First up, Regis and Kelly LIVE!
I have a lot of music I’m ready to blog! I’ve been composing a lot lately, but for a variety of reasons I wasn’t able to post any of it here. But most of that has changed now, so to kick things off, I’m putting up a piece I pretty much wrote today. It’s for a competition for a new theme song for Live with Regis and Kelly. I found out about it on Wednesday night and the due date was today! In grand John King style, I procrastinated for a day, had writers block for an evening, and then wrote the piece today.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
So what other music do I have, you ask? I haven’t forgotten to reveal my piece for the CGEmpire’s 17th competition that I blogged about earlier. And if you’ve been following my twitter, you know I’ve been working on the recording for my 2009 marching band show for Center X Productions. I’ve also written an indoor percussion piece that’s almost ready for it’s debut. So lots of music on it’s way… stay tuned!
Hope everyone had a safe and warm Thanksgiving!
Much Metta,
John
CGEmpire Competition
It’s that time again! There’s another CGEmpire music competition, and I took some time to write a piece and enter it. The competition this time centers around writing 1 to 2 minutes of music for an educational game that will help young kids learn their ABCs. How could I NOT enter?!? It has to be loopable, so if they don’t sound completely finished, that’s why. I’m really happy with how my piece turned out, but there are a bunch of great entries, so the competition is stiff!
Here’s the link to the entries: CGEmpire Competition
Mine is on there somewhere, but because the voting is anonymous I’m not telling which one is mine just yet. You’ll have to see if you can guess! Once the voting is over, I’ll post my piece here.
Much Metta,
John
3D, Music, DVD, Oh MY!
The assignment: Make a 20 – 30 second video to promote the services of MSC in between bands at drum corp competitions in Europe and Japan. I was given 7 graphic slides created by MSC graphic designer, no more than a week’s time, and complete creative freedom. (Do I work with great clients or what!?!) After toying with a couple different options, I finally decided I wanted something unique and that would stretch me a bit, so I created this:
The video was created in Blender. It’s one complete sequence from start to finish, so there’s no editing per se. Every element is a flat object created from the original photoshop file that I flew a camera around.
After the video was done, I imported it into Logic and wrote the music to match. The first step was to find exactly the right tempo so slide changes happened at musical moments. Once the meter was determined, all I had to do was write the music. I distinctly remember lamenting to Betsy as I was working on it that I somehow had lost the ability to compose, and that I didn’t think I’d ever get this music written. I guess we all have our moments of doubt. I’m actually thrilled with how the music turned out!
The last step was to put it all together on to a DVD for delivery. Done and done!
Thanks for watching!
Much Metta,
John
Orchestral Tease
So yes, I did finally break down and buy a new computer. In fact I bought a new Mac Pro 2.8Ghz Dual Quad Core, and popped an extra 4GB memory into it. Can I just say “HELLOOOOO!!!” My old computer was choking a lot working on some of my marching band mockups, especially when I used some of my new instruments, like EWQL Gold and The Trumpet. This new computer doesn’t even break a sweat. I’m in heaven!
I also finally purchased Altiverb so I could start putting my orchestras into a more realistic space. To help, I downloaded a template created by Hetoryn and this is my first test of that template. I really like the sound he’s created, although over the next couple weeks, I’ll be tweaking it to add in my other libraries. Until then, this is a little tease I wrote yesterday:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Enjoy!
Much Metta,
John
The Clavi-what?
More music! Here’s a little ditty I wrote for another potential job.
First the request:
Score composer needed immediately for a new comedic documentary style TV pilot for A&E’s Biography Channel. Looking for someone to score the pilot with an eye towards formatting for a series.
Seeking comedic music – open to all suggestions. Producer “tends to go for organic instruments” and is “crazy about the clavinet.”
Next, my reply:
This piece is a funky blend of instruments from steel drums to clavinet, with muted trumpet on top. I feel the unexpected blend of instruments lends itself to a comedic mood and because the musical ideas are short and distinct, it would be easy to chop up and use for scene transition and as a musical bed under dialogue.
Finally, the music!!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Thanks for listening! Comments are always welcome.
Much metta,
John
Music for a Dark Comedy
Despite my relative silence here on my blog, I’ve been writing a fair amount of music lately! (I’m so lucky to be able to do that on a semi-regular basis!) This piece I’d like to share was written for a potential job. It’s music for a Dark Comedy about Joe, a fast food worker who, at summer’s end, plots his revenge against an evil boss only to have his plans thwarted by an infatuation with an attractive patron.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
It opens with a quiet tension, depicting Joe’s internal tension then suddenly erupts into aggression, his inner world clashing with the realities of his work and boss. At the end you’ll hear our vixen interrupting Joe’s plans.
Some of the other projects on my plate are my second marching band piece, a new indoor percussion ensemble piece, and a new project, music for photographers. More on all that later!
Much Metta,
John
The Return
I’ve stumbled upon another forum that I enjoy frequenting, and much to my delight they host a regular competition. Check out the music section of CGEmpire.com. Because of my TCM experience, I LOVE competitions if for no other reason other than they give me something specific to write for.
I just finished in a three way tie for 2nd in their latest competition! I’m listening to the top two right now, and I’m honored to have been considered close to these two. Taken directly from CGEmpire, here’s the entry guidelines:
Location: the space. Surroundings: inside an old spacecraft Time: the future
You are called to compose: The Darklord theme. The ultimate evil theme. The final boss theme.
Think about it as you want. But you do need to compose the theme of… the bad guy. That bad guy deserves a chance after all. Now, if you want the bad guy to be like alien, make it so, if you want it to be like a human traitor, make it so, if you want it to be like predator, make it so. But make sure that the evilness is leaking from your entry!
And here’s what I wrote, titled The Return:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I was happy with the composition, but not my mastering of it. Part of that was due to my computer freaking out on my at the last possible minute. Luckily that’s not a common occurrence, but boy when it happens, it is nerve racking to say the least. I was having problems getting it to bounce without chucking a wobbly. I eventually had to bounce it in pieces and mix it back together, but in the process WAY over compressed it. That’s definitely an area I need some more experience in. I know enough to know I can’t do it yet. Anyone out there willing to give me some mastering tutoring? Anyone?
Thanks for tuning in!
Much Metta,
John
Going Home!
Last but not least, the closer to my second marching band show. This one, titled Going Home, is about finally getting to leave the hospital and take our new baby home. This is full of energy and joy and gives the woodwinds a bit of a workout, but still allows the brass to shine. It actually opens with a percussion feature, which still needs to be written by a percussion specialist.
One last thing… You’ll notice some silence near the end as well for a quick recap of the percussion feature. Take a listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Thanks for tuning in!
Much Metta,
John
New Life Center
After months of working on and off (um, more off than on, I’m afraid) I am finally finishing up my 2nd marching band piece! This one is tentatively titled “Miracle” and the opener is called “New Life Center”. Can you guess what my motivation is? Boy am I obvious.
Here’s an mp3 straight from Sibelius. It’s a typical MIDI recording, so the sound quality isn’t anything to write home about, but it should give you a pretty good idea what the piece is like. It also doesn’t have battery written for it yet. That takes a percussion specialist, and I’m just not that far along yet.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The ballad and closer are coming in the next couple days, so be sure to tune in again.
Much Metta,
John
Sarah and John’s Wedding
A couple of weeks again Betsy, Miles and I traveled to Atlanta to attend Sarah and John’s wedding. I’ve known Sarah for probably 10 years now and she is one of the sweetest, most genuine people I know. I just think the world of her, and when I heard she was getting married, I just knew we had to attend.
A month or so before the wedding, they asked me to write some music for Sarah’s entrance! I was SO honored to be asked to compose something for such a key moment in their ceremony. Here’s what I wrote:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I have to say I think it all came together beautifully. The weather was perfect, the ceremony was intimate and very personal, and I was totally honored that I could be a part of it. Thanks Sarah and John!
Much Metta,
John