Hello, forum friends. Happy New Year to all!

This is my first post for 2018.
At the end of last December, our music circle held a regular recording session scheduled twice a year.
The session consists of two parts, the students’ session and the teachers’ session.
This song was written for the students’ session.
I would like to introduce you two versions with the same score, which are the BIAB (all MIDI) version and the live band version.
Any comments encouraged.
Always welcome.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Title: 愁雨(しゅうう) ～時が止まるほどに～
(Translation: Melancholy Rain ; As if the time stopped)

Vocal: Tsuyoshi Tamada (our music circle friend)

Link of BIAB version:
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/melancholy-rain

Link of Live Band version:
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/melancholy-rain-live

Style is PNOMOOD1.STY (MIDI)
Style MIDI Instruments are :
Acoustic Piano (1) assigned to Acoustic Piano (Steinberg The Grand3),
Fretless Bass (36) assigned to Fretless Bass (EastWest Colosus),
Pad Slow (90) assigned to strings (EastWest Symphonic Orchestra),
MIDI Drums :41 Brushes Kit (41) assigned to Drums (Toontrack Superior Drummer),
Additional 1st violins (EastWest Symphonic Orchestra),
Additional Oboe (EastWest Symphonic Orchestra)
Additional Timpani & Cymbal Roll (EastWest Symphonic Orchestra),
Scored by me.

Summary of lyrics:

You have a shallow sleep by my side
I hug your shoulder and I quietly murmur
Where your heart will return

Please do not wake up in my arms as you are
The time we can touch each other is confined to only now
Our love is just like a castle of sand that fleetingly disappears.

No matter how painful it will be
If I can get you eternally
I will accept losing everything in this heavy rain

In the back of your eyes gazing at me
Please teach me if I can leave my trace there
How strong I should hug you

You will close your door with no hesitation in front of me
When you whispered “Goodbye”
Your lips will be changing to ice petals little by little

I want to grab the future with you with this wound exposed
I do not mind I will be melting in the night
Taking away even a little warmth between us

Shigeki,

A wonderful piece of music - brilliant arrangement - superb vocals and I liked both versions - loved the big build up and string flourishes.

Great work from all involved.

Peter

Shigeki Adachi,

Wonderful. A beautiful song.

Tsuyoshi Tamada's vocal is nice - he has a very nice timbre.

Both versions are well done. Excellent mixes in both.

LOVE! the strings - the orchestration is vibrant, alive, energetic... a delight.

Much enjoyed.

floyd

I think these are some of my favorite songs to listen to on the forum, because they really stand out to me. I never know what to expect from you guys, and it's always a treat to click on your soundcloud links! And I also really love getting to compare the BiaB version versus the Live version. It's really neat!

Thanks so much for sharing another great song.

Shigeki,

We are priviledged to listen to your work. This is a beautiful song ( in any language)and I enjoyed both versions.
The "band" version is accomplished and begs the question: how long do the students have to learn and rehearse before this recording?
As always the strings ( both in MIDI and live tracks) are a joy.
Well done to all your group and thank you for sharing here.

Robert

Shigeki Adachi,

Here are some of the words that popped into my head when I listened to your amazing composition...



Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, about this sizzles with expertise. The singing of Tsuyoshi Tamada is superb. I love the way that he holds that melodic suspension and resolves it just before he enters the chorus.... it's excruciatingly good!

And then there's your composing and arranging! I don't know where to begin. The sound of this is a musical extravaganza for the ears. I found it absolutely impossible not to to become emotionally involved in the performances of the live version. I was completely wrung out by the end of the journey!

Your ability to create vibrant and involving melodies in addition to your ability to arrange orchestrally are fast becoming the stuff of legends here on the forum!

Such a grand composition! What a way to begin 2018!

All the best for the year to come (and beyond)
Noel

Shigeki,

Both productions provide a wonderful backing for Tsuyoshi’s great vocal.

The arrangement and performances by everybody involved are excellent and as Peter mentioned the string flourishes and the build up are very effective.

The versions have their differences but each is lovely in its own way.

We enjoyed both!

J&B

Shigeki you always consistently create such beautiful music and this is no exception. Was so enjoyable to listen to Well done

Shigeki,

Everything is fascinating to me about this, especially in a world where our North American lyrics seem to be sinking in to oblivion.

Nowhere in an American song would you find these lyrics:

You will close your door with no hesitation in front of me
When you whispered “Goodbye”
Your lips will be changing to ice petals little by little

Man, I think I need to move to Japan!!! That's more my style!!



I loved both versions and the live arrangement was amazing. Can you share more on how that was done and recorded?

Very melodic song.
Very well sung. Great orchestral ensemble in background

Sergio

Shigeki

Just played this for my wife very impressed.

Peter

Another great musical song from you, fantastic orchestration. This has some French feeling in the melody and chording.

Janne

Shigeki ,

As usual your music is inspiring, rich, full, vibrant and very beautiful.

Tsuyoshi Tamada has provided a stunning delivery and absolutely marvelous presentation.

I smiled when I read your line: "Scored by me."
Yes, you certainly have scored, big time!

You are a master at your craft. You simply Excel. Nothing less.

Hello, Peter

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
Many thanks for listening the both versions.
I am really glad you like my vocalist and my string arrangement.
And it's very kind of you playing this for your wife. I hope she likes it.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, floyd

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening the both versions.
I am very glad you like Tsuyoshi's Vocal.
He is No.1 male vocalist in our music circle and also a good composer.
I always appreciate your really nice comments and continuous supports.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, Ember

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening the both versions.
I am really glad to hear it's always a treat for you to click on my soundcloud links!
I am very encouraged.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, Robert

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I much appreciate your really nice comments and continuous supports.
And many thanks for listening the both versions.

Thank you for your questions on our recording session.
I will answer it.
Normally the session is limited to one day and is held for about 8 hours.
There are about 10 participants in our circle each time, we usually record about 15 songs in 8 hours.
So it's only about 30 minutes for one song. We can record at most 3 takes or 4 takes per one song.
Teachers can play at first look, so it does not matter, but it is impossible for students, so one week before we deliver each music sheet to them and have them prepare for the session.
However, we always have problems with students' recordings.
But we managed to get through editing at the mix down.
Although the strings part is also recorded with the studio keyboard, since the sound is still cheap, I replaced it with the sound of EastWest Symphonic Orchestra at the time of editing.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hi Shigeki Adachi

Thanks for the insight into how the recordings take place.

Certainly the pressure is on to deliver quality from the outset.

Hello, Noel

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening the both versions.
I always appreciate your really nice comments and compliments.

I am always looking forward to talking about music with you.
It is always a big fun for me.

I am really glad to hear you like the singing of Tsuyoshi Tamada and the way he holds the melodic suspension and resolves it just before he enters the chorus.
This appoggiatura is obviously Bach's method.
You certainly know well this appoggiatura is also present in Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
I also love the appoggiatura very much.

Thanks again for your really nice comments.

All the best for 2018!

Shigeki Adachi

Shigeki Adachi,

I'm a huge fan of appogiaturas too.

Because they mostly resolve downwards, it's very refreshing to hear them resolving up, subtonic (leading note) to tonic. The way you used this in your arrangement, where you sustained the resolution to the maximum and created a huge amount of tension, made the resolution incredibly musically satisfying. You are definitely a master of the art of composition!

All the best,
Noel

Hello, Janice & Bud

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
Many thanks for listening the both versions.
I am really glad you like our performance and my string arrangement.
I always appreciate your really nice comments and continuous supports.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, Scott

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am very glad you like this tune.
I always appreciate your really nice comments and continuous supports.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, David

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
Many thanks for listening the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.

And thanks a lot for your really nice comment on the lyrics.
These lyrics were attached afterwards to the melody I wrote.
They were written by Hazuki Morino.
She belongs to an amateur lyricist group called "Escargot", with which our music circle often collaborates.
A professional lyricist is instructing them, and we are provided many wonderful lyrics by them.
This is one of them and my favorite, as the desperate love affair with older women is properly expressed.

About how we record it, I just answered Robert on the forum.
In addition to that, we usually use the biggest rental studio in town.
However, the price is very reasonable.
It is about 350 dollars in 8 hours including all the equipments for recording such as various luxury microphones, famous amplifiers, drum set, keyboards, and so on with a recording engineer.

Thanks again for your really nice comments.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, Sergio

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
Many thanks for listening the both versions.
I am really glad you like my vocalist and my string arrangement.
I always appreciate your really nice comments and continuous supports.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, Janne

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
Many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
Yes, I have been heavily influenced by French musicians such as Michel Legrand, Francis Lai and his arranger Christian Gaubert, Paul Mauriat, Charles Aznavour, etc.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hello, Trevor

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
Many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like my vocalist and my string arrangement.
I really like to write scores. It is my most fun time.

And also, thank you very much for your interest in our recording.
For students certainly the recording is a hard pressure. But at the same time they will surely learn skills through it.
I always appreciate your really nice comments and continuous supports.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Shigeki Adachi, this is a great composition and Tsuyoshi sang it very well. The builds are spectacular. A great listen, Tom

Hello, Tom

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I much appreciate your really nice comment.
I am really glad you like this tune and Tsuyoshi's vocal.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Shigeki, once again excellent work!! This has so many great qualities to it and many have been mentioned in other comments! This is clean, beautiful and professionally performed and produced! Thanks, Torrey