09-19-2020, 01:08 AM
(09-18-2020, 07:42 PM)Paul Battersby Wrote: I certainly know what you mean about how long it takes to compose for an orchestra. Perhaps a break will help or perhaps restricting yourself to a small number of instruments for a while would be an option? I've read many times (and experienced it myself) that imposing restrictions can spark creativity.
Imposing restrictions can spark creativity, for sure! And that's probably what I'm going to do, though not in the way that you might think. I'm leaning towards focusing my attention on a progressive metal project which has symphonic elements, but not classical orchestration per se.
(09-18-2020, 08:05 PM)Michael Willis Wrote: I enjoyed the piece of music, although I don't really have any technical feedback. Who knows, maybe at some point you'll have a whole album inspired by pets who are no longer with you. You already have two, and that would give you time to recharge in between compositions.
I actually lol'd at this! I know you mean well, Michael, and I see what you mean. But my morbid brain interpreted it as using the demise of pets for musical inspiration, maybe actively. "OK, let's see, two cats gone, but we still have two more, and two rabbits. That makes six tracks. I'm going to need another four for a full album. Hamsters are cute and they only live for a couple of years, don't they?"
(09-18-2020, 11:55 PM)Samulis Wrote: Mattias, this is BEAUTIFUL! Seriously. That cat must have been lucky to have a human like you.
Thank you, Sam! I know the music sounds like Simba was an alien that got stranded on Earth, phoned home and then got picked up by a spaceship at the end, but... eh. I much prefer doing these Williams-esque things over the modern VO thing, which brings me to...
(09-18-2020, 11:55 PM)Samulis Wrote: To be honest, I found myself in a situation very similar to yours several years ago, Mattias. I hated composing, I hated what my music had become. I had become jaded and worn out, in short. I found my solace in writing duets and quartets and other short, "simple" chamber music, only using basic sounds and no attempt at virtual orchestration, and devoted much of my time to improvising, playing, and making sample libraries. I still don't write the same way I used to, but I have found new places in music I enjoy exploring (and of course new hobbies/interests too). Through that I eventually started accepting my shortcomings and the perfectionism and dissatisfaction that stopped me from working has slowly diminished to a... slightly more manageable level, to the point I can write at least simple orchestral music again.
Yeah, I definitely know what you mean regarding "I hated what my music had become". I know I can whip up a nice orchestral track or two, or three, in a limited range of styles. But when I try to do something different and the end result sounds pretty much the same as track one, two and three combined, I'm realizing something's wrong here. And it's not down to just style and personal preference. I've been stuck inside my little box for well over a decade now, and I feel I need to move outside it to be happy. But how? I don't know. Maybe I need to do what you did and start playing real instruments more instead of struggling with virtual ones?
(09-18-2020, 11:55 PM)Samulis Wrote: As always I think it's important to give these things time. That said, as you put it, I think once you are bit by the composition bug, it will always come back eventually to bite you again.
I'm sure it will. I went through a similar phase some seven or eight years ago. I spent a couple of years playing guitar and writing non-orchestral music, and that rebooted my brain and got me enthusiastic about music in general again.
I'm so envious of people who have just one single love and interest, a single purpose in life. Those who truly know they want to be a writer, painter, chef, poet, sculptor, journalist, gardener, director, programmer and so on. I love doing lots of things, but life's too short for exploring more than one or two to its fullest
