Orchestral Battle Piece

http://www.tyler-johnson.net/Battle.mp3

This is a new composition I just finished for The Battle for Wesnoth, which is a free open-source game with very high quality music.

Check it out if you want at Battle for Wesnoth

Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and download the next patch because this song will be in the main storyline!

-Tyler

Tyler

In order for a site like this to work, everyone needs to join in. Joining in means doing more than posting music and commenting on only your posts. Everyone here wants people to listen to their music and then give them some kind of feedback. When you do not comment on other's music, the process breaks down. You do not need to give a full in depth critique, sometimes all a composer wants to know is that you listened and whether you liked or disliked the piece.

Ron

Hi Tyler

I think its very nice. I can see pictures while listening or even a movie.

At some point (around 1:25) I was thinking about to put that drum a little back add more volume make it more threatening. But I can't tell how this would work, I would have to listen to it. And it could be too much different then the rest of the piece.

Then again: Great Job! Beautiful.

Rowen

hey tyler,

I listened through this piece and I think my main issue with this piece is that it just doesn't sound menacing... the strings do not cut, the drums seem docile, and the mix is low.

The ideas you portray in the piece are VERY well done, I think the combination of a soft mix and soft sounding instruments just makes this piece seem more relaxing than tense.

that was pretty good man, i'd like to hear it in the game.

Hm, could have sworn I commented last night.

Oh well.

I enjoyed listening to this.

Very epic stuff. I might check out the game when I'm free. Otherwise, keep it up!

I thought it was awesome. Very catchy and riveting early theme, a bit of a lull but then towards the end it gets awesome again.

This is very well done. I can picture this during the game while your fighting. Except for the slow part. But very well done entertaining and well produced. Curious though, where do you plan on using this music in the game?

This has a very DKC2 feel to it, much like the castle stages. Similar harmonic language as well as orchestration. So far it feels more like a level than it does a battle. It's not tense nor fast enough to be a battle. But I could see this as music for a level, easily. It also has a bit of a Diablo II feel to it.

I agree with derekrazo, although this is a very nice piece, it is not powerful enough. but i still like it YAY!

I agree it's not just a battle piece, but it is still extremely well written and a pleasure to listen to.

really good work, I didn't really found anything dissatisfying. I think it will work really good in the game.

Great job!

Hey I think this is a very well constructed and executed piece. You sound like you've got a good orchestral VST there - what are you using?

If it's allowed can I make one constructive piece of feedback - tell me to Pi** off if you don't agree.

I think when producing music on a computer you have to fool the listener into thinking either a) that nothing close to microchip has been near the piece and what they're listening to is organic or b) where you're using synths, VSTs, samples etc... that they sound so interesting and blend so well that the sound has an organic quality and the listener is focusing on the melody/texture/rhythm etc...

My ear is instantly drawn to the synthetic quality of the production - there's a harsh quality to it. It's very easy to remedy I find - well in my limited and NOT expertise opinion :-). One trick is to combine as many differing programs as possible to gain that multi-timbral depth which gives a third dimension to the sound. That can mean mixing effects from different sources, using different VSTs for percussion, keyboards, strings etc....or if you can, introduce some live instruments in so that the attention is drawn to them. You find a lot of the big guns like Zimmer and Gregson Williams will be plugging away on their computer using samples but introduce some live recordings (not many mind) - quite often you have to struggle to find where they use synths, VSTs etc...

I think with some playing around you could really up the production value of what is a good piece or orchestration. It's all about the smokes and mirrors :-)

I enjoyed listening to this piece very much, but as many have said, it seems more of a level/traveling piece than and epic battle scene. Great job, though, and I look forward to hearing more.

Hey dude :)

I enjoyed your battle piece, very epic and cool sounding.

Nice use of EWQLSO!

heya,

i enjoyed this piece,but i think to make it into a proper battle piece, you need to cut out some of the quieter segments, or at least make the lulls shorter, and the intensity needs to be ramped up a bit. More drums, more bass, make the strings more raw etc...

Perhaps thats just a limitation of the samples you are using and not of the composition itself...

but anyhow, its really enjoyable

Hi guys, sorry it's been so long since I posted this, I work on a cruise ship so I don't have much time to be on the internet.

Thanks for the comments though.

Here's some more info on the piece:

This was composed with the old EWQLSO Silver version (not PLAY edition) so yes the samples are quite shite compared to the new version if you ask me.

This was also my first composition using VST's (I used to compose by point-clicking notes into Sibelius but the quality was terrible and there was no realism at all so I made the switch).

lj_Parle you are absolutely right. That is something I'm constantly trying to improve is adding "realism" to my music. I find it much easier to do with the new PLAY version.

Most of you have said that this isn't quite a "battle" piece and more of a storyline/level piece.

Yeah, that's kind of the way Wesnoth works. It's a turn based strategy game based in a Rennaisance/fantasy time period, so the battles aren't as "epic" as the opening of Saving Private Ryan for instance, it's just slow paced fighting, move character here, attack this square etc.

The prupose of music in that game is to provide an orchestral backdrop that fits into the time period without taking too much distraction away from the game, but still maintaining high quality samples, and interesting music to listen to. They enjoyed it and decided to include it.

Well, thanks again everyone, I just finished some more stuff you can find here:

Tyler Johnson Pianist Composer

Cheers!