Mountain music

[Kobold]

Hi world,


I am on my way thinking about a new campaign. It will take place in the northern mountains, at the time of Delfador's death.
Here is a music line I tried to put together, with a soft "morning" feeling.
The name is "aurore" (dawn).

There are still a few parts to improve, I bet...
anyway, feedback would be great.

http://www.macjams.com/song/47934

[West]

I don't know if you're intending this as a mainline submission, but if so...

We are looking for orchestral music, i.e. a simulation of a contemporary large orchestra with strings, brass, winds and percussion. That means no synths, no loops, no drum kits, no electric guitars, nor any other pop/rock instruments. Ethnic instruments are fine if they fit the musical context and are used tastefully. Since BfW takes place in a world resembling medieval times, traditional music influences are encouraged. Pure classicism or experimental music are less desired, but it depends. If in doubt, listen to the music that is in the game and aim for something similar.

IOW, your song is pure ambient/electronica and doesn't really fit the bill.

As for feedback, I think it sounds very... random. I hear no distinct melodies or progressions or even a basic structure. I think you need to work on making it sound more like a piece of music and not just, well, four minutes of notes who just happen to be in the same key. I'm sorry if that's not very constructive or encouraging, but I can get no feel for where you're going with this tune.

[Kobold]

I tried to solve the problem with a different way :

http://www.macjams.com/song/48072

[marcusvinicius]

This song is still like eletronic music.

[IoN]

And it still has no particular direction or structure, as West said.

[West]

I tried to solve the problem with a different way :

http://www.macjams.com/song/48072

And now it's even weirder.

If you read my post again you'll notice that I didn't say, "just change a few patches at random and the song will be great". You need to put some effort in. If you consider that edit "solving the problem" I'm going to have to assume that you really don't know anything about music. Feel free to prove me wrong.

[Kobold]

I could not see how to fit the piece in your requirements so I turned back to something very slow and traditional :

harp song

[IoN]

Firstly, it still has no real structure. Secondly, it's chamber music; what we're looking for is orchestral. Thirdly, your samples sound extremely synthy (I feel so hypocritical saying this). Sorry, but try to listen to the ingame music to get a feel for what BfW is looking for.

[Rain]

Hi Kobold.

Please don't take these comments that you are getting the wrong way. Many of us started out composing at some point (and many of us listen to music enough) and I am sure most of us can remember how frustrating it was in the beginning to write music.
That being said, I have to share the sentiments of others found in this thread. I think people have a lot of trouble listening to something they can't relate to. I think your piece is interesting but a bit too 'off-the-path' in terms of development to really suit wesnoth at the moment. (also the midi format doesn't suit wesnoth either) Don't feel I am singling you out. I have many problems myself with writing synthy music. I think that begins and ends with samples and how you use them. Standard Midi instruments just won't get the job done for us.

It's really hard (and believe I know this well through experience when I first began composing) to write music that people understand. You have to understand tonality and theory a little bit to write cohesive pieces. It doesn't sound like you know where your tonal center begins and ends and this makes it difficult on the listener to realize where you are coming from and where you are going. Breaking rules in music is fine if you know what rule you are breaking and for what reason.

I truly appreciate your willingness to post your music and that takes a lot of courage to do so, so good job there.

[Kobold]

It just happens.
You know, music is like that : it just happens.

Here is another mp3, for your consideration and comments :
Mountain Winds


Kind regards,

[Turuk]

It's still quite the same, though for the first bit it seems as if you have a background piece that flows and is consistent, but then it's lost to another theme.

It is interesting, but it jumps around so much that just when I start to enjoy one part, another part has started it up. It makes it hard to listen to the whole piece and find a coherent theme in my head. I understand you are going for the idea of wind, and it's ebb and flows, but even wind would still have a transition from one to the next.

[Mica]

First and foremost, I just want to say that I am being honest and do not in the least want to hurt your feelings at all.

Okay, first thing I noticed there was little to no intro. Either that or it was just really long. (I didn't listen to the whole piece because I personally am not a huge fan of music this slow. xD) - Wait, I played it back (with my speakers up quite a bit) and faintly heard music.

Next - volume! Turn it up a bit - the volume at like :56 and beyond seems good up until about 1:10, then you go too quiet again, then louder - even if you make it just a tiny bit quieter than it is at like 1:10. I understand that varying the volume is good, but I can't hear parts at all.

I could not identify any sort of rhythm - it seems random. When you first add the violins, it appears that you have transitioned to another part - but then it goes back to the original [with the piano] and then changes again. I suggest keeping the piano the same as before the violins came in. Also, the violins seem to come in a tad late at :23 and :24. Make sure they start at the same time as the previous piano key is struck [whatever note the piano hit just before they come in - I think it's the note at :23].

One more thing, try to have the different instruments in sync a little more, okay?

Oh and I just want to say that I'm not someone who makes music myself, so I can only imagine that this must be very difficult. But practice makes perfect.

[West]

Kobold, I don't know why you insist on using that violin sample of yours because frankly, it sounds perfectly horrid. Also, as for the 'Shetland Harp' tune, there is more to music than just a melody on one instrument doubled by a second instrument. There is accompaniment, there is harmony, there is counterpoint, there is tension, rhythm, dynamics, and many many other things that come into play. Besides, you didn't even write that melody yourself. Tell me again, why should I listen to more of your music?

As much as I love helping people with their music, there are limits to what can be achieved with tips and advice on a forum. You really need to work on your general music skills, and I for one am not willing to baybsit you through that.

I hate to say this, but you are wasting my time. Sorry dude

[West]

...and as a side note, I'd like to add that I know perfectly well how hard it is to make computer-based arrangements that sound pretty and realistic. It might very well be that you are a very capable musician on your main instrument, whatever that is, but as long as you can't transfer that feel and sound to your sequenced music, you really don't have the skill that we're looking for. It's as simple as that. So feel free to tell me that I'm being unfair in my assessment, I just want you to be aware of my reasons for saying this.

[Kobold]

work in progress, one more time...

Mountain Melody

sounds good enough to me... but I got used to it...
still, it's clearly not a battle song.
percussions are missing at somme points.

would love yo give it a "braveheart" feel somewhere...