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Hi everyone!
I wanted to make a waltz, but not just any waltz, but one with a harp, a bouzouki (a Greek 'guitar'), and a koto (a Japanese 'guitar').
And that wasn't because I necessarily wanted something special. No, I was just trying out instruments in Band in a Box. Then I noticed that I liked the sounds together. Not all the time, but at certain moments in the song.

And I wasn't specifically looking for a waltz either, but just for a feeling I had in my head that I couldn't get a grip on. Well... it's a long story, but eventually it became a waltz. I used three pianos in it, in two different styles, and Tamar provided the backing vocals.

The song is about something I sometimes think about myself (and I think many people do): when you think of someone from your past, does that person ever do that too? That gives a mixed feeling; On the one hand a nice feeling, but on the other hand also a bit sad, because you never know for sure if this is really the case. In short, that is the story of this song, but with a hopeful ending.

Let me know what you think of it,
Hans

On SoundCloud:
One Day (we will know): https://on.soundcloud.com/r9MaLRl8j4sRQaLefW

On YouTube:
============================================================
Techical information
Main style is _WHIFF.STY (Whiff Contradance Waltz)
For Bridge, style is TRICE.STY
Key = D, 3/4 BPM: 115

RealTracks in song:
1178:Bass, Electric, PopWaltz Ev 120
4302:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm ContradanceWaltzCrosspick Ev 120
2214:Bouzouki, Rhythm SlowWaltz Ev 100
2775:Harp, Rhythm CelticWaltz Ev 110
4303:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm ContradanceWaltz Ev 120
2327:Koto, Synth, Rhythm NewAge Ev 110
MIDI SuperTracks: 1888:Piano, Solo-Accompaniment CountryPopJohn Ev 120
1815:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CelticSlowWaltz Ev 110
RealDrums in Song:PopRockWaltzEv,SideStickHat,Ride: a: Sidestick. HiHat b: PopRockWaltzEv,SideStickHat,Ride

In Logic pro I added Strings (for the Bridge) and another Koto for the start of the song.
Tamar and I did the vocals.


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Hans,

This is such a beautiful and relatable song...

Love the melody and exquisite arrangement. One of your best vocals. The mix is also perfect.

A new favorite for me!

Bob

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Hi Hans!
Those instruments do work well together! Good choices. The 3/4 time was a good choice also. My ears are now attuned to the sound of a minor iv chord, and I’m sure you featured this in your song - it’s a sound that never grows tired IMHO. I love it when the BVs come in for the chorus - that sounds like there are many others singing along that have the same thoughts as you. I would have preferred the soloists to be a little louder during the solo (or the piano softer) but this was only because I read the ‘solo’ heading to that section, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed - it is so good anyway.
Loved it!
Andrew

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Superb, Hans! Great concept and executed in a unique but compelling way. The unpredictably winding chord progression reflects the uncertainty of the narrator in a very cool way. GREAT lead vocals. LOVE the multiple harmony voices. The entire arrangement and mix are outstanding. The ending is indeed hopeful, though happy endings to these tales are SO rare. The last held note might have decayed a bit more naturally, but, like relationships, songs can end in unexpectedly abrupt ways, can't they?

Fantastic stuff.


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Great subject matter Hans, and supported well with the instrument choices and style. I can relate to the subject, as I often wonder where someone is, what they look like and what they're doing. In fact I've just located a cousin I last saw in the 1970s. We'll catch up soon and share life stories for the last 50 years soon. That aside, the song is very listenable. I particularly enjoyed the solo, but everything is great.

Kind regards

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It's a rather unusual choice of instruments for a waltz, but it suits the song very well.
Well sung, I think your vocals get better with every song.
Enjoyed my listens [Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

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Fantastic waltz, Hans, what an evocative mood the instrumental bed creates. I liked your vocal, felt like it could've been a tad louder. Subject matter was intriguing to say the least. I'm sure everyone has at least one "what if" person in their life. You're one of the most creative minds on the forum and you always deliver. Great job!


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Hans, this is a masterpiece
Loved how you mixed instruments from totally different genres and areas and made them sound great together.
Super vocal and arrangement.
Outstanding lyrics and mix.
IMHO this is your best to date
Loved it


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Ha, you'lllike this story, Hans. The other day when i first saw the YT notification i must have been so excited that i pushed the link twice. The song started playing twice with a bit of a delay to the second one. WOW! I thought what is Hans into now. It was so confusing. This mistake can be repeated to hear what i heard. Yet i would not reccomend it because the song is so good and should be listened to in the way you made it. What a wonderful (relatable) song. The waltz time was the perfect choice. Well done!!


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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Hans,

Good song.
Cool BIAB tracks.
Good vocals.
Well done.

fj

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As I wrote on the YT post, "Excellent instrumentation and arrangement" - and it really is a nice mixture of stringed instruments - but I also relate to the lyrics. It's said that one never forgets one's first true love and that's certainly true for me 56 years later! I even still remember her birthday.


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Hi Hans.

It's easy to hear that a lot of thought and effort has gone into creating this song. As others before me have noted, the instruments work really well together, and they showcase your vocals very, very well. I always find it refreshing to hear a waltz. It's a time signature that makes me feel very comfortable. You've done a great job and I loved the journey that your words and music and arrangement took me on.

Congratulations on another fine addition to your song catalogue.
--Noel


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Very imaginative, Hans.
Reminds me of something Kate Bush would have done.
Those backing vocals really add something to it.
Well done.

Vic

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That combination of instruments works well. Experimenting with different sounds and instruments will give surprising results. I like the way the koto fits right in. I think about the same things as you in the song. Excellent work!

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Hi, Hans.

Nice song - soft and reflective. Good melancholy lyrics as well.


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Hi Bob, Andrew, Ron, KDY and Brain,

Thank you all for your nice words about this waltz! I feared a waltz wont do much, alike a Dutch song, but your replies were great!
And -of course- I'm late with my replies. My excuse is that the end of April is a very busy time. We have Kings day (all children will try to sell stuff they got from the attic. And in every city they sit in the streets to do that. And they also have all kinds of games you have to join.In one of the cities, our King and his family come and join these games. Beside that, we have to file our tax returns before the first of may. Nothing to return, only to pay. And a lot of birthdays, so that's why I'm late.

Originally Posted by rsdean
Hans,
This is such a beautiful and relatable song...
Love the melody and exquisite arrangement. One of your best vocals. The mix is also perfect.
A new favorite for me!
Bob

Hi Bob, I didn't know a waltz is the style you liked. If I knew before I would have invited you and Joliz to join this song! Thanks for your very nice comment. I think Tamar will shine too! (haven't told her yet...)

Originally Posted by Andrew Dee
Hi Hans!
Those instruments do work well together! Good choices. The 3/4 time was a good choice also. My ears are now attuned to the sound of a minor iv chord, and I’m sure you featured this in your song - it’s a sound that never grows tired IMHO. I love it when the BVs come in for the chorus - that sounds like there are many others singing along that have the same thoughts as you. I would have preferred the soloists to be a little louder during the solo (or the piano softer) but this was only because I read the ‘solo’ heading to that section, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed - it is so good anyway.
Loved it!
Andrew

Hello Andrew, yes, it was a wild guess, those different instruments together. I doubt if that has ever been done before. But when I combined them, just for fun, I liked the sounds and kept them in the song. As I said, it wasn't my intention to make a waltz. I almost threw the idea for this song in the trash. I couldn't find a melody. And suddenly, when I changed the time signature to 3/4, a melody popped into my head. Tamar complained that my songs are very difficult to sing along to properly, but she eventually managed it. And her singing added something that I really liked! As for the solo; here, just like in my previous song, these instruments are very difficult to make sound louder. If I had turned the piano down, it would have sounded like a dip in the song... You wouldn't have liked that either!

Originally Posted by DC Ron
Superb, Hans! Great concept and executed in a unique but compelling way. The unpredictably winding chord progression reflects the uncertainty of the narrator in a very cool way. GREAT lead vocals. LOVE the multiple harmony voices. The entire arrangement and mix are outstanding. The ending is indeed hopeful, though happy endings to these tales are SO rare. The last held note might have decayed a bit more naturally, but, like relationships, songs can end in unexpectedly abrupt ways, can't they?
Fantastic stuff.

Hi Ron, thanks for your words. If you read what I wrote to Andrew, you'll see how much trouble I had finishing this song. The story was in my head first (and I even had someone in mind who I hoped would hear it. Especially the ending.) But as you said, these are rare occurrences. And apart from that, I am also very happy with my current relationship. It has lasted well over 40 years...

Originally Posted by K-Dub Ya
Great subject matter Hans, and supported well with the instrument choices and style. I can relate to the subject, as I often wonder where someone is, what they look like and what they're doing. In fact I've just located a cousin I last saw in the 1970s. We'll catch up soon and share life stories for the last 50 years soon. That aside, the song is very listenable. I particularly enjoyed the solo, but everything is great.

Kind regards

Hello KDY (forgot your real name, sorry) What a nice story you wrote! Hope you can keep that contact "alive|". Sorry the solo couldn't be louder, but I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
It's a rather unusual choice of instruments for a waltz, but it suits the song very well.
Well sung, I think your vocals get better with every song.
Enjoyed my listens [Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

Hi Brain, Yes, I like to experiment (sometimes) with unusual sounds or instruments. And in this case, they sounded good together. Not all the time, but still...
I once used a sitar for a solo in a song. I think Marty almost had a heart attack then! But it turned out well too. And I am very happy that my singing still sounds good enough. I was afraid that wouldn't be the case at my age.
Thanks!

Hans


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That’s a cool mashup of RT’s and they fit the nostalgic theme very well.

Janice was reminded of how wind chimes can mesmerize her and get her lost in memories.

The vocals are superb.
And so are the mix and the vid.

And it's very cool to hear a rare forum waltz. smile

Enjoyed it!

J&B


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I find the accompaniment, with the different instruments, very successful and very pleasant to listen to. A very good song.
Laurent

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Hi Rob, Mario, Marty, Floyd, Chay and Noel,

Thank you very much for listening to this waltz. Not many people like this kind of music or style, but you do!
Or at least, you liked it. I appreciate that enormously. I think I’ve mentioned this before; it wasn't my intention to create a waltz initially. However, the melody I was composing turned out to be quite difficult to sing. I tried it a lot of times, while adjusting parts of the song. I was close to throwing it in the trash, but suddenly I got this melody! And you liked it. That is the best part of all!

Originally Posted by TuneMonger
Fantastic waltz, Hans, what an evocative mood the instrumental bed creates. I liked your vocal, felt like it could've been a tad louder. Subject matter was intriguing to say the least. I'm sure everyone has at least one "what if" person in their life. You're one of the most creative minds on the forum and you always deliver. Great job!

Hi Rob, thanks for your kind reply! I thought singing louder would ruin the atmosphere. I also had to deal with Tamar. She thought it was a 'difficult' song to sing along to. We had to spread her vocal part over several days because it didn't always work out. And yes, the story wasn't really exciting, I just liked the thought of "what if...". I was thinking of someone myself when I wrote it, too.

Originally Posted by MarioD
Hans, this is a masterpiece
Loved how you mixed instruments from totally different genres and areas and made them sound great together.
Super vocal and arrangement.
Outstanding lyrics and mix.
IMHO this is your best to date
Loved it

Hi Mario, "my best so far", that is a great compliment! I thought I had already won that "prize" with my previous song, but as long as I can excel in that, all the better. So thanks, man!

Originally Posted by BabuMusic
Ha, you'lllike this story, Hans. The other day when i first saw the YT notification i must have been so excited that i pushed the link twice. The song started playing twice with a bit of a delay to the second one. WOW! I thought what is Hans into now. It was so confusing. This mistake can be repeated to hear what i heard. Yet i would not reccomend it because the song is so good and should be listened to in the way you made it. What a wonderful (relatable) song. The waltz time was the perfect choice. Well done!!

Hello Marty, I think you have heard a lot of versions of this song and know how I struggled to find "a decent road", but the way you tried to listen to it was very creative and confusing. And you know what? I did the same thing with your song Bumpkin patch. It was confusing...
But your compliments are great! Thanks for them.

Originally Posted by floyd jane
Hans,
Good song.
Cool BIAB tracks.
Good vocals.
Well done.

fj

Hi Floyd, You can write things down point by point and so clearly! I would never be able to do something like that. Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by WaoBand
As I wrote on the YT post, "Excellent instrumentation and arrangement" - and it really is a nice mixture of stringed instruments - but I also relate to the lyrics. It's said that one never forgets one's first true love and that's certainly true for me 56 years later! I even still remember her birthday.

Hi Chay, I feel the same way. And her birthday too! That was on my mind when I wrote those lyrics. And my wife knows this. But she is the one who stays with me year after year. So what is a more beautiful thought?
The latter, right?

Originally Posted by Noel96
Hi Hans.
It's easy to hear that a lot of thought and effort has gone into creating this song. As others before me have noted, the instruments work really well together, and they showcase your vocals very, very well. I always find it refreshing to hear a waltz. It's a time signature that makes me feel very comfortable. You've done a great job and I loved the journey that your words and music and arrangement took me on.

Congratulations on another fine addition to your song catalogue.
--Noel

Hi Noel, You said that so beautifully again, Noel! Truly wonderful. And so personal, too. Thank you! I enjoyed it a lot.
Hans


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Hi Hans

I sat down to listen to "One Day (we will know)," and honestly, I think I’ve just been transported into a sonic fever dream—but the good kind,

You’ve managed to take a collection of instruments that sound like they were pulled from the National Geographic catalog—a bouzouki here, a koto there, and a harp for good measure—and somehow coerced them into a waltz that doesn’t sound like a musical identity crisis, but rather a masterclass in atmospheric elegance.

The production is, as always, top-tier. Honestly, you’ve cultivated that distinct, hazy, atmospheric "Birchwood sound" so consistently that I’m starting to think that your new studio is tucked away in an enchanted forest. It fits the 3/4 time signature perfectly; there’s something about a waltz that acts as a perfect rhythmic cradle for a story about longing and the "what-ifs" of the past.

As for the lyrical subject matter, you’ve hit a nerve. I, too, have an "old flame" from yesteryear who occasionally wanders through my mind like a ghost in a waltz. She, however, had the impeccable good sense to dump me years ago. Telle est la vie, right?

Your vocal performance, paired with Tamar’s backing, was top-tier. It’s a beautiful, bittersweet, and ultimately hopeful track. You’ve managed to turn the universal pang of "what if" into a piece of art that feels like a warm blanket on a cold night. If "One Day" we really do get to know, I hope it’s while listening to this song on repeat.

Bravo, Hans! Another triumph.

regards

Izzy

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Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!

The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.

The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.

Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.

Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.

Holiday Weekend Hours

As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:

April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours

Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!

— Team PG

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