This post is actually the most recent of my currently 4 new BiaB creations - the other 3 yet to be posted - but it had to come first as it's a tribute to and a celebration of a beloved friend who passed away on 8th September 2019, plus her birthday is also the 21st of this month ~ today.
The inspiration for this music came in part from my last 2 of 3 previously finished projects (yet to be posted here), the 1st which came about through experimenting with 4ths and 5ths chords (there are a few 5ths in this) and from the ending bars of a solo in the next project which inspired the 4 times repeated 'chorus' bars in this ('chorus' meaning as in a song and not PGM's entire sequence of chords).
BiaB samples used: Piano: Pop Ballad Acoustic Piano ~ John Jarvis For building a background I introduced in steps, warm pad & strings from Enya44 - Soft Ev, 16 Techno Orche; synth pad from Whales Lap Steel Synth; warm pad & strings from Sirius Smooth Jazz; and synth pad from Circle Ambient Lap Steel. *Bass: Country Rock Guitar Solo Pop Ba ~ Tobin Frank *Drums: ditto ~ Brian Fullen *Panpipe: Seek Smooth Panpipe ~ Alejandro Fatur Organ: Country Rock Guitar Solo Pop Ba ~ Gene Rabbai *Harps 1 & 2: Heaven Blissful Celtic Harp Pop ~ Sharlene Wallace *Harmonica: Slow Country/Folk w/ Harmonica ~ TJ Klay Guitar solo: Prais &Worship w/ Poer Pop So~ Dave Cleveland String Quartet: Runaway Soundtrack Country ~ Matt Nelson Evening birds SFX from Pixabay.
* The Piano is a hybrid of 6 samples, in part as I wanted to keep the opening after adding the full chorus, in part so I could repeat the 4 note phrase at 38 seconds in the following bar, and so as to repeat other phrases. * I've added a few seconds extra to the end of the Bass guitar as it ended abruptly. I've also used noise reduction in Audacity to mute the plectrum clicks. * The Drums is a hybrid of 2 samples, plus I increased the volume of some of the rolls. * The Seek Smooth Panpipe is a hybrid of 2 samples. * I mastered the Harps stem in Soren AI Mastering, plus used noise reduction in Audacity to mute string clicks. * I decreased the final note of the harmonica solo by -2db as it was too loud going into the chorus.
D ~ 4/4 ~ 115 bpm ~ 160 bars ~ 5:46
Snippet from my YouTube blurb: The 8th September was the 6th anniversary of the passing of my very dear friend, Rachael, so as her birthday is also the 21st of this month I was moved to compose this music, not just in memory of a lifelong spiritually conscious lady, but also as a celebration of her life, her wonderful being and her so beautiful spirit.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
This is stunning, and so calming. I cannot imagine the amount of painstaking work that must have gone into this one, but the result is well worth it.
The panpipe, in particular, struck me as so beautiful and fitting. The strings background is soothing. The guitar entry, later on, works well within the context of the song. The video is beautiful, a fitting tribute to your friend.
Oh, you know I love this one, Chay. My favorite of yours for so many reasons. I've already listened to it 3 times. Yesterday was also my daughter's birthday, and you can be sure I thought of you and Rachel. A beatiful tribute to a beautiful person inside and out.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
There have been a lot of tributes posted here over the years. And this certainly one of the most moving.
The production is excellent in all aspects. But more importantly you captured her soul and heart.
May she rest in peace.
J&B
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Lovely tribute, like a journey through time with constantly evolving instrumentation, from the calm birth to the uplifting guitar solo near the end and those strings and birds complete the mood of enlightenment. The panpipe was especially nice. Tremendous work, a story well told.
Listening now, Chay. That first image of Rachael...what a Goddess. I would have like her too, I think. Besides, we share a birthday! As for the song, it's a lovely and complex tribute. I really liked the guitar in the later half, especially paired with the piano and then the strings. Nice!
You excelled at putting this together - the concept, the arrangement, the mix - everything. She reminds me, in looks, quite a bit of my granddaughter.
The build is perfectly executed, and your choice of tracks is perfect. The soundstage is perfectly balanced, which is something I listen for in songs. With so many tracks that can be a challenge. But you handled it all with perfection.
Chay, so sorry for your loss. This is a lovely tribute. Super textures and harmonic flow, mixed crisply per usual. The birds at the end were a neat touch. Nicely done!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
This is stunning, and so calming. I cannot imagine the amount of painstaking work that must have gone into this one, but the result is well worth it. The panpipe, in particular, struck me as so beautiful and fitting. The strings background is soothing. The guitar entry, later on, works well within the context of the song. The video is beautiful, a fitting tribute to your friend.
Thanks, M17! I really appreciate your response.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Chay, What a beautiful tribute to your friend. The music has such a majestic and soothing feel. The panpipe is a real standout - perfectly placed. Excellent... Bob
Thanks, Bob! When the panpipe works it has an amazing feel, but as there's not a lot of variation in the sample it nearly always needs to be edited with at least one other sample.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Oh, you know I love this one, Chay. My favorite of yours for so many reasons. I've already listened to it 3 times. Yesterday was also my daughter's birthday, and you can be sure I thought of you and Rachel. A beatiful tribute to a beautiful person inside and out.
Thanks, Marty. When I replied to your comment on YT I meant to wish your daughter a happy birthday, but I then forgot to! Please tell her, "Belated Merry RebEarthday!" form me. Amazing that she Rachael and Beth all have the same birthday!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
There have been a lot of tributes posted here over the years. And this certainly one of the most moving. The production is excellent in all aspects. But more importantly you captured her soul and heart. May she rest in peace. J&B
Thanks J&B! Rachael was such a rare spirit that when we first met it was 'love at first vibe', but a truly divine and unconditional love, not a romantic love. She was beautiful in every respect, but while for neither of us was there ever that desire to be together our communication was always 100% and continuous, plus there was never a time when we were in disagreement over anything. She was more of a twin soul than a sister, plus like the best of best friends and she proved that once by supporting me in one endeavour when even best male friends I'd known for 3-4 decades couldn't find the time. Her eldest son, Satya, was equally as enthusiastically supportive.
She definitely does rest in peace as I've twice had experiences of her since her passing. I don't know if you've ever seen videos or written accounts of Anita Moorjani's experiences while in a coma, but she saw that loved ones in her life had also been loved ones in different relationships in a previous one, and that's what Rachael felt like to me; ie: in a previous life she could have been my mother, sister, daughter, close friend, beloved, etc, or maybe even the reverse - I was woman in a previous life and she was my son!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Lovely tribute, like a journey through time with constantly evolving instrumentation, from the calm birth to the uplifting guitar solo near the end and those strings and birds complete the mood of enlightenment. The panpipe was especially nice. Tremendous work, a story well told. Janne
Thank you, Janne! Very, very much appreciated!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Chay, Yes, a beautiful tribute to your friend Piano and strings are a good base The addition of flute and organ build nicely Harp is cool Good mix fj
Thanks, Floyd. So much appreciated.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Listening now, Chay. That first image of Rachael...what a Goddess. I would have like her too, I think. Besides, we share a birthday! As for the song, it's a lovely and complex tribute. I really liked the guitar in the later half, especially paired with the piano and then the strings. Nice!
Thank you, Beth! Yes, I certainly think that you and Rachael would have gotten along really well, even if you didn't have the same birthday! Amazing that I just found out that R, you and Marty's daughter all have the same birthdate!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Chay, You excelled at putting this together - the concept, the arrangement, the mix - everything. She reminds me, in looks, quite a bit of my granddaughter. The build is perfectly executed, and your choice of tracks is perfect. The soundstage is perfectly balanced, which is something I listen for in songs. With so many tracks that can be a challenge. But you handled it all with perfection. Very nice, indeed. RIP Rachel. Alan
Thanks for that brilliant review, Alan! My your granddaughter live long and multilevelly prosper!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
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There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
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SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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