New piece - Determination

here is the link to the song. Also it's on my soundclick site if you want to get it there.

This piece is weird for me, i'm experimenting with more complicated things, like overarching structures and the effectiveness of key changes as a whole.

Oh and I ripped a technique that john williams used, anyone want to guess what is might be?

I know some people round here say that the reviews are often overly positive without anything much in the way of criticism, but I can't get over how awesome this piece is. The strings at the start remind me of the scores to the Matrix films, with their unrelenting energy and sense of promise. You manage the rest of the piece so well, making it flow neatly from one musical idea to another, putting in the odd climax, letting it drop back down again, and all the way through using orchestration brilliantly.

To be honest my only criticism is that some of your melodies don't really seem to complement the music as well as they could. It would be nice if you made them lead from one section to another, because right now they just seem to dance around a bit not really saying a lot and then the music's off onto another section. The rising and falling on either side of each climax would be much more effective if your melodies rose and fell too. Perhaps make the percussion slightly quieter too.

Oh, and what was that technique John Williams used? I can't seem to figure it out for myself.

May I ask what samples and sampler you are using?

I am going to do more of an analysis than a review since this kind of music is different from my style, and personally I don't find anything wrong with this piece:

I like your technique of the repeating string action. It creates a certain continuous tension througout the piece. The woodwinds seem to be carrying your melodies while using a strict repeating string action to fill in any open space. Must say it is very agitated atmosphere (determined to conquer an obstacle), and there seems to be nothing in the score that alleviates that agitated feeling you create. To me, the ending doesn't resolve the problem, but makes it known that the problem still exists (the guy is still determined to conquer). It's like watching a horror movie, then coming into a commercial. There is nothing wrong with that of course! You obviously wanted that.

I picked up 2 themes in this piece. The only thing is, the themes aren't very obvious, but there are definitly themes. One from the flute and oboe, and the other theme from the clarinet. You seemed to construct melodies according to a specific woodwind choice. I liked how you used the French Horn (I think it was that instrument) to create a more agitated listening througout the piece. I'd have to say you made a good usage of the instruments to create the type of mood you were going for.

Neat! I especially like the key change at 00:45 and the bit from 1:05 to 1:10. I agree with Mike about the melodies, though - and yeah, hehe, what was the John Williams thing?

That Bass Clarinet reminds me of John Williams Film score to the movie with leonardo di caprio when he is a pilot, or something of that sort.

And how you use the horns with the percussion, Although i think if you want it more john williamsyish then there should be tons MORE TRUMPET!!

I also wonder about the strings part. if they can play that loud when going that fast and seperating all those notes. I don't really know the answer but maybe you could give me more confidence that they can, because I LOVED IT!

Oh yeah, 'Catch Me If You Can'!

I remember that one. It was the first movie with French in it that I understood without actually noticing that my mind was listening to French. That was so cool!

(Can you tell I'm an aspiring linguist?)

I just love this piece.

It has a great, scary mood throughout the whole thing. It would work great as a part of The Matrix. I like the way it just suddenly ends, but It really builds up to something that doesn't happen, which kind of annoys me. It feels a bit like in a classic horror movie, where something scary happens, which appears not to be scary after all (piece ends here) and then it appears to be really scary later in the film.

I would love to see an continuation of this thing, maybe with a heckelphone solo?

Sorry i haven't responded, heh.

I'm greatful for the response and i'm glad everyone liked it! Thanks a bunch!

In my defense for the unfinishedness sound of it, it's most likely a piece that would be looped, and so really it doesn't need to finish.

I wanted the piece to have melodies, but i didn't want them to be outstanding, because the melodies were kind of serene in a bunch of tension.

The thing i stole from John Williams was the random offbeat bass hits with snaredrum. He uses that in the Duel of Fates from Star Wars. Not very prominant, but still very very similar usage.

I used giga studio with giga samples.

Hey, nice job. The sudden rise and falls of the piece is what I most enjoyed. Yes, it is a little Williamsish... I'm more of an Elfman fan myself. I feel William rips off some of the late romantic composers (Mahler. Holtz, etc.) Anyway, the only, maybe negative, thing I could say (in my opinion only) would be that my ear tired quickly of the repeating string section. Nice at first... a lot of tension and motion but I wanted a change from that when I listened. I too use the Tascam Gigastudio and other sample libraries. If you have time I would really like your opinion on my work. Look for Millennium and Canopy on the forum. Again, nice job and keep posting those MP3s.

www.miserymadebeautiful.com

Wow interesting harmonies. Sweet snare. Cool feel to it. I think it's a little too "involved" for a movie score or such. It's music you need to listen deeper to really get, rather than just "mood music" like film stuff.