Mars/revised version

[DavidK]

Still no fiddles in this, too cold to record.

This is revised, hopefully mixed better, some new stuff etc. Comments welcomed.

Mars revised

Music by Holst until I ruined it.

[chrisharris]

That was epic. I can only listen on headphones, but it sounds good.

The ending both startled and annoyed me, LOL... But in fairness, I'm not used to listening to songs that last longer than a commercial break, so you gotta' take that into account.

Hey, here's a question...for the most part, you classical players are basically cover-artists, right? I mean, all an orchestra is, is a big huge coverband. So when it gets late at night, and the crowd is tanked, is it common for somebody to stand up and demand "PLAY FIREBIRD!!!!" ????


































What, no Stravisnky/Skynard fans in here???? Tough crowd.



Nice job, David...I'd like to hear what you do with strings.

[rayc]

David,
the 1st dozen bars are as ominous as anything on the 1st Black Sabbath album. COOOLLLLLLLLL stuff & then the thing develops so well that little glimmers of light even get through.
Can't wait for the strings'n'things.
When are they goping to let you loose with your own orchestra?

[Dogman]

Nice build up. Good drama for the start. It sounds pretty good so far....nice mix of sound.

Can't wait to hear it with some live strings man....

Originally Posted by chrisharris

"PLAY FIREBIRD!!!!" ????

Firebird?


Freebird...?

[DavidK]

Thanks for the comments, gentleman. Hopefully this will work a lil better with the strings, right now it feels too "midi".

[ido1957]

David - This is sounding really good. There are so many great parts. The horns are really cool in this piece. Actually, all the patches you're using sound great. Here's a few of my many favorite parts after a couple listens:
- the "voices" around 0:41 (very subtle)
- horns around 2:25
- "strings" around 3:07 and 6:30
- drums and horns together around 3:35 and 4:20
- 5:00
- the ending - perfect syncopation

This has to be fun to mix.
How are your new monitors working out? This is the newest piece you've mixed on them, and it's translating well on my headphones and PC speakers - (even for an MP3). Did you have to make any adjustments to the way you mix using the new KRK's?

Looking forward to the addition of the strings to this.

[dementedchord]

Originally Posted by DavidK

Music by Holst until I ruined it.

well ruined is a bit harsh but IMO it's not true to holst... but then again i've gotten used to the st louis symphony recordings... and have friends on those discs... seemed real fast to me... and it didnt flow from theme to theme... remeber that this is ol' gutavs premonition of the immenant WWII and a different time... not space cowboys...

[DavidK]

Thanks Gerry

How are your new monitors working out? This is the newest piece you've mixed on them, and it's translating well on my headphones and PC speakers - (even for an MP3). Did you have to make any adjustments to the way you mix using the new KRK's?

They are fine. I wouldnt call them "inspiring", they get the job done. What I am desperate for is another keyboard, I am running out of ideas with the JV-1010. It wont be fancy, maybe a Yamaha S03 or something.

[DavidK]

Thanks for checking it out DC.

Originally Posted by dementedchord

well ruined is a bit harsh but IMO it's not true to holst... but then again i've gotten used to the st louis symphony recordings... and have friends on those discs... seemed real fast to me... and it didnt flow from theme to theme... remeber that this is ol' gutavs premonition of the immenant WWII and a different time... not space cowboys...

Its actually slow. Most recordings are at 160, this is 150. There is an effect coming called colegno where you bounce the wood of the bow on the string. It is MUCH easier at a faster tempo.

My goal on this is to make it more 21st century and not be true to Holst. My target audience (hopefully) is more "Hearts of Space" and less symphony hall. I gave my last CD to some symphony colleagues, and they HATED it Really, some of them really despised it. To me, thats a good sign.

[DavidK]

Originally Posted by dementedchord

but then again i've gotten used to the st louis symphony recordings... and have friends on those discs...

I do too, I subbed with the St Louis Symphony when I was in college. I went to the St Louis Conservatory in U City. The school went bankrupt, it wasnt around very long.

[dementedchord]

my mentor was the principal trombone for over 20 yrs...

[gummblefish]

This is really good. A nice modern take on Holst. Mars is probably my Favourite of the Planet Suite. This is a great version, cinematic as hell. A bit vangelis. What synths are you using? Cant wait to hear the live Violins! Excellent!!

[jpw23]

Very nice David....can't wait to hear it with strings.

[DavidK]

Thanks for checking it out, Jay and Gummblefish.

What synths are you using?

Just a Roland JV1010. Nice unit, cost $350 in 2000 I have got my money back, its not real fancy but it has a lot of patches. I am the King of layering patches, each voice I use is usually made up of 3 patches layered.

[Sirnothingness]

Dude, good job dude.

[ido1957]

David - forgot to add that the playing in this piece is excellent. I got a bit caught up in the amazing sounds . Layering as you describe makes the accuracy of your playing all the more impressive. I googled a few sites about that S03 - it looks pretty cool. The Yamaha and Roland together would give you several hundred patches to play with.

[XLR]

Well done. Right off the bat I like the change in timbre of the 5/4 percussion figure at around bar 8. The pipe organ and chorus aroudn :40 sound very expressive.

Since the piece was written during World War I, it sure reminds me of that... trench warfare, the invention of the machine gun, air warfare, crude tanks, all mixed with old fashioned naive enthusiasm for war by those who rushed to enlist.

[notCardio]

It's been so long since I listened to Holst that I didn't realize that Keith Emerson 'borrowed' parts for Karn Evil 9.

About the only criticism I can think of is that at about 1:00 or so, the strings come in, but with a smidge too much attack, like they start out of nowhere without the ever so miniscule ramping up inherent in the bow.

It's guys like you that make me realize I might as well be playing a kazoo.

[chrisharris]

Originally Posted by chrisharris

"PLAY FIREBIRD!!!!" ????

What, no Stravisnky/Skynard fans in here???? Tough crowd.

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

Firebird?


Freebird...?

No, Firebird...by Stravinsky. Thus, the reference to Stravinsky. I knew it was a tough room.

[DavidK]

Thanks guys for checking this monsta out.

About the only criticism I can think of is that at about 1:00 or so, the strings come in, but with a smidge too much attack, like they start out of nowhere without the ever so miniscule ramping up inherent in the bow.

All of the fake strings are going to be replaced with real ones. I havent done it because:

A. Its too cold to turn off the heat

B. I'm lazy