Scent of Lights: III - The Desert

Part 3... Scent of Lights is a piece I put on for my senior recital a year or so ago. It's for 15 instruments and narrator, where the narrator tells a story about a journey for magic, which is very much influenced by video games, and the ensemble creates the places that the story takes place in. The whole thing is 40 minutes long, so I'm posting it here in pieces. The balance between the narrator and the musicians is a little off in the recording, so I'm also posting the text of each section. I hope you enjoy it, and any feedback is greatly appreciated!Text:They call this the boundless desert for a reason. Dunes stretch as far as the hot air permits you to see.Many days from home and unable to carry much water, you’d best hope this is the right way...The heat here is oppressive, no wonder virtually nothing can live in this place...Withered patches of grass seem to be the only life here, yet the scent of trees is everywhere, it must be the heat...Something sound like thunder, but there are no clouds...(Panicked) A sandstorm, coming this way!(Shouting) Cannot move!Cannot breathe!Is this supposed to happen?(Not as loud) There’s that smell again...What’s this? You feel no more sand or wind but the storm is all around...Has it passed?An oasis! After so long in the desert, could you now be saved?At last, a chance to rest...There’s a carving on the rock by the water... What does it say?(Peer as if reading) ‘This place appears only when it senses magic...’‘You possess a forest spell, summoning memories of the trees to shield you from the perilous storms of sand.’‘If the spirit of the desert is in you, may its magic enter that place. Now you must seek the mountains in the west.’The mountains are on the horizon, many days ahead.It seems that you have conquered the desert, and you have learned magic! What could possibly stop you now? You are flooded with weary relief.Soon enough you’re ready to cross the remaining desert...Perhaps with some practice you can learn to control this forest spell to help with the sun.

Scent of Lights: III - The Desert

Good use of the guitar here :). However, this is my least favorite part. I think the music is less coherent here. Still I like your piece :), I really admire your big work here. I think only planning whát you would want to make would take weeks, without even writing a note ^_^

I liked this a lot. I have to admit, I did not read the description before pressing Play and was confused about the voices at first. My own fault.

I liked this a fair amount

Oh man, I love the use of real instruments. This is almost as entertaining as watching a movie....Well, actually, the movie is playing in my head as I listen to it. Very very well done.

So you did all of the composition and orchestration? You really know how to use the orchestra.