St. Paul's Theme

[jmd2479]

Hey Folks:

Paul's Them is a short piece I composed for a DVD for a friend. I was going for a Hollywood type of sound. Please let me know to what extent you think this was achieved and what I can do to sound more "Hollywood"-ish.

Also, any ideas on how to get sustained strings and trumpets to sound less "electronic" would be GREATLY appreciated! And any other comments of course.

I composed the notes in Finale, Sequenced and Mixed in Sonar using East West Silver and Edirol libraries.

You can find Paul's Theme on my page at the composer's forum. Scroll down to the media player and click on Paul's Theme.

http://composersforum.ning.com/profile/jmd2479

Many thanks!

Jon

[pasimpilot]

HI Jon!
Boy I wish I could hear this arrangment in Platinum or the newer Symphonic Orchestra PLAY series. That will take care of your electronic synth sound. Music sounds to have that hollywood-ish style, but remember, compose for the intent of the music and its meaning not hollywood praise. The score reminded me of the Superman Theme.
You are one of my composer friends at composers forum
Happy New Year my friend!
Stephen

[paulwr]

You are certainly ready and in need of Platinum or Gold. The track is completely flat with no sense of space at all. Here is a link Alan Leung introduced here to a great place for impulse response samples to emulate the Lexicon 300. Listen to their demos, and especially what it did for the flat orchestra track there. HUGE difference. http://www.acousticas.net/ This will only be of value if you have Kontakt2 or 3, or one of their listed convolution engines that their stuff works with. Poke around that website, the have some great stuff. But it isn't a software plugin, it is the impulse response' that will work in a supported convolution engine.

Ultimimately, get take a step up with your soundware and it will probably force you into hardware upgrades. If this is what you do for a living, you must keep up.

-Paul

[yuwenshuo]

Brilliant! All the instuments are perfectly cooperated.

I've catched a Super-man sense in the first several sentences of your music. It seems that you like Williams' style very much.

I agree with paulwr. The piece will be far more Brilliant if using Platinum Edition.

[jmd2479]

Hey gus, thanks for commenting.

So am I understanding correctly that the "electronic" sound isn't an issue with Gold or Platinum? Or at least much less of an issue? Sounds like I am in major need of an equipment overhaul. That is indeed in the works for later in 2009.

Regarding the flatness of the recording, I went back and added some reverb. That's about all I know how to do with my current level of experience. Thanks for sharing the Lexicon link Paul. Composing is not what I do for a living now. But I would like it to be eventually.

Regarding the composition itself, I've always like the way John Williams frequently has the orchestra accompanying the melody on the off beats in this "march-style" compositions. I used this technic throughout the composition.

Many thanks for your comments!

Jon

[pasimpilot]

Originally Posted by jmd2479

Hey gus, thanks for commenting.

So am I understanding correctly that the "electronic" sound isn't an issue with Gold or Platinum? Or at least much less of an issue?
Jon

Hey Jon!
Yes if you upgrade to Gold or Platinum (Platinum preferred) or the new Plus software, you will hear a big difference.
Stephen

[kapallmeister]

Listened to the Paul theme and then everything else on your page! Very, very fine work I have to say. I'd love the score to the Ave Maria for a closer look if you could part with it!

Classical fury is also very very nice I thought, and a very good rendition for just Silver.

You have a very good grasp of style, nice to hear a composer who's not all about Zimmer and film music.

5 stars. Honestly.

Edit: Listening to the Paul theme again... you ever play Zelda on the N64?

[fongi]

Originally Posted by kapallmeister

You have a very good grasp of style, nice to hear a composer who's not all about Zimmer and film music.

You need to be a good composer to write good film music ! so I´m not sure I understood that comment??

[jmd2479]

Originally Posted by kapallmeister

Listened to the Paul theme and then everything else on your page! Very, very fine work I have to say. I'd love the score to the Ave Maria for a closer look if you could part with it!

Classical fury is also very very nice I thought, and a very good rendition for just Silver.

You have a very good grasp of style, nice to hear a composer who's not all about Zimmer and film music.

5 stars. Honestly.

Edit: Listening to the Paul theme again... you ever play Zelda on the N64?

Thanks for the kind words! Send me a private message and we can chat about swapping scores.

I played Legend of Zelda on the original Nintendo, but not Nintendo 64.

Thanks again!

[Enrique]

Hey Jon,

This definitely has some superman flavor to it Very nicely done, I'll echo Paul and say that it's time to upgrade. Good use of the orchestral colors, the wind staccatos alternating with the strings was a nice touch, while the brass carries most of the melody. Very clear writing, both harmonically and melodically. Thanks for sharing!

Enrique