Raptors in the Grass

Hello all! I'm here with another piece, this one titled "Raptors in the Grass". As I composed this piece, the imagery I "scored" in my mind was a chase scene, leading to a moment of unreliable calm, that leads to a dramatic end! In my mind I imaged scenes akin to those in the "Jurassic Park" franchise with Raptors hiding and chasing through the tall grass.

For this piece I am using a new VST. This is composed entirely using Native Instrument's Symphony Series (which is on sale at the moment at steep discount.) This was my first composition using the more advanced articulations and options available in this set of instruments and I am excited to get to do more. I was extremely pleased with the quality of the samples and how they come across in this piece.

I tried to capture more momentum, especially in the first half. Wanting to keep up that "chase" but continue to vary and change the sonic environment to fit the changing actions of characters, such maybe getting in a car and driving or trying to fight back. With that unreliable calm coming in at the second half and a final crescendo when our characters get surrounded by the beasts they were trying to avoid.

I would love to hear your impressions from listening and what story it tells for you. Looking forward to the feedback and hope you enjoy the listen.

Hi @Layne!

This is an impressively exciting track. I really love the intense opening and the sliding figure in 0:29, reminds me very much the dangerous scene and music in the famous shower scene of Psycho. The 1:00 theme reminds me of both the finale of Tchiakovsky's Fourth Symphony and Prokofiev's 6th Piano Sonata. You also provide contrast in 1:40 with the bassoons and flute as well as other quieter instruments. What I love most is that you don't go for a clichetic gradual crescendo till the end as many boring and uncreative trailer music does, as the music ends quietly with confusion and mysteries at the end! Thx for sharing, I like this!

Henry

Thanks for the excellent tip about Symphony Series. I'm downloading it right now!

I wonder, have you tried experimenting with different mic positions yet?

Your piece sounds very cinematic to me: so I think you've hit the nail on the head!

You're very good at crafting an atmosphere with your music, and sculpting a mental image. 
It felt like a very tense scene from a sci-fi action flick.

16 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Hi @Layne!

This is an impressively exciting track. I really love the intense opening and the sliding figure in 0:29, reminds me very much the dangerous scene and music in the famous shower scene of Psycho. The 1:00 theme reminds me of both the finale of Tchiakovsky's Fourth Symphony and Prokofiev's 6th Piano Sonata. You also provide contrast in 1:40 with the bassoons and flute as well as other quieter instruments. What I love most is that you don't go for a clichetic gradual crescendo till the end as many boring and uncreative trailer music does, as the music ends quietly with confusion and mysteries at the end! Thx for sharing, I like this!

Henry

 

Thank you so much, Henry! It is an honor that this piece even brings to mind works by those names. Glad you enjoyed the listen. It was fun to take a break from the loud, heavy instruments and pull back into those quieter sections, while still keeping the tension of the first half bubbling under the surface. Then releasing that tension once again at the very end. 

Appreciate your feedback!

3 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Thanks for the excellent tip about Symphony Series. I'm downloading it right now!

I wonder, have you tried experimenting with different mic positions yet?

Your piece sounds very cinematic to me: so I think you've hit the nail on the head!

You're very good at crafting an atmosphere with your music, and sculpting a mental image. 
It felt like a very tense scene from a sci-fi action flick.

 

Thank you so much, Alex! Appreciate you taking the time to listen and write a response. Glad to hear you enjoyed the piece! I haven't experimented a lot with different mic positions yet. But, I've just dipped into the Symphony Series so still trying to unlock all of its mysteries, haha! That is something I do want to experiment with though. 

Cinematic was certainly the angle I was intending to hit. Often when I write pieces I have to visualize scenes in my mind that I can play through to "score" it. So glad that the feeling came across. I greatly appreciate the kind words! 

Side note, speaking of Symphony Series. I am happy to hear you're downloading! It was a deal I just couldn't pass up. And a major upgrade from my previous BBCSO Discover. My experience in just this little time I've had it has been great. I was not prepared for the download sizes however, but those have proven absolutely worth it tenfold in the sample quality.