Monday, July 27, 2015

Mallet Folk Loop

A generic renaissance/medieval folk loop from an old world country that doesn't exist. It uses a marimba/kalimba, celtic hammered dulcimer, cello, hand drum, and cymbals. It's lilting, merry, and has a contrasting B section in a minor key. All this in a short file that loops perfectly at 36 seconds, with a cymbal swell to masque the transition.



Sunday, July 26, 2015

Medieval Nocturn

A simple medieval/renaissance lute melody written as a nocturn. Great background music for that moonlight walk around the parapets with your lord of lady.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

How It's Done

A little background music for corporate demonstration videos. An indeterminate genre, but a spunky and cheerful little tune.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Last Week's Scorecard

Songs that made the cut were "There is a Fountain" and "Comic Tedium." "Spaghetti Western" and "Hybrid Funk" were both cut. The summer scorecard now stands at 7/10.

The frustrating thing is that I worked on "Hybrid Funk" for hours, but tossed together "Comic Tedium" in about 30 minutes. Just goes to show that you never know what they are going to think is "marketable." I worked for hours on the Middle Eastern song, too. I guess that only time will tell which ones people think are worth buying. Who knows what next year's top 3 will be.

Friday, July 17, 2015

To review....

This week's submissions include:

  • There is a Fountain
  • Hybrid Funk
  • Comic Tedium
  • Modern Spaghetti Western

The last two weren't submitted until Friday, so it will be awhile before they work their way through the queue.


Modern Spaghetti Western

This one sounds like an old western without the ultra-cheesy elements that usually go with old western soundtracks. These include the "vibraslap rattlesnake" sound and men grunting nonsense syllables. The background rhythms are a little more modern too. I figure the electric hollow body guitar and minor key are enough.



Not one of my favorites, but it was something off the beaten path. If I always do the same styles and genres, I feel like I'm getting stuck in a rut.

Comic Tedium

A one minute soundtrack as a little background music for a comic montage of someone doing silly things to avoid boredom to pass the time. Sparse instruments and a latin beat. Includes a fadeout at the end.

This one came to me in the world's most boring dream. I don't even remember what the dream was about, but I remembered the music. I rolled out of bed early and recorded it before I hit the shower so I wouldn't forget it.



Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Hybrid Funk

I always liked the attitude of funk. This is a recording of my own little funky tune, except I spiced it up with more modern instruments and effects chains. I know they did just fine with Hammond organs, but I just wanted to hear what it would sound like with a wave-table synth and mile-long effects chains. There's still plenty of analog fatness in there, too. I'd like to think it's the best of both worlds.



There is a Fountain

This is an old hymn whose tune I always loved, but no one ever sings anymore. I suppose it's not surprising - the first line is "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanual's veins." Catchy tune, but the lyrics are a little....creepy."

I always loved the tune, though, and it's in the public domain. Why not? It's short and sweet - just 1 minute of appalacian acoustic folk.



Second Submissions Scorecard

Last week I submitted "Middle East," "Folk Tune," and "Happy Uke Tune." The good news is that all 3 were accepted, bringing the summer total up to 5/6.

I have two in the cue for the current week now, and probably about a dozen in different stages of development. Guess I better post some updates.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Happy Uke Tune

One minute and two seconds with the tail, this is a cheerful little ukulele tune for motivating people in corporations. Doesn't it just make you want to smile and earn money?




Thursday, July 9, 2015

First Submissions Scorecard

My first submissions where "In Motion" (I listed it here as EDM Jam and submitted it anyway), "Sarasponda", and "Short Theme". They took "In Motion" and "Sarasponda", but rejected "Short Theme". The summer is off to a very slow start, and the score is 2/3.

Week 2 was also slow. I spent it driving to Pgh. and Buffalo to check out pianos. We didn't fall in love with one, so I just spent three days under the hood of the one I have replacing all of the dampers. While I'm waiting for more parts to arrive in the mail, I'll see how much catching up I can do. I would like to get the online portfolio up to 200 recording by the end of the summer - right now I have 180. With summer almost half over, I better get moving.

Folk Tune

Don't bother to ask what country it's a folk tune from - I pretty much just made up the tune from scratch. It's just one of those indeterminate "old country" sort of songs you hear when someone on a travel show is romping around some European province on a Vespa. That's what I was going for anyway.

Middle Eastern Thing

Since "Oriental Journey" was one of my best seller's last year, I thought I'd try another culture or two. So here's something Middle Eastern sounding…



It uses some of the traditional instruments, but the tune is my own invention. I was too lazy to bother figuring out which specific scales they favor, so I just went with what sounded right to me. We'll see if the AJ staff thinks it's viable or not.