Entry for BBC Competition (movie included!)

Hi there,

The BBC Natural History Unit (i.e. wildlife) are running are competition, where you download a 3 minute clip of the Galapagos islands and basically write the music to it.

I've been working on it all of last week, and here's what I've come up with:

[Removed to comply with BBC rules]

Obviously the mp3 won't make much sense if you listen to it on it's own, but I've included it just incase you want to evaluate it without being influenced by the video.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated - I have almost 3 weeks to tinker with it before I send it off. :o

Hmmm I just read the 'guidelines', so I think I need to justify this thread a little more.

Although the music is 'background' in the sense of accompanying a video, I feel with the development of themes and the effort I put into it, it is a piece in it's own right. Also, I felt posting here would possibly get a little more feedback. :o Plus it's something a little bit different!

Hope you like it. :D

To answer the questions:

1. Techniques used

Ermmm, lots? The main one was trying to capture lots of different moods, while keeping the fluidity in the piece.

2. How long it took to compose

About a week, on average 3 hours a day.

3. Structure

ACT 1

0-15: Main 'Galapagos Theme' (you here the short theme 4 at about 10s).

15-21: Theme 2

21-33: Theme 3 - brass

0.50-1.02: Reprise of Galapagos Theme with brass for seal fight.

ACT 2

1.08-1.24: This act is supposed to be 'cultural', so I threw in a piano and arabic percussion!

1.25-1.38: Galapagos Theme again, the second part disguised in 'crab' style. Theme 4 on clarinet.

4. Obstacles you ran into when composing

By far the hardest thing was the fact that the video consists of lots of short clips, rather than a few extended clips. This made it very difficult to avoid having too many separate ideas, and to try and get the piece to flow (this was less of an issue for the last minute where it's one big long shot).

ACT 3

1.46-1.53: Theme 2 on oboe in sunset scene.

2.02-2.14: Flight preparation music, using Theme 2.

ACT 4

2.14-end: Climax with Galapagos Theme, aswell as themes 3 (at 2.38) and 4 (2.26-2.37).

Well, I thought it sycned up pretty well, and I could really feel the broadness of emotion you were adding in. There was on part around the 1:40 mark that didn't jive with me, too well, but I basically enjoyed it. I thought the birds diving into the ocean could have been better syncronized, but it was fine as it was. Good luck with the competition!

I've never been happy with what's at 1.40 - I've already redone it once! But I will consider redoing it again.

As for the syncing at the end, I got to the point when I was writing it that I couldn't be bothered to sync it any more :glare: - I just wanted an extended section to fully show off the main themes with full orchestra.

Thanks for the feedback. :P

Here is the MIDI file - I can't imagine it'll sound very good on anything other than my keyboard unless you tinker with the instruments a little.

BBC4.MID

Hey Jamie,

I just did a search in Google hoping to find other people's entries for this as I've just finished my own. I think it's great my search has led me to YC (I used to post regularly on this site around the turn of the Millennium, I don't know if you or anyone else remembers me!). Also, I remember listening to some of your pieces before and being impressed by your skill as a composer.

It is interesting that, despite the similarities between our styles, we have managed to produce quite different music to go with this video. I'll upload my own at some point, and I hope you'll find it as interesting as I have to hear someone else's take on the material.

Anyway, thanks for sharing! And good luck!

Rob Henson.

Hi there, I have also submitted a piece of music fir the comp. I like yours very much, however you should check the rules regarding posting your piece. See below:

BBC Rules and regs.

2. In consideration of the BBC agreeing to assess entries to the Events each Entrant by participating in the campaign, licenses the BBC for itself and those authorised by it the exclusive right to use an entry for communication to the public (which includes broadcasting and internet use) and all other rights for the purposes of the Campaign. This licence shall subsist in the case of unsuccessful entries until the end of the Campaign (31/04/07) or until the entrant is unsuccessful if sooner and in the case of successful entries until the end of the Campaign or until the conclusion of any good faith continuing discussions with the BBC concerning future use of the entry whichever is the later. This will assist the BBC in handling the large number of entries it anticipates receiving. The BBC shall also be entitled to include entries in its BBC New Talent bbc.co.uk showcase.

__________________

I decided not to post mine in case I voided my entry. Just thought I would pass it on,

Scooby.

Listening to it with the video was quite good. I think the music fits the video very well. Good luck with the competition!

Thanks for that Scooby, I too was thinking about hosting mine on my site.

Nice piece Jamie, I enjoyed the end of the track, the transition into the string was very nice.

Working on this track, I was pulling my hair out at first, then just jumped in with both feet as nothing was happening. This seemed to have done the trick, and just in time too, I nearly missed the dead-line..

All the best to everyone on this thread with the competition :-)