I'm short on inspiration, it seems, for writing new things ... but these are the times when I work on the old ones :-)
Robertkc suggested, when I put the old, first orchestral version up on here, that I combine the Band-in-a-Box original version with the orchestral version (on the same track) and see what happens. The suggestion stayed with me, so here is orchestral version No. 2 ... with both BIAB AND other, orchestral instruments. Hope you like it? :-)
I can't open BIAB right now to refresh my memory on the exact instrumentation, but the style I used was "Scarce Dreamy Americana", at the tempo of 70 beats a minute, in the key of A - without any modifications to the BIAB instrumentation. To that, I added a small orchestra written in Sibelius - exported to MIDI and replaced with sounds from Native Instruments in Mixcraft Pro Studio 9, as well as Mixcraft's own sounds. A little reverb added in said Mixcraft Pro Studio 9 and it seemed ready :-)
Here are the lyrics:
AVE MARIA (orchestral version)
I look around me now And hear our children cry I see them hurting so And ask myself one question:
Why?
And prayers seem futile If we can't find a way To love one another The same way,
every day ... and so I pray ...
Holy Mother, hear our plight Holy Mother, stop the hate ...
They swim towards the shore To run away from bitter War
They get shot down in schools Because we love our tools More
Their cries we do not hear Because we do not want To see ...
But for a twist of Fate, Their parent could be you ... or me ...
Holy Mother, hear our plight Holy Mother, stop the hate ...
Ave Maria
[BRIDGE]
We're cutting down their trees So that they cannot Breathe
We drug kids with a pill Just to make them Sit still
And as they wilt away With every passing day Who cares?
We send our thoughts and prayers And carry on the same Nightmares ...
Holy Mother, hear our plight Holy Mother, stop the hate ...
__________________________
Thanks for listening and for any comments! Tomorrow, I intend to go on a binge of listening to songs on here ... I feel like I've missed out on too many! Thanks again :-)
Sounds nice, although the snare drum sounds more synthy than I would pick. And after the tubular bells kept repeating, I stopped listening to the music, and focused on counting the number of times they were hit.
This is really excellent work. Your vocal is perfectly paced and synched with the music—sits nicely in the mix for me. Love that hard rapid drum in the middle—adds drama and power to the tune. The musical mix is stellar. And those bells after “Avia Maria”—my word, wonderful (and if I have one suggestion it might be repeat “Ava Maria” again after repeating the “Holy Mother” lines at the end, and come in with those bells again). But brilliant, James, just as it is!
Scott: thank you. You always have a kind and constructive word to say about my songs - these words are noticed and very much appreciated.
David Cuny: haha. You're spot on, but I like the bells, even though they may drive some insane! lol. The snare drum synth was specifically chosen because it was the closest I could get to the sound of gunfire without actually putting on a gunfire sound.
First off, the style you used really captured my imagination. It was incredibly well suited to your presentation.
And your heartfelt and powerful words rang with authenticity. I sat here thinking about everything your said. Your recitative style of presentation was a perfect fit.
The orchestral elements really elevated the feeling.
Enjoyed it!
J&B
PS I looked up your previous version and noted how definitively you said it was the final version ... in 2018 Same for us as nearly every time I stick a fork in a production I end up going back at some point.
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.
Noel: thanks! Yeah, I was in a furious mood when I wrote this one ... was watching the news and some things I was seeing did not agree with me too well, to say the least ... so I just sat down and started writing. At first, I was like: "you can't say that!", then I thought: "forget it, I'll just write" :-) Thanks for listening and for your comments!
Janice and Bud: yeah, I'm glad I'm not the only one who endlessly goes back to his songs, to fix what can and cannot be fixed, haha. Even so, 3 years must be a record? Either way, thank you so much for re-listening!!!
James, A full production this go round with the percussion providing a subtle but hypnotic backdrop to your powerful lyrics. An improvement to my ears ( perhaps the best of your spoken word songs), and so well worth the revisit.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
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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.
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We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
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Same for us as nearly every time I stick a fork in a production I end up going back at some point.
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