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My second time attempting to set this stunning Sonnet by Shakespeare to music. Hopefully, I've done it some sort of justice, now? Sonnet 55 LYRICS (by William Shakespeare): Not marble nor the gilded monuments Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme, But you shall shine more bright in these contents Than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time. When wasteful war shall statues overturn, And broils root out the work of masonry, Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn The living record of your memory. ’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room Even in the eyes of all posterity That wear this world out to the ending doom. So, till the Judgement that yourself arise, You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes. THE SOLOIST (via Synth V Studio Pro): Eleanor Forte changed to Asterian II, on 6 June 2025THE BAND (by BIAB  ): ****** Song Summary ************* Title: Sonnet 55 - 5 June 2025 File:Sonnet 55 - 5 June 2025.SGU Key=C , Tempo 60, Length (m:s)=3:32 No intro. 49 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 49. Repeat x1 chorus No Melody No Soloist track. Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0, Style is _CASTLES.STY (Castles Modern Pop Country) RealTracks in style: 366:Bass, Electric, Country Ev 065 RealTracks in style: 4292:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernCountry16thsHighTrem Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 4293:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernCountry16thsShinyDelay Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 4294:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernCountry16thsHiSpacyDelay Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 4295:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernCountry16thsPowerMutePlus Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 4296:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernCountry16thsOverdriveHeldPlus Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 2542:Pedal Steel, Background ModernBalladAtmosphere Ev16 065 RealDrums in style:BroCountry16ths^2-a:HiHat & Sidestick , b:Open HiHat & Snare ******************* Mixed in Mixcraft Pro Studio 10, with the Rock 1 preset, and with the Female 1 EQ preset for the solo voice.
Last edited by musician17; 06/06/25 06:18 AM.
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I wouldn't know where to start on something like that. So kudos to you for tackling this project.
So.... The synth V voices will often mispronounce words and place strange accents and emphasis where it's not normal. In English for example LIVE is pronounced 2 ways depending on its use. You have to experiment with the phonetic spelling to get the pronunciation that fits. Also words like FIND will have a very evident "d" at the end which can sound unnatural. I find that changing the word to FINE often works well. Sometimes not. You just have to experiment until you get something that works. Just like southerners tend to drop their "Gs" you need to work around the quirks in SV's pronunciation by going phonetic.
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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Hi, James. It's an interesting experiment, but there are... issues. It's hard to get past the phrase "sluttish times". I assume Shakespeare meant the less common terms ("not cleaned"), but...  Setting a sonnet to an electric guitar heavy arrangement feels out of place, especially since the language remains archaic. The words (0:33, "monuments") feel forced in places. Phrases like "And broils root out the work of masonry" are hard enough to understand. The term "broils" here refers to battle, not the more common meaning "heat". But the setting and emphasis doesn't help bring that understanding across. So it seems you've taken on an almost impossible task here. But I feel that the arrangement and setting works against the meaning of the sonnet. Sorry to sound negative, so as Shakespeare didn't say, ""It's better to have set a sonnet to music than never to have set a sonnet to music at all."  (Yes, I'm misquoting Tennyson, not Shakespeare)
-- 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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James, I really like the backing tracks on this one but I have to agree with David in that I don't think the instrumentation fits the sonnet. FWIF if I were to attempt something this difficult I would start with a nylon string fingerpicked guitar, a cello and maybe a string orchestra in the background. But unlike you I am nowhere near capable to tackle a project like this one.
I also agree with Herb about the synth vocal. You have a great speaking voice so why not recite the sonnet yourself?
On a side note save those backing tracks for another project as they are really good.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Hi James. What I like most about your music is that you are fearless when it comes to experimenting and being inventive. That's a really good thing With music, such an approach is essential for nurturing and growing creativity. I really admire that you took a sonnet by Shakespeare and framed it with modern musical elements while keeping Shakespeare's original words intact. The juxtaposition of a 20th/21st century soundscape with words from the sixteenth century adds well to the poem's theme that poetry can bring immortality to its subject. What you have done is thoughtful, thought provoking and a great credit to you. As I'm writing this, the words of Captain James Kirk from Star Trek suddenly ran through my mind... "to boldly go where no man has gone before." I think you have done that! I am impressed. -Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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op....james.
i admire your guts and character in doing this.
fooled me with the singer.
us singers are screwed...lol.
never be afraid of experimenting...thats why i do songs.
i admire you for laying it all out on this piece.
cos no song is easy and particularly this song.
kudos.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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James,
I can hear the amount of effort and passion that went into creating this piece. And for me, that is what it is all about. You have presented something here that never existed before - and in your vision.
Nicely done as always!
Bob
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I'll reply to everyone, this time, instead of taking it one by one (as I usually do ): First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to listen and comment. I genuinely appreciate it all, regardless of whether you loved the song, or think it needs work The one issue that seems to have come up here is that I used this strong rock backing tracks. The reason I used them is that Shakespeare is basically showing off, in this Sonnet. He is literally saying that HIS rhyme is greater than marble, than the gilded monuments of princes, and that nothing will knock it down, unlike said monuments, statues, etc. . And the reason he's showing off is that he is using the rhyme to immortalise his lover, and the lover's memory, in it. He is literally saying: because I'm such a great poet, I'm using my rhyme to immortalise you, and - because of the greatness of my rhyme, YOU will be immortal. I didn't (and still don't) think that this kind of statement warrants a "soft" backing track. Maybe rock is too much, haha, but I genuinely see a "Tougher Than The Rest", Bruce Springsteen-like vibe, here. So that's basically what I tried to achieve ... a hard-hitting love song IMPORTANTLY: I have, however, changed the soloist from Eleanor Forte to Asterian II in the song, because (on reflection) I feel that he brings out my vision better. I will listen further, to see what needs fixing, and take heed of your other suggestions ... but, for now at least, the hard rock stays, for the reasons given above Thank you, thank you once to more to each and every one of you. You push me to become a better songwriter. And I certainly often prefer criticism to undiluted praise - because, with criticism, one can improve. Mind you, praise, if genuine (which it always is, on this amazing forum) is also welcome, haha. So, in short: THANK YOU. I will work on the song, see if I can improve anything, and will now listen to some of YOUR songs
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Bold choice, James. Applause.
Neat results.
fj
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Great job, James, almost sounded like Bryn Terfel there. Really enjoy your bold musical stabs into culture.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Floyd and TuneMonger: thank you. You are really kind. TuneMonger: the mention of the great Bryn Terfel made me smile I'm glad you like what I try to do - thanks
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Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
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