I'm short on inspiration, it seems, for writing new things ... but these are the times when I work on the old ones :-)
Robertkc suggested, when I put the old, first orchestral version up on here, that I combine the Band-in-a-Box original version with the orchestral version (on the same track) and see what happens. The suggestion stayed with me, so here is orchestral version No. 2 ... with both BIAB AND other, orchestral instruments. Hope you like it? :-)
I can't open BIAB right now to refresh my memory on the exact instrumentation, but the style I used was "Scarce Dreamy Americana", at the tempo of 70 beats a minute, in the key of A - without any modifications to the BIAB instrumentation. To that, I added a small orchestra written in Sibelius - exported to MIDI and replaced with sounds from Native Instruments in Mixcraft Pro Studio 9, as well as Mixcraft's own sounds. A little reverb added in said Mixcraft Pro Studio 9 and it seemed ready :-)
Here are the lyrics:
AVE MARIA (orchestral version)
I look around me now And hear our children cry I see them hurting so And ask myself one question:
Why?
And prayers seem futile If we can't find a way To love one another The same way,
every day ... and so I pray ...
Holy Mother, hear our plight Holy Mother, stop the hate ...
They swim towards the shore To run away from bitter War
They get shot down in schools Because we love our tools More
Their cries we do not hear Because we do not want To see ...
But for a twist of Fate, Their parent could be you ... or me ...
Holy Mother, hear our plight Holy Mother, stop the hate ...
Ave Maria
[BRIDGE]
We're cutting down their trees So that they cannot Breathe
We drug kids with a pill Just to make them Sit still
And as they wilt away With every passing day Who cares?
We send our thoughts and prayers And carry on the same Nightmares ...
Holy Mother, hear our plight Holy Mother, stop the hate ...
__________________________
Thanks for listening and for any comments! Tomorrow, I intend to go on a binge of listening to songs on here ... I feel like I've missed out on too many! Thanks again :-)
Sounds nice, although the snare drum sounds more synthy than I would pick. And after the tubular bells kept repeating, I stopped listening to the music, and focused on counting the number of times they were hit.
This is really excellent work. Your vocal is perfectly paced and synched with the music—sits nicely in the mix for me. Love that hard rapid drum in the middle—adds drama and power to the tune. The musical mix is stellar. And those bells after “Avia Maria”—my word, wonderful (and if I have one suggestion it might be repeat “Ava Maria” again after repeating the “Holy Mother” lines at the end, and come in with those bells again). But brilliant, James, just as it is!
Scott: thank you. You always have a kind and constructive word to say about my songs - these words are noticed and very much appreciated.
David Cuny: haha. You're spot on, but I like the bells, even though they may drive some insane! lol. The snare drum synth was specifically chosen because it was the closest I could get to the sound of gunfire without actually putting on a gunfire sound.
First off, the style you used really captured my imagination. It was incredibly well suited to your presentation.
And your heartfelt and powerful words rang with authenticity. I sat here thinking about everything your said. Your recitative style of presentation was a perfect fit.
The orchestral elements really elevated the feeling.
Enjoyed it!
J&B
PS I looked up your previous version and noted how definitively you said it was the final version ... in 2018 Same for us as nearly every time I stick a fork in a production I end up going back at some point.
Noel: thanks! Yeah, I was in a furious mood when I wrote this one ... was watching the news and some things I was seeing did not agree with me too well, to say the least ... so I just sat down and started writing. At first, I was like: "you can't say that!", then I thought: "forget it, I'll just write" :-) Thanks for listening and for your comments!
Janice and Bud: yeah, I'm glad I'm not the only one who endlessly goes back to his songs, to fix what can and cannot be fixed, haha. Even so, 3 years must be a record? Either way, thank you so much for re-listening!!!
James, A full production this go round with the percussion providing a subtle but hypnotic backdrop to your powerful lyrics. An improvement to my ears ( perhaps the best of your spoken word songs), and so well worth the revisit.
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
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Same for us as nearly every time I stick a fork in a production I end up going back at some point.
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