Wandering Sentiments

Someone once told me that when you work really hard on something, it shows. Well, this is the hardest I've worked on a piece in a long while and yet...something still seems to be missing from this one. I just can't put my finger on it. So even though I'm not satisfied with this one, I am posting it on here. This one will most likely be updated later. Anyway, it is intended for a scene in which something just tragic has happened and the main character needs some time to reflect on things by himself. It's meant to be mellow and not particularly interesting (though not boring either) in nature.

Any feedback (as always) would be greatly appreciated.

SoundClick artist: Guitarplayer52 - I'm not so much a band as just a guy who composes songs intended for videogames.

First of all, the strings don't sound too smooth. Those part where you change chords, you can hear a slight "cut" in the music. I can give you suggestions on what is missing: bass. Note that you don't have any low bassy sounds in this piece. You could try adding some pizzicatos playing quietly. Don't know how will that work out, just give it a try. Right now, most of your notes are in the mid~high range.

Next, there's a light bug at 3:18. The music cuts off for no reason. I don't think that's intentional, is it? I enjoyed the piano solo that comes before that, it was nice.

That's my 2 cents for now. I'll give more comment once you finish the piece.

Tyler

I hope you are practicing on the piano everyday!

Just a little update... I just bought a new guitar. I bought a Taylor 210E. What a great sounding guitar.

I think what you sense you are missing here more than anything else is the better sounding sounds. There are a few clips here and there, are you on a older computer as well?

I can hear and see the time you spent on this one. I think it really shows thru. This has got an eastern flair to it, was that intentional? A little more bass might help in some spots, but I think as is, is pretty good already.

Back to the eastern flair... I can almost hear either a Zitar or one of them wierd flutes trying to speak thru from time to time as well.

Hope all is well.

Ron

I can't get it to load beyond the 20 second mark...

Hey,

I agree with Nigel. This piece is missing the bass or lower octave instruments. You should try adding a cello accompanying the violin in a low octave or whatever you can manage to think up.

You should also try more supporting instruments to keep peoples attention through out.

This is still a nice piece as it is though.
Keep up the good work.

Very beautiful sonorities. Are you a fan of Joe Hisaishi, by any chance?

The comments regarding the samples are bang on target. A piece this lyrical will always be let down by samples with next to no decay (plus no reverb). Also, this seems to be a mono rendering - stereo would be very nice.

Onto the material itself: the clarinet at 1:37 may be drowned out in a live performance, so consider bumping it up and octave or turning it into something else (a horn, maybe...although that wouldn't bode well with the higher notes that follow). Loved the piano passage at 2:50. Try not to have too much going on in the same register, as it gets a little bustling at times.

I do think you need to develop your ideas a little, although at the same time I understand this is supposed to be incidental music. Regardless, see attached for one way in which you could elaborate on the existing material aside from cycling through the parts.

First off, I want to thank everyone for their comments. I really appreciated everyone's advice and I tried to incorproate it the best I can. I re-recorded it and the quality is slightly better.

Nigel

Yes, the piece is lacking bass. I tried many different ideas but a bass instrument destroyed the mood. The lack of bass gives it a sort of lonely, hollow feel which is what I was going for. I did however add some lower bass notes for the strings. It's not much but it works a little better.

Rolifer

Glad to hear you're still playing guitar. I haven't touched mine in a month or so. Unfortunately, I've been slacking off on piano a bit but I've noticed been able to write more competent piano parts since I started learning. Now that you mention it, I do hear a bit of eastern influence in this piece but it wasn't intentional.

Mike

Wow, I don't think you've ever commented on one of my pieces before. Thank you for taking time out to provide me with a MIDI and score. I didn't use your ideas quite as you intended but I did expand the piano solo which modulates over to C# Major during the second half. The strings actually modulates between A# Aeolian and Locrian a few times but I don't think anyone who has heard this piece has noticed it yet.

Alan

Hmmm, not sure what to tell you. Soundclick is usually pretty reliable and works for most people. Perhaps Soundclick was just having a few problems. Sometimes it won't let me load anything past the 10 second mark either. The only thing I can say is try it again some other time. I certainly am not going to turn anyone away from listening to my music.

You told me you updated this piece and rerecorded it. I must say it really shows. The strings no longer has that annoying pause when changing chords. Did you change the solo cello as well? That sounds a lot better too. Overall, the whole piece feels smoother, and even prettier.

It grows on me.... although I do think it goes on for perhaps a bit too long. Kinda hipnotic in a way.

I like it, very inspired. I agree with Mike that it sounds like Joe Hisaishi. I'm not a fan of having it repeat, but it didn't get as old as I thought after the second time.