Two Songs in one

[Xeries]

These two songs are Day Trader and Passionate Crime. They are sung at the same time to the same music, but they are different melodies. The whole thing takes place in 2:18. It's from the musical, Feeling of Power

Hope you like the song. It would be better with two female voices instead of my own.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=6364231&q=hi

 

[Automata]

I'm new here. I like the music. I don't like the sound of some of the virtual instruments. The music is really good though

 

[DavidK]

Very nice, very interesting. Since I like it, I will be ultra-picky:

1. The ending. It just kinda stops. Me no likey.

2. I agree with Automata about the synths. The song sounds like it could be sung on a street corner, with an ad hoc band. The synths break that illusion, especially the strings. I would suggest another patch, maybe a piano.

3, One idea would be to begin without the high-hat, or lose it altogether. At the beginning, it sounds more like a metronome than a latin percussive instrument.

I like the lyrics a lot, and the vocals. Well done, very unusual.

 

[Xeries]

I'm new here. I like the music. I don't like the sound of some of the virtual instruments. The music is really good though

Thank you Automata for listening and enjoying the piece. I agree that some of the patches are somewhat cheesy, but as a musical, I thought that an orchestration approach would serve best. I may rethink that and go all acoustic instruments like, piano, flute, guitar, and acoustic bass.

I'm glad you like the music. As a writer, and not much of an engineer, that is always paramount.

 

[Xeries]

Very nice, very interesting. Since I like it, I will be ultra-picky:

1. The ending. It just kinda stops. Me no likey.

2. I agree with Automata about the synths. The song sounds like it could be sung on a street corner, with an ad hoc band. The synths break that illusion, especially the strings. I would suggest another patch, maybe a piano.

3, One idea would be to begin without the high-hat, or lose it altogether. At the beginning, it sounds more like a metronome than a latin percussive instrument.

I like the lyrics a lot, and the vocals. Well done, very unusual.

Please do be picky, David. I appreciate the listen.

1. Yes the ending is awkward, what would be better a fade out? Remember, ultimately this has to happen on a stage. The lighting goes up and down depending on which of the ladies is singing. Then when they both sing, the whole stage is lit. At the ending, I think I just cut the lights abruptly.

Not much experience with stage direction.

2. Okay, I like the street corner idea, but this is on a split stage with the doctor's office on one side (Nurse Merry, Dr. Pace's hispanic nurse who rides the bus with Roman) and Roman's wife Patrice on the other in her kitchen singing to her daughter Desiree. I like the idea of perhaps replacing the strings with piano.

3. I would love to lose the hat, and consider it done. I would like to continue with something latin like congas and bongos, but my drum patterns are severely lacking. I have some in my 2488 I can look at, but not many.

Thanks very much for your critique. I value your opinion and I'm glad you can appreciate the genre and the approach to this piece.

 

[DavidK]

I like the idea of perhaps replacing the strings with piano.

When scoring this for a musical, you gotta think about the practicality of the pit. I do major broadway touring shows, and THEY are cutting back extensively. Strings would be very difficult to get, and bad string players are worse than no string players.

Realistically, you could probably get 5 players. By far, the only instrument that actually matters is the piano, its the whole shebang in a show. The pianist is the musical director, the rehearsal pianist, the core of the pit. The other instruments are used as needed or afforded. There is also the space consideration when dealing with a pit, especially in a community theatre. Put a piano (doubling on keys), a drummer/percussionist, a bass down there and its most of the space. I once played Guys and Dolls, and as a violinist I had to play percussion on one tune. Stuff like that is the key to making 4-5 people sound like 10.

At a local, city, community or even regional level, strings are almost unheard of. I did Oliver! last summer, and it was for a pretty big place here. They couldnt recall ever using a string player. If you see the musical, you would realize that the violin has a part that cant be cut.

Yes the ending is awkward, what would be better a fade out?

Fade outs are hard to do live. I suggest just a simple, final chord that tells the audience that we are done with this song.

I would love to lose the hat, and consider it done. I would like to continue with something latin like congas and bongos, but my drum patterns are severely lacking.

The drummer is going to be too busy to play hi-hat. Hes going to be playing percussion on this one, and he cant do both.

I will be very curious to hear how this pans out. I'm a big fan of musicals and have played most of the standard rep. You would be surprised how small the pits can be. Parts like strings and winds are luxuries, and it has to be written in sich a way that they are expendable.



EDIT: none of this matters if you are planning to use a tape.