November Composition Challenge - GET RECORDING!

[Annoying Twit]

Nice to hear the tracks so far. I'm not yet up to scratch in submitting for these contests. I made a little something with a looper inspired by the photo, but main in self-critical mode. I'm tempted to build a track entirely with MIDI as I know I can do that and the timing will be perfect . However, I want to keep working on entire compositions until I can get all my timing right. This time, the major flaw seems to be my rhythm guitar for the perhaps slightly angular rhythm the picture inspired, particularly failing to mute strings I should be. The lead is a bit better, but still contains inprovisation misses between the major 'theme' of the piece. When I saw the guy's arms, I immediately got a rhythm in my head. Listening to lurksalot's piece, I wonder if the same thing happened to him

I hope posting this navel gazing in the composition challenge thread isn't too distracting to the rest of you. Progress is being made and I really hope that by some time in 2015 I'm contributing.

[PlungerModerno]

Well it's strictly VST and MIDI stuff - But I'm throwing a musical hat in the ring anyway. Worst case scenario I make everyone else look better!

Here she is: [url="https://soundcloud.com/plungermoderno/let-it-rip-v3-take-two"]https://soundcloud.com/plungermoderno/let-it-rip-v3-take-two[/url]

It's called "Let It Rip" (Or "Let It RIP" if you prefer). Not certain how to change the title in soundcloud...

Well . . . Have at it!

[Skol303]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1416386789' post='2609559']
Progress is being made and I really hope that by some time in 2015 I'm contributing.
[/quote]

Nice one! That's really good to hear.

But I'll say this... don't worry about creating perfectly polished compositions. Just get stuck in, as that's the quickest way to learn and improve. Most of us here started out by submitting fairly 'ropey' efforts when this challenge first started (2 years ago! How time flies...). My own playing has improved quite a lot since then and these challenges have certainly contributed to that. So yeah, just go for it

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1416473432' post='2610482']
Well it's strictly VST and MIDI stuff - But I'm throwing a musical hat in the ring anyway. Worst case scenario I make everyone else look better!
[/quote]

Welcome aboard!

I haven't listened to it yet (at work and should be, well, working... ) but I'll check it out in due course.

PS: nothing wrong with using MIDI! It's not about [i]how[/i] you compose, but [i]what[/i] you compose in these challenges. MIDI opens up scope for us all to have entire orchestras at our fingertips if we want them... and I wouldn't have space (nor sandwich facilities) to cater for that kind of crowd in my front room at home. Besides, if Beethoven were alive today, he'd by writing scores in Sibelius and testing them out as MIDI just like many modern composers do

Edited November 20, 2014 by Skol303

[Dad3353]

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1416473432' post='2610482']...
Well . . . Have at it!
[/quote]

Damned..! Yet another strong competitor throwing his fine hat into the ring..! How are Bilbo and I supposed to get a chance of collecting votes if all these excellent compos keep popping up..? This Challenge is becoming a victim of its success.
Well 'plunged', sir, and welcome (... [i]but I'll bet there's more votes there than both Bilbo and me combined..![/i] [size=4] )[/size]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1416474100' post='2610491']...Besides, if Beethoven were alive today, he'd by writing scores in Sibelius and testing them out as MIDI just like many modern composers do
[/quote]

Hmmm... I'm not sure that Haydn and Greig would have been hunched over their keyboards, 'glitching' away to the 'Big Beat'. Maybe; who knows..? [size=4] [/size]

[lurksalot]

Ok , so this is my second bite at the cherry with this , same song re-mixed a bit , new vocal (still me though ) , re- recorded the bass part and mic'd a cab in as well this time, added a freesound file in and now it will do my head in if I spend any more time on it so It is up now
It is a touch bottom heavy but is reasonably tight for me anyway as it is supposed to be a dance song I think it should be

hope you enjoy
[url="https://soundcloud.com/lurksalot/dance-hall-shoop-1"]https://soundcloud.c...ce-hall-shoop-1[/url]

Edited November 20, 2014 by lurksalot

[Dad3353]

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1416505319' post='2610996']
Ok , so this is my second bite at the cherry...
[/quote]

Ah..! That's much better..! I've had a go with the old cotton buds, and can sometimes discern vague fragments of the lyrics..! True poetry, the likes of which have been long absent in these realms. Thackeray, Shelley, even the great Lord B. himself would not be red-faced in presenting lines of this quality. With the quirky backbeat rhythm setting my headset on fire, I thought the bass line really didn't need to be any higher. With that, I'll retire, in eager anticipation of the [i]vox populi[/i] soon to be invoked.
Nice one, lurks. It's going to be tough again, this month. Now go along to Matron and take another pill; we'll do a jigsaw puzzle later. We like jigsaws, don't we. Come along, now, there's a good chap...

[lurksalot]

you flatter me young sir , the lyric is a mere regurgitation of our celebrated family rhyming dictionary , handed down thru generations , many ,many thanks , now I must be off to Jigsawchat , it is a tad quieter over their , but one can have some fun on the missing piece thread especially with some thick card and some felt pens .

[Dad3353]

Tell me about it..! I've one, just in front of me right now; a Christmas present from last year but one. It's a clock. Yes, a real, working clock, made from 1000 pieces. There's a much longer story to it; too long for here, but already related [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/193160-secret-santa-2012/page__view__findpost__p__1903811"]here...[/url] Here's a pic...

[attachment=176822:Puzz_Cloc.jpg]

Edited November 20, 2014 by Dad3353

[lurksalot]

Marvelous , so when your vote count comes out on top you have a marvelous and inspirational picture for the (correct ..) seasonal challenge

[Dad3353]

Would that the Powers That Be hear your prayer. [size=4] [/size]

[lurksalot]

AAAh my heart bleeds , it wasn't a prayer either ,

[the boy]

Been out of the loop for a few months now. I'm really gonna try this time to get something in. I never have any spare minutes these days. I have a few hours tomorrow. Hopefully I will get something done.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1416525033' post='2611271']
Been out of the loop for a few months now. I'm really gonna try this time to get something in. I never have any spare minutes these days. I have a few hours tomorrow. Hopefully I will get something done.
[/quote]

A few hours spare..? I'd get nearly a dozen done in that time..! [size=4] [/size]

([i]OK, none would be any good, I'll grant you, but still... A few hours..![/i] [size=4] [/size][size=4] )[/size]

[lurksalot]

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1416525033' post='2611271']
Been out of the loop for a few months now. I'm really gonna try this time to get something in. I never have any spare minutes these days. I have a few hours tomorrow. Hopefully I will get something done.
[/quote]

sing boy sing




ed to add

if you want to re-vocal mine and send me the wav , I will give you the credit and let you have some input for the photo for next month

Edited November 21, 2014 by lurksalot

[the boy]

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1416528006' post='2611297']


sing boy sing




ed to add

if you want to re-vocal mine and send me the wav , I will give you the credit and let you have some input for the photo for next month
[/quote]
The last thing you need to do is pair up with me. I'm a right Diva. 👑💅

[the boy]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1416525311' post='2611278']


A few hours spare..? I'd get nearly a dozen done in that time..! [size=4] [/size]

([i]OK, none would be any good, I'll grant you, but still... A few hours..![/i] [size=4] [/size][size=4] )[/size]
[/quote]
About 70% would probably be of questionable standard but the remaining 30% would be pure gold. I've been keeping pie charts on all of ye. lol.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1416573572' post='2611583']
About 70% would probably be of questionable standard but the remaining 30% would be pure gold. I've been keeping pie charts on all of ye. lol.
[/quote]

I tried that, too. Didn't turn out too well... [size=4] [/size]

[size=4][attachment=176857:Pie_Char.jpg][/size]

[size=4](... and 30%..? Good gracious..! Slightly glittery, OK, but [i]pure [/i]gold..? Nah..! ) [/size]

[Bilbo]

I spent an hour and a half on this yesterday and came up with absolutely nothing so practiced my reading instead.

[Skol303]

Done!

I started out with a sort of 'ragtime remix' for this month, but it sounded frankly dreadful. Imagine a modern, dance version of 'The Entertainer'. Yes, quite So I abandoned it in favour of something D.I.S.C.O. (admittedly influenced by the Studio 54 reference).

I'm not hugely familiar with disco, despite my love of dance music, so I had a lot of fun listening to numerous old classics - and some new material (e.g. Daft Punk) - to get myself in the zone. I then ripped off the elements that I liked best and ended up with this:

[url="http://soundcloud.com/skollob/saturday-night-diva"]http://soundcloud.co...rday-night-diva[/url]

Managed to rope Mrs Skol & Junior (3 years old) in for some backing vocals too. That'll learn 'em to wander into the spare room when I have the mic out

The bass is my Warwick fiver, DI'd straight into Reason with minimal faffing around - just some compression and basic EQ'ing. Sounds alright!

Comments very welcome, as always.

[color=#800000][size=5][b]Don't forget: the deadline for entries is today at midnight.[/b][/size][/color]

Well, actually you have [i]all[/i] night if you wish as I won't be posting up the voting thread until the morning...

Edited November 23, 2014 by Skol303

[lurksalot]

well , I having listened to all the others so ,its just incredible stuff , I think my picture folder is in no danger of being disturbed for next months photo !!

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1416763364' post='2613316']...
Comments very welcome, as always.

[color=#800000][size=5][b]Don't forget: the deadline for entries is today at midnight....[/b][/size][/color]
[/quote]

Excellent work, Skol,as usual. I'm certainly no specialist of the genre, but it sounds entirely convincing to me, with an excellent production to give even more credence. It's going to be a tough one again, this month. Suspense..! [size=4] [/size]

[Zenitram]

https://soundcloud.com/gingerosity/espiatriste

[Skol303]

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1416779475' post='2613578']
[url="https://soundcloud.com/gingerosity/espiatriste"]https://soundcloud.c...ity/espiatriste[/url]
[/quote]

I like it!

[i]“Sad Spy”[/i]…? Can I just quickly check that this is something you’ve composed for the Challenge, or a track you’re putting out there for general listening pleasure?

I’m going to enter it for you anyway But let me know if it’s not intended for the Challenge itself.

[Skol303]

[color=#800000][b][size=5]The voting thread is up![/size][/b][/color]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/250039-november-composition-challenge-voting/"][b][size=5]GO LISTEN[/size][/b][/url]

Well done everyone

[Zenitram]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1416833724' post='2613986']
Can I just quickly check that this is something you’ve composed for the Challenge, or a track you’re putting out there for general listening pleasure?[/quote]

Yes, as odd as it might seem, I really did come up with that based on the photo. Although it was more the title of it, the bit about the last days of something... I was imagining a thing (disco itself, why not), or a life, a relationship, coming to a drawn-out end of what had been a glorious time, and there was sadness and beauty in that, as well as a bit of determination not to die just yet, to keep fighting.

So, er, not very disco at all, or very dancingey, but that's where I ended up. All in about five or six notes.



Oh and the title just came from something about the feel and mood of the first few notes of piano and Rhodes that I put together at the very beginning, and when I went to save the project I had to give it a name. I have a silly policy where I save projects with either the very first thought or phrase to come to my head, or the first words I see when looking around me. With a certain degree of licence, but hey, at least it's a system, right? And those three or four notes going round and round felt like the sort of music a very introspective, romantic, unlucky-in-love spy might have playing in her head.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Zenitram