~Dreams: Essences of Life~

Hello everyone!

So, it seems I'm working on this project again - very good news for me. It's a great game and I can't wait to see it completed in all its glory.

In the meantime, I'll be working on the soundtrack and posting updates here for your comments. Please enjoy and let me know what you think! :D

For now, I have the title theme, "Essences of Life":

Essences of Life

i like it, but at 29 seconds you have an F.. to me its an ugly note for that part. F# please?

It sounds too flat to be honest. The song sounds like I'm having deep thoughts in oklahoma in the middle of nowhere, without hills, without depth. It's beautiful, but will not get anywhere fast without more rising and falling of dynamics.

Thanks! :D

I'm not sure which F you mean - it sounds okay to me...As for the dynamics, yeah it could use some more, but it's meant to be the piece that plays while you're looking at the game's title screen, so it doesn't really need to "get anywhere fast" as such.

Thank you for the comment :P

I like it, Marius. I find the F to be effective (in the Harp). It's simple, subtle, and wonderful. I can't wait to hear more of the music from this.

Great work! :D

Hmm.. If this is an adventure game we're talking about, then I disagree with not needing to get anywhere fast. You want music that inducts a hype so that the players adrenaline rushes and focuses completly on the game and its enchanting music. Dynamics are enchanting when used correctly. Keep up the good work!

It's an RPG and I was told, for this piece, to have it "peaceful and calm - like a dream". So I was trying to keep that in mind while writing it.

Also, for reference, here's the title screen that you'd be seeing while this is playing:

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/6966/dreamstitlescriptexample8xi.jpg

I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

When will it be finished and Where can i play the game once its done?

I'll have to get back to you on this - I'm not sure yet, I will ask.

0oo yeah, I like this. I can picture the title screen with this playing in the background, they go hand in hand!

Well done,

I sometimes find it quite tricky to keep in mind the requirments of the piece (ie what mood it must have etc) and make it listenable and enjoyable all the way through but you've balanced the two rather well here.

Sam

It's a great song, and it goes great with the Title screen.

Marius, I'll make sure to have the Trailer, with this song, put up as soon as I return from Miami. (i'll be gone for about a week or so, starting this sunday)

If I see you online i have the contract, and i'll get you the next song :P

Thank you kindly :blink:

I think this fits great for the screen that you have provided. It definately has the sound that you were going for. I like the ideas and I like the sound, but I think there are a few problems that detract from the overal sound of the composition. The first problem I have is at 19 seconds. I hear this bass stuff going on that I wish was not there. It is a very sour note sound and it takes away from the light and flowy mysterious sound that you are going for. What it really sounds like is creaking metal on the Titanic from the underwater vantage point (sorry to put it that way but it is what comes to mind when I hear it). It sort of happens again at 25 seconds, but it is much more subtle this time. After this part the first note of the cello part is not really welcome at first, but I understand where it is going afterward. My other problem is not all the big of a concern, but I think that the atmosphere would benefit if the choir was brought up in dynamic from about 42 seconds to 58 seconds. I understand that you want a different level at the end. However, you could bring them up just enough that you have more of a choir sound but not enough to be the same level as the end.

Overall, I think it works very well. I think it is very beautiful. At first I was wanting more of a distinct melody played by the flute that would last the rest of the piece (like a Rudy by Jerry Goldsmith type flute solo). Now, it makes sense the way it is. I don't think I would change that.

I know I have kind of picked this apart. Do not feel like all of my review is telling that it is bad because my things are just minor.

Not at all, I REALLY appreciate the detailed review, RRR!

I agree with most of your suggestions and will probably consider putting them into effect if I get a chance to make an edited version of this piece. If not, then the stylistical impact of the comments will still help me when working on other pieces for this soundtrack.

I could explain to you why I made those musical choices, because they were intentional, but I don't think that it's really worth doing so. If you're still curious, you can contact me and ask, of course, I just don't see the point in going on about it in here.

Thanks again for the comments! :blink:

Hey everyone!

It's been a little while since the last track, I know, but here's another for this project.

This one is a peaceful town theme for which I was given the following description to work with:

"it's a little calm, with some happiness, but some sadness too because even if the characters don't know it, maybell's time is about to end. Dylan consider's maybell as a moment of Peace, the moment he;s seeked for years."

I was looking to capture a very nostalgic feel with the piece, figuring that it'd be the best way to represent the described combination of feelings.

Let me know how I did :w00t:

Maybell

Its nice, I feel like flying in slowmotion :P

It looks like it ends too early, but else it is very nice. Thanks for shareing

[edit] I didnt see that it was two pieces before now :w00t: but both are nice, I like the piano and harp in Maybell much :)

dronjom

Hi guys,

Here's another track from this project, just put it together now. It's another version of the Maybell town theme for AFTER it's destroyed.

I kept it mostly the same, but put it in minor, slowed it down and changed up the orchestration a bit. See what you think!

Maybell - Sad

Marius, I like this piece. It definately evokes the sad feeling of the destroyed town. I really like the solo cello at the beginning, even though its not playing alot, I just think it fits nicely with the harp and flute. Heck, the whole piece fits nicely.

Good job :P

Matt

Thanks very much, Matt, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :P

I liked all of the three but my favourite is definitely the last one, great idea using the same theme but changing the tonality. The first Maybell reminded me of the Besaid (i think) theme in Final Fantasy X.

I too love the cello atthe beginning of Maybell sad, great sounds what samples were you using?

Mark

Thanks very much!

I appreciate the comments. To answer your question, the last two were both made with EWQL Symphonic Orchestra Gold ProXP and the first was made with Garritan Personal Orchestra.

:D

Hi everyone,

It's been a bit of time since my last update here because exams have really been killing my composing time, but here's the latest piece for this game.

It's a battle theme kind of thing meant to have a slightly Peruvian feel to it. Enjoy! :w00t:

Battle Theme

Great job, Marius. I really enjoyed this. I've already spoken to you on AIM about this, but I felt it better to reiterate for the good people of YC :). As you said, it's very simple, but it's what you were going for... you made it very effective. Nothing huge and barbaric like some other games....:whistling: :P......... but effective.

Good work!

You know it sounds good but it lacks that "umph" ,for lack of a better word, that a battle theme would have. To me it sounds like a busy crowded market place.

Thanks guys, I agree with you about the lack of "oomph" Reth, but I had to try to keep it sounding decidedly Peruvian and the more "oomph" I gave it, the less appropriate it sounded for that so I kind of stopped it here at a balance point.

No, "umph" not "oomph". Man, get it right. :huh:

Hahaha, yes, pardon the oversight. :huh: