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  • Link to my site - Lots of VSL produced demos

    I thought people might be intrested in hearing some of my music mostly produced with vsl. Mainly I am just proud of my brand new website so I encourage you all to visit. Its mostly film music but some classical stuff as well.

    Its www.SymphonicUproar.com

    Thanks for listening,

    Matt Gates

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    Great. So...where is it ? [:P]

    Christian

    show reel home page studio pics gear list

  • Wow, Thanks. I edited the above post.

  • Very nice looking website design.

  • Great music. I loved the Epic Jouney for winds. It's inspiring that you can get symphonic scale without using strings.

    Dom

  • The website looks great Matt. It is minimalist and simplistic, yet stylish and I love your fonts.

    I enjoyed the music also. It's nicely structured, balanced with great use of dynamics. Not a surprise to see that you are doing so well.

    If I could hazard one suggestion. Awe and wonder sounded to me as though John Williams could have written it. And when I listened to Femme Fatale, I felt I could hear John Barry chord progressions. You've clearly got bags of talent, but make absolutely sure that you develop your own unique style as you mature. I'd love to be sitting back in my multiplex cinema complete with a a bin-sized container filled with popcorn and an inappropriate amount of coca cola. As the strains of the soundtrack start up I smile inwardly, lean across to my wife and say 'Aha, I know this style. This is Matt Gates you know'...

  • I have had that suggestion a lot. Especialy about the Awe and Wonder piece. I heartly agree with you that I need to find a voice that is unique and that works. If you want to hear somthing more of my own voice its the epic journey piece for wind ensemble or dances.

    Thanks for listening and your good advice I appreciate it.

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    > lean across to my wife and say 'This is Matt Gates you know'...

    To which her answer would be "What'cha talking 'bout ? I thought this flick was about Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt ?"

    Christian

    show reel home page studio pics gear list

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    @Jonathan Mitchell said:


    If I could hazard one suggestion. Awe and wonder sounded to me as though John Williams could have written it.


    Yes, I know that the orchestral sound is great, but I would have put it lower down the list, as if this is the first track that people listen to then many will laugh (as I did) and just say "Ah, ET...!".
    However some of the other stuff is really nice and more "original" (whatever that means).

    DG

  • Indeed. VERY remniscent of ET.

    As I'm running outta time now, I can't really comment on any piece in particular, but they all sound great... altough most of them do ring a bell...
    Q: do you try to emulate certain works/composers as a starting point? (Like in the Hommage to the Sea/Stravinsky)

  • Yea, well that was actually written for the flying scene from E.T. Most of these were assigments at USC. I choose to rescore ET a horrible idea! But at least I mastered that style. Anyways, I appreciate the advice I will move the "ET cue" down the ranks as advised. I think its a good idea.

    I usualy don't start with emulating a composer in mind though a few time I have done so without trying to. ET was obviously one of the time where I was trying to emulate him, and the Bernstein piece as well.

    Thanks,

    -matt

  • Yep, I much prefer your stuff. Notwithstanding all the ET jibes Matt, it is very beautifully orchestrated. Craftsmans stuff.

    As for style, I think one should stumble across it and find it rather than force it. For my part, I now always score a pair of Double Bass Pizz to provide texture and I do create something people recognise, particularly when they are syncopated in Allegro passages. Chord progressions however, seem to be the most distinctive element. Both Karl Jenkins and John Barry have very familiar, but very different 'signature' chord progressions (have a listen to Barry's Beyondness of things and Jenkins Adiemus album). The master howver, in my view is Beethoven. I've studied his scores and while I might be stupid, it's still not immediately obvious to me why I can spot his music in less than a couple of bars when listening to it (even if it's not obvious from the score). Ah, a master!

  • PaulP Paul moved this topic from Orchestration & Composition on