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#868424 11/19/25 02:23 PM
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Opus Number One

I am way out of my comfort zone while trying something new like this. This is my most ambitious song attempt to date so I hope you let me know what you think, good or bad.

BiaB style - Kladerman Piano Style
Tempo - 65 BPM
I only used the piano and utility tracks

Piano - Kontakt - Glissando Harp
Utility track - Kontakt Amadeus - Full String Ensemble
Utility track copied - Kontakt - Solid String Orchestra
Utility track copied -EastWest - Symphonic Choir

Via my breath and keyboard controllers I am playing the following Swam instruments:
double bass, oboe, bassoon, French horns 1+2, and the trumpets 1+2

Also I am playing a Kontakt bass track, the glissando harp (Kontakt-harp) and the Sforzando (Kontakt - Amadeus - full ensemble) strings.

All comments are welcomed.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
MarioD #868453 11/20/25 01:50 AM
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Hi Mario - congratulations on this lovely piece, you are heading into a very interesting direction
with the classical instruments and arrangement! Have you come across Christian Henson on YT
who is a very able & experienced composer/teacher of orchestral scoring:
- many free tutorials on YT by him, my guess is
he'll really fire up your progress and hopefully inspire you?
I liked your choice of chords, instruments and the arrangement - very nicely done!
Two small gripes if you'll allow me - at 0.44, 4.24 and 5.40 the melody line notes don't quite fit the
underlying harmony (to my ears anyway)? You play the melody lines quite 'staccato', wondering
whether the feel of the whole piece might be improved by playing the melodies in a more 'flowing'
fashion, softly from note to note with more 'feel'?
Well done Mario - looking forward to more classical masterpieces from you!!
Best, Carl

MarioD #868461 11/20/25 03:20 AM
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Hi Mario!
Well, I was fully immersed in that one. It was like it became the soundtrack to my daydream, and in my book, that’s a compliment when a piece transports you somewhere else. And talking about transport, it gave me a sense of travel over vast distances. In a small way, it reminded me of a classical piece by Alexander Borodin called ‘In the Steppes of Central Asia’ - it’s worthy of a listen if you haven’t heard it before. For forum members from Australia, it was used as the theme tune of the TV series ‘RPA’.
Your piece was really pleasing to listen to, Mario!
Andrew

MarioD #868462 11/20/25 03:41 AM
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Mario,

You are a true musical master...

This is absolutely beautiful. Full of texture and ambiance - mixed perfectly.

Loved this!

Bob

MarioD #868468 11/20/25 05:07 AM
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Geez, Mario, seems there's nothing you can't do with excellence. This sounds FABULOUS to my (non-classically trained) ears. Love the dreamy, expansive soundscape and your (always wonderful) playing. Well done again, Maestro!


DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
MarioD #868471 11/20/25 05:19 AM
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Wow, really good, Mario! I wouldn't even know how to start to create a piece like this.

Excellent!!

MarioD #868506 11/20/25 08:40 AM
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Mario, I love that you're not afraid to venture out of your comfort zone. And I'm impressed that when you do, you create something as transporting as this. It's a little Sgt. Pepper, a lot graceful, and unique. Would suit a pas de deux..which is happening in my mind right now.

MarioD #868517 11/20/25 09:11 AM
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As ever I love the Swamming. Very Morricone-esqe in parts and definitely a soundtrack vibe to it. Very soothing to listen to and it's definitely one of your best.


Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
MarioD #868591 11/20/25 01:04 PM
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Hi, Mario.

As Andrew said, it's like a soundtrack to a daydream.

A pleasant excursion! smile


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
MarioD #868624 11/20/25 02:42 PM
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Comfort zone is for wimps, Mario.
And it's good that you left it behind, because this is beautiful.
Classic film music.
LOVE the Oboe and the Bassoon.
This is definitely my new favorite piece of yours[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

camog #868684 11/20/25 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by camog
Hi Mario - congratulations on this lovely piece, you are heading into a very interesting direction
with the classical instruments and arrangement! Have you come across Christian Henson on YT
who is a very able & experienced composer/teacher of orchestral scoring:
- many free tutorials on YT by him, my guess is
he'll really fire up your progress and hopefully inspire you?
I liked your choice of chords, instruments and the arrangement - very nicely done!
Two small gripes if you'll allow me - at 0.44, 4.24 and 5.40 the melody line notes don't quite fit the
underlying harmony (to my ears anyway)? You play the melody lines quite 'staccato', wondering
whether the feel of the whole piece might be improved by playing the melodies in a more 'flowing'
fashion, softly from note to note with more 'feel'?
Well done Mario - looking forward to more classical masterpieces from you!!
Best, Carl

Thanx Carl for listening and commenting. I bookmarked your video suggestion. I'll check those areas that concerned you. It maybe that I used some chord extensions in those areas. I have "weird" hearing at times as I do like using those extensions, but they probably don't really work in genres like this. That is unless you are like me and my hearing!


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Originally Posted by Andrew Dee
Hi Mario!
Well, I was fully immersed in that one. It was like it became the soundtrack to my daydream, and in my book, that’s a compliment when a piece transports you somewhere else. And talking about transport, it gave me a sense of travel over vast distances. In a small way, it reminded me of a classical piece by Alexander Borodin called ‘In the Steppes of Central Asia’ - it’s worthy of a listen if you haven’t heard it before. For forum members from Australia, it was used as the theme tune of the TV series ‘RPA’.
Your piece was really pleasing to listen to, Mario!
Andrew

Thanx so much Andrew. I was not familiar with ‘In the Steppes of Central Asia’ so I listened to some of it and I was impressed. I DLed the URL and I will listen to the entire 30 minutes of it soon. Thanx for suggesting that.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
rsdean #868691 11/20/25 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by rsdean
Mario,

You are a true musical master...

This is absolutely beautiful. Full of texture and ambiance - mixed perfectly.

Loved this!

Bob

Thanx Bob. Musical master? Not really just an old guitarist having fun. I played first chair French horn in my high school's orchestra and I do miss playing classical music. But that playing took place a very very long time ago. I'm glad that you liked my first attempt.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
DC Ron #868695 11/20/25 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by DC Ron
Geez, Mario, seems there's nothing you can't do with excellence. This sounds FABULOUS to my (non-classically trained) ears. Love the dreamy, expansive soundscape and your (always wonderful) playing. Well done again, Maestro!

Thanx Ron. I'm glad that you liked it. Trust me there is a lot of things I can't do, including playing music. I just like to push BiaB and to explore genres that I would have never tried without BiaB. Although BiaB can be very frustrating at times it is worth every soon to be extinct penny I paid for it. It opens a lot of musical doors if one just looks and tries new things.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Originally Posted by BlueAttitude
Wow, really good, Mario! I wouldn't even know how to start to create a piece like this.

Excellent!!

Thanx Dave. I'm sure that if you tried you would do a fantastic job on a song like this.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
BYOBand #868716 11/20/25 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by BYOBand
Mario, I love that you're not afraid to venture out of your comfort zone. And I'm impressed that when you do, you create something as transporting as this. It's a little Sgt. Pepper, a lot graceful, and unique. Would suit a pas de deux..which is happening in my mind right now.

Thanx Beth. I am a firm believer that with BiaB and a little imagination one can produce any musical genre. I'm glad you liked this little experiment of mine.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
WaoBand #868717 11/20/25 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by WaoBand
As ever I love the Swamming. Very Morricone-esqe in parts and definitely a soundtrack vibe to it. Very soothing to listen to and it's definitely one of your best.
'

Thanx Chay. I really like those Swam instruments and I enjoy playing them, as well as my other instruments, both physical and VSTis. Thanx for those very kind comments.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
dcuny #868718 11/20/25 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by dcuny
Hi, Mario.

As Andrew said, it's like a soundtrack to a daydream.

A pleasant excursion! smile

Thanx so much David.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
Comfort zone is for wimps, Mario.
And it's good that you left it behind, because this is beautiful.
Classic film music.
LOVE the Oboe and the Bassoon.
This is definitely my new favorite piece of yours[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

Thanx Brian for this wonderful review of my song. I also like those Swam Oboes and Bassoons. All of the Swam instruments sound excellent IMHO.


OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
MarioD #868720 11/20/25 07:49 PM
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Mario, congratulations on composing a most impressive and beautiful piece of music! I enjoyed the mellow voices of each new instrument, and how their melodies flowed tastefully over the shifting arpeggios in the background. The forward movement of the music gave me the sense of walking through a forest. Very nicely done!

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