samulis's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Vengeance 2]

Great

I have to say, I love the climax around 3:40. The instrument hits are great and distinguish the piece from the last one greatly. Perhaps using alternating or changing chords for the singers in the background would add a new effect. I also enjoy the strings, as usual, and how their melody returns later in the song.

Great job, just try to keep on playing with what you have. Think about a theme that you want to bring forward. Right now there are several themes that are underlying, but no 'master theme' (unless I am missing it...).

lanky21 responds:

Thanks for the feedback Samulis. I appreciate it!

[Judging philosophy by Abuse]

Beautiful

What I often see in the Classical section is calming piano such as this- but you took it one step further. By adding in other instruments such as deep strings, you brought your song into a whole new playing-field. Although sometimes the scales of deep notes didn't quite fit rhythmically with the piano part, it still sounds excellent.

With the piano off in the left speaker, it is difficult to call it the focus, but it is simply because it holds the melody. As for errors in notes, there were none I could find, and the song was absolutely beautiful in nature as well as in its chords. The looping was almost flawless, which adds a large amount to the song's worth.

Keep composing!
-Samulis

PhilVille responds:

I really appreciate what you've said here ^__^ This helps alot trust me, I think I will finnish it. Thank you very much I won't let you down.

[Anesthesia (Sonic Numbing)]

Excellent

Like most other great classical songs, the strings play more than a crucial role in the music. The choice of a quartet shows both mastery of the chords and the rhythm, for one off note shows through the song far more disastrously than in a full orchestra- and even more, it would be quite obvious where it came from.

That's why it is a good thing that there are absolutely no bad chords in the piece.

Of the origin, it clearly has roots in a relatively open genre called Soundtrack, which is dominated by what is often called Modern Classical, or Contemporary Classical- a genre that uses traditional influences but adds in modern elements, such as jazz scales and foreign and tribal influences- such as using an Indian Raga or a Middle English folk tune to create a piece of music. The song reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean, and the marcato notes (not the pizzicato) take influence from perhaps the mid-Romantic style, which is essentially the classical style between Beethoven and Brahms.

The exciting rhythm draws in the listener, and the lack of repeated sections (thanks to the addition of new parts), brings in a new aspect. However, the lack of a complete climax (due to the quartet's status as... well... a quartet) might be found unappealing to the more action-loving listener. Also, the lack of a traditional ending in favor of a more sudden ending is sort of lacking to me, although there is nothing wrong with it. Also, the last chord leaves the listener on a sort of... 'where's the next note' feel. Perhaps changing or adding an additional chord would give a more traditional ending, but like I said before, it's fine as it is.

The pizzicato at the end draws out a new conceptual theme that clearly lurks behind the quick and light-action feel of the marcato strings. By varying the accented parts and rhythms before finally combining them sort of gives the greatest climactic feeling that a quartet can muster beyond a solid chord with a fade-out.

If you were to improve upon this, it would only be to turn it into a full orchestration and by lengthening it (thorough the repetition of the old theme and the yielding to a new theme upheld by perhaps woodwinds or brass) to perhaps four minutes. Already, you have an excellent piece that is worthy of my 10 because of its simple appearance but complex inner structure. I can't wait to hear the rest of the Discovery Suite!

WizMystery responds:

That was a nice run through there :P

I was going for a movie feel so soundtrack does fit. We'll be learning more about musical eras in IB Music next year so that'll be something I can use very often to expand.

I do see a system that can take place here. Turning smaller pieces like this into large symphonies is something that could go very well, and something I could really use for a live performance (in my orchestra we played a piece written by our first chair violinist, meaning I have a chance of getting the same opportunity).

[The Journey Begins !]

Great!

Reminds me (strangely) of Night at the Museum. I have a few bits of harder critique for you, so hold onto your hat.

The original wood block/drum rim hits that keep the note remind one greatly of a clock- is that the intent? I find it sort of detracting to the melody when the melody comes in.

A cool effect you should experiment with is having the horn to the left (I think you have it slightly so already) so that you get more of a 'claxon-call' effect (letting the melody thus echo this effect). Also, get the harp in the start in the left and over its scale up and down, quickly move to the right, to give a 'flight' feeling. More along the line, make the chimes (whatever kind you are using...) go up one scale in the left and the other in the right, so they appear to echo.

Another thing that may be cool is making the drum roll more legato. You could do this by reducing the 'attack' of the snare during that part (if possible). That would give more of a rolling effect than the rat-a-tat-tat you get with a normal snare.

Also, sometimes, the low brass/trombones (or upright bass/low strings) overpower the other instruments, and sometimes they are too weak. Aim for mixing the instruments over presenting hard bass- and counter-lines. If you are not already, get the upright/double bass to back up the low brass in a simplified version of their music, not just uphold the chord... or get the cellos to do so.

Because the instruments aren't balanced so well, at points like 0:48 compared to 0:50 (and 0:54 compared to 0:56) are different in make up... though that may be intentional, I find it hard for my musical OCD to grasp. XD

Also, I think the addition of something in the 0:19-0:26 (before the chimes give the lead in to the forte) area would be helpful, even if it is just like a harp scale with a chime roll in it... or a change in chord with the low brass/strings.

The low brass/strings 1:03 need either to be a bit quieter (an extremely small amount quieter) or should be followed by a louder come-up. Same with :49 and :59. That repetition of dynamics gets boring after hearing the song about 10 times... which is what happens in the game.

The middle brass (trumpets/trombones) at 0:55 compared to 0:57 (and 0:48 compared to 0:50) are unbalanced also, leaving a hole in your melody and only giving the strings to hold it up.

All over all, it's a great song with great promise. Here are a few last things:

-If you can do it, adding a bass or tenor section would perhaps help. They would echo the low brass/strings at somewhere around in the 0:20s.
-A reed instrument like English Horn or oboe would be nice too, but it might overwhelm. I think it would allow a new theme to be echoed in the performance, or take on an echo theme to the rather tiring melody of flutes (it gets repetitive after 10 repeats or so...)
-Moving the instruments to their respective places on a stage would give a more harmonic sound and make your recording sound more realistic.
-A tiny bit more decay or wetness on the percussion would perhaps help.
-What kiiryu hit upon was the cymbal crash. I think an additional snare beat right before it would make it a bit smoother. There is a barely noticeable gap in between of the forte melody and the quieter prelude bit.

Well, I hope my suggestions helped a bit. I listened to the song about 30 times, so I think I hit everything I could possibly find wrong... which of course is a very small list. I think you did an excellent job on this and I hope to see more songs on NG like this.

Maverlyn responds:

thanks for your input. but i think im leaving NG. i might come back to ng if they make t so you have to comment to vote. till then, take care.

[Kelwynshade - A Silk Dagger =-]

Beutifully done!

I would never have thought something like a sitar/harp/dulcimer or whatever you used for that main theme could pull a whole song together. I usually rely on slower instruments like bassoon and French Horn to pull my music along, thus giving it a slower feel. However, by using a light string instrument, you gave the song a fabulous tone. With the addition of the strings, the song almost got a noble/ethereal feel to it, and the samples (East/West) were fabulous (as usual :)).

Although at first I didn't exactly like the drums, I grew to like them because they ended up backing up the theme. The one mistake I see all the time in Classical submissions that I regard as the biggest No-No is having drums that don't even fit (like modern rock drum-sets being used... which you did not do). Although the drums seemed a bit light at first, I soon realized that the lightness and wood-percussion backing was required to keep the theme going, instead of the heavy bass drum and snare I go for in my work, which gives the piece more of a slow cadence.

Also, the singing brought the piece into a new realm, and when backed by the plucking of the string instrument you chose (still can't figure it out) gave the song a mixed feel between Egyptian and Greek cultures- easily setting it in the Middle East, which was both a breeding ground and a mixing pot of cultures.

The only concern I have is the abrupt end. If you are planning to use the song as a loop (which, to be frank, sounds good as one already), then there is no reason to bring that up. However, as a full song, the abrupt ending is like ending a book with no resolution to the plot. If the king was killed at that end moment, it would be a climax, not an abrupt end (or, at least, in my opinion it would be). Of course, you might not be done either, so my apologies if you still have plans.

All in all, a fabulous piece worthy of a 10/10.

kelwynshade responds:

Well, that was quite the review. I highly appreciate all of your comments. Ive been playing with an ending as well as dropping the vocal volume slightly as it is just a bit too much. While i am fairly happy with the piece, i can definitely see that i need to equalize the track better. Regardless, im very pleased you enjoyed the track. Thanks again for a wonderful review.

[Glass Passage]

Great Samples!

The samples make the song, just as the notes do. You made a great piece of music, mate. :)

IBase1 responds:

I used no samples... i own finale 2009 and virtual drumline. everything is writen by hand. Im sending this quartet to a publisher soon to have the sheet music sold.

[One Last Sunset]

Great job!

Reminds me of a mix between Avatar soundtrack and that of Narnia... both superb.

What you did was great... you utilized the power of bells and chimes to accent out the sounds of voices and cellos... and that ever so popular piano just tapping out melody after melody is great... The high strings just make the whole thing better. :)

I can hardly find a flaw with anything... it belongs in a high-budget film, my friend. I don't think even the greatest flash animation could hold this.

[Toccata]

Gifted...

There are few people who can write good classical music... be it Romance or Modern, it is like a language that few have power over. You are one of those few. Many who would try to write similar would produce music that is not comparable to the work of a Maestro... I'll say this flat and with much support... you ARE a Maestro. The work put into the music is simply the most and finest. Even if this song had poor quality instraments, it would still be beautiful... that is because of your workmanship.

The one thing I love is the repetition of the theme and the dramatic spacing of the 'hits'.

Keep the compositions flowing!