External Emotions

External emotions can be difficult. Should I or shouldn't I? Does he/she or doesn't he/she? Should I buy it or not? Anxious or calm? Hopefully this, my first real attempt at an orchestral piece, will expose both sides.

BiaB style = Medium 4/4 Tempo Orchestral
Tempo = 75

Note that all tracks were modified to better fit the song.

Piano = Kontakt - wood winds - Kirt Hunter's Virtuoso woodwinds solo
Guitar = Kontakt - string ensemble - Kirt Hunter's Virtuoso strings
Bass = double bass - 1 - Kontakt - Kirt Hunter's Diamond Orchestra - concert basses
2- Kontakt - Amadeus - bass small section

Cellos = bass track 8via - 1- Kontakt - Kirt Hunter's Diamond Orchestra - concert cellos
2- Kontakt - Amadeus - cellos small section

I am playing the following via my keyboard controller:
Guitar - French horn - Kirt Hunter's Virtuoso brass
Solo strings - Kirt Hunter's Virtuoso strings
Choir - East West Play - Symphonic choir - full choir
Solo voice - Kontakt - AVP Jenny A1

I am playing the following via wind controller
Flute - Kontakt - Amadeus - flute II
English horn - Kontakt - Amadeus - English horn.

There are no effects on individual tracks.
Master buss effects = Breverb and compression.

{edit} oops I forgot, I played the timpani and gongs via my keyboard player. They were Kontakt - Kirt Hunter Diamond orchestra sounds.

To me, the intention here is wonderful. Really great, and it ALMOST achieves what it should do. I just feel that some of the higher woodwind is unnecessarily harsh, could be pared back a little, perhaps? It's not an orchestration / instrumentation thing ... the very same thing, but with those piercing high tones a little rounded and a little sat back would be absolutely stunning ... but that's only to my ears, of course - I cannot stress that enough. Still ... for me, it's almost, almost there ... argh :-) But I can definitely see what you're trying to do!!!

I love that shifting major/minor chord change, and the woodwinds sound good.

That's a lot of instruments to wrangle in one composition! I think it worked well.

You didn't list any percussive instruments but I could hear cymbals, and something - I think timpani - buried in the mix. It sounded a bit like waves against the shore, so I wasn't sure.

Nicely done!

James thanx for the constructive criticism. Those were bassoons, clarinets, English horns, and oboes. I am making a note of these suggestions.

Thanx so much for this review David. I did forget to list the percussion instruments so I edited my original post to include them. They were Kontakt's Kirt Hunter's Diamond orchestra's timpani and gongs. Thanx for bringing that to my attention. And yes it was a pain mixing this. I'm glad that you liked it and commented on the chord progression.

Lovely tune. Movie soundscape material for sure. Sweeping, panoramic, emotional, are all words that come to mind.

Sounds cool thought it's begging for a lead instrument to tie it together.

Beautiful listen Mario. Well done

Sounds great to me, Mario, not hearing anything harsh here though my studio 'phones.

Fantastic actually, I'm amazed at what you can accomplish with those controllers!

Only comment would be I think it would be a lot more dramatic if you brought up the percussion.

Good listen!

Hi MarioD,

It is very pretty and captivating. You have created a soft and endearing atmosphere. Listening to your music, we find ourselves in the scene that you wanted to show us. I really appreciated.

Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash

Thanx so much for those kind words! I appreciate them.

Thanx for those comments Ray. I thought the flute, strings, and chorus leads led the way. I guess I will have to back and check things out. Thanx for that.

Thanx so much Scott.

Thanx for that suggestion. After listening to it again I believe that you are right.

I am grateful for all of the constructive criticism. I am out of my comfort zone with pieces like this so the more help I get the better I will become, well hopefully anyway.

Thanx so much for listening and commenting on this, my first attempt at an orchestral piece of music.

Nice movie score.

I feel the split emotions.

moto

Absolutely gorgeous. You could write film scores. I love the majestic swells which you followed with light and airy movements.

I always enjoy your work. I must apologize because I think I might have missed some of your compositions. Work has limited my time for enjoying music.

Mario,

Very cinematic!
Your orchestra is wonderful.
Great orchestration!
Woodwinds and choir are especially nice.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

What a beautiful piece of music Mario. Captivating.
Marc

Hi Mario,

You surprised me with this one! As you said it's quite an emotion when listening to it.
It feels like a song for a movie. Near to the end with a nice ending.
All are save, on a raft on the ocean, and the bad guys were gone...
Is this how you picture this? Well, I do.
So you did a very good job with this one, Mario!
At least, if this was your intention ;-)

Hans

Wonderful big sound Mario! I was waiting for a nylon string guitar to come in and play a few melodic lines but its ok without it! Movie material for sure! Take care, T

Mario,
Beautiful write. Emotional, sure
Seriously, done very well. Excellent playing and mix.
It is well composed and polished, I see no constructive feedback that I can share. Smooth listen. Congrats!

Misha.

Moto, Ezekiel's storm, Shigeki, Marc, Hans, Torrey, and Misha, thanx so much for taking the time to listen and comment. I greatly appreciated your comments.

Beautiful Composition! A true work of art!

After less than a minute my wife comes in the studio to see what movie I'm watching. "Sounds good, huh?" "Yeah sounds like the big productions movies they used to make, like Gone With The Wind." She's a Tara's Theme kinda gal. I told her it was one guy doing all of this. She's heard me talk about you before, Mario, but I still don't think she believes me. So, this masterpiece can be described in one word (her word): Unbelievable.

Epic! And reading those tracks made our collective heads spin.

You, indeed, achieved the orchestral goal ... it sounds huge in a good way.

Great job on those many instruments.

Nice!

Thanx gruverider, Marty's wife and Janice and Bud for listening and those very nice comments.

Ambitious work. I like the switching between calm and dramatic, staying and moving, beauty and darkness, the theme of the song nicely told by the mood changes. Excellent instrumentation creates an enjoyable cinematic landscape. I also think that the percussions could be more prominent in the dramatic parts.

Janne