The Music of Terry93D (A Running Thread)

[Terry93D]

(03-23-2021, 01:29 PM)Chris Spyratos Wrote:

(03-20-2021, 12:41 AM)Terry93D Wrote: Two more completed tracks~

https://soundcloud.com/tfairchildmusic/executor-king
https://soundcloud.com/tfairchildmusic/d...-the-world

Each very different in feel from the other: one a massive, orchestral piece which adds a harpsichord and bass guitar to the mix, a take on the idea of an imperial march; the other a still orchestral but considerably more pared-down, melancholic, emotional piece of music.

Departing for the world is absolutely beautiful. The instrumentation choices are delightful and the musical ideas blend naturally. It has a calm yet something-going-on quality which I find comforting.

Thank you so much. That is maybe the best thing you could have said in praise, because, while I am confident in the orchestration, it took effort to meld together the nautical opening idea w/ the later arpeggiated section, and I was not certain the seams wouldn't show.

(I have also realized that in correcting the name of "Executioner King" that the link provided doesn't work. Here is the correct link: https://soundcloud.com/tfairchildmusic/executioner-king)

[Chris Spyratos]

(03-23-2021, 01:47 PM)Terry93D Wrote: Thank you so much. That is maybe the best thing you could have said in praise, because, while I am confident in the orchestration, it took effort to meld together the nautical opening idea w/ the later arpeggiated section, and I was not certain the seams wouldn't show.

(I have also realized that in correcting the name of "Executioner King" that the link provided doesn't work. Here is the correct link: https://soundcloud.com/tfairchildmusic/executioner-king)

I admit that I only gave the executioner king just one listen after navigating through your soundcloud to find it. However I came back to Departing for the world because it had a quality I admired. Listening now to the executioner king a second time I can tell it has some serious and dense arranging and composing work. I don't know if you used the same template/procedure for the two tracks but Departing for the world sounds quite more realistic and fresh. Also, do you compose in a notation editor and then move to DAW or straight into DAW?

[Terry93D]

(03-24-2021, 12:29 PM)Chris Spyratos Wrote:

(03-23-2021, 01:47 PM)Terry93D Wrote: Thank you so much. That is maybe the best thing you could have said in praise, because, while I am confident in the orchestration, it took effort to meld together the nautical opening idea w/ the later arpeggiated section, and I was not certain the seams wouldn't show.

(I have also realized that in correcting the name of "Executioner King" that the link provided doesn't work. Here is the correct link: https://soundcloud.com/tfairchildmusic/executioner-king)

I admit that I only gave the executioner king just one listen after navigating through your soundcloud to find it. However I came back to Departing for the world because it had a quality I admired. Listening now to the executioner king a second time I can tell it has some serious and dense arranging and composing work. I don't know if you used the same template/procedure for the two tracks but Departing for the world sounds quite more realistic and fresh. Also, do you compose in a notation editor and then move to DAW or straight into DAW?

I used very roughly the same template; however, the strings in "Departing for the World" are LASS Lite 2, whereas the strings in "Executioner King" are from Best Service's Complete Orchestral Collection's String Essentials. There's also considerably less going on in "Departing," the orchestration is very sparse and deliberate, whereas it's much thicker in "Executioner." I'm proud of both (the quieter section w/ the winds and muted trumpets I am especially pleased with) but "Departing" is a better piece.

I compose straight into the DAW, though I sometimes sketch ideas out in MuseScore..

[Terry93D]

A new track -- https://soundcloud.com/tfairchildmusic/field-combat -- which is a homage to, or a take on, the tactics RPG-style battle theme. Specific inspirations were Sakimoto and Iwata's Final Fantasy Tactics and Tamawari's Vandal Hearts.

[Chris Spyratos]

Nice. I like how you create tension in a smooth way. I get that there is some superimposition of keys involved. Any tips on that?

[Terry93D]

(04-30-2021, 11:07 AM)Chris Spyratos Wrote: Nice. I like how you create tension in a smooth way. I get that there is some superimposition of keys involved. Any tips on that?

If I've superimposed keys, I didn't do so consciously. I know there are a few places where a D and a C-sharp rub against each other, I think. An interesting thing happens when you repeat an ostinato a lot: it can rub against the melody and the ear won't pick up on the dissonance unless it gets emphasized. Of course there's only so far that you can take this... and, again, I did not do so consciously.

If you're talking about modulation, on the other hand... then I unfortunately can't help much, 'cause at this point, I do it instinctually. If I were to attempt a theory analysis... the first modulation is from F# minor to C minor. I suppose I could argue that the last bar is a G half-diminished seventh, but it doesn't sound like it, so I wouldn't buy it. The chord changes each beat of the bar; the last beat is a stepwise walk down from F# to C, harmonized in fifths, except in the strings where it's harmonized in fourths and the oboes, where it's harmonized in thirds, whilst the trumpets play a Bsus4. The B climbs to C, the E becomes E-flat, the F# walks up to G - chordally, at least, it's smooth voice-leading. If that's an explanation, that's an explanation; it's my best stab at it anyway.

The second modulation is a simple shift to the parallel key, C minor to C major. The modulation back to F# minor is a simple matter of what, in C major, is a V - vi - vii; which, over in our friend F# minor, amounts to a bII - iii - IV. Simple, stepwise motion... the crucial thing is that those notes that differ between the keys aren't emphasized, while the landing on F#, melodically and harmonically, is. Orchestration, I think, is important too: at both the F# minor to C minor and the C major to F# minor, there are tangible alterations: the first changes the strings ostinato, adds a wind ostinato, and removes the bass strings ostinato and replaces it with sustains; the second drops everything except those two original strings ostinatos.

As for tips... use chords that lead, as if naturally, into a chord from the key you're changing to. Smooth voice-leading, chord-wise, helps: step-wise motion is a magical thing. If it's suitable for your piece, altering the orchestration radically so that the ear's attention is drawn to the timbres of the instruments instead of their notes is a neat trick, though obviously imperfect and not truly suitable if your voice-leading isn't smooth.

[Terry93D]

New piece! I hope you find it as fun to listen to as I found it to write. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mS4krfB6Q

[Paul Battersby]

It's been a while since anyone has posted anything. It's good to have some new music on this forum. Nice composition. I can easily imagine some drone footage of a train on a mountain side with your music as the sound track. Seems fitting. Well done.

[Nayrb]

the choir sounds massive! I like all the clip-clop perc, too. Great job as always, Terry!

[Terry93D]

(06-19-2021, 02:03 AM)Paul Battersby Wrote: It's been a while since anyone has posted anything. It's good to have some new music on this forum. Nice composition. I can easily  imagine some drone footage of a train on a mountain side with your music as the sound track. Seems fitting. Well done.

Ohh, I've got that image in my head now too.

(06-19-2021, 01:21 PM)Nayrb Wrote: the choir sounds massive! I like all the clip-clop perc, too. Great job as always, Terry!

Would you believe that it's no more than the choir from Best Service's old Complete Orchestral Collection? I'm still finding a use for it, even after replacing just about everything else with newer and better! Glad you like the percussion too. It was fun layering them all together.