A Wild New Direction For Me

[Doug Robinson]

But since most of you have never heard my old direction...I'm a jazz composer and usually write stuff with strong melodies and improv.

But I've been exploring some different approaches since I got Omnisphere, a lovely software synth. This is the first 16 minutes of the soundtrack for a slideshow I'm scoring for a wonderful artist down here. His paintings are whimsical and strange and yet accessible and even sweet.

http://www.speedyshare.com/350319268.html

It's about 8 instances of Omni, plus Logic. I don't have my FW card for my mixer yet, so no acoustic instruments yet--but eventually there will be melodica and cymbals at least.

Hope it grooves you to some degree--it changes quite a bit from section to section, if you can sit still that long!

Doug

[Doug Robinson]

Bump for a new mix with new movements.

Any composers here?

[Doug Robinson]

Really? Like, no one?

I know, it's long and this isn't a composition forum. Just wanted to give it one little bump and then I will leave it be.

Thanks,

Doug

[Doug Robinson]

I don't seem to be able to edit the original post, but here is the most recent mix--complete except for it's missing a scat solo after the guitar solo, and a couple of tracks of my wife's voice on top of the sampled choir in the 2nd movement.

http://www.speedyshare.com/544314921.html

[Doug Robinson]

And finally, I figured that if I break this 28 minute, through-composed soundtrack into movement-specific soundbites, it might be easier for folks to tackle. I hope you will enjoy them as you can get to them.

MOVEMENT 1
A vaguely other-worldly waltz--just a hint of fantasy.

http://www.speedyshare.com/446344911.html

MOVEMENT 2
Signals a departure from common instruments played in predictable ways. A call to arms, followed by a second theme of longing, followed by some neat string section/marimba/brass/castinet/marching snare chaos, followed by a third theme played on the hammered dulcimer. The transition to the next movement will seem abrupt in this version, as the backwards piano that ends this one actually blends seamlessly into the next movement, but you know what they say: art, like life, consists of drawing the line somewhere. http://www.speedyshare.com/990978320.html


MOVEMENT 3
I put in the last few seconds of the backwards piano from the end of Movement 2 for continuity. It the restates the theme from movement 1 and then introduces an ascending bridge that will reappear later on. Then we get into a whimsical jazz movement with a fun guitar solo by Ken Basman, and a still-missing followup solo by someone--haven't decided yet!

Again, then ending is seamless between movements, but I had to cut this movement off where I did to present the piece in smaller chunks here.

http://www4.speedyshare.com/data/194...20Move%203.mp3

MOVEMENT 4
A somewhat pensive theme played on a sampled lap steel guitar, which transitions into the next movement.
http://www4.speedyshare.com/data/194...0Move%204..mp3

MOVEMENT 5
A pizzicato movement that will drive purists insane, as I play some pianistic licks--but remember, the art is surreal too. I'm the performer, not an ensemble. The ascending bridge makes a second and final appearance here. The two-pizz section was two separate improvisations with very little editing. I love the bouncy little sound at the end--a ping pong ball on a piano string, I believe. It plays the tonic, but in the next movement it turns out to be the 3rd.
http://www4.speedyshare.com/data/194...0Move%205..mp3

MOVEMENT 6
A restating of the original theme on a dreamy piano with steel drum,a bit of grunge guitar, and a nice (I think) turnaround of the rhythm in the B section of the theme.
http://www4.speedyshare.com/data/194...0Move%206..mp3

Have a great weekend and thanks for listening.

Doug

[3daudioinc]

Really? Like, no one?

I know, it's long and this isn't a composition forum. Just wanted to give it one little bump and then I will leave it be.

Doug,

I don't know if you have access to stats on your DL site, but looking at those would let you know whether people are A) listening and not commenting or just B) not DL'ing or listening. I do check the specs sometimes when I share something and the silence is deafening. It may turn out that no one has DL'd it.

If 30 people have DL'd the file and you have no comments, then you may be forced to realize that this is an engineering forum and not necessarily the best place for composition feedback. For example, I made the mistake of posting a poem here once. It's like walking into a church and asking about your Death Metal guitar tone. Or a senior citizen center and asking for feedback about your new hip-hop tune. Wrong audience.

[Doug Robinson]

THanks, Lynn--I don't feel bad at all. I just post my stuff at all the various communities where I hang. This is a newer community for me, and like we both know, not really composition-oriented. I know it's been downloaded (and commented on) many, many times--the earlier version had over 100 downloads, and subsequent versions each got about 30-50. I've had fantastic discussions about the music itself elsewhere.

I do appreciate your popping in to give me some perspective!
Doug

[3daudioinc]

For example, 16 downloads of my Mixtravaganza mix version. Two comments.

[QNote]

For example, 16 downloads of my Mixtravaganza mix version. Two comments.

How are you tracking that, Lynn, if I may ask? BTW, I was waiting until after the deadline to comment on the mixes (I thought that was the rule???).

[3daudioinc]

I can look at the stats for the site and see hits and downloads. Per month or per year.