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Ryan Leach October 2023 Composing Competition

Here's mine. Not really satisfied. I didn't have much time, so sticked with this idea and finished it as far as I could in the time I had. Feedback is always welcome.

Great entries again so far! I listened to them all, but unfortunately don’t have time to comment on all of them.

 
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Thomas A Booker said:
My entry :)

Click to expand...

I like what I hear, original ideas. One remark, when the piano comes in, that piano sounds rather quantized (100% I think) and therefore rather 'robot like' which degrades the piece a bit. Would be better if it sounded a bit more 'real world', by partial quantizing (not 100%) or little humanizing, whatever your DAW has on board.
 
Finally I got some free time to listen to all the fantastic entries here!
I wish many of the forum members to get to the finals or the honorable mention! Great job everyone of you!
I'll start commenting on each one of them now.


@swinkler, @Germain B,
I'm really impressed by your orchestration skills: interesting harmonies, that create images and tell a story, great use of instrumentation and themes development!

@Mister_C
That's a very cool unexpected approach! I love the positive and humorous vibe of the entry!

@Ferenc Bátri
Oh well, what can I say!..:) I was anticipating your entry of course! Your music always keeps me smiling while listening to it - the mix is just perfect!.. My soul is just floating) And of course the animated visuals - oh my!.. How people can be so talented in different directions!=)

@blaggins
I really enjoy your entry! Great choice of mood!
I just love the part from 00:50 - such a nice theme with fast strings notes.

@Andres Sarmiento
Your entry became one of favorite my from 00:25 - very beautiful violin melody and great development after that, which keeps the audience very interested till the very end! Wow!

@Harry Koopman
Also one of my favorite entries - I love the upbeat mood from the very beginning, great orchestration and some unexpected details, that create the picture!

@JeffHijlkema
Yay, I was waiting for your entry!=) Oh well - your music just makes the heart melt from the very beginning... The perfect mix as always, interesting instruments choice and the beautiful melodies gives some kind of that bittersweet feeling, when you go on an adventure... That's what I felt.
I love that guitar-kind instrument playing from 00:36 (or it's not a guitar, dulcimer? Harp?..) - for some reason it returned me to my childhood memories, when I was listening to Andreas Vollenweider's album - this sound reminded me of his music a bit ...

@driscollmusick
Very interesting entry! I like how it starts. Many things going on inside just 90 seconds - there is a story, good development.

@Fidelity
Very cool entry! Instruments choice sounds a bit unexpected for me - they seems like from different genres, but it works really cool! Sounds fresh.

@RudyS
Nice entry! I especially like the part from 00:22, nice light and positive vibe. Really nice development from 00:42.

@PedroPH
Really nice entry! The metal percussions are a bit too harsh for my taste (I wish I could focus more on the flute melody), but overall it's very nice.

@Thomas A Booker
Oh those are nice fast violins - which library did you use for them?
Great composition! I really like the added piano here - I didn't felt that it's too quantized and robotic, like @Harry Koopman mentioned, I think it fits the composition mood quite well for my taste.

​

 
Harry Koopman said:
I like what I hear, original ideas. One remark, when the piano comes in, that piano sounds rather quantized (100% I think) and therefore rather 'robot like' which degrades the piece a bit. Would be better if it sounded a bit more 'real world', by partial quantizing (not 100%) or little humanizing, whatever your DAW has on board.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I will keep it in mind. I usually quantise about 70-80% but the bar when it comes in is at 100% (pretty sure that was an accident).

Gedren said:
Finally I got some free time to listen to all the fantastic entries here!
I wish many of the forum members to get to the finals or the honorable mention! Great job everyone of you!
I'll start commenting on each one of them now.


@swinkler, @Germain B,
I'm really impressed by your orchestration skills: interesting harmonies, that create images and tell a story, great use of instrumentation and themes development!

@Mister_C
That's a very cool unexpected approach! I love the positive and humorous vibe of the entry!

@Ferenc Bátri
Oh well, what can I say!..:) I was anticipating your entry of course! Your music always keeps me smiling while listening to it - the mix is just perfect!.. My soul is just floating) And of course the animated visuals - oh my!.. How people can be so talented in different directions!=)

@blaggins
I really enjoy your entry! Great choice of mood!
I just love the part from 00:50 - such a nice theme with fast strings notes.

@Andres Sarmiento
Your entry became one of favorite my from 00:25 - very beautiful violin melody and great development after that, which keeps the audience very interested till the very end! Wow!

@Harry Koopman
Also one of my favorite entries - I love the upbeat mood from the very beginning, great orchestration and some unexpected details, that create the picture!

@JeffHijlkema
Yay, I was waiting for your entry!=) Oh well - your music just makes the heart melt from the very beginning... The perfect mix as always, interesting instruments choice and the beautiful melodies gives some kind of that bittersweet feeling, when you go on an adventure... That's what I felt.
I love that guitar-kind instrument playing from 00:36 (or it's not a guitar, dulcimer? Harp?..) - for some reason it returned me to my childhood memories, when I was listening to Andreas Vollenweider's album - this sound reminded me of his music a bit ...

@driscollmusick
Very interesting entry! I like how it starts. Many things going on inside just 90 seconds - there is a story, good development.

@Fidelity
Very cool entry! Instruments choice sounds a bit unexpected for me - they seems like from different genres, but it works really cool! Sounds fresh.

@RudyS
Nice entry! I especially like the part from 00:22, nice light and positive vibe. Really nice development from 00:42.

@PedroPH
Really nice entry! The metal percussions are a bit too harsh for my taste (I wish I could focus more on the flute melody), but overall it's very nice.

@Thomas A Booker
Oh those are nice fast violins - which library did you use for them?
Great composition! I really like the added piano here - I didn't felt that it's too quantized and robotic, like @Harry Koopman mentioned, I think it fits the composition mood quite well for my taste.

​

Click to expand...
Thanks for your comments and for listening to everyone's pieces :)
Strings are CSS + SCS + Abbey Road One
 
Gedren said:
Finally I got some free time to listen to all the fantastic entries here!
I wish many of the forum members to get to the finals or the honorable mention! Great job everyone of you!
I'll start commenting on each one of them now.


@swinkler, @Germain B,
I'm really impressed by your orchestration skills: interesting harmonies, that create images and tell a story, great use of instrumentation and themes development!

@Mister_C
That's a very cool unexpected approach! I love the positive and humorous vibe of the entry!

@Ferenc Bátri
Oh well, what can I say!..:) I was anticipating your entry of course! Your music always keeps me smiling while listening to it - the mix is just perfect!.. My soul is just floating) And of course the animated visuals - oh my!.. How people can be so talented in different directions!=)

@blaggins
I really enjoy your entry! Great choice of mood!
I just love the part from 00:50 - such a nice theme with fast strings notes.

@Andres Sarmiento
Your entry became one of favorite my from 00:25 - very beautiful violin melody and great development after that, which keeps the audience very interested till the very end! Wow!

@Harry Koopman
Also one of my favorite entries - I love the upbeat mood from the very beginning, great orchestration and some unexpected details, that create the picture!

@JeffHijlkema
Yay, I was waiting for your entry!=) Oh well - your music just makes the heart melt from the very beginning... The perfect mix as always, interesting instruments choice and the beautiful melodies gives some kind of that bittersweet feeling, when you go on an adventure... That's what I felt.
I love that guitar-kind instrument playing from 00:36 (or it's not a guitar, dulcimer? Harp?..) - for some reason it returned me to my childhood memories, when I was listening to Andreas Vollenweider's album - this sound reminded me of his music a bit ...

@driscollmusick
Very interesting entry! I like how it starts. Many things going on inside just 90 seconds - there is a story, good development.

@Fidelity
Very cool entry! Instruments choice sounds a bit unexpected for me - they seems like from different genres, but it works really cool! Sounds fresh.

@RudyS
Nice entry! I especially like the part from 00:22, nice light and positive vibe. Really nice development from 00:42.

@PedroPH
Really nice entry! The metal percussions are a bit too harsh for my taste (I wish I could focus more on the flute melody), but overall it's very nice.

@Thomas A Booker
Oh those are nice fast violins - which library did you use for them?
Great composition! I really like the added piano here - I didn't felt that it's too quantized and robotic, like @Harry Koopman mentioned, I think it fits the composition mood quite well for my taste.

​

Click to expand...
There's something I appreciate even more than the kind comments on these tracks, and is the fact that you actually took the time to go over every single one of them and listen in an honest way. Thank you ever so much for that, it's quite difficult to find that in composers forums and makes me think I should actually do it more myself : )
 
Gedren said:
Finally I got some free time to listen to all the fantastic entries here!
I wish many of the forum members to get to the finals or the honorable mention! Great job everyone of you!
I'll start commenting on each one of them now.


@swinkler, @Germain B,
I'm really impressed by your orchestration skills: interesting harmonies, that create images and tell a story, great use of instrumentation and themes development!

@Mister_C
That's a very cool unexpected approach! I love the positive and humorous vibe of the entry!

@Ferenc Bátri
Oh well, what can I say!..:) I was anticipating your entry of course! Your music always keeps me smiling while listening to it - the mix is just perfect!.. My soul is just floating) And of course the animated visuals - oh my!.. How people can be so talented in different directions!=)

@blaggins
I really enjoy your entry! Great choice of mood!
I just love the part from 00:50 - such a nice theme with fast strings notes.

@Andres Sarmiento
Your entry became one of favorite my from 00:25 - very beautiful violin melody and great development after that, which keeps the audience very interested till the very end! Wow!

@Harry Koopman
Also one of my favorite entries - I love the upbeat mood from the very beginning, great orchestration and some unexpected details, that create the picture!

@JeffHijlkema
Yay, I was waiting for your entry!=) Oh well - your music just makes the heart melt from the very beginning... The perfect mix as always, interesting instruments choice and the beautiful melodies gives some kind of that bittersweet feeling, when you go on an adventure... That's what I felt.
I love that guitar-kind instrument playing from 00:36 (or it's not a guitar, dulcimer? Harp?..) - for some reason it returned me to my childhood memories, when I was listening to Andreas Vollenweider's album - this sound reminded me of his music a bit ...

@driscollmusick
Very interesting entry! I like how it starts. Many things going on inside just 90 seconds - there is a story, good development.

@Fidelity
Very cool entry! Instruments choice sounds a bit unexpected for me - they seems like from different genres, but it works really cool! Sounds fresh.

@RudyS
Nice entry! I especially like the part from 00:22, nice light and positive vibe. Really nice development from 00:42.

@PedroPH
Really nice entry! The metal percussions are a bit too harsh for my taste (I wish I could focus more on the flute melody), but overall it's very nice.

@Thomas A Booker
Oh those are nice fast violins - which library did you use for them?
Great composition! I really like the added piano here - I didn't felt that it's too quantized and robotic, like @Harry Koopman mentioned, I think it fits the composition mood quite well for my taste.

​

Click to expand...
It is admirable, and very useful, that you take your time to listen, and to comment in this very positive way. Thank you for that.
 
DavidW said:
Here's mine.


@Gedren I've been waiting for your entry. Did you make one?
Click to expand...

Wow, this is a very beautiful composition! Beautiful harmonies and orchestration! I can actually feel the cool autumn wind... Great part from 00:32!
And so cool you added the visuals! Good luck to you! I really hope you'll get to the finals, very deserved!

For my personal view this month competition has the strongest entries in comparison with previous months. I really don't know how the judges will choose - there are so many really strong entries!..

Unfortunately I had to skip the contest this time, as I've been very busy with projects this month.
 
I'm going to try to comment on the other tracks later. I listened to all of the ones that were available yesterday.

I liked the fact that Maria (Gedren) criticized the "metallic percussions". I think she meant the xylophones. I wasn't completely convinced by the mix, but decided it was ok. I will pay more attention in the future. If she hadn't told me anything, I wouldn't. I mention this, because I think many of us abstain from criticizing, but this kind of criticism is very useful.
 
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Jonas Hallstrom said:
Here is my entry. :)

Click to expand...

I love your fantastic lyrical writing - the flute that comes in at 0:05 is delightful, and the melody is brilliant. Same goes for the oboe that comes afterwards.

The orchestration around 0:55 feels a bit sparse compared to earlier, I think it would sound great if it was a bit fuller, but maybe you were going for an intentional sparse effect.
 
Gedren said:
Finally I got some free time to listen to all the fantastic entries here!
I wish many of the forum members to get to the finals or the honorable mention! Great job everyone of you!
I'll start commenting on each one of them now.


@swinkler, @Germain B,
I'm really impressed by your orchestration skills: interesting harmonies, that create images and tell a story, great use of instrumentation and themes development!

@Mister_C
That's a very cool unexpected approach! I love the positive and humorous vibe of the entry!

@Ferenc Bátri
Oh well, what can I say!..:) I was anticipating your entry of course! Your music always keeps me smiling while listening to it - the mix is just perfect!.. My soul is just floating) And of course the animated visuals - oh my!.. How people can be so talented in different directions!=)

@blaggins
I really enjoy your entry! Great choice of mood!
I just love the part from 00:50 - such a nice theme with fast strings notes.

@Andres Sarmiento
Your entry became one of favorite my from 00:25 - very beautiful violin melody and great development after that, which keeps the audience very interested till the very end! Wow!

@Harry Koopman
Also one of my favorite entries - I love the upbeat mood from the very beginning, great orchestration and some unexpected details, that create the picture!

@JeffHijlkema
Yay, I was waiting for your entry!=) Oh well - your music just makes the heart melt from the very beginning... The perfect mix as always, interesting instruments choice and the beautiful melodies gives some kind of that bittersweet feeling, when you go on an adventure... That's what I felt.
I love that guitar-kind instrument playing from 00:36 (or it's not a guitar, dulcimer? Harp?..) - for some reason it returned me to my childhood memories, when I was listening to Andreas Vollenweider's album - this sound reminded me of his music a bit ...

@driscollmusick
Very interesting entry! I like how it starts. Many things going on inside just 90 seconds - there is a story, good development.

@Fidelity
Very cool entry! Instruments choice sounds a bit unexpected for me - they seems like from different genres, but it works really cool! Sounds fresh.

@RudyS
Nice entry! I especially like the part from 00:22, nice light and positive vibe. Really nice development from 00:42.

@PedroPH
Really nice entry! The metal percussions are a bit too harsh for my taste (I wish I could focus more on the flute melody), but overall it's very nice.

@Thomas A Booker
Oh those are nice fast violins - which library did you use for them?
Great composition! I really like the added piano here - I didn't felt that it's too quantized and robotic, like @Harry Koopman mentioned, I think it fits the composition mood quite well for my taste.

​

Click to expand...
Dear Maria, as always super kind and endlessly enthusiastic, I come here to recharge :)
 
Here is mine, the painter Lorenzo and the theme strongly reminds me of Italy.
So i thought i make something Italian style.
I liked the challenge and i learned of how i can adapt in new style.
Im happy but weak spot is the production didnt had a good accordion so had to use general midi mandolin is the free from labs.

 
Maria, thanks so much for your positive, encouraging feedback on all these entries, including mine ;)
Hope you will join the next competition again, missing your heart and soul entry!
 
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