White Night

I wrote the chords and melody for this song 5 years ago. It was gathering dust, until I decided to use the song for a Christmas song contest, so I wrote the lyrics that in mind, although I tried to avoid any direct references to Christmas or human culture around. Instead, I tried to have fable magic of winter in it... it was tough task to write, so the story may be a little mess, but I hope I manage to deliver even a tiny bit of that magic to you

BIAB provided, once again, great instruments for my arrangement. Unfortunately, another BIAB release without Bagpipes/Uilleann pipe RTs Wouldn't it be nice to have as many flute/pipe/wind instrument RTs as there are guitar RTs? Well, at least there was one new world instrument erhu which suits the song very well as the voice of the northern wind. I guess I have to overuse erhu as the bagpipe replacement during this year

I'm not quite sure about the correct bodhran pronunciation, but I used one suggestion I found (bow-ron)...

RealDrums:
BodhranCelticJig^2-Brushes
BodhranTradJig: a: Bodhran b: BodhranTradJig
Shaker68Nanigo[single]

RealTracks:
#1161:Bass, Acoustic, CelticJig Sw 110
#3915:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm ContradanceJig68 Sw 120
#1163:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticJig Sw 110
#3543:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticJig68Picking Sw 110
#2860:Guitar, Nylon, Rhythm Mariachi68 Sw 110
#2724:Guitar, Nylon, Fingerpicking PeruFestejo68Melodic Sw 120
#4381:Erhu, Background SimplePentatonic Ev 060
#3187:Fiddle, Soloist, CelticJigAndy Sw 110
#3766:Vibes, Rhythm PopSwing Sw 110

Vocals: Synthesizer V Natalie (lead), Synthesizer V Weina (lead+backing), Synthesizer V Asterian (backing)

Mixed in Cakewalk by BandLab

Lyrics:

The reindeers are restless
the wolves sowing fright
the pastures are petrified
in the polar night.
Gales are gathering
clouds are strengthening
crystals start scattering light.
Swirls in the skyline
a crow on a deadwood pine
wait for the wizard in white.

White is the night when winter comes
the change of season quiets the drums
hides the tracks of hunted preys
lightens up the darkest greys
slows the stream of vanishing days.
Calms the grieving piccolo
mutes the lonely trumpet blow
requiems now covered in snow.
White is the night when winter comes
the voice of the northern wind hums.

The fairies are fretful
the woods feeling blue
magic is mortified
hideaways are few.
Hardships confront a gnome
dreaming in monochrome
the softhearted underworld sound.
Tears of a leprechaun
are beating on his bodhran
breaking the spell that has been bound.

White is the night...

Yet no sign of a sled
but bells breaking the still
elves relish in red
head down the hill.
Beings joining the joy
myths, magic and glee
a rapt smile of a boy
chosen to see.
------------------------------
Janne

Janne, you are a master lyricist indeed and you have a command of the English language few of us have.
Very enjoyable listen and the feel and synth vocals remind me of one of my favorite bands, Renaissance/Annie Haslam.
I wonder if you were inspired by them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtSQFewjDD0

Fabulous lyrics.
Fabulous production.

Vic

Wow, Janne, this was superb! Best lyrics ever! I was concerned the erhu's distinctive sound might distract but it was fine. I think I've mentioned to you in the past that Native Instruments has a uilleann pipes in Kontakt - you may already know that. Lotta Celtic Woman in this track, which I love. Fantastic work!

This is really special Janne!

What a great sound!

And yes, I have been dreaming of some bag pipes, too!



P.S.

Wait, I found them. In Sample Tank!!

Should have known!

And they sound fabulous!

Cool alliteration! I like it!

As others have already said, it sounds great!

Small nit - the plural of reindeer is reindeer. Generally, anyway. English can be weird. Apparently some dictionaries have it both ways. And if enough people start using it that way, it becomes official.

However, there are two pronunciation problems in Tears of a leprechaun

These should be t ih r z and l eh p r ih k ao n

I'd trust Google before SynthV. Click the link, and then the speaker icon in the left side to hear it pronounced. At least, the way I pronounce it, so it must be right!

https://translate.google.com/?sl=en&tl=ja&text=tears%20of%20a%20leprechaun&op=translate

Interestingly, Google doesn't pronounce bodhran the Irish way.

Anyway, very poetic!

Yeow, I love the opening. Reminds of a favorite band The Pentangle. Love the vocals, the melody and the whole production. Dang, I absolutely love this song, Janne. Excellent choices of instrumentation and the perfect mix, but I keep coming back to how good that melody is.

Thanks BT for your too kind comment "Master lyricist" sounds very over-exaggeration, but I will certainly hang that badge on my wall

You introduced me to Renaissance already in my "The River Of Eternity" song comment thread, and I thank you for that. Hadn't heard them before, but now I have been enjoying many of their great tracks like Ocean Gypsy, Grandine Il Vento and Ashes Are Burning. So this song wasn't inspired by them, because it was written long time ago, but maybe some new songs will be

Janne

This a great one! I absolutely loved that intro, and the writing - superb! Great job Janne.

Janne,

Funny how a song bed can hang around for years until something finally clicks lyrically . . . glad this one finally came together because it’s a good one. Great intro, and what follows is equally impressive. The Vocaloid is really, really good. The mix is just great all the way through. Outstanding work!

All my best,

Deej

Really cool song Janne. The lyric was excellent but the backing band was stellar. Loved the little trills in the background. Well done..

Janne, I agree with everything that has been said thus far.

I will add that you are a great lyricist and master at those artificial voices.

Two thumbs up

Well done.
Your song reminded me of Steeleye Span - particularly their Wintersmith (Terry Pratchett) album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COgJyvPKk0Q&list=PLGlwCFtYTAIp3dVhMI2Y5uxHPFXZeInIv&index=5

but is uniquely you & yours.
Well done.

Thanks Vic, I'm glad to hear you liked my song fabulously

Janne

Thanks for your very kind compliments Well, best lyrics is a relative concept Yes, I know that there are many uilleann pipes choices outside BIAB, I think I have already used NI's pipes you mentioned and also Garritan's World Instruments. But authentic RT pipes would be easier to work with... and they would make me happier

Janne

Thanks David for your nice feedback Yes, I found them also in my ST3, thanks for letting me know. Another one to try while waiting for new PGMusic RealTracks.

Janne

Janne, very well written lyrics. Those voices are terrific. Well produced and the mix is excellent. This is a lot of fun to listen to, Tom

Very evocative - sensitive production - nicely subdued vocals - tricky to get lyrics to fit snugly in 6/8 but you managed it well

This is different from the normal songs we hear here, and in a very positive way.
Amazing work. Good use of, well, everything.


That's good!
I think I read somewhere that their original purpose was to strike fear into the enemy ... that's what they're good at

Hi Janne,

Excellent lyrics! Man, I wish I had a fraction of your skills in that department.

Love the track, great intro and choice of instruments. And your vocalists are doing a fine job for you also!

Good one, enjoyed.

Hi Janne,

Very, very beautiful.
Great composition, wonderful music.
And you really are very good at using those vocals.
Awesome job!

Rob and Anne-Marie

Thanks David for your kind and valuable feedback Glad you liked the alliteration and find the lyrics poetic

Sorry that I was so careless with my lyrics, I saw that this Microsoft browser complained about "reindeers", I should have found out why... but on the other it complained also about "bodhran" so I thought that it just didn't know those words. I should cross-check all my different sources, including also dcuny I have changed the reindeer and "tears", but I didn't change leprechaun, because I didn't find another source that used ih, sorry to disappoint you

Janne

Stellar work with the lyrics and the rhythm of the melody, which is extremely appealing. Bagpipes or not, I like the instrumentation and can't imagine the song any other way. Great song!

Thanks Marty for your positive feedback Glad you love the song and the melody, I'm surprised that people seem to like it that much.

Hadn't heard Pentangle before, but I did now and sounds like a very nice orchestra, kind of acoustic Celtic rock, I really like the sound of that female vocalist. Thanks for pointing out them.

Janne

Thanks Brad, nice to hear your kind compliments

Janne

Thanks Deej for your kind words Well, I forced myself to write the lyrics for that melody and the band, it was basically just hard work and not much inspiration, but glad to hear everything is impressive

Janne

Hi Janne,

I am very glad you brushed up this dust gathering song. Man, what a wonderful song it is!
Very nice, say magical lyrics sung by the most wonderful performance of an AI-Lady.
I had a smile on my face during the song. I enjoyed it very much.
Absolutely top notch.

But to get that lady sings the way you wanted her to, must have been a lot of work!

Hans

Thanks Scott, I appreciate your very positive feedback

Janne

Thanks Mario for your thumb ups and heartwarming compliments

Janne

Thanks Ray for your nice comment I have somehow missed Steeleye Span, sounds very interesting folk rock, I'm listening to them right now, thanks for mentioning them.

Janne

Magical and creative!

Your lyric reminded Janice of some of the best fairy tales she read as a young girl, both the write and the colorful images in the books.

The singers shine (excellent work) and that’s a great band you assembled.

Love the bodrans ... and the entire mix.

Enjoyed it!

J&B

Janne,

There's a lot going on in this, but it all sits in its right place and sounds good to me! It's a wonderful sounding tune with a super good melody!

Thanks, T

Hi Janne
Really cool song
The intro is great
The background track is super arranged
Excellent sound and great vocals
I like it very much
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

Thanks Tom, I appreciate your kind feedback, especially about the mix and the lyrics

Janne

Thanks for your kind and insightful feedback It wasn't an easy task to get the lyrics flow easily so I'm very glad you appreciate the end result

Janne

Thanks BD for your positive approval Well, you don't have to fear at least this year, because on the day PGMusic introduces bagpipe RTs, I will fill my new songs with them

Janne

Thanks Dave for your kind comment I usually write too many words, I appreciate your skillful way of writing lyrics simpler to understand

Janne

Thanks Rob and Anne-Marie for your kind feedback

Janne

Thanks ES for your supportive comment Glad you liked the rhythm of the melody, it wasn't easy to make it sound natural.

Janne

Hi, Janne & Co !


This is absolutely a most magic tune
with mysterious sounds that evoke
the hauling of wolves around me
in the deep of the night out there
in the snowy and ghostly moonlighted
forest !

It is one of your absolute best
and a masterpiece !

Cheers
Dani

Sounds really cool
An excellent mix
Vocals are really well done
A good write
Enjoyed

Fj

Janne

Quite magical. Evocative, and melodic.

Great use of the Synth V vocalists.

Beautiful backing tracks and a unique sound for the forum - I agree with earlier posters hearing those influences.

Superb.

Peter

Thanks Hans for your wonderful comment Glad you enjoyed my little tune.

Janne

Thanks Janice & Bud for your heartwarming comment Glad to hear my lyric reminding of fairy tales, it was hard work to write such a short story in a song, luckily I didn't have to write a book

Janne

Thanks Torrey for your pleasant feedback Glad you liked the melody.

Janne

Thanks Andi, I appreciate your listening and kind words

Janne

Thanks Dani for your wonderful review I wish I could make an animation based on your magical description

Janne

Howdy Janne....

This is very creative write, good lyrics and has an appeal all it's own.
Everyone else has covered the qualities of this one.
Lots of imagery which is what attracts me first to a song.

Well done!

Carry on....

Thanks Fj, I appreciate your pleasant feedback

Janne

Thanks Peter for your generous feedback

Janne

Wow, Janne, this is excellent. Super melody, mix and instrumentation and the vocal is scarily good (they're coming for us :)). Love it.
Regards,
Leon

Thanks for your very pleasant comment

Janne

Thanks Leon, I appreciate your heartwarming comment Yes, those vocals are so good that I wonder should I ever sing myself again, it is just so easy to let the synthesized vocalists take care of the task.

Janne

Janne,

As everyone has already said, this song is great.
A super lyrics for Christmas.
Innovative rhythm.
Nordic, fairy tale-like melody.
Many special music instruments.
And wonderful AI synth vocals.
They all are super first class.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thanks Shigeki Adachi for listening and commenting, that was very kindly said about my song, really made up my day

Janne