The Jungles of Ganymede

First off, I know that there are probably no jungles on Ganymede, but this moon of Jupiter may have life on it. No one really knows what lies beneath its many kilometers thick icy surface.

Often times I seem to compose in reverse. I once did a 4 movement symphonic piece by composing the last movement first and then the 3rd next etc.

I seem to have done it again with this piece. The second half of this one is the last piece I posted, Alligator Alley. I think that the two pieces are actually just one. While I did the second half of this one in under 5 hours, the part I added to it took me about 4 times as long to get it where I liked it enough to post.

The piece uses 4 instruments (all synths) from Native Instruments Kore (which is free) and 6 instruments (guitars and such) from Independence Free (which is also free) and 11 instruments from GPO (all of the orchestral instruments). I did all of the work in Sonar 8 PE.

Here it is

The Jungles of Ganymede (GPO).mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Although I am presenting it with the above title, I may revert it back to being called Alligator Alley. Which title do you think is better? Or can you suggest anything else?

I am still tweaking the mix so it will probably change a little from day to day. Any suggestions about the mix? I was thinking about EQ'ing the brass a little more to give it a brighter feel.

Ron

I'll never understand why more people don't comment on your music, Ron. It's not even about if they like it or not (which I imagine it would be hard NOT to like your music), but the fact that you do so much for this forum baffles me that people can't return the favor. Granted some do, but with your post count and the tremendous amount of music you have given us, it's just odd more don't see the genius behind that beard. ;)

I like what you've done here, I know you spent countless hours revising to make every note perfect, and it definately shows. You truly have a gift for this brand of music Ron.

The one thing I will say is that you should of used more palm mutes with the guitar. It sounded awesome! You used it well in the last jungley section (the one with the congo drums or whatever), but I would've brought it out a bit more.

Congrats on such a fine work of art, I'll keep you updated on what I'm working on via e-mail.

Vince

Constructive comment incoming;

Except... not even remotely close.

Sounds awesome.

One of these long days I'll be able to compose on this level.

As I listened to the first five or so seconds, I kind of sat there thinking "what?!?" It's...unique. But I mean that in a good way. My brain just exploded listening to it.

I don't think I could offer any criticism, constructive or not. There's nothing I can say! I did enjoy it, quite a bit.

I think the second title, the one on this chain, fits the piece better.

Vince

I am still learning how to use the guitars from Independence Free. I do like their sound when I don't overwork them (which I seem to do a lot of). I think I did that some in the first half of this one. I hope to get better wioth them as I get more experienced.

I have spent 4-5 hours some nights working on a mix just to get it back to the point at which I started. Fun times.

Sax

I know I have told you this before, but to get better at what we do, it just takes practice. I spend all of my free time trying to hone my skills. It amazes me when I see that the time spent working on composing actually shows up in my pieces.

Carlos

I have always known that I don't compose mainstream music. But I do compose what I like to listen to. At least most of the time I do. Ocassionally I do write something and then listen to it and can't understand any of it, so it goes way on the backburner awaiting other days.

Thanks guys

Ron

This makes me uncomfortable in the best way possible. It's so eerie and weird and awesome. Every little twist and turn makes me want to keep listening! Loved it. /cheer

Very atmospheric and interesting to listen too. I like the additions to the beginning; loved the guitar. The percussion phrase got a little repetitive in the later sections (from Alligator Alley) which I didn't notice before, but I do now. Probably because I have listened to this piece 10 or so times now. :P

I agree on maybe making the brass brighter, particularly in the middle-ish section.

By the way, I have a question:

Don't you have EWQL? Why don't you use that for the orchestra instruments? I can see how GPO's samples may fit in better, but I'm not sure.

Whateverfin

That's basically the feeling I get from it too. Thanks!

sswave

In the second part, if you concentrate on the percussion, it gets downright annoying. I want to vary it some, but it hasn't come to me yet. You are the second person that has pointed that out and rightly so. But since there is so much going on in there at the same time, most people miss how repetitive it really is.

I think that you are looking at the same spot as I am where the brass should be brighter. One of these days I will get in there and fix that.

EWQL vs GPO:

For that big hollywood sound, EWQL far outdoes GPO. But I think that GPO is much more realistic from a symphonic point of view. I get on kicks where I use one, then go to the other one or I sometimes mix them together. The piece I just finished uses all EWQL.

It is a lot easier to pan the instruments in GPO. I think that EWQL sucks for that. I also hate fighting all of the inherent reverb in EWQL but then someitmes that makes life a lot easier.

I guess it all depends upon the mood I am in as to which library I use.

Thanks guys

Ron

as usual ron, this is very original music, your experimentation with composition is always interesting. this time it is a well produced piece, the last part really reminds me of old black and white movie sounds, at some parts, and it delievers an abstract feeling of terror, chase and astonishment.

i sure like to hear you delve deeper into pure symphonic and reach pure composition since you can definitely master sound design.

J

If I understand what you are saying, you would like to hear more of a symphonic piece from me. I just added a piece in Orchestral works that uses no synths or odd sounds which can be found here

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/ballerinas-ganymede-21011.html

A while back a guy told me he thought my compositional skills were fine but my rendering skills were lacking so Lately I have been concentrating on getting a good sound out of my instruments. But a couple of years ago I did a Symphonic piece that I still think is one of my best works, but the rendering of the piece is not very good.

That piece is called Pluto and can be found here

Ronald (rolifer) Ferguson's Page - Composer's Forum

It is around number 25 or so. Love to hear what you think of it.

Thanks

Ron

I really liked what you did with the percussion, especially the constant beating drum. In the beginning, I felt that the introduction reminded me of a trek into a unknown, mysterious, forbidding jungle. I liked the instrumentation, and really think that the constantly repeated eighth notes barely heard (in the strings maybe?) was nice. The dissonance, and the use of percussion like shakers and wood blocks really got the theme across. The Melody screaming, reaching high over your head and returning back to the lush, alien ground in the french horns, strings, and (electric guitar?) was also very pertinent to the entire theme.

It does get a little drawn out towards the end, but then again, too much of a good thing never hurt anybody right? :)

I also liked the brief forays into the ethereal peace conveyed by the transitions to major, or augmented chords and the flutes and strings illustrating a nice open space.

Also I have to say that you had excellent transitions from mood to mood. :)

Amazing work! ^.^

I m sorry Ron... but it had to happen eventually.... I didn't like it.

The guitar is great, the idea is nice but it's too messy for me.

the volumes are crazy high in points and the notes don't fit.

it make it sounds like....... noise.

I kinda lost it at minuts plus...

Sorry Ron.

Laisladelace

I appreciate you taking the time to listen and to comment on my piece. Those 8th notes were a guitar patch that I kept very low more as percussion than anything else.

I will get to your piece tonight .

Gidon

There are some great pieces of music that I don't really care for either, so I know where you are coming from. Not to say that my piece is great, just that everyone has their tastes.

Thanks guys

Ron