Haunted

This was a fun piece I made recently, where I imagined myself walking through a haunted house.

It was largely improvised with minimal production, and features glass pad synth and timpani.

The glissando section is supposed to represent spiders descending from the ceiling!

I wonder if the piece sounds a bit disjointed at the transitions from glass pad to timpani?

It's kind of psychedelic I guess. But up to 1:55 more or less I think it's "too much filled" for me to feel like I'm in a haunted house.

The piece may sound disjointed at those transitions. Perhaps a fix for that is making the timpani be part of the piece too when the organ and pads are playing. I like the transition you do from the artificial bending of the instruments to the organ again, I think that does give the "haunted house" feeling (to me at least), but I'm not convinced with the timpani part at all (specially the second one).

From 2:50 to almost the end: if that's supposed to be the glissando section, well it feels strange to me but it's fine you like it as-is.

Thank you for sharing, keep composing!

Kind regards,
Daniel–Ømicrón.

Many thanks for your review!

The glissando section I was referring to, was actually the part from 0:48 to 1:04.

There are actually only two tracks: glass pad and timpani. The church organ-like sound is all coming from the glass pad.

I might try your suggestion to introduce the timpani earlier, underneath the synth.

The drum passages were designed to build tension as I'm tiptoeing around the haunted house, before something scary jumps out at me!

The section which you refer to as glissandos to me just sound like quick descending scalar runs.  The term glissando is usually meant to refer to the kind of pitch bends which you employ later on (1:13 - 1:39).  I again have to question your choice of synthesized instrumentation - to me it sounds cheesy and I yearn to hear this musical material reorchestrated for acoustic instruments maybe featuring a string orchestra (at least).  Of course people tell me that often my pieces sound cheesy so I guess - to each his own.  Although I do get your intent of depicting a haunted house but I think a pipe organ with flute stops might have been a more effective instrumentation in that case.  Thanks for sharing. 

Only just saw this reply!

Thanks v much for listening Peter. I might well try to re-orchestrate an acoustic version at some point.

It was really just an improvised piece, inspired by the tonal qualities of the glass pad synth; but I think it would definitely work on a church organ.

I'm a big fan of electronic music, as you've probably guessed: so I was trying to experiment with synth sound palettes.

I love the organ section! The harmony is so haunted!

The timpani section is quite detached from the piece. For me it's not haunting enough. Maybe some soft organ sound can be added to accompany it.

I think maybe the glissando for the last section can be played by a celesta. I think that will be even more scary! Imagine the sound of sugar plum dance playing these quick notes! NNNOOO!

Hi Henry. Many thanks for your suggestions.

Have made a modified version with celesta.

Also added a sinister cello under the timpani!

I love the new version more! (It seems shameless for me to claim so...) I think adding the celesta can make it even more sinister since the sound of celesta seems naive as a fallen angel! With the demonic organ that will be a good combination! Adding the cello to the timpani is great too! Now I feel the sinister undetcurrent underneath the devil's heartbeat! Great job!