Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

The thread of music (updated 7/14/10)

DarthPika

DarthPika

New Member
So, for those of you who don't know, I'm a music composition major. Having all this music on my computer that I spend a lot of time working on for assignments makes me sad, because no one ever get's to hear it.


What do I want from you, the listener? Nothing in the world would make me happier to get your opinion on my music. If you liked it, I want to know, and want to know why. If you hate it, I also want to know, and want to know why you hate it. Just keep it civilized. You should know the line between constructive criticize and pointless bashing. Getting opinions on my work is a HUGE help to me, and helps me to be a better composer.


Here's a piece that I'm currently working on, more or less just for the fun of writing. This one in particular pretty much just came to me, and there was no real thought before hand about it. I'm still working on it, and there are a few glitches in the sound (you'll hear it) where it saved weird.

Hope you like it. Or... if you don't, I'm sorry for wasting your time. :tongue:

I highly recommend using headphones or something, it's a little quiet.

http://soundcloud.com/michael-m-1/experiement-with-strings-and-brass

Here's a short little theme I wrote. It's still in need of better orchestration, as what it currently has was used more or less to test out Finale when I first got it. Only about an hour or so spent on it, but it definitely deserves more time.

http://soundcloud.com/michael-m-1/bobs-theme

Here's a brass quintet that I wrote for my composition final. I'll post more later, but right now I need to write a paper. :tongue:

http://soundcloud.com/michael-m-1/watershed

The pastor at my parish asked me to write a short intro for his upcoming pod cast. The music is to be played as he introduces him self, and where he is from, while the crescendo where the brass comes in highlights what the topic of the pod cast is.

Before anyone says anything, I know my mixing/mastering skill suck. There's a little bit of static in there that I need to figure out how to get rid of, as well as some other mixing issues. I also think it might need some more percussion other than the one glock.

http://soundcloud.com/michael-m-1/kingsbury-intro

This piece has been very challenging to orchestrate. The melody was fairly simple, but getting the right balance of all the other parts so as to convey EXACTLY the right emotion has been very tricky.... especially the somewhat unsettling haunting progression about midway through the piece.

It's very important that THAT particular progression sounds right, so please let me know what you thought of it.

Some general notes/thoughts:

This is straight out of Finale, so no mixing or anything. Sorry for the sucky reverb on it.

Even though I spent a long time working out the chords for 1st and 2nd violin, they're still not quite right.

I'm probably going to add, Flute, Glock, and Horns to highlight key parts of the piece.


http://soundcloud.com/michael-m-1/ven-and-james

Please let me know what you think of it, and if you have any suggestions for how I can improve it.

Something I've been working on for a few hours experimenting with some minor chord progressions with strings.

http://soundcloud.com/michael-m-1/tumics-accusation
 
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Most of my stuff is movie soundtrackish to a certain degree. Considering that it's the field where I would like to eventually wind up in, I guess that's a good thing. lol
 
i'm impressed. very nicely done :)

'mom (<-former music major, before switching to graphic art back in the dark ages :p )
 
That is reaaaaaaaaaaaally creepy. I was very close to deciding to be a graphic design major, before finally going with music. lol

What area of music where you going to major in before you switched?
 
i only did one year before switching, so hadn't made a decision yet (community college). my main instruments were piano, percussion and i was starting to pick up the flute...

and remember: every time you write parallel fifths, bach kills a kitten ;)

'mom
 
I personally think the melody could have a little more shape. But I'm no expert and you did a pretty good job anyway!
 
uh... Why don't I KNOW you chose Music Comp ?
:/

.. says the only Pokemon Professor Music Teacher you know *straight face w/ sporadic blinks *

Anyway...

Here's your "sound deck fix" LOL!

You have the beginnings of something good, but it lacks vision.

Ask yourself "If this was MY movie, what would be happening right now?"

40 secs in you could add a dotted-rhythmic drop with Bass Viols (think 16th-dotted 8th - quarter rest..just splashes here and there not a vamp)
Keep the horns but bring them in sooner as it begins to get monotonous and lacks direction.

You need a climax. You can achieve this by using Timpani and a cymbal roll into an increased string volume; more horns enter at this climax.

Since you're using a Synth (workstation?), you could truly make hair raise if you have a "choir Ahh" sound that you could integrate for more intensity.

At some point, I'd drop all channels and leave a lone oboe holding (fermata), then bring in a newer tempo (faster) and take the entire piece to an action/horror chase vibe. (you'd reintroduce the bass viol stab here)

Also, this would be an excellent opportunity to use a motif that's passed around among the viols and brass (think Beethoven's 5th).
 
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@ RA's post: .....dang. Dude, what the heck! I seriously lol'd at that post. Not what I was expecting. XD

But yeah, you sent me another piece(dunno if it's the same one) and I definitely think you're making some good stuff there, in case I didn't get a chance to tell ya before.
 
DarthPika said:
Wait... you're a music teacher? I never knew this... We need to talk over AIM/MSN/Hamachi some time.
Click to expand...

Sure. Probably over a couple of Redshark games like always.
That is... if we are ever BOTH online and signed-in at some point :/

QUESTION:

Are you running this straight out of a Keyboard or are you tracking it into a DUI (such as Acid Pro, Nuendo, or ProTools?)
 
I mainly use Finale, using the Garritan sounds that came with it, but this one in particular was made through a DUI, using some free East/West samples I got from their free orchestra. Eventually, I want to get a computer JUST for music programs, but that's probably not going to happen for a little while.

When I do however, THIS is what I want to get. :D

http://www.soundsonline.com/hollywood-strings

Just listen to the demos. You'll be blown away.
 
DarthPika said:
I mainly use Finale, using the Garritan sounds that came with it, but this one in particular was made through a DUI, using some free East/West samples I got from their free orchestra. Eventually, I want to get a computer JUST for music programs, but that's probably not going to happen for a little while.

When I do however, THIS is what I want to get. :D

http://www.soundsonline.com/hollywood-strings

Just listen to the demos. You'll be blown away.
Click to expand...

Beautiful samples. But, it sounds like any workstation board since 2000.
I love the fact that it's fully visual and virtual though. That makes it accessible ANYWHERE your laptop can travel! (and the program is easy to DL )

SD PokéMom said:
have you seen the KORG DS-10 cart for the DS/DSi?

http://www.korgds10synthesizer.com/htm/index.htm

'mom
Click to expand...

ummm ... that is SSSSSSSSSSSICK!

I could NOT be given something like that. I'd be NO GOOD for at least 6 weeks until I've exhausted every inspiration.

SIDE NOTES:

#1 - I'll be PokeMom can SLAY a board!

#2 - Funny thing. That sample does exactly what I told you to do to Fix your tune Michael :/
 
To me, it sounds like a sort of intro to a more epic piece. Definitely something with potential though, but I do agree with RA - it does need a climax of sorts. That, or (like most metal groups I know do) build off of it with another piece. Definitely impressive though, I see that going places tbh. Keep up the good work.
 
I'm currently writing a brass quintet for my composition class which should be done shortly. It's been nothing short of an huge pain in the you know what, so I'll be very happy to finish it.

While you wait for that, I figured I should update this with something that I haven't posted yet.

Link is also in the first post of the thread.

http://soundcloud.com/michael-m-1/bobs-theme
 
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