collaboration Multi-Genre Collab?

I was randomly bored, and an idea came out of nowhere to my mind. A collaboration of multi-genres!

The idea is, every composer taking part will create a small composition that fits with the theme of the full composition.

The combination of different genres might not always sound like a decent idea, but it can work. And with the skills of the composers in this forum it can work very well.. but we encounter an issue which is the difference of tools used.. Therefore, lots of mixing and editing will have to go into this (I can do that, unless anyone feels they're more capable.. I'm not the best at it), it won't be an easy project unless we want some crappy result. Based on the number of participants the segments will be divided. Also the full length of the composition will be voted on once there's a decent number of participants of about 4 or more.

So basically, I'll have to start the composition, giving a general idea on the theme to be followed, for example.. grief.. victory.. relief.. misery.. etc...
But before that, what are you opinions of this idea?

Participants

1. @Maarten Bauer
2. @Monarcheon
3. @ilv

Great idea and it sounds fun!

I have participated on another collaboration idea before, which did not work out very well: we had to work with several notation programs and communication was quite difficult.
How do you have the organisation in mind?

I can edit music, not heavy editing but I have some tools to edit and mix audio files and make them fit. The way I think of it, I'm just using audio files really, the ones uploaded are the ones included, anything else I'm not very keen. .midi files can make things easier (I'd then try to emulate the used instruments to the best of my ability). But I think it will work out with some teamwork.

53 minutes ago, Vadrif D. Zobrist said:

I can edit music, not heavy editing but I have some tools to edit and mix audio files and make them fit. The way I think of it, I'm just using audio files really, the ones uploaded are the ones included, anything else I'm not very keen. .midi files can make things easier (I'd then try to emulate the used instruments to the best of my ability). But I think it will work out with some teamwork.

Working with midi is a good idea, because many people use many different sound libraries. When we would just send you all our audio (mp3) the sound of for example the oboe is probably different than the sound of my oboe part.

1 minute ago, Maarten Bauer said:

Working with midi is a good idea, because many people use many different sound libraries. When we would just send you all our audio (mp3) the sound of for example the oboe is probably different than the sound of my oboe part.

True, the point though would be if MY oboe would sound good to both of who used it. (It'll be the same, but would they both like it?)

15 minutes ago, Vadrif D. Zobrist said:

True, the point though would be if MY oboe would sound good to both of who used it. (It'll be the same, but would they both like it?)

Indeed. Which program are you going to use when this idea goes through?

6 minutes ago, Maarten Bauer said:

Indeed. Which program are you going to use when this idea goes through?

Audacity for editing audio files, FLStudio (or any other DAW that I find flexible such as Mixcraft.. Reaper.. etc..) for noting/midi importing

Just now, Vadrif D. Zobrist said:

Audacity for editing audio files, FLStudio (or any other DAW that I find flexible such as Mixcraft.. Reaper.. etc..) for noting/midi importing

Alright. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with any of the programs you mention. Thus, I cannot help you very much with the editing. 

Just now, Maarten Bauer said:

Alright. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with any of the programs you mention. Thus, I cannot help you very much with the editing. 

No problem, I believe a .midi with a simple explanation of what instruments were used (and an example audio mix) would be very enough for me.

Hi, I've worked many times on projects like this one (in other sites).

Just to make it possible we used only the piano, and every one, in turns, added some measures. The files was always shared in xml format. So,  any notation software could be used.

Finally one person made the audio version using the same library (for the whole piece)

18 minutes ago, Luis Hernández said:

Hi, I've worked many times on projects like this one (in other sites).

Just to make it possible we used only the piano, and every one, in turns, added some measures. The files was always shared in xml format. So,  any notation software could be used.

Finally one person made the audio version using the same library (for the whole piece)

Well, if it can't work in multiple instruments, we can narrow it down to a few sounds.
I don't really know about .xml, didn't try that before.
As for the third point, I'll be the one with the final instruments (unless someone provides his preferable 'VSTi').

29 minutes ago, ilv said:

This sounds so fun and cool. Where's the source file?

 

I'm waiting till I see who wants to participate, and what they want the theme to sound like.

A little format to organize stuff:
 

• Genre preferred:
• Theme preferred:
• Tempo preferred:
• How much time will you need?:
• How many instruments will you use?:

Example:

• Genre preferred: Metal
• Theme preferred: Gothic
• Tempo preferred: 100 BPM
• How much time will you need?: 30 seconds
• How many instruments will you use?: 3 instruments, drums - bass guitar - lead guitar

• Genre preferred: Contemporary classical
• Theme preferred: No specific theme preferred.
• Tempo preferred: 90 BPM
• How much time will you need?: 40 seconds
• How many instruments will you use?: saxophone and percussion.

Interesting.

• Genre preferred: Freely atonal/post-modern
• Theme preferred: No specific theme preferred, anything angry
• Tempo preferred: Slow
• How much time will you need?: ca. 60 seconds
• How many instruments will you use?: Piano, Contrabassoon, (maybe marimba)

So far this is developing so good. Based on the genre types compositions will be arranged to fit some sort of a story-telling feel.
(The participants are added on the main post)

6 minutes ago, ilv said:

Is this supposed to be a set of compositions or one full-length single ovement piece?

Full-length piece of multiple genres following one theme but described in different instruments/genres/atmospheres/whatever you call it.

It's like a multi-lingual song, same purpose and/or message, different languages.

22 minutes ago, Vadrif D. Zobrist said:

Full-length piece of multiple genres following one theme but described in different instruments/genres/atmospheres/whatever you call it.

It's like a multi-lingual song, same purpose and/or message, different languages.

 

How about a theme and variations? You compose a theme and all participants compose their own variations on that theme. This solves the problem of unlogical transitions in atmosphere.

3 minutes ago, Maarten Bauer said:

How about a theme and variations? You compose a theme and all participants compose their own variations on that theme. This solves the problem of unlogical transitions in atmosphere.

 

Good idea, but my aim is to make them all get joined in one composition despite how hard it is to fit the completely different instrumental variations with each other. That's the challenge, and with good noting and music it's not impossible. It's also appreciable if every composition per participant ends in a tamable tone that can easily transform into many other styles, however not sounding like you stopped the composition and turned on another one.

Alright, participation will be closed by the end of today, and starting tomorrow I will post an opening intro for you guys to follow. We'll decide who comes when, based on their choices.

Participation has been closed.

Now it's time to begin this project. I've created a starting theme, pretty much following the example format I posted (33 seconds instead of 30).

The way I see it, this composition would follow a slowing down style, starting with my 100 bpm tempo, followed by @ilv's undetermined tempo (which can be 100 bpm), then @Maarten Bauer's 90 bpm tempo, finalized by a raging/angry climax from @Monarcheon at a rather slower tempo.

If you have any notices on the intro, I have no problem in editing it to suit you.

56 minutes ago, ilv said:

Here's my composition. It's for flute, clarinet and cello. Do you accept midi files?

Collab1.mid

I prefer them, since I'll most probably have the instruments' base, so I'll be mixing them all together. Although, I'd prefer if each midi track was labelled with what instrument it's to be played with. If it's the same order as in your quote, it'd sound like the attachment in very basic instrument sounds. Does it represent what you created? I'd be surprised if it isn't, because I like it haha

Now that I've heard your part, I might even adapt my own part more to fit it. I'll wait until more opinions are posted though.

-- For some reason I can't upload it on the forum, so I used another site to upload it. I hope that's not forbidden or anything, http://vocaroo.com/i/s16Fe2YIAiVk

Nice part @ilv! I love it!

I am writing my part now. It sounds like something I have never composed before, surprisingly.

1 minute ago, Maarten Bauer said:

Nice part @ilv! I love it!

I am writing my part now. It sounds like something I have never composed before, surprisingly.

 

Nice, I hope it generates new ideas and melodies for you, it always takes that one unusual track to expand one's imagination in composition.

6 minutes ago, Vadrif D. Zobrist said:

Nice, I hope it generates new ideas and melodies for you, it always takes that one unusual track to expand one's imagination in composition.

 

I listened to a lot of Jazz and funk songs and apparently it affected my sense to write something like it. Actually, it is pretty swinging haha!