As most of you know, Tyrants of the Moonsea was originally slated as a Premium Module release. I am very glad Alazander decided to release the module and I'm happy the music I did was released along with it for the community to enjoy (hopefully). Alazander had a nice list of the additional music he wanted for the module, including detailed descriptions of the areas, and how he wanted the music to affect the player in said areas.
With the Voolnar piece Alazander was looking for something lonely and brooding starting off, then gradually building to be more epic in scale. It was nice to get the opportunity to record a little classical guitar for this piece.
Moonsea Depths is much less thematic, and meant to be a more ambient piece, not stating its presence so much as just "being there" to add to flavor.
Arena is a combat piece. I went all out on this piece trying to make it as "huge" as possible. An attempt to capture the frenzy of battle as an entertainment spectacle to delight of the masses cheering for the demise of one, or both of the combatants.
I'm going to be updating my website as well shortly with these, and many more pieces. www.david-john.com , so feel free to drop by and check it out!
Posted by Elysius at 2008-05-02 05:51:44 Voted 10.00 on 05/02/08
Top notch work. The arena piece is one of the finest battle music that I've heard here. _________________________ Yay, I have a blog. Faithless: The Making of an NWN2 Module
Posted by Estelindis at 2007-11-21 15:31:30 Voted 10.00 on 11/21/07
Posted by BenWH at 2007-09-15 23:48:58 Voted 9.50 on 09/15/07
David John has the ability to write music that is not only good, but also fits so well into modules. These are great tracks, filled with emotion, but not so dominant as to 'steal the limelight' - as it should be. _________________________ Works of B G P Hughes: Link
Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I don't take it harshly at all :o) I'm glad you took the time you obviously did to take your comment and crit to such a level. One thing you learn soon out of the gate working in any art, be it music, writing or anything is that your rarely going to please everyone completely.
Cheers,
Dave
Posted by Clarkycat at 2006-07-07 03:04:17 Voted 9.25 on 07/07/06
Right, i'll break my little review down for each piece....here goes! (and as always, i'll start on a high note)
Voolnar - I really like this piece. Not just because its so refreshing to here some classical guitar on a piece of music in NWN, but because it works to well to build a level of intrigue, suspense and mystery. Perfect for those kind of areas that might not be outwardly dangerous, but simply unsettling (for example, an unfriendly city perhaps?).
The clarinet however (and i'm guessing you're using a clarinet and not a bass clarinet for the start?) sounds a little too bright IMO. The hi mids are really showing through in the reverb and make it sound a little off. I think it'd work better using a bass clarinet where the resonance is much lower, which would give some nice little reflections to clash with the lower register of the guitar and give a nice contrast to when the (*ear engaged*) male choir, (high cello or viola?(sounds more cello though)) and harp come in. Of course, if you're already using a bass clarinet (which could be so) i'm just not hearing that deep reedy resonance from it, so any way you can pump up the reediness or maybe just EQ it, I think it'd work a lot better.
Other than that, I like it! Reverb is fine, dynamics work nicely too.
Moonsea Depths - Seems fine really. Works well for its obvious intention. Of course I haven't seen the actual module, so I can't really say anything about how its actually used. My only thought would be that it sounds too "light" with only the slightest hint of suspense. I'd always imagine the bottom of a sea to be horribly dark and frightening (and alien!) especially for anyone who lives on land. Again though, i'm not sure how its used, so it may fit its purpose.
The piano sounds fine, although right near the end i'm really unsure. Its a little loud in my opinion, especially with the low chord that comes in. Its the attack mainly that bothers me about it. IMO using a french horn and perhaps a bassoon / clarinet to smoothly lay the notes down, just gently in the background, might sound a little better. If it sounds too light (because obviously, you were looking to bring something a little more striking in that section) maybe add a cello bowed hard with a little vibrato? (again, please ignore if you wish - I love to nitpick!).
All in all though I liked this piece (judging it outside of its application of course).
Arena - Like Snafe this was the worst of the 3 pieces, which is annoying, because it was the first one I dived for.
In its application as a piece of music for a gladiators arena I really don't see it working. I get the impression of combat, but its not erratic, but more "dumbed down". There's a sense of heroism, and one's sides struggle against the other, but not the gruelling fight between combatants as a crowd rage in the background. The pressure is pretty light, and this makes the visualised scene more like something from an "epic" big budget movie, with the honourable general charging into the fray with his troops (note though, that the main thing thats lacking is the sheer horror and bloodshed of war). It could be due to how "bright" the track is. Theres no mention of terror or death.
there are sections where the ostinato in the strings just completely vanishes, and i'm not sure thats a good thing. It takes the whole pressure / intensity off for the section, and whilst its always a good move to have a "quiet" section in a battle piece, taking the pressure off for so long makes you think that combat has ended (though of course, if its not a combat piece, but ambient music for the arena, then it should be alright).
I hope you don't take those comments too harshly (feel free to ignore them!) but its how I felt listening to this piece.
As a standalone piece, ignoring its intention, I still like it, though I really feel that the ostinato should be continued throughout all or at least most sections and probably "thickened" (support it with a cello / bass and perhaps emphasise with some french horn stabs?).
Production wise I can't argue. I'm taking a wild guess and saying EWQLSO Gold? Or even Platinum? (or is it and XP Pro?). I think I can hear QLegato in there (at least, the string phrases dont sound broken). Then i'm guessing you're mastering it (i'm not gonna bother guessing how! hehe).
Sounds good though. I'm assuming you've got some half decent monitors cranked up or some really good headphones, because your panning and work with dynamics is pretty detailed and spot on (not something you can do very well with an "under par" setup!).
Posted by Darklord Snafe at 2006-07-04 12:38:04 Voted 9.50 on 07/04/06
What software and hardware do you use? I am managing to change the soundfonts and do all that sort of stuff without even a soundcard, i just have the typical built in motherboard sound stuff. _________________________ Snafe Composed: What is a game without music? Neverending Nights - A NWN Machinima
Yes, that is indeed a vibraphone your hearing in Moonsea Depths! ;o)
With regards to quality of the tools, I've been right where your at now, and I know how frustrating it can be. I've listened to a couple of your pieces and enjoyed them(I liked "The Grove" the most). Just keep composing, and composing, and composing. When you upgrade your setup it'll be that much more satisfying :o)
Posted by Darklord Snafe at 2006-07-04 09:29:13 Voted 9.50 on 07/04/06
Voolnar was an excellent piece, i especially liked the guitar!
Is that a vibraphone I hear in the moonsea depths? If it is, its the first piece I have heard to have one! it is one of my favorite instruments! Very nice ambient piece, I really enjoyed this one!
Arena... Its my least favorite of the three, but it is still a very good piece. There isnt much contrast in dynamics, but I dont know if a piece with highly contrasting dynamics would be too good in a computer game. I really like the brass parts in it... This kind of reminds me of pirates of the carribean music.
Over all, I thought this music sounded very professional. The quality makes me jealous, I am using freeware stuff I find on the internet to compose, and its not getting me very far.
Thanks, this is wonderful music! _________________________ Snafe Composed: What is a game without music? Neverending Nights - A NWN Machinima
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