Last Seen With Daisy: a ghost story

I haven’t posted anything here for a while, and I was hesitant to post this because it is missing the most important part, the lead vocal. So it remains a prototype for now. In any case I have included the melody and lyrics. Instead of a tenor, I gave the melody, for the purpose of a demo, to various tenor instruments, namely cello or horn or even piano. This has necessarily colored and altered the orchestral balance, but is a necessary trade off.  
 
It is my first dramatic work, and the most ambitious considering its length, which presented some unique challenges to me both in the arc of the songs and how they fit as a whole, but also many joys of discovery. The songs are sung from the point of view of a ghost who also tells the story. Since there is no acting or recitatives to inform the audience, there are only the songs, the mood and the lyrics. It is a rich art form that I would love to do more of! and I welcome your comments. Thanks!

Prologue: (Dirge)

“I’m No Longer Here” Bar 87 - @ 4:45
“Gone iI a Terrible Thing” Bar 154 - @7:20
“Make It Happen” Bar 302 - @11:25
“Run Run Run” Bar 424 - @15.00

Epilogue

No comments? Hmm...

Hi Ken

You know long works keep many people away from listening.

I don't mind that if the music is good. The "problem" here is that with this player I don't know how long the piece is. I don't know at what point it is, either.

Anyway, I've listened to it. In this moment (of my musical "life") Im fonder of more contemporary sounds, but for some reasons, I like also more classical approaches, when they tell me something.

It's not easy to imagine how it would be with the tenor, and the result is a symphonic suite. I've read the text to know what it is about.

I think the music is very beautiful, coherent all the while with no hard transitions at all. Very colorful and balanced. But, above, all, I love the mood, the calmness. it would be great to hear it sung... I know you've done a great work with orchestration, you always do... Congrats!

Luis, thanks for taking the time to listen to the music. I always appreciate your observations. The player that comes with YC tells you the length, does it not? I suspect that people will listen as long as the music holds their interest, and no more.

I sympathize with your desire to hear a more striking and original tonality! But the songs are essentially melodic and singable. And not written for the “trained voice.” I wouldn’t know how to get the emotion I’m after using modern - or clever - tonality. Maybe a better composer would. In this case, the tonality is familiar and even includes clichès here and there for dramatic purposes. I was aiming for a larger audience perhaps? And again I am sorry that you could not hear it as intended.

And to all YC’s … do not feel intimidated to share your opinions if you feel obliged to be scholarly but are not. Just be honest and there’s no such thing as a bad critique.

Very pleasant to listen to and lyrical and wistful which fits your intent I would think.  I have to admit, having the vocal parts taken up by various instruments to my ear makes this sound like accompaniment to something visual like a ballet or silent film.

13 hours ago, bkho said:

Very pleasant to listen to and lyrical and wistful which fits your intent I would think.  I have to admit, having the vocal parts taken up by various instruments to my ear makes this sound like accompaniment to something visual like a ballet or silent film.

 

Wistful. Yes. To be a ghost is the saddest thing in the world (or the next world).