Two acoustic guitars and a fiddle. This piece got its name from my wife. I was out walking our dachshund last week and a butterfly landed on my shoulder and stayed there for close to five minutes before flying off. Di commented "The magic of that butterfly just made my day." Thus, the song title. I went straight home at about 1:30 pm and had the song ready to go before dinner at 6:00 PM. Just now getting a chance to post it. Hope you enjoy its soft ambience. Thanks in advance for listening and leaving any comments you may choose to leave for me. Will get back to every one to reply top your comments as quickly as possible. The state of Di's health has a lot to do with how quickly that might be.
Take care, everyone. Be safe ...
Alan
I removed the bass, drums and piano from the style and added the fiddle. Both guitars got a small amount of reverb plus some additional mid to lower high EQ embellishment. The fiddle got the reverb but no EQ treatment.
Title: _PBALLAD Demo - Pop Ballad with Symphony
File:Butterfly Magic.SGU
Key=Eb , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=2:49
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0, Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _ROMANCE.STY (Dramatic Country Pop)
GuitarCustom Synth is Synth/Plugin Loaded MelodyCustom Synth is Synth/Plugin Loaded
RealTracks in style: 1036:Bass, Electric, NorthernRockBallad Ev 065 (Deleted) RealTracks in song: 1947:Mandolin, Rhythm PopModernGrooveAndy Ev16 075 (Deleted) RealTracks in style: 1595:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Pop8thsSteady Ev 065 RealTracks in style: ~~2051:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 085 RealTracks in song: 1760:Fiddle, Background Pop16ths Ev 085 (Added) RealDrums [in Song:NashvilleBrushesEasyBluegrass: a: Sidestick, Brushes b: Brushes, Stick (Deleted)
The added mids & lows make it sit nicely as a stereo and full freq image. There's an early and a late spot where the fiddle screeched slightly but it's only twice and only slightly. Lovely garden image listening to this.
Last edited by rayc; 09/09/2011:16 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Ah, the magic of biab. But only in the hands of a skilled arranger and producer. These soundscape instrumentals that you are so great at are a testament to your musicianship. Again very nicely done, Tom
Ah, the magic of biab. But only in the hands of a skilled arranger and producer. These soundscape instrumentals that you are so great at are a testament to your musicianship. Again very nicely done, Tom
Alan, this made me imagine a slow-speed video capture of that butterfly's flight. I really liked the stops you put in the arrangement. You have a great deal of insight regarding the possibilities of the BIAB styles--you "distilled" the best part of the style--excellent "engineering"! Loved it!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
What a nice story about that butterfly. And the title is so well chosen by Di. I could almost see it happening before my eyes. Even more when listening to this beautiful song! I think it was a good decision to skip the bass, drums and piano. Maybe they would have draw too much attention instead of the melody itself. Whatever, I'm amazed how quick you managed to make this song. You look like me (...).
I agree with Ray that at some moments the violin is a bit harsh. However, I doubt if my wife would have noticed that.
How many butterflies have rested on your head or shoulders since than, Alan? Or did it stayed a special moment?
Alan, How you come up with these progressions? Beautiful tune. Mixed & listens very well. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!
Misha.
P.S. I was doing some yard work last week and a Praying Mantis sat on my head, most likely for a long time, until my son spotted it. I should take your lead and write a tune
The added mids & lows make it sit nicely as a stereo and full freq image. There's an early and a late spot where the fiddle screeched slightly but it's only twice and only slightly. Lovely garden image listening to this.
Thank you, Ray. I appreciate the very nice comments. Fiddles, much like the flutes in BIAB, are quite often a little hard to tame. But I can run this couple of bars through Audacity again and cut back on the higher EQ. Thanks for the observation.
Ah, the magic of biab. But only in the hands of a skilled arranger and producer. These soundscape instrumentals that you are so great at are a testament to your musicianship. Again very nicely done, Tom
Hello Tom ...
You are so very kind with your words. I appreciate all that so much. Best to you. Please be safe ...
Ah, the magic of biab. But only in the hands of a skilled arranger and producer. These soundscape instrumentals that you are so great at are a testament to your musicianship. Again very nicely done, Tom
Alan,
I agree completely with Tom (usually the case).
You are the master BIAB instrumentalist! So good.
Beautiful.
fj
Floyd ...
I think the only thing I'm a master of saying "yes ma'am." immediately after Di tells me something. But that you hold my musical creations in such high esteem is both flattering and humbling. Thank you very much!
Alan, this made me imagine a slow-speed video capture of that butterfly's flight. I really liked the stops you put in the arrangement. You have a great deal of insight regarding the possibilities of the BIAB styles--you "distilled" the best part of the style--excellent "engineering"! Loved it!
Hi Tano ...
This is one of my favorites reviews/comments I've received in quite some time. You expressed, in your comments, exactly what I was hoping to get across with the music. As I was putting it together, I actually had the same image in my head of the butterfly making a slow-motion descent onto my shoulder and then, moments later, departing in the same manner. It left me with a certain feeling of innocence that's been stolen or abandoned, for a large part, in our modern society. It's very gratifying to know my efforts, apparently, projected the hoped-for result.
Distilled engineering ... a unique and wonderful compliment. Thank you very much!!!
What a nice story about that butterfly. And the title is so well chosen by Di. I could almost see it happening before my eyes. Even more when listening to this beautiful song! I think it was a good decision to skip the bass, drums and piano. Maybe they would have draw too much attention instead of the melody itself. Whatever, I'm amazed how quick you managed to make this song. You look like me (...).
I agree with Ray that at some moments the violin is a bit harsh. However, I doubt if my wife would have noticed that.
How many butterflies have rested on your head or shoulders since than, Alan? Or did it stayed a special moment?
Hans
Hello Hans ...
Thank you so much for your kind review! I originally included those extraneous instruments you mentioned. I then deleted them and listened again. I liked it much better with just the three I kept. There aren't a lot of butterflies here in Northern Alabama, so having experienced that event was pretty special. I've seen but two butterflies since then, but they were both five or six meters distant from me.
Fiddles tend to be squeaky as part of their musical character and the squeaks are difficult to avoid. But i can smooth them out a little more. Thanks for the suggestion ... you too, Ray!
Alan, How you come up with these progressions? Beautiful tune. Mixed & listens very well. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!
Misha.
P.S. I was doing some yard work last week and a Praying Mantis sat on my head, most likely for a long time, until my son spotted it. I should take your lead and write a tune
Misha ...
First, I loved that photo of you with the praying Mantis om your head ... that's really cool!
As far as chord progressions, that's the easiest part of the composition for me. Chords, and the possible arrangements, seem to just percolate in my brain. I practice guitar at least an hour every day, except when circumstances prohibit. About half of those practice sessions consist of me experimenting with chords and arrangements. It's always a lot of fum for me. I cannot explain how or why the chords come to me as they do ... I just accept and appreciate that it happens for me. Thus, I try to incorporate them into my music as I'm composing and/or arranging.
Many thanks, my friend! Wishing you the best. Be safe ...
Nice backstory, nature is full of inspiration and butterflies are mysterious Beautiful sounding band, has autumnal magic, the guitars express the interesting chord progression very well - I like how the major and minor chords are in a balance, when the song is going to sad direction, it goes up and flies happily again reflecting the moods of the butterfly. The fiddle gives the pop tune bit classical feeling, but without losing the catchiness of the melody.
Nice backstory, nature is full of inspiration and butterflies are mysterious Beautiful sounding band, has autumnal magic, the guitars express the interesting chord progression very well - I like how the major and minor chords are in a balance, when the song is going to sad direction, it goes up and flies happily again reflecting the moods of the butterfly. The fiddle gives the pop tune bit classical feeling, but without losing the catchiness of the melody.
Janne
Hi Janne ...
That's a really nice review! Thank you so much for the nice comments. And you have perfectly interpreted my intentions with the music. Again, many thanks.
We love butterflies, often photograph them and enjoy just watching them.
All meaning that this lovely composition rest right square in our collective wheelhouse.
It flows like a gentle brook and speaks volumes to the power of BiaB in talented hands.
Simply beautiful.
Kudos!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
The best kind of inspiration, something that makes somebody's day! By now we all know this software is magic, but it just keeps enchanting, especially when coaxed so well! Nice job, Al!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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