Chick Corea's 'Spain' - arrangement

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There is so much to enjoy in this arrangement, Sebastian. It's really good, surprising, well-executed. Who is playing what?

If this isn't 100% complete, and if if I can pick a nit--the snare sounds like it has a bit of either a gated or small room reverb, and it makes it sound just a tad dated (the sound was very big in the '80s and since you're using a lot of synths, best to make the rhythm section sound more modern--something warner and slightly longer). No worries if you're finished--it rocks and holds together just fine.

The drummer is certainly a fan of Dave Weckl, isn't he?

Great job, man. The fade out--I would have rather heard you come up with an ending, since you have some many other great ideas.

Doug

Hey Doug, thanks for listening!

I play everything you hear on there on the keyboards, and sequence them in Propellerhead's Reason.

It's how I practice: I create my own rhythm sections, horn sections, arrangements and stuff like that.

Funny story about this particular Spain arrangement: I started it a while back and abandoned it because I was pretty much stuck after the keys solo. I had nothing. I was blank.

And now, after more than a year, I decided to come up with some drums interlude or something, so I finish the arrangement and present it to people and websites.

I know about the snare. I love that sound :toothygrin:

I've spent a lot of time researching drums and other instruments I don't play, so when I sequence them - I try to make them sound as realistic as I can. As a real drummer would play, and how a real bass player would play that line, etc. And yeah, I'm a really big fan of Dave Weckl.

Also, the drum solo lick starting at 4:18 is my take on one of Antonio Sanchez's lick (Pat Metheny's drummer). He has a couple of DVDs explaining the various things he does...

I also realize the ending is really cheesy fading out like that. Next iteration maybe I'll come up with some kind of real ending to the tune.

Thanks for listening mate, have a great day! :D

That's even more impressive then--I'm a really good drum programmer myself, but I'm also a drummer. Beautiful work!

Doug

Thanks!

I updated the file, now the tune has a proper ending! Hope you enjoy it. It's kind of weird, but I didn't have any other ideas.

Please re-download the tune to get the updated version. Thanks!

Cheers! :)

wahey who doesn't like a bit of Spain ey? This is really cool, there's a bit of everything in here, latin, funk, samba, electro, big band - a very pleasant listen. If I could find any fault...which is pretty hard, I don't like the sound of the synth strings...but I really am just being stupidly picky there!

Please post some more soon - do you have any original compositions to share?

wahey who doesn't like a bit of Spain ey? This is really cool, there's a bit of everything in here, latin, funk, samba, electro, big band - a very pleasant listen. If I could find any fault...which is pretty hard, I don't like the sound of the synth strings...but I really am just being stupidly picky there!

Please post some more soon - do you have any original compositions to share?

Thanks for listening mate!

I will post some more stuff in due time, I'm revamping/recreating my website as of now, so I don't actually have any compositions online. Will follow soon.

Cheers! :)

This is great. Nice job :) That's about all I have to say...

Great job on the programming and the arrangement, sounds very Dave Wecklesque. I love the unpredictable use of the theme for the head section. The switches to half time and 12/8 are very effective.

The piano solo is great, but I reckon could with some more obvious backings towards the end (there seem to be some quiet synth brass things, but maybe something more rhythmic?).

Not totally convinced about the end, could be a more effective climax I think. Really enjoyed it though. :)

Great job on the programming and the arrangement, sounds very Dave Wecklesque. I love the unpredictable use of the theme for the head section. The switches to half time and 12/8 are very effective.

The piano solo is great, but I reckon could with some more obvious backings towards the end (there seem to be some quiet synth brass things, but maybe something more rhythmic?).

Not totally convinced about the end, could be a more effective climax I think. Really enjoyed it though. :)

Thanks for listening, I'm not so sure about the ending myself. Maybe I'll look at it again in the future...

Nice work! Especially the drum programming...what sample library did you use? The nuances are great...especially in the snare drum.

My only gripe is the harmony on the syncopated part of the head....just seems a bit forced.

Great textures tho!

:thumbsup:

Nice work. Very good result sequencing the Afro-Cuban stuff in particular.

Man, you know in the original the flute solo is pretty kickin but when chick starts up his thing... man, stanley starts playin' so far on top of the beat it's sick! A brotherhood thing. But that energy is part of what made that record so wonderful. The arrangement is pretty simple, but pure energy. That seems to be lacking these days. :( Don't take that the wrong way.

@KylePoehling:

Thanks for listening! I used two sample libraries on this particular tune. One is Reason Drum Kits 2.0 from Propellerhead and the other one is a refill from Sonic called SR Reality Drums.

@Impromptu:

Cheers, that style is really very hard to make it sound real.

@Ticktockfool:

I know exactly what you mean, but we can't all be Chick Coreas now can we? :D