Incidental


Last year I got a commission for music for an amateur play. Along with two versions of a song, I delivered a half-dozen (actually some more than that) short pieces that could be played during scene changes, etc. I don't know how many or which got used, but the play was performed semi-guerilla style in about 13 small venues for a total of approximately 30 performances. It raised just shy of 40,000 Thai Baht--about 1300 USD at the current rate--for a charity which our family also supports.

With the tourism industry eviscerated by the COVID pandemic, it's likely seen it's last performance.

I sent the pieces from which these snippets came. Also included in this are a couple of short full pieces. I like doing this sort of thing and would be content to make such "background" music a lot. All sprang first out of some ears-on experiment with some theory concept or another, but I won't bore you with all that even if I could remember in all cases.

All created with BIAB only, most mixed in BIAB as well. Mastered as a collection in Reaper with Ozone 8 Elements. All from BIAB styles with perhaps a few added tracks between them. Some may have been "re-styled" since originally produced, especially those originally done in midi styles.

It was "filler" for the play. It'll serve the same function here for my own Showcase entries, and to distract myself from working on my Magnum Opus. Enjoy if possible, and if you have any "tips" about this side of the music-arena, I'd appreciate the encouragement or honest appraisal otherwise.



In order of appearance:

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Untitled Song
Key=Cm , Tempo 100, Length (m:s)=1:07
No intro. 8 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 8. Repeat x3 choruses
Style is _BOSSCON.STY (Bossa Piano Trio w/ Conga)
RealTracks in style: ~~921:Bass, Acoustic, Bossa Ev 110
RealTracks in style: ~~925:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Bossa Ev 110
Loop in Song: Percussion Loops\Loop124bpm Conga 8ths 4 bars fill at end.wma
RealTracks in song: 2143:Sax, Alto, Soloist BossaPhil Ev 140
RealDrums [in style:BossaBrushes: a: Sidestick Brushes b: Sidestick, Ride

************************* Song Summary *************
Title: Raw Caper
Key=C , Tempo 120, Length (m:s)=1:44
No intro. 16 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 16. Repeat x3 choruses
Style is _BLUSTER.STY (Bluster Modern Jazz Energy w Sax)
RealTracks in style: 2957:Bass, Acoustic, ModernJazz8thsNeil Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1772:Piano, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkMovin Ev16 130
RealTracks in style: 2606:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzRock8thsJon Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1776:Sax, Tenor, Soloist JazzFunkMovin Ev16 130
RealDrums [in style:ModJazz^04-a:HiHat, Quarter SS, b:Ride, Quarter SS2

************************* Song Summary *************
Title: choppin
File:choppin.SGU
Key=C , Tempo 120, Length (m:s)=1:12
Style is _JAZFUNK.STY (Jazz Funk Groovin')

RealTracks in style: ~1433:Bass, Electric, JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: ~1437:Piano, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: ~1435:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkGroovinChords Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: ~1436:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkGroovinMute Ev16 110
RealDrums [in style:JazzFunkGroovin^1-a:HHSdStk, b:HHSnr

************************* Song Summary *************
Title: step up
Key=C , Tempo 75, Length (m:s)=1:29
No intro. 8 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 8. Repeat x3 choruses
Style is _ICYWIND.STY (Icy Wind Alternative Country)
RealTracks in style: 1825:Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveHeld Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 2666:Pedal Steel, Rhythm LushChordsSlow Ev 075
RealTracks in style: 1595:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Pop8thsSteady Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~~702:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Spirited Ev 065
RealDrums [in style:NashBrushBalDbKEv16^1-a: Snare, HiHat , b: QuarterHat, TripletSnare

************************* Song Summary *************
Title: Weevil Option
File:Weevil Option.SGU
Key=G , Tempo 120, Length (m:s)=0:52
No intro. 8 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 8. Repeat x3 choruses
Style is _HSGRAD.STY (High School Graduation Rock)
RealTracks in style: 2939:Bass, Fretless Electric Rock8thsRene Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1265:Synth Pad, PopShiningSoft Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 697:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockDirty Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 694:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockArp Ev 120
RealDrums [in style:Rock90s^01-a:Closed Hat, Snare, b:Open Hat, Snare

************************* Song Summary *************
Title: PowerChord Exp
File:PowerChord Exp v2.SGU
Key=E , Tempo 90, Length (m:s)=1:14
Style is _SWEET.STY (Sweet Smooth Pop Soul)
RealTracks in style: 2620:Bass, Electric, FunkSwing16ths Sw16 085
RealTracks in style: ~906:Piano, Electric, Rhythm SmoothCool Sw16 100
RealTracks in style: 1229:Guitar, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzCool Sw16 100
RealDrums [in style:SouthernPopSw16^02-a:Hat, Sidestick, b:Ride, Snare

*******************

I remember you talking about that commission and posting the main song, you were using a sax player you got from fiverr I think? Or was that a different project.

My favorite snippets are the first and last, liked the guitar in the last one, and really like the groove in the first one. Groove reminds me a little of "Oye Como Va" by Santana. Nice, tasty chord changes in there and I like the percussion and piano. Would work well as a full length piece I think.

Hope you are yours are doing well.

Tangmo,

I don't think you really need "any tips" (the advice kind, anyway). Everything here sounds good. Pleasant piaces. All well mixed. Any one of these could be submitted to sync libraries...One never knows what might get picked up and where it might land. There is a fellow at Just Plain Folks (which used to be a good music site to visit, but is spirally to its death these days) who makes a living doing short piano pieces, many of which have been used in big production movies and popular TV shows...

Well done.

fj

Thanks, Dave. Yeah, I used a Sax player that gave me enough bonus material so that I didn't have to reuse a thing for the second version. Also hired two separate singers for the two versions.

We'll see about the full-length version, but I've put the BB song info up in the OP, so...

Thanks, Floyd (and as always). And if not, my life and mind are small budget movies and I'm quite popular in my own house. Every dang body knows me here. Sometimes more comedy than drama, but I'll take it.

Nicely done!! The tracks are well conceived and produced!! 40,000 Baht could buy a lot in Thailand when I was there in '98. I remember sandwiches at the PhiPhi Islands for 50 cents each. Nice work!! Take care. Greg

Tangmo,
Cool "snippets". Second, saxy was a wild beast. I liked the last piece the most. Not bad for charity gig! I was in Thailand same year as Greg above
It will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Tangmo.. I’m so glad you posted this. We are so conditioned to think of music in its commercial, packaged format (songs) that the other applications of music, which are so prevalent and important, or overlooked. This category, which you properly called incidental music, is quite pervasive and ever present in our lives. It seems to me that it ought to be part of any composers repertoire, andIt helps develop writing and composing skills that may be song writing doesn’t offer. Loved the diversity of styles and your choice of the BIAB components. Great work, and I hope more commissions are forthcoming!

To quote Dave re the first, "Groove reminds me a little of "Oye Como Va" by Santana."
Yes it does. Cool.

Tano, above, eloquently described the category. Hard to add anything.

The commission was certainly well deserved and IMO it is worthy of a big sync deal.

We enjoyed all of them and thanks for listing the details for each one.

This is a strong presentation of the power of BiaB in talented hands.

Really well done (and mixed).

J&B

I just like it!! Nothing more to add.

Cheers,


Billy

Congratulations on your commission!

I'm rather awed by people who actually compose music. I'm sort of a 3-chords and 3-minute song form peddler. My musical mind isn't orchestral.

As others have pointed out, these are all perfectly suited for the background/incidental 'genre.'

Well done.

Scott