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White Night

I wrote the chords and melody for this song 5 years ago. It was gathering dust, until I decided to use the song for a Christmas song contest, so I wrote the lyrics that in mind, although I tried to avoid any direct references to Christmas or human culture around. Instead, I tried to have fable magic of winter in it... it was tough task to write, so the story may be a little mess, but I hope I manage to deliver even a tiny bit of that magic to you

BIAB provided, once again, great instruments for my arrangement. Unfortunately, another BIAB release without Bagpipes/Uilleann pipe RTs Wouldn't it be nice to have as many flute/pipe/wind instrument RTs as there are guitar RTs? Well, at least there was one new world instrument erhu which suits the song very well as the voice of the northern wind. I guess I have to overuse erhu as the bagpipe replacement during this year

I'm not quite sure about the correct bodhran pronunciation, but I used one suggestion I found (bow-ron)...

RealDrums:
BodhranCelticJig^2-Brushes
BodhranTradJig: a: Bodhran b: BodhranTradJig
Shaker68Nanigo[single]

RealTracks:
#1161:Bass, Acoustic, CelticJig Sw 110
#3915:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm ContradanceJig68 Sw 120
#1163:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticJig Sw 110
#3543:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticJig68Picking Sw 110
#2860:Guitar, Nylon, Rhythm Mariachi68 Sw 110
#2724:Guitar, Nylon, Fingerpicking PeruFestejo68Melodic Sw 120
#4381:Erhu, Background SimplePentatonic Ev 060
#3187:Fiddle, Soloist, CelticJigAndy Sw 110
#3766:Vibes, Rhythm PopSwing Sw 110

Vocals: Synthesizer V Natalie (lead), Synthesizer V Weina (lead+backing), Synthesizer V Asterian (backing)

Mixed in Cakewalk by BandLab

Lyrics:

The reindeers are restless
the wolves sowing fright
the pastures are petrified
in the polar night.
Gales are gathering
clouds are strengthening
crystals start scattering light.
Swirls in the skyline
a crow on a deadwood pine
wait for the wizard in white.

White is the night when winter comes
the change of season quiets the drums
hides the tracks of hunted preys
lightens up the darkest greys
slows the stream of vanishing days.
Calms the grieving piccolo
mutes the lonely trumpet blow
requiems now covered in snow.
White is the night when winter comes
the voice of the northern wind hums.

The fairies are fretful
the woods feeling blue
magic is mortified
hideaways are few.
Hardships confront a gnome
dreaming in monochrome
the softhearted underworld sound.
Tears of a leprechaun
are beating on his bodhran
breaking the spell that has been bound.

White is the night...

Yet no sign of a sled
but bells breaking the still
elves relish in red
head down the hill.
Beings joining the joy
myths, magic and glee
a rapt smile of a boy
chosen to see.
------------------------------
Janne

Janne, you are a master lyricist indeed and you have a command of the English language few of us have.
Very enjoyable listen and the feel and synth vocals remind me of one of my favorite bands, Renaissance/Annie Haslam.
I wonder if you were inspired by them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtSQFewjDD0

Fabulous lyrics.
Fabulous production.

Vic

Wow, Janne, this was superb! Best lyrics ever! I was concerned the erhu's distinctive sound might distract but it was fine. I think I've mentioned to you in the past that Native Instruments has a uilleann pipes in Kontakt - you may already know that. Lotta Celtic Woman in this track, which I love. Fantastic work!

This is really special Janne!

What a great sound!

And yes, I have been dreaming of some bag pipes, too!



P.S.

Wait, I found them. In Sample Tank!!

Should have known!

And they sound fabulous!

Cool alliteration! I like it!

As others have already said, it sounds great!

Small nit - the plural of reindeer is reindeer. Generally, anyway. English can be weird. Apparently some dictionaries have it both ways. And if enough people start using it that way, it becomes official.

However, there are two pronunciation problems in Tears of a leprechaun

These should be t ih r z and l eh p r ih k ao n

I'd trust Google before SynthV. Click the link, and then the speaker icon in the left side to hear it pronounced. At least, the way I pronounce it, so it must be right!

https://translate.google.com/?sl=en&tl=ja&text=tears%20of%20a%20leprechaun&op=translate

Interestingly, Google doesn't pronounce bodhran the Irish way.

Anyway, very poetic!

Yeow, I love the opening. Reminds of a favorite band The Pentangle. Love the vocals, the melody and the whole production. Dang, I absolutely love this song, Janne. Excellent choices of instrumentation and the perfect mix, but I keep coming back to how good that melody is.

Thanks BT for your too kind comment "Master lyricist" sounds very over-exaggeration, but I will certainly hang that badge on my wall

You introduced me to Renaissance already in my "The River Of Eternity" song comment thread, and I thank you for that. Hadn't heard them before, but now I have been enjoying many of their great tracks like Ocean Gypsy, Grandine Il Vento and Ashes Are Burning. So this song wasn't inspired by them, because it was written long time ago, but maybe some new songs will be

Janne

This a great one! I absolutely loved that intro, and the writing - superb! Great job Janne.

Janne,

Funny how a song bed can hang around for years until something finally clicks lyrically . . . glad this one finally came together because it’s a good one. Great intro, and what follows is equally impressive. The Vocaloid is really, really good. The mix is just great all the way through. Outstanding work!

All my best,

Deej

Really cool song Janne. The lyric was excellent but the backing band was stellar. Loved the little trills in the background. Well done..

Janne, I agree with everything that has been said thus far.

I will add that you are a great lyricist and master at those artificial voices.

Two thumbs up

Well done.
Your song reminded me of Steeleye Span - particularly their Wintersmith (Terry Pratchett) album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COgJyvPKk0Q&list=PLGlwCFtYTAIp3dVhMI2Y5uxHPFXZeInIv&index=5

but is uniquely you & yours.
Well done.

Thanks Vic, I'm glad to hear you liked my song fabulously

Janne

Thanks for your very kind compliments Well, best lyrics is a relative concept Yes, I know that there are many uilleann pipes choices outside BIAB, I think I have already used NI's pipes you mentioned and also Garritan's World Instruments. But authentic RT pipes would be easier to work with... and they would make me happier

Janne

Thanks David for your nice feedback Yes, I found them also in my ST3, thanks for letting me know. Another one to try while waiting for new PGMusic RealTracks.

Janne

Janne, very well written lyrics. Those voices are terrific. Well produced and the mix is excellent. This is a lot of fun to listen to, Tom

Very evocative - sensitive production - nicely subdued vocals - tricky to get lyrics to fit snugly in 6/8 but you managed it well

This is different from the normal songs we hear here, and in a very positive way.
Amazing work. Good use of, well, everything.


That's good!
I think I read somewhere that their original purpose was to strike fear into the enemy ... that's what they're good at

Hi Janne,

Excellent lyrics! Man, I wish I had a fraction of your skills in that department.

Love the track, great intro and choice of instruments. And your vocalists are doing a fine job for you also!

Good one, enjoyed.