Kara-Moon Forum

Music Auditorium => General => Topic started by: folderol on April 28, 2008, 12:40:25 AM



Title: Henry's Ghost
Post by: folderol on April 28, 2008, 12:40:25 AM
This is a tune I've been working on for a couple of weeks now. It needs more work yet - especially the bass, but I think it's sufficiently 'cooked' for a first airing :)

As for the title. I dunno. The name just came to me ???


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: MarioD on April 28, 2008, 01:08:57 AM
Will, this is a great piece of music!  I really liked the orchestration you have here.  Your leads are super, as are the counter points and harmonies.

I do agree with you about the bass line.  A little movement here may be in order, IMHO.  Using bass runs into and out of some chords would put the icing on the cake for me. 

Just my thoughts.
 
Great song!


 




Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: elwoodblues1969 on April 28, 2008, 01:46:22 AM
Will,

I think this piece is off to a great start-meaning that it does sound a bit incomplete,but not because of the bass(as I see it).

I think that you left quite a bit of room for adding alot of little extras-which is a good thing,in fact,a very good thing,as this song could evolve over time and go into some extrodinary directions. 8)

For instance,if you were to add-say,an arpeggiated riff to tie the song together more tightly,you could just about make it seamless by just doing that.

Sometimes the most remarkable creations are done by gradually adding,subracting,multiplying formulas over an extended period of time.

I have this one song in my collection that I had re-worked,mutated & polished,over a 20 year period and I ended up having two different genres of the same song that I'm very happy with. ;D

Some nice work going on here,Sir. :;

Cheers,

Thom


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: Oren on April 28, 2008, 03:38:52 PM
What is most charming about this piece is its simplicity.

Perhaps a cello part would replace the current bass track, like the small string ensembles employed in chamber music?

Oh yeah, and, who's Henry?


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: Laguna Rising on April 28, 2008, 06:52:10 PM
I agree on that : simple and beautiful melodies.
very nice composition ! well done

Cheers


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: folderol on April 28, 2008, 07:48:31 PM
Thanks very much for your comments guys.

@MarioD
I shall definitely get to work on that bass line. What you suggested is not a million miles from what I had in mind :)

@Thom
I usually let tunes dictate to me what 'genre' they will end up as. Often they seem to fall in the cracks  ::)
It might be interesting to deliberately set a style and see how it comes out. I once went though a phase where I arpeggiated almost everything and am still a bit in withdrawl :P

@Oren
Hmm. Never thought about a cello. I'll give it a try and see how it sounds - I'm a little concerned that it might tend to get masked by the string section though - we will see.

@Laguna rising
Thanks. I do like to try simple melodies out, but it can be a great temptation to keep adding bits :-\

P.S.
I don't know who henry was... His ghost didn't tell me ;D


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: offthewall on April 28, 2008, 09:22:17 PM
I love this tune. It has a truly refreshing melody. Clear and uncluttered.
I see Oren's point about the cello. I think that may work well.
And the title fits the tune.....in my imagination. (http://bestsmileys.com/scared/1.gif)

 ;)
James


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: folderol on April 28, 2008, 11:28:39 PM
Thanks James.

I had time to do a quick experiment this evening with a piccolo soundfont in place of the synth flute, and a cello soundfont playing the bass part up an octave . I think these will be a definite improvement :-


P.S.
Where do you get all these smileys from? ;D


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: offthewall on April 29, 2008, 07:55:33 AM
 ;D
http://bestsmileys.com/pageindex.htm

 ;)
James


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: folderol on April 29, 2008, 09:50:23 PM
Thanks james - that's quite a site :D

... back to business ...

Here is the latest version. I've swapped the synth flute out and used a piccolo soundfont instead. I've also swapped out the bass with a cello and done some editing on that line to give it more movement.

There's more to do yet I think, but mostly details now.



Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: offthewall on April 29, 2008, 10:00:38 PM
 :D
Nice.
I would suggest more realism for the piccolo with the addition of some grace-notes and maybe a tad vibrato (I think you synth chaps call it modulation) on the long notes at the ends of phrases.
I feel that the cello is good but could also be improved by accentuating the 'bowing' sound, would this be accomplished with more 'attack'?  I know that with the likes of StringThing2 and StringZ, the harder you strike a key the more of a 'bowed' effect you get (is this velocity?).
All said, this is shaping up very nicely.  (http://bestsmileys.com/music2/8.gif)

 ;)
James


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: folderol on April 29, 2008, 10:21:24 PM
Thanks James. Kudos has to go to Oren for suggesting the cello. I had no idea what a staggering difference that would make :;


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: Oren on April 29, 2008, 11:14:14 PM
Staggering - that's me :D

It has that lovely chamber music vibe, even more now. Schweet!

To my ear, some of the higher cello notes would be better sounded an octave lower, even if they encroach on double bass territory.  Just to keep your bass line distinct from the other string accompaniment.

Good work, Will  8)


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: Wyatt on April 30, 2008, 12:22:55 PM
Will,

You have a lovely style and this is a lovely piece..

..bittersweet..reminiscent..contemplative..evocative.

I really enjoyed it.

Wyatt


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: folderol on April 30, 2008, 08:55:52 PM
@Oren
Look mate, I've told you before about this mind-reading malarky ::) Yes, I was thinking that I need to drop some of the higher cello notes, but not a whole octave, I want the part to 'walk' rather than jump :)

@Wyatt
Thanks very much.

I'll probably do my usual of leaving it to rest until the weekend then have another look to see what can be improved - carefully though. I don't want to 'over-improve' it :-\


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: MarioD on April 30, 2008, 09:45:40 PM
This is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

I REALLY like this one.  The cello really sets this off.

The only advice I can add to what already has been said is “Don’t mess with this too much, if at all”!  Just my two American cents!


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost - Finalised?
Post by: folderol on May 02, 2008, 09:47:38 PM
After giving this a brief rest, I made just a few very minor changes this evening, mostly giving the cello more expression. I considered making other changes but I think it's best left as it is now.


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: offthewall on May 02, 2008, 10:17:42 PM
Beautiful, Will.
You just about reached 'perfection' here, mate.
Got to go down as an all time classic. (http://bestsmileys.com/clapping/6.gif)

 ;)
James


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: Oren on May 03, 2008, 07:57:35 AM
You just about reached 'perfection' here, mate.
Got to go down as an all time classic.

Henry would have been proud... :D


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: SoundKlops on May 03, 2008, 08:38:34 AM
Let me say it in one word: GREAT! :;

Andreas


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: MarioD on May 03, 2008, 06:34:46 PM
Outstanding  :-

It's a keeper   :;


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: folderol on May 03, 2008, 07:13:32 PM
Thanks again guys. I'm very pleased it's so well liked.

... best hurry along and get it on my site now :)


Title: Re: Henry's Ghost
Post by: Laguna Rising on May 04, 2008, 04:23:46 PM
... best hurry along and get it on my site now :)

Yeah, this is worthy to be there
This new version is beautiful

Cheers