KVR May entry

[offthewall]

This is a ‘minimal’ composition which is inspired by the month.

There are many traditions, in my country, connected with the month of May. They are mainly to do with the transition from spring to summer and usually involve children enacting roles of the Queen of the May and taking part in dancing festivals and the like. The other day I attended a Victorian style re-enactment of the MayDay ritual. The music and dancing of the children round the Maypole was all quite happy-go-lucky, but when I saw the young May Queen riding in to the village in the pony and trap I was struck by her solemnity and sense of trepidation at being the imminent centre of attention. That sight inspired this wistful interpretation of the May Queen. (I do wish I could sing!)

This one is for my daughter, who is facing University exams ON her birthday this month. She is my May Queen.

Lilah(MayQueen)

My first full attempt at a song using Reaper, and I’m very impressed!

My old 60’s Jedson acoustic tuned to dropD for background,
The recent Fender acoustic for lead melody,
And a new ‘mellow’ penny-whistle to finish off.
No processing other than a touch of ‘GlaceVerb’.

For members of THIS forum..... I would love to have someone make this tune into a song!
James.

[kara]

Wonderfull, I just love it
It has 2 elements that I love
First of all, it has a real live feeling, just a man and his instrument 
And it has allso a celtic feeling, cool

You asked to change this tune in a song ? I would say I realy wouldn't change a lot. The only thing would be to add some typical celtic rythm with a bodran or something simular.
I don't think Talvin is a member here, but he is very good at that. I'm sure you could contact him on Kvr.

[offthewall]

Kara,
Thanks for the positive comments.

I don't really want to change things musically, just to have someone put words to it.   It's so frustrating not being able to sing!!
 

[blipp]

Love the guitar in this, has a really resonant timbre to it and it's very well recorded. Nice to hear some acoustic music for a change. nice one. 

[Laguna Rising]

Love the guitar in this, has a really resonant timbre to it and it's very well recorded. Nice to hear some acoustic music for a change. nice one. 

Hi Offthewall
All the instruments here are working well for the final result which is superb. Nice touch.
I'm getting used to sequencers, computers, etc. and it's useful sometimes to come back to natural things.
I like your trademark penny-whistle comes in for the final 
A great tune, I'm not a singer myself but I wouldn't mind keeping it istrumental
Good Luck for the contest

Cheers

[offthewall]

Thanks for the comments here.  All criticism appreciated.  I always say.........this is how I learn!

I must admit to being pleased with the way the acoustic guitars record. 
I have two Behringer mikes going through a Behringer Eurorack mixer.  I generally take the advised stance of placing #1 mike about 30-40cm in front of guitar, pointing towards the join of neck with body at approx 45* angle.  The #2 mike is about 40-50cm away, placed below but pointing upward from the bottom end toward the bridge, again at approx 45* angle.  This set-up seems to pick up the various resonances from the guitar body without getting too much extraneous sound from elsewhere.

The whistle is a little more difficult to record. If anyone wants details of that just ask!

Anyway....thanks for the crit.
 
James

[offthewall]

I had a request, on KVR, for a version 'without the whistle'.  It's not really what I want to hear, but someone does!!
 

[kara]

Yeah I saw the request on kvr, saying that a whistle 'allways sounds out of tune'
I would have answered 'Wash your ears' 

So, my opinion is, stick to the version with the whistle, you lost an important element of the song in the new version. Now it sounds just like an exercise for a guitar player 

[Laguna Rising]

I don't want a version without penny-whistle. I don't care. 
I don't even bother to download it

Cheers

[offthewall]

 

No big deal here, folks.........the big deals are going on over there...in the gossip!!!

My contest contribution is unchanged, that's the way I wanted it.
But someone asked for an alternate version.  All I had to do was pull up the songfile, mute one track and re-render......happy audience.  Special request time. 

By the way.  Any opinions on Reaper?
This was my first full try at a finished project and I find it a very intuitive and logical app.  Although this song has only 3 tracks I am also working on a song with, up till now 12 tracks and a tempo change and it is still quite sweet!
 
James.

[NeoN]

Hi James, how are you?

Lovely Piece, once again I like your whistles and the Acoustic Guitar..
Very relaxing Piece to listen to, I liked it a lot.

Peter

[Daniel Pompougnac]

I like this piece. Very much.
It's a sweet piece with sweet colors.
Sorry, but for me, I see the sea, waves but also mountains... 
Lovely piece, sure.

Daniel

[offthewall]

Hi again,

As the KVR contest is so restrictive I fancied taking this tune a step further over here, just for fun.

I've extended the length and added extra instruments. It now has two guitars, two mandolins and two whistles.
Please enjoy (and criticise!)
 
James.

[kara]

In one word, I love it 
I would go to a concert like that 

[offthewall]

Thanks Kara,
get me some gigs in France (would make a nice little vacation!)
 
 
James