Mythic Lands - Suite - A WIP Piece!

Hi all! I've been trying to utilize the feedback I've heard here on the forum to keep growing in my skills as a composer and better translate my ideas. This is a piece I've been working on the past couple days. I've tried to incorporate more low-end to make the piece feel more balanced and full. As well as keep things moving in new and different ways instead of just building consistently by adding one section in at a time. This was made in FL Studio, using a variety of Spitfire Audio VSTs; BBCSO Discover, Intimate Strings, Epic Choirs, Labs, and Rare Flutes; as well as some percussion from Amadeus Symphonic Orchestra.

The goal of this piece was to take a few themes I've had concepts for in my head and turn them into an "end credits suite" of sorts. An intense opening, a whimsical middle section, with peace and promise, diving into unsettling territory, and then an epic conclusion! I recently made a few trips to a nearby symphony (I always love evenings spent with the symphony) so it fueled my desire to keep furthering my skills even more!

Hope you enjoy the listen and I'm looking forward to the feedback!

Hi @Layne!

Contrary to your description, I actually hear this as perhaps the beginning of a creepy Halloween movie.  I think you've definitely made progress with this piece.  You don't resort to just repeating the same idea with added or subtracted instruments, or changed orchestration.  It seems like each part of the piece is unique and emerges more naturally and is well conceived.  Your orchestration also sounds less empty and more full-bodied and wholesome.  Perhaps you're using more of the string orchestra at once.  Now, the thing that I perceive is limiting you and making this sound a bit square is that it's all in 4/4 meter.  Even the grand pause at 5:19 is exactly 4 beats long.  Also - along the same lines - your tempo never seems to fluctuate.  Now, that might not be necessary in this piece and you could argue that changing the tempo anywhere in it would ruin the vibe you're going for.  But it's worth mentioning because I don't think you've thus far written anything with meter or tempo changes in it.  Those are my thoughts.  Thanks for sharing!

On 10/10/2024 at 11:12 PM, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Hi @Layne!

Contrary to your description, I actually hear this as perhaps the beginning of a creepy Halloween movie.  I think you've definitely made progress with this piece.  You don't resort to just repeating the same idea with added or subtracted instruments, or changed orchestration.  It seems like each part of the piece is unique and emerges more naturally and is well conceived.  Your orchestration also sounds less empty and more full-bodied and wholesome.  Perhaps you're using more of the string orchestra at once.  Now, the thing that I perceive is limiting you and making this sound a bit square is that it's all in 4/4 meter.  Even the grand pause at 5:19 is exactly 4 beats long.  Also - along the same lines - your tempo never seems to fluctuate.  Now, that might not be necessary in this piece and you could argue that changing the tempo anywhere in it would ruin the vibe you're going for.  But it's worth mentioning because I don't think you've thus far written anything with meter or tempo changes in it.  Those are my thoughts.  Thanks for sharing!

 

I always appreciate your feedback. Thank you for taking the time to listen and being so thorough in your response. I find that often when I write pieces, I'm scoring to visuals in my mind. So, it's interesting to me to hear other interpretations of these pieces and what visuals they bring to those who listen to them. That imagery I think of helps me visualize where I'd like the piece to go next.

Apologies for the late reply, but I did read your comment earlier this week and took your advice! I've begun work on my first piece that isn't in 4/4. It's definitely helped me change up the feeling of this new piece. I've attached it in it's current version if you'd be interested in giving it a listen as well! Currently it's titled "Experiments" because that's exactly what it is, haha!

Hi Layne. 

I think you have a good facility with counterpoint in your works, and some interesting dissonant harmonies.

You're also very good at creating an atmospheric soundscape, and musical storytelling that takes the listener on a journey.

I've had a similar issue with lack of tempo variation, as I was using a DAW that didn't allow for any changes in time signature or tempo within the same project. More recently though, I've begun using MuseScore as a starting point for my composition, which has no such drawbacks.

On 10/20/2024 at 6:40 PM, Alex Weidmann said:

Hi Layne. 

I think you have a good facility with counterpoint in your works, and some interesting dissonant harmonies.

You're also very good at creating an atmospheric soundscape, and musical storytelling that takes the listener on a journey.

I've had a similar issue with lack of tempo variation, as I was using a DAW that didn't allow for any changes in time signature or tempo within the same project. More recently though, I've begun using MuseScore as a starting point for my composition, which has no such drawbacks.

 

Thank you so much! I enjoy focusing on storytelling as a key element when I compose. It's really one of my driving forces behind the pieces I make.

I've considered trying out MuseScore. I currently use FL Studio. Rcently found out how to change the time signature for a project, which yielded my first experiment with a time signature other than 4/4 in the song in my comment replying to PeterthePaperComposer. But yes, it also doesn't allow a change in time signature within the workspace once the project is set. So instead it'd be using a workspace in 6/8 but placing notes as if it were 4/4 for example to "change time signatures".

How was the transition from a DAW workflow into Musescore for you? I don't know how to write sheet music, so, that's always been one of my concerns. Most of what I do is instinctual based on what I've learned so far. But I am always looking for ways to better my composing and workflow!

On 10/25/2024 at 1:40 AM, Layne said:

How was the transition from a DAW workflow into Musescore for you? I don't know how to write sheet music, so, that's always been one of my concerns. Most of what I do is instinctual based on what I've learned so far. But I am always looking for ways to better my composing and workflow!

I've been able to read music since early childhood: so switching to MuseScore wasn't such a big deal for me.

The challenging part was learning to write for orchestra, when it's going to be played by actual musicians.

I was much more familiar with piano scores; but for an orchestral score, you have to understand the nuances of all the different instruments. Otherwise your score may be unplayable, or very difficult to read.
(E.g. Understanding which pitch slides can be played on a trombone, or how to notate different playing styles in the strings.)

As a sheet music novice, you won't find it quick or easy to learn; but I would encourage you to do it.

Like learning a second language, it's always going to be a useful skill.

You can probably get everything you need from You Tube and Wikipedia; but it may take several years to become proficient.

Since you obviously have a natural flair for composition, I would say it's worth the effort.

Good luck!

Alex

15 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

I've been able to read music since early childhood: so switching to MuseScore wasn't such a big deal for me.

The challenging part was learning to write for orchestra, when it's going to be played by actual musicians.

I was much more familiar with piano scores; but for an orchestral score, you have to understand the nuances of all the different instruments. Otherwise your score may be unplayable, or very difficult to read.
(E.g. Understanding which pitch slides can be played on a trombone, or how to notate different playing styles in the strings.)

As a sheet music novice, you won't find it quick or easy to learn; but I would encourage you to do it.

Like learning a second language, it's always going to be a useful skill.

You can probably get everything you need from You Tube and Wikipedia; but it may take several years to become proficient.

Since you obviously have a natural flair for composition, I would say it's worth the effort.

Good luck!

Alex

 

Thank you so much for all of the advice! I used to play cello, so did read sheet music for a while. But, fell off of learning it. So it's definitely been a while since I've had to read sheet music. I appreciate you taking the time to help! I definitely want to keep doing whatever I can to improve my skills to better tell the stories I want to convey.

I definitely understand where learning to compose for an actual, live orchestra would be one of the more difficult parts. I've been trying to look at pieces as less "this is your part, and this is your part" individually and make them more whole where all parts work together. I'll definitely begin looking into resources to get reacquainted with sheet music and learning to write it.