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The Outer Circle https://soundcloud.com/mark_hayes/outer-circleAn old Concertware instrumental for Yamaha PSS-680 updated to take advantage of new technology, as well as the wisdom and bitterness of advancing age. I would be so so so so grateful for any listens and thinks.The title is a vague allusion to Dante’s Inferno, and the music makes me think of the ghastly industrial view from the Tobin Bridge in Boston. It is a Hellscape of sorts. I hear this happening, at times quite specifically: A condemned prisoner is marched to his execution. As he walks, he is taunted on all sides. It gets very ugly, and there is much back and forth, but eventually he is taken to the quiet chamber. He is executed, at 01:51, by two pulses of electricity. What happens after that, God only knows. Thanks to Blondie for the idea of briefly switching to 7 then back to reinforce the terminal power of 4. Mark ======================================================= BIAB RealTrack stuff: * Style _GYPSYJD.STY ~~1204:Bass, Acoustic, GypsyJazzBallad Sw 110 ~~1209:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm GypsyJazzBalladGonzalo Sw 110 ~~1210:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm GypsyJazzBalladJohn Sw 110 GypsyJazzSw: a: Brushes Light * Style _YAZOO.STY ~2478:Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 110 ~522:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 120 ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120 2824:Pedal Steel, Soloist CountryEddy12-key Ev 085 (x3) NashvilleEven8^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat * Style _CORRUPT.STY 1849:Bass, Electric, ModernCountrySync Ev16 100 3728:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungePopGritty2-note Ev 110 3727:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungePopDist8ths Ev 110 3730:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungeChuggingLow8ths Ev 100 Everything else was done in Logic: Sugar Hill brass EastWest gypsy violins Wedding organ (festive, romantic, a little sexy!) Cop-show clavinet Wurlitzer electric piano Composed and assisted drums
Last edited by Mark Hayes; 12/22/21 05:08 PM.
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Hi, Mark. The first third had a very Tom Waits vibe. The transition was a bit MIDI-ish, and the guitar interlude was unexpected. The increasing percussion and dissonance worked nicely, and the violin helped hold the piece together. The ending was effective. I think it matched your as well as one can expected music to. But there wasn't that much a sense of space, which (to my ears) made it sound more synthetic. I hope that was helpful! 
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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The Outer Circle https://soundcloud.com/mark_hayes/outer-circleAn old Concertware instrumental for Yamaha PSS-680 updated to take advantage of new technology, as well as the wisdom and bitterness of advancing age. I would be so so so so grateful for any listens and thinks.The title is a vague allusion to Dante’s Inferno, and the music makes me think of the ghastly industrial view from the Tobin Bridge in Boston. It is a Hellscape of sorts. I hear this happening, at times quite specifically: A condemned prisoner is marched to his execution. As he walks, he is taunted on all sides. It gets very ugly, and there is much back and forth, but eventually he is taken to the quiet chamber. He is executed, at 01:51, by two pulses of electricity. What happens after that, God only knows. Thanks to Blondie for the idea of briefly switching to 7 then back to reinforce the terminal power of 4. Mark ======================================================= BIAB RealTrack stuff: * Style _GYPSYJD.STY ~~1204:Bass, Acoustic, GypsyJazzBallad Sw 110 ~~1209:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm GypsyJazzBalladGonzalo Sw 110 ~~1210:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm GypsyJazzBalladJohn Sw 110 GypsyJazzSw: a: Brushes Light * Style _YAZOO.STY ~2478:Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 110 ~522:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 120 ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120 2824:Pedal Steel, Soloist CountryEddy12-key Ev 085 (x3) NashvilleEven8^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat * Style _CORRUPT.STY 1849:Bass, Electric, ModernCountrySync Ev16 100 3728:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungePopGritty2-note Ev 110 3727:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungePopDist8ths Ev 110 3730:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungeChuggingLow8ths Ev 100 Everything else was done in Logic: Sugar Hill brass EastWest gypsy violins Wedding organ (festive, romantic, a little sexy!) Cop-show clavinet Wurlitzer electric piano Composed and assisted drums Hi Mark, don't really know what to say: Simply amazing. Thrilling. Most admirable. Such a lot of creativity and effort ... wow, hats off. Loved it A LOT !!! Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022. Stefan
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Program music or a tone poem of sorts.
My 1st thoughts were a soundtrack to Caligari's Cabinet or another fine German Expressionist movie.
I was pleased when the brass came over the top of the country rock section...I had been worried.
The space between the pulses was a little unnerving...well done.
Inner Circle is a VERY fine overproof rum from the Bundaberg Distillery...It was a favourite tipple when I tippled.
The end is reached and the La las quickly fill the void...that is amusing/weird coincidence.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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My favorite piece from you so far. Kept my interest throughout, which is no easy task. The only thing I question is the use of the gypsy jazz realstyle due to its swing groove. It immediately put my ear into an expectation that did not occur. But this became less of a problem as the piece went on. And overall, I really, really liked this. Great work!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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HI Mark ...
Well, there's quite a bit to like here. Lots of variety with unexpected changes and instrument choices (good choices). The mysterious and provocative soundscape was nice. There's a lot of imagination and creativity on display here. Very dramatic. I like it!
Merry Christmas and wishes for a fantastic 2022.
Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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> The first third had a very Tom Waits vibe. I think I know what you mean, and that only came about after invoking BIAB, so, thanks BIAB. > The transition was a bit MIDI-ish, and the guitar interlude was unexpected. You're not supposed to use words like "MIDI-ish" any more! =8^) Except of course you're right. I used BIAB to airbrush it, but this old piece is MIDI in its soul. There are a few sounds that embarrass me a little, but it helps to invoke a creepy program so any musical flaws can be explained as depictions of morally flawed characters. As for the guitars, I assume "unexpected" is some kind of not-good, and I guess I agree. On their own, they're just lightweight packing material, and I will probably change them to something else. I do like the 3 pedal steels, which are the same RealTrack triple-tracked. And the menacing low brass might be heard as expressing its own disdain for the guitars. > The increasing percussion and dissonance worked nicely, and the violin helped hold the piece together. > The ending was effective. Thanks! The harsh, loud parts of this one are really what it's about for me. I no longer remember how I constructed those dissonant chords, but I've always liked them. > I think it matched your as well as one can expected music to. Matched my... story? > But there wasn't that much a sense of space, which (to my ears) made it sound more synthetic. That might have something to do with a conscious restraint with reverb, it was even flatter at first. I will listen for other ways in which your advice might be applied. > I hope that was helpful! Totally, many thanks!
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Hi Mark,
don't really know what to say: Simply amazing. Thrilling. Most admirable. Such a lot of creativity and effort ... wow, hats off.
Loved it A LOT !!!
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022.
Stefan
I am so glad you liked! I put a lot of work into this one, both years ago and in the past week. All sorts of holiday goodness to you too! Mark
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Program music or a tone poem of sorts.
My 1st thoughts were a soundtrack to Caligari's Cabinet or another fine German Expressionist movie.
I was pleased when the brass came over the top of the country rock section...I had been worried. German Expressionism! That fits perfectly, thanks, I should try to exploit the idea in a video. Certainly nothing too subtle going on here. Though it might be fun to pair the music with gauzy footage of a romantic couple walking hand in hand through fields of sweet, soft summer. The space between the pulses was a little unnerving...well done.
Inner Circle is a VERY fine overproof rum from the Bundaberg Distillery...It was a favourite tipple when I tippled.
The end is reached and the La las quickly fill the void...that is amusing/weird coincidence. I confess, the thing about the pulses was a retrospective interpretation on my part. But, once that grisly idea occurred to me, it was like, yes, THAT is what those chords mean. I appreciate your comments muchly. Some of your material is after my own grim[m] heart.
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My favorite piece from you so far. Kept my interest throughout, which is no easy task. The only thing I question is the use of the gypsy jazz realstyle due to its swing groove. It immediately put my ear into an expectation that did not occur. But this became less of a problem as the piece went on. And overall, I really, really liked this. Great work! Wow, thanks, especially for mentioning you've actually my listened to other stuff as well! I can see how the gypsy jazz part kind of clashes with the rest. Perhaps I will change that to something else, breaking off this existing beginning as the start of a new piece. I do like that swingy part. Glad to know I kept your interest! That is my goal, really, with something like this, which is certainly not a tender love song. =8^)
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HI Mark... Well, there's quite a bit to like here. Lots of variety with unexpected changes and instrument choices (good choices). The mysterious and provocative soundscape was nice. There's a lot of imagination and creativity on display here. Very dramatic. I like it! Thanks for letting me know I managed to do all that successfully. It's a good feeling. I worked hard on it! =8^) Merry Christmas and wishes for a fantastic 2022. Alan And to you, sir. All the best, and thanks again!
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So... I got a Turtles Elenore vibe right there at the beginning sliding into a dark gypsy cabaret thing....
I was listening to Zoot Horn Rollo last night and I got to say that this is similar in many respects to his style of music.
Interesting stuff to say the least.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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So... I got a Turtles Elenore vibe right there at the beginning sliding into a dark gypsy cabaret thing....
I was listening to Zoot Horn Rollo last night and I got to say that this is similar in many respects to his style of music.
Interesting stuff to say the least.
Hey, I can't say I hear that here but I am not worthy of ZHR so I am honored. Thank you! (I love Captain Beefheart but am more of a Zappa type in what I try to do musically.) Look, Zoot gives lessons: https://www.zoothornrollo.com/lessonsHe also has practice tools online, about which I may start a separate thread. Thanks again!
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