Looking For Critical Feedback On Composition, For Higher Studies!

I would really appreciate it, if I could get some critical feedback on this composition of mine as I want to submit it for higher music college studies. That being said, do you think this can be submitted as sample work in the first place? Everything was played and programmed by myself and no loops were used. Would definitely like some feedback on the tune, harmony, and mix etc. of this soundtrack, it would do me a big help. Thank you so much for your time, again, I really appreciate it! 

Edited April 15, 20187 yr by Rajarajan_Official

I submitted just to see that I'm the only one who did XD

Let me explain myself- 

1. Yes, it was a bit cheesy. For me it doesn't sound like you listened to tons of so called "pirate songs" based on the Pirates of the Caribbean theme.

I hate this theme because I heard it far too many times. It's ok if you like it but I think that you should try and think beyond that.

Don't think of your music as "something that people will see as Pirate/Adventure Music" but as "my interpretation of Pirate/Adventure music".

I don't think that you should listen to the popular ost because they just come to sell stuff, think- if I told you that me and my pirate crew are playing an evening song or a sea shanty...

How would it sound like?

2. Yes it was energetic, could imagine a cheery adventure with this music in the background.

3. Yes, it's still some good music you have there. It sounds good if you don't count the fact that it sounds like a thousand other things.

It could be a good soundtrack for a game where you want the common player to notice that it's pirate's music.

4. No, I've heard thousand other things like this one. I did listen again though, while I wrote this comment, just to be sure about my opinion.

I hope that I wasn't to harsh on you,

You said critical on bold so I let myself say everything I think knowing that you'd understand it's just my feedback from my point of view.

Overall I'd give you... 8/10 because it was a bit too cheesy, but your playing and mixing are great.

*If you want to ask anything you should write @Rabbival507 in your comment so I'll get a notification.

22 minutes ago, Rabbival507 said:

I submitted just to see that I'm the only one who did XD

Let me explain myself- 

1. Yes, it was a bit cheesy. For me it doesn't sound like you listened to tons of so called "pirate songs" based on the Pirates of the Caribbean theme.

I hate this theme because I heard it far too many times. It's ok if you like it but I think that you should try and think beyond that.

Don't think of your music as "something that people will see as Pirate/Adventure Music" but as "my interpretation of Pirate/Adventure music".

I don't think that you should listen to the popular ost because they just come to sell stuff, think- if I told you that me and my pirate crew are playing an evening song or a sea shanty...

How would it sound like?

2. Yes it was energetic, could imagine a cheery adventure with this music in the background.

3. Yes, it's still some good music you have there. It sounds good if you don't count the fact that it sounds like a thousand other things.

It could be a good soundtrack for a game where you want the common player to notice that it's pirate's music.

4. No, I've heard thousand other things like this one. I did listen again though, while I wrote this comment, just to be sure about my opinion.

 

I hope that I wasn't to harsh on you,

You said critical on bold so I let myself say everything I think knowing that you'd understand it's just my feedback from my point of view.

Overall I'd give you... 8/10 because it was a bit too cheesy, but your playing and mixing are great.

 

*If you want to ask anything you should write @Rabbival507 in your comment so I'll get a notification.

 

@Rabbival507 Thank you so very much for your feedback. What you said is 100% true, and I do try and mimic a lot of things I listen to. I think that's not the right way to do things though. So this was an eye opener for sure. I sincerely appreciate the time you took to pass on your comments, and there's no such things as "Too Harsh", I'm just trying to be a better composer. Thank you tons, again! :)

It's okay, definitely "very heavily" influenced by Hans Zimmer.  It's certainly very listenable but I'm not sure how a music college would view the lack of originality.  However, your mixing abilities are in good display here.

I thought it sounded wonderful. Great themes, and had a lot of momentum the whole way through - lots of potential. Better than anything I can make! 

Good job! 8.5/10! 

3 hours ago, bkho said:

It's okay, definitely "very heavily" influenced by Hans Zimmer.  It's certainly very listenable but I'm not sure how a music college would view the lack of originality.  However, your mixing abilities are in good display here.

 

Thank you for taking the time to listen and give your feedback! 

1 hour ago, Sepharite said:

I thought it sounded wonderful. Great themes, and had a lot of momentum the whole way through - lots of potential. Better than anything I can make! 

Good job! 8.5/10! 

 

Thank you for the kind words, and taking the time to listen! I appreciate it. 

Pause at :15 was awkward and doesn't have the effect I think you want it to.
Main chord progression going IV to v is a little bit weird. Should be reinforced better.
:35-:40, melody shouldn't jump around like that with continuous appoggiaturas.
:45, melody resting on G is boring and takes away from the energy you build.
1:00, mixing and soundfont on the accordion is significantly worse. Only using it briefly on its own diminishes the difference it makes.
Move into 1:30 was good.
Tighten up the Klangfarbenmelodie at 2:00.
Modulation into G major was awkward. Focus on common tones. The modulation into A minor was much better.
The last percussion hit at the end was unnecessary.

I don't like Hans Zimmer's music, personally. The Pirates soundtrack is particularly one of my least favorites, besides Interstellar's because of how repetitive and anticlimactic they are. This track improves upon some of those traits, but falls into what I consider the main pitfalls of his writing. There are more rhythms in 6/8 to use than hemiola 3/4 and 2+1+2+1. The shifting modes ware nice and for the most part quite smooth. Don't be afraid to do new shit. Just because Zimmer is famous doesn't mean he's right.

8 hours ago, Monarcheon said:

Pause at :15 was awkward and doesn't have the effect I think you want it to.
Main chord progression going IV to v is a little bit weird. Should be reinforced better.
:35-:40, melody shouldn't jump around like that with continuous appoggiaturas.
:45, melody resting on G is boring and takes away from the energy you build.
1:00, mixing and soundfont on the accordion is significantly worse. Only using it briefly on its own diminishes the difference it makes.
Move into 1:30 was good.
Tighten up the Klangfarbenmelodie at 2:00.
Modulation into G major was awkward. Focus on common tones. The modulation into A minor was much better.
The last percussion hit at the end was unnecessary.

I don't like Hans Zimmer's music, personally. The Pirates soundtrack is particularly one of my least favorites, besides Interstellar's because of how repetitive and anticlimactic they are. This track improves upon some of those traits, but falls into what I consider the main pitfalls of his writing. There are more rhythms in 6/8 to use than hemiola 3/4 and 2+1+2+1. The shifting modes ware nice and for the most part quite smooth. Don't be afraid to do new scraggy. Just because Zimmer is famous doesn't mean he's right.

 

Really appreciate your feedback, will look into everything you said. Means a lot. Thank you tons! :)

This is what Hans Zimmer would sound like if he ever got out of D minor.

3 hours ago, Austenite said:

This is what Hans Zimmer would sound like if he ever got out of D minor.

 

Thank you for taking the time to listen, I really appreciate it. Your critical feedback is most welcome. 

On ‎17‎/‎04‎/‎2018 at 1:10 AM, Rajarajan_Official said:

Thank you for taking the time to listen, I really appreciate it. Your critical feedback is most welcome. 

 

You're welcome.

For what it is worth, I was actually criticizing Zimmer  

I'd say perhaps you're trying too hard to sound cinematic-pirate-like. You actually do it so well that it backfires against finding your own musical identity, which is what I think composing should be about in the first place. You can, and should, freely stick to the style you're more comfortable with - but your listener should have a genuine reason to pick you over Hans Zimmer. That is why I am doubtful about using this as a part of your porfolio: it obviously proves you're very capable of writing music that screams "Pirates!" for a movie or videogame, but it doesn't help you to stand out from the pack of composers who could do likewise.

I'm writing this with the confidence that I'm not coming through as too harsh - since you said there's no "too harsh" upon the criticism you're asking for. I hope I'm actually being helpful by asking you to move closer to your musical self.

3 hours ago, Austenite said:

You're welcome.

 

For what it is worth, I was actually criticizing Zimmer  

 

I'd say perhaps you're trying too hard to sound cinematic-pirate-like. You actually do it so well that it backfires against finding your own musical identity, which is what I think composing should be about in the first place. You can, and should, freely stick to the style you're more comfortable with - but your listener should have a genuine reason to pick you over Hans Zimmer. That is why I am doubtful about using this as a part of your porfolio: it obviously proves you're very capable of writing music that screams "Pirates!" for a movie or videogame, but it doesn't help you to stand out from the pack of composers who could do likewise.

 

I'm writing this with the confidence that I'm not coming through as too harsh - since you said there's no "too harsh" upon the criticism you're asking for. I hope I'm actually being helpful by asking you to move closer to your musical self.

 

Aw shucks, thank you, and yes I do need to "find myself" musically.