Hi Guy and William,

I totally appreciate that being a good classical composer doesn't necessarily imply that one would want to score for films. Actually just as I finished writing the post I though I should add parenthetically "if they wanted to score for films". 

My post was more of a lament that there are few good quality film composers today that make it to the the top grossing movies. I understand that film is an entirely different genre that is largely driven by directorial demands, but the quality of film music, and to William's point, the quality of films themselves, has deteriorated to such an unimaginable degree (Thanks in large part to HZ) that one could only dream of music like what you guys make adorning film music these days. The days of John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith and the likes seem to be getting over and all replaced by thump thump music as I like to call it, or as Errikos said somewhere, its all about ostinatos and taikos these days.

Best

Anand

Hi William,

I enjoyed listening to this piece very much. The harmonies and orchestration were quite intricate. The percussion was used in ways I haven't heard before. Overall there was not a dull moment. I do hear a touch of Goldsmith's influence.

This is a sophisticated composition that is well beyond the standards of today's Hollywood film scores.

I must admit though, that despite VSL being great I wish I could hear this performed by a top orchestra. It would sound absolutely fantastic. 

Also this left me wishing that Hollywood films employed composers like you and Guy Bacos rather than the repetitive crap thats out there. (sorry I've been pretty sore for a few days after listening to that HZ video I shared where they spent 2 hours talking about nothing of substance except samples this and that)

Best wishes for the Holidays and New Year!

Anand

I always know the right invocation to call Errikos :)

That link doesnt work for me either unfortunately. So unless I seek some Russian help in hacking I'll have to miss our Guru's words of wisdom about tertian harmony and resort to my harmony books. 

-Anand

Some valuable words of wisdom from the master HZ? https://youtu.be/GDJeo67LqWA 

(just trying to get the attention of Errikos :))

Coming to my main question, looking at studios like the one on the video, I've always been (genuinely) curious as to what these racks and racks of equipment are for? I thought all that was needed to make fancy orchestral music these days was a simple sound card and a computer, but then I don't do this for a living so I'm rather naive. Is each one of those 'things'  a server dedicated to each sample library and all of them are networked? audio interfaces and amplifiers? 

But then, when looking at John William' 'studio' I realize we dont even need a computer to make the most memorable film music of our times; https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/jw-office_1997.jpg (I must admit I can stare at this pic for hours, imagining him going back and forth between the piano and the drawing board next to it and hearing those great orchestral scores)

I guess there is not just one way to make music.

Happy and Safe holidays to everyone!

Anand

Hi William,

I didn't know you make movies as well! I started watching and liked it a lot, including the sound score. Will need to come complete watching it later but wanted to send a quick note. This must have involved quite a lot of work to make an hour long film and score for it! 

I also checked out the metaphysical video you had made a few months ago and really enjoyed it, esp given all the scientific instruments and science themed images settings! Need to watch it again.

Hope all is well.

Best

Anand   

I just stopped by the forum after a very long time and was pleasantly surprised to see a new demo from Guy. (Well this  is a new demo at least to me since I haven't heard the previous version.) 

What can I say, being an ignoramus...? this is masterfully done in composition, orchestration and production...I suppose those are bongos in the beginning bars for the ball hitting the racket? I think I hear Stravinsky's firebird influence, those piano attacks especially, but surely this is in a different context and is innovative in its own way.

Thank you for sharing!

Best

Anand

The forum seemed to have died out a few months ago but things seem to have picked up and its nice to see  many new demos.

I just found this: https://www.amazon.com/formaci%C3%B3n-musical-del-o%C3%ADdo/dp/8482362828

you can actually get a free pdf copy here: https://www.academia.edu/29522781/Kuhn_Clemens_La_formacion_del_oido_musical

I'll start learning spanish  ;)

This is absolutely fascinating. Can someone provide the link to where I can get this book in any language?

Ive always been intrigued by the idea of inner hearing in classical composers and how the composition process is far more optimized than in other musicians, and thats why they are able to pour out so much good music.

Thanks!

Anand

Wow. look who's here! And what a great way to get back to the forum 

Originally Posted by: fahl5

Originally Posted by: agitato

Surely one of the best demos here.

Best

Anand

Defenitly "one of the best" Demos "here"

Surely one of the best demos here. Maybe the reverb could be a tad bit lower. Other than that fantastic job!

Best

Anand

A great loss indeed. His music was so unique, although seeped in tradition. 

I used to be obsessed with his film scores and melodies, and oddly, his music besides early Hollywood film scores was my first love of orchestral music that initiated my entry into classical music.

I was surprised by a few things I read in his obituary in the NY times. He never learnt to speak English; the Dollars trilogy was in Italian dialogue; and he hated his score "Fistful of dollars" saying that it was the worst film Leone made and the worst score he did! 

Anand

I thought your rendition sounded remarkably good, except for a little "synthy"ness in the cellos/basses. Although in general I wouldn't trade any virtual performance for a real performance of a decent  orchestra, this is not bad at all for a virtual performance. Your programming skills are excellent.

But I agree with Macker. It was unfair to the musicians. Anyways the video seems to be taken down now so its all good.

Congrats in the nice work.

Annad

That was brilliant!

Originally Posted by: Errikos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_i8qdfW5u8

wow Thanks or sharing this piece. I heard an organ live in a medieval church in Barcelona, it was and is the greatest sound Ive ever heard. 

And yes this trounces intersellar.

Anand

Hi Dave,

finally had a chance to go through your video. It was very interesting to learn about your workflow. I do not use cubase but I do write directly in Sibelius and also use that for the playback, despite being advised against that by many here. Part of the reason is my laziness....looking at your video its quite clear how much work it requires to make music using DAW.

One question: it seems you are taking the midi file from Finale into Cubase. But if you include the key switches in the midi file wont that cut down the work overload in Cubase? you would then have to only worry about adding the dynamics and tempo. But I am not sure if there are VSL soundsets for Finale. 

Anyways Thanks for posting this, will sure be helpful when I eventually move to using DAW and stop behaving like an amateur:)

Best

Anand

For those who didnt know, Concergebouwest have been live streamign their Mahler recordings.

Right NOW they are streamings Mahler 5 by Gatti. just fantastic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igNAx_Sh5Mw

Hi MMKA

I thought your rendereing was excellent. A very nice piece indeed! I need to listen more carefully to give more feedback, hopefully in a few days.

Congratulations!

Best

Anand

Soundcloud suggested this to me and I thought this was outstandingly well done...posted 8 years ago!

https://soundcloud.com/servandovalero/j-williams-escapades-1

I dont know who this person is but I hope he wont mind my reposting here.

Anand

Very nice rendering, especially the strings.

Best

Anand

The organ surely added the final punch and come in with perfect timing to round the clip very well!

Anand

I just got a chance to actually listen to your piece as I didnt have my head phones.

I agree with Mike this piece is fantastic. Besides the masterful playing of the instruments, it is impressive that there is absolutely no apparent hesiation in either of you as the piece moves along, almost like it was already written. I like how you explore all various modes...like the phrygian just after the first minute.

You must have had so much fun doing this.

Anand

Hi Dave

so nice to hear from you and thank you for the listening to my piece and the kind words. 

Hope things are well with you in these tough times and hat your music making is as energetic as ever.

Best,

Anand

Thank you, Jerry for starting this thread. This should prove insightful for beginners like me.

What Mike said makes a lot of sense to me, regarding the relationship between improv and composition. And the idea of graphing the entire piece is pretty cool. No wonder that helps to create coherent large scale structures. Ive heard that sketching an outline as the approach used by many great composers, from Beethoven to contemporary ones like Corigliano.

I come from a tradition (Indian classical music) where there is no written music and everything is done on the spot. However, there are many predefined phrases from which the artist chooses, and in a way their improv is already pre composed. The more sophisticated the artist is, the more phrases he/she knows and it almost sounds like they are making new musi as they go alone (this also depends on the sophistication of the listener).

So I wonder if 'improv' and 'composition' become more and more indistinguishable when the artist's musical knowledge becomes more sophisticated? So that every new note or chord they come up with is already well thought out, and its only secondary matter of they put it on a piece of paper (composition) or play it on an instrument (when its called improv)....of course this leaves out the element of the sub conscious and spontaneity that makes us so human.

Anand

Thank you MMKA and William for listening and the encouraging words!

Hi Mike

it is so nice to hear from you! I hope you are doing well and even taking time this lockdown to write new pieces....Maybe another symphonic work?

Thank you so much for listening to my piece and the feedback. Followin your suggestions, I think I will take some elements of this piece and work on a separate one, rather than trying to expand the existing one, which I feel was not conceived properly.

I am stil continuing to work on your early advice about learning orhestration, which have been very valuable!

Best

Anand