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A Shadow In The DarkThis is the first time I've attempted a piece like this. I've always been partial to piano-violin semi-classical pieces. I think this sits somewhere between semi-classical, symphonic and orchestral. I think it might be a decent track for either part of a film score or the theme for a film. I worked on this for about 6 hours last night and this is where I said "I ain't gonna get it much better, so go with it." I think writing a song is much like writing a novel in one way in particular: You consider it finished when you get tired of tweaking it. I'm not real happy with the background choir on the chorus, but it'll do for now. Packed away somewhere I have a pretty nice set of choral loops and string sections. When I'm not so lazy/tired, I'll dig it out and make a few more tweaks. I also would like to add some timpanis one bar before the chorus I redid the chord pattern from the style demo and added six more Real Tracks. The demo track only had the String Quartet and Horn Section - I'm to blame for everything else. This style is a completely new adventure for me so any comments for improvement are seriously welcome. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. The nitty-gritty: Title: A Shadow In The Dark.SGU Key=A, Tempo 80, Length (m:s)=2:36 Style is _SYMPHON.STY (Symphonic Horns & Strings) RealTracks in song: ~2482:Bass, Acoustic, Bowed Held Ev 085 RealTracks in style: ~2291:Horn Section, Rhythm SlowPopPads Ev16 065 RealTracks in song: 2457:Strings, Rhythm CelticAir Ev 085 RealTracks in style: 2335:String Quartet, Rhythm PopHall Ev 085 RealTracks in song: 2337:Violin, Background, PopHigh Ev 085 (1TrackStringSection) RealTracks in song: 2365:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticAir Ev 085 RealTracks in song: 3063:Vocal Aahs, Rhythm Pop3-part Ev 085 RealTracks in song: 2747:Synth, Rhythm AltHipHopHorn Ev16 085 Loop in Song: Dubstep\Dubstep - no_way_out_140_choir_f_sharp_minor.wav Also a midi vocal choir from another program that I will replace with a better one later. *******************
Last edited by Al-David; 11/21/18 12:28 AM.
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Hi Alan,
this is definitely different from your last songs, but it's very very nice and I like it. It's got a great chord progression and could even imahine to have vocals on it.
Like I said in an earlier comment: Your stuff is so tasteful !
Thanks für sharing this beautiful tune.
Stefan
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Man, what a beautiful piece of music! Stirring and emotive. I could certainly see this as a film score.
And yes, a full choir would just put this right over the top! Definitely worth revisiting at some point, Alan, because I think you have something special with this one.
Best to you and Di.
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Wow - wouldn't have thought this was your first rodeo in this styling. You definitely did a fantastic job  It is truly beautiful. Hits all the right notes, and sounds solemn and cinematic. I wouldn't bat an eyelash hearing this as part of a movie soundtrack. You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Deryk
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Nice job Alan! Really enjoyed this!
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Hi Al-David, what a marvelous piece I might say! I found this very easy to listen and I dig the overall timbres. Definitely has that tension and release a soundtrack piece would call for. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Joe
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Dear "Al-David"...
Your composition, "A Shadow in the Dark", is an expansively peaceful, exquisitely composed and heart-tugging piece of musical imagination. It possesses a classically eloquent sense of drama, wave after wave of musical tension resolved by the sweetness of the strings arrangement, and ends so abruptly that it hurt.
You are a man of many musical faces (as if you didn't know that already!) Sure, it would work just fine on the soundtrack of a film, but as far as I'm concerned, it works best in the form I hesitantly imagine that it was conceived in: a piece of tranquilizing "memory" music that reflects the sensitivity and spiritual nature of its composer -- you.
Borne aloft by it,
LOREN
Last edited by bluage; 11/21/18 08:44 AM.
"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
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Alan
That was nice, and a very impressive piece.
Excellent use of the tracks and some serious imagination.
Peter
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This tune reminds me of rolling surf. Great melody and feel. Rob
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Nice! Since you asked for feedback, I'll be happy to oblige! Feel free to ignore.  The music abruptly starts, full on. If the track begins like that, you might want to add a bit of a fade in. I can't tell if it's the piano or strings at fault in the introduction, but something isn't smoothly connecting - it sounds a bit like a record skipping, or you're using a Mellotron instead of a real string section. This isn't as much of a problem later, when there are other instruments in the mix, because they help to cover up the abrupt change. It might be the piano pedaling that's doing it, I can't tell. Whatever it is, it's probably better to leave that instrument out on the introduction. If you really need strings, perhaps they could hold a single chord as a pedal tone while the other instruments change? The texture of the music never changes - perhaps could change things up by dropping some of the instruments out for a bit, and then bringing them back in? Perhaps you could give the melody to a MIDI flute and let the violin rest for a bit? You could turn down the violin and strings a bit when the choir comes in - that would also be a nice change in texture. Just some thoughts.
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I have said this before Alan. You move from genre to genre with such ease. This is such a pretty song. Love the violin and piano. Well done..
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Alan,
This swept me along " solemn and cinematic"as Deryk said. Your chord progressions are invariably pleasing and its no surprise you are able to move into this orchestral style with authority.
DCuny made some points I`d agree with on the abrupt beginning and possibility that a changeup in the intensity might work... definitely a keeper whether you tweak or not!
Robert
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Hi Alan,
this is definitely different from your last songs, but it's very very nice and I like it. It's got a great chord progression and could even imahine to have vocals on it.
Like I said in an earlier comment: Your stuff is so tasteful !
Thanks für sharing this beautiful tune.
Stefan Hi Stefan Thank you very much. I really appreciate your very nice words. best to you, Alan
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Man, what a beautiful piece of music! Stirring and emotive. I could certainly see this as a film score.
And yes, a full choir would just put this right over the top! Definitely worth revisiting at some point, Alan, because I think you have something special with this one.
Best to you and Di.
Thank you Dave! I'm more than delighted with your comments and encouragement. I do plan to revisit this after the holidays (gonna wait and see what BIAN 2019 has to offer). Wishing you the very best. ALan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Wow - wouldn't have thought this was your first rodeo in this styling. You definitely did a fantastic job It is truly beautiful. Hits all the right notes, and sounds solemn and cinematic. I wouldn't bat an eyelash hearing this as part of a movie soundtrack. You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing! Thanks, Deryk, Yes, it's my first foray in this genre. I'm delighted it turned out fairly good. Best to you. ALan
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Nice job Alan! Really enjoyed this!
Thank you, David. You are much too kind! Best to you. ALan
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Hi Al-David, what a marvelous piece I might say! I found this very easy to listen and I dig the overall timbres. Definitely has that tension and release a soundtrack piece would call for. Thanks for sharing! Joe, Many thanks - sure do appreciate all that. Wishing you well. Alan
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Dear "Al-David"...
Your composition, "A Shadow in the Dark", is an expansively peaceful, exquisitely composed and heart-tugging piece of musical imagination. It possesses a classically eloquent sense of drama, wave after wave of musical tension resolved by the sweetness of the strings arrangement, and ends so abruptly that it hurt.
You are a man of many musical faces (as if you didn't know that already!) Sure, it would work just fine on the soundtrack of a film, but as far as I'm concerned, it works best in the form I hesitantly imagine that it was conceived in: a piece of tranquilizing "memory" music that reflects the sensitivity and spiritual nature of its composer -- you.
Borne aloft by it,
LOREN Hello Loren. Your reviews are always so exquisite and put a smile on my face. The song was actually inspired from a novel i wrote quite a few years ago. A young woman emerges from a comma with pure retrograde amnesia (total memory loss) to learn she may have brutally murdered her mother. This piece refers to moment of reflection on the part of the young lady. Thank you again. Wishing you the best. Alan
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Alan… If this is “dipping your toe” into this genre, I give it a Bravo!
I think what you were getting at, comparing this type of writing to songwriting, is that in songwriting efforts, you definitely have a complete story to tell, and it defines the piece. But in this kind of writing, it is sometimes uncertain where to take it, and how to move the piece along… At least that’s been my experience. I really marvel at a lot of the classical composers and how they were able to keep the shape of their work in their mind and they moved along.
I like your overall idea, and the mix of instrumentation and the choices of RTs..I’ll be interested to see how this experiment find its way into your general work… I’ll bet we will see bits of it from time to time!
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The song was actually inspired from a novel i wrote quite a few years ago. A young woman emerges from a comma with pure retrograde amnesia (total memory loss) to learn she may have brutally murdered her mother. This piece refers to moment of reflection on the part of the young lady. Hello, again, Alan... A writer, too? Cool! The plot you described provides a shuddering contrast to the loveliness of your composition. I hope your novel is produced as a movie someday, so you can compose the score for it! Surprised, LOREN
"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
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