<pony><original><orchestral> Alone She Wakes

[Callenby]

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Alone%20 ... X9ObHNGKmQ

Yeah so you remember those two WIPs I posted a while ago? I haven't worked on them since. Here's this instead!

Though the piano is quite prominent, I consider this to be a cello solo. It's supposed to convey the feeling that you get when you cannot sleep, and take up your instrument and just play. As such, it's rather improvisational but has a very basic structure.

It's still rough around the edges (the second half is a lot less polished than the first) since I'm still figuring out exactly what sorts of things should go here, whether or not to add more instruments/ambiance, etc. I'm open to suggestions.

[CitricAcid]

Getting error 403 here...

[Callenby]

Damn, thought I fixed that.

Try this:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/atl2y8pqty1dk ... IP%201.mp3

[CitricAcid]

My first suggestion would be to add some interest to the background. Right now you've got the violins holding that one quiet note through the entire thing. I would put a moving line in the background rather than a static one. Perhaps some celesta arpeggios. It sounds like the piece wants to have a call and response thing between the piano and cello but doesn't always follow through with it. I would say either always follow through with it, or else give the piano its own independent line. The cello sounds good, but I would try to mix it into the foreground more and give it more presence. Sometimes the low end of the piano drowns it out.

I hesitate to tell you to add too much to this, since I can tell you're going for a sparse texture. Nonetheless, I'm sensing an Elgar Cello Concerto vibe here. I would listen to that for ideas on other elements you might want to add.

[Callenby]

Even though it's a violin patch, I intended it to be more of a drone - something upon which to improvise - but I can try changing it up some. I'll also probably add more to the background too. Right now there's a bell patch but it only plays once.

I'm definitely going to add more "response" piano to the second half. That's partly what I meant when I said it was less polished than the first.

I listened to the Elgar Concerto but it's not really the vibe I'm going for, at least not in terms of texture. I don't envision a completely standard orchestra backdrop. I'd like it to be a little more intimate, if that makes sense.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Injustrial]

The only thing I can think of, would be the Cello part at 1:55. Right there, the cello sounds less natural and more programmed than before. I think it could be that it sounds a bit too "perfect" as if all the notes are hit with exactly the same volume and attack. The rest of the piece has more variation in technique, which makes it feel more alive. I don't know how you would go about it, but I think it could be worth looking in to.

The intro is my favorite. It sounds so deliberate, and gently imposing. Almost threatening, but still controlled. There's a lot of tension going there and it sets a very nice stage.

[Callenby]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/liwo578dhv4vf ... IP%202.mp3

New WIP! After hectically working on my project for New Sincerity, I can now return to this.

I added a little bit in the B section, made A` more like A, and tweaked the ambiance some. I also deliberately made A' more of an actual solo, which should support the whole idea behind the title. I'm hoping to be pretty much finished with this. Would you agree?

[DJSadEyez]

There's nothing in the link :(

[Callenby]

There's nothing in the link :(

That's because this project is finished! I've released the final thing here:

shameless self-promotion

[Injustrial]

Seems the changes paid off. I really liked it!

[GhostXb]

Loving it! The cello sounds amazing. It wouldn't happen to be the embertone blackus cello would it? Can't say I have any critique since I think you achieved what you set out to do.

[Callenby]

Seems the changes paid off. I really liked it!

Yeah it seems people really dig this song, so that's pretty cool.

Loving it! The cello sounds amazing. It wouldn't happen to be the embertone blackus cello would it? Can't say I have any critique since I think you achieved what you set out to do.

That's the one! It has probably the most controls and variables of any single instrument I have, so it took some time to learn how to get a good handle on it.