samulis's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sadness Is Gone]

I love the chords you use in this, very emotional. It has a post-romantic feel to it, like something I would see a 1920s film or such. Excellent use of harmony to create a strong emotional pull. :D

Keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Samulis

JosephAS1 responds:

Thanks dude! :)

[Dreams of Splendor]

Where's the Bosa-style key change? :P

Bosa responds:

Not this time. I'm getting lazy lol

[~SW~ Astral Nation]

Shivers down my spine... just magnificent. So much attention to every fine detail! Excellent story telling over a vast arc of styles and genres. This piece is simply incredible... It lacks nothing. Every single noise in this has a purpose and a reason, and there is nothing left to standards or cliches.

You need to spend less time being so awesome! I am getting jealous with my inferior works! :D

Keep compos(ed/ing)!*
-Samulis

* No really, after this, you had better keep at it or I will break your fingers or something... your past pieces have been 'wow', but this really took it to a new level.

SkyeWint responds:

Hey, Samulis! Glad you reviewed this! I'm glad you like it - as I said, it took a ridiculously long time to make. I'm glad you noticed that every instrument serves a specific purpose in telling the story. :^) (hooray for new smileys) You know I also really really hate making pieces sound cliche - funnily enough though, this takes a lot from a variety of songs, such as Step's Ecosystem, a percussion pack from Buoy, that song I showed you with a similar bagpipe riff from Grandia, music by Two Steps From Hell, the song Artificial Intelligence by PeterSatera... Yeah. I'm not actually as original as people like to think. ^_^`

Your works are FAR from inferior, man. You've made some amazing stuff!

I am definitely going to keep at this - don't worry, I have two other songs in the works (though one is backed up ad infinitum because the person I'm working with hasn't been active in over two months... :<). I do have a couple other ideas for new pieces as well, hopefully they'll be as enjoyable with this one!

[Edge of Time]

An example of what happens when you give something your every ounce of will. If anyone has worked by the guidelines of this contest fully taken to heart, you have. :D

stunkel responds:

Thanks man :) That really means a lot to me. If anyone has worked by the guidelines of an amazing review and take it to heart, you have as well :P Thanks for reviewing and giving feedback man!

[The Heartfelt Quiet]

Welcome back! Gorgeous stuff here, has a great cinematic feel.

[Terre des Hommes Libres]

New mic sounds much better! Good work on this. :)

Troisnyx responds:

Thanks ^_^ I am truly grateful for the new mic, it's a Godsend.

[Arabic Ectasy]

Really good work on this... I love it! It almost makes me think of the Age of Empires II soundtrack or Age of Empires Online soundtrack.

Perhaps a bit more reverb on those marc. strings and see if you can mix them in a bit better, they sound very up front. Consider some gentle gong hits here and there, it has a nice effect. If you have any samples of a real low male vox (ooh) consider putting it in here and there as well.

Keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Samulis

Emid responds:

Wow...AOE...yeah grew up with it :)
Exactly....and you are right. I wanted to use gong and I was also thinking of using low choirs as well but I was a little uncomfortable in terms of mastering them (am very bad at it) because of the muddiness and losing essence. Am planning to do another piece and will surly follow your suggestions.
Bundles of thanks, my pleasure if you enjoyed it :)

[Quest for the Crown]

Sounds great as always!

I would love to see more cymbal/bass drum rolls here and there to smooth out transitions. Also, a cleaner ending, such as a final long chord in the cellos or such then harp slowly going up the scale 1 b3 5 1 5 1 (all ascending), would be nice... or just the bray harp/whatever repeating the final note twice on the 1 beat then 2x 8vb, getting quieter each time. Just some ideas. Sounds great though!

Bosa responds:

I will keep this in mind. Thanks for taking time to review

[A Newgrounds Legacy]

1:30 onwards... THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!

There's very little I can comment in regards to "wrong" with the piece. The one thing that gets me is the ending... I think it could be better... perhaps a Sus-4 to Maj resolution in strings and either a sfortsando or a fade out on the last note, as well as a rallitando throughout the last few measures of the piece and elaboration upon that gorgeous yet incomplete-feeling trumpet motif at the end, but in more of a mezzo-piano dynamic with gentle motion below as it closes out, then the strings fade.

Also, consider making your timpani part more involved and adding a snare part.

I would love to see you analysis of the symbolism of the piece! I think it sums up the ideas well and I love that you used some previous motifs in a new and creative way to achieve that feel.

As always, keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Samulis

Bosa responds:

I will continue to try new things and different techniques with the brass and string instruments. I just need to focus on detail more.

Thank you for setting time aside to listen and review my inadequate piece.

[Adventur (wip)]

Good start here! My favorite part so far is 1:21 when the staccato strings come in. After that it gets more of a trance feel with the excessive bass drum.

Most Orchestral music is less about repetition and buildup and more about motion and taking a journey. Too much repetition leads to boredom (unlike other genres, where it is appreciated). Finding the right balance between REPETITION, VARIATION (modifying a consistent melody), and CONTRAST (new melodies) has been the goal of orchestral composers for centuries!

You start off your piece with what is called a Motif, a pattern that is used throughout the piece. It's a nice one and you build on it to create more. However, it doesn't go anywhere, but kinda plateaus off in this mix of ideas and repetitive figures covered with a viola/cello solo around 2:00.

You should consider playing around with creating what is called a ABA form... take what you start with, then add a completely different passage with new chords and new melody, even a new focus instrument! After that, you go back to your initial idea. This is the first step in working towards musical form, one of the things that most orchestral music uses.

Regarding your melodies... you need to try to work on creating melodies that are more than just arpeggios or rhythmic ideas. I like the low strings in the beginning (like 15-40), but the piano part that comes in later needs improvement. It feels like random notes around the scale... give it a sense of direction by using different durations and adding more to it like making chords or harmonies on piano (remember, pianists have two hands!).

This piece feels like videogame music with all the repetition it uses. You should consider listening to more orchestral music like that of modern cinematic composers (John Williams, etc.) and classical greats (Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, etc.) and hear the sorts of things they write as melodies! Notice how they use repetition only at certain times.

There are a lot of tricks to writing good orchestral, but the best trick is to keep practicing and trying for a long time. I've been at it for three years and I'm just getting to the point where I feel confident in my work!

Keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Samulis