 
This is my first participation to these competitions.
http://www.mediafire.com/?9hh4gwog2xs
I hope you like it! 

Hey Thaatiba - I liked your piece a lot!  I think it's well mixed/balanced, something I'm not very good at yet.  Welcome to AGS!

Hi all

I finally got something in!  I was hoping to submit my first piece like 2 weeks ago, but stuff came up 

Anyway, I just started playing with the "analog" waveform synthesizer in Reason.   It's very mathy and fun

Hope you like my debut:

http://www.mediafire.com/?8zwjgdp1cgf

Jel

EDIT: I've updated the link.  I made a small change to the piece, specifically the loudness, since it was rather quiet.

Permanent Link: http://www.chenkaili.com/ags/Alien_Message.mp3

Hey

I just joined AGS and found these contests hoping it would encourage me to write more music (and possibly find a cool project), and I'd like to say that I'm very glad my first attempt will be 80s synth-pop.  Thank you!


Jel