Piano.mp3[2.48mb] C&C Please!

I like it

but do you have a clearer grand piano sample?

Wonderful. It reminds me of some of the music in Hayao Miyazaki films (composed by Joe Hisaishi), without being identical.

I think if used for the same purpose (film backing) it's ideal. If you wanted it as a more stand-alone piece, a very light string backing in some places may be appropriate, to add a little "more" in the frequencies above and below the piano.

After careful listening, I disagree very strongly with Solitarium's comment about the clarity of the piano. I think the current piano has a very suitable, gentle tone, appropriate for the music it is performing. It's not as bright as the majority of songs (particularly the pop-ish ones), but it really shouldn't be.

You also seem to have achieved very good velocity-response for the piano. I am curious, what sample are you using for it?

First off, I wrote it in Finale and then put it into Reason from the exported midi file. I did all the velocities in Reason by hand, and the samples that I am using come from the Reason Combinator "Five Meter Grand Piano". I have been very pleased with Reason, especially the samples it comes with off the shelf.

Thanks for the response!

So you've used a built-in patch from Reason 3.0? It seems I really must upgrade, then.

And by-hand velocities - you've done a really good job there.

It's very pretty--you do realize it's impossible for a solo performer? During the middle section, you have the ostinato in the bass, a set of chords in the mid range, and the melody in the top--three hands! If you're intending this to be performed live at any point, you might have a look at it, and if you have any friends who are good players, maybe sit down with them and go over what they can and can't do--because for me as a musician, it's very distracting from the piece for me to realize that it would not be possible for a live player.

Otherwise, I like it quite a bit--the only suggestion I have is that rather than the somewhat indecisive I6/4 chord that comprises the last quarter of the ostinato, I would change it to a V chord, simply because it would give a better sense of direction--so change the pattern from A-F-A to A-E-A; alternately, you could use it as a really nice cadence, so your progression would go D-F-A, D-F-A, C-F-A, C-F-A, Bb-F-A, Bb-F-A, A-F-A, A-E-A. Play with that kind of suspension, I.E. hanging onto the I6/4 chord a little bit, going to a Vsus, and then finally landing on a delicious V--that kind of thing just makes me drool, because the more suspenseful the lead-up to the cadence, the more crunchy and satisfying it is when you get there.

That's my two cents! Very nice job.

Quote: Blaise Douros
three hands!

Talented, isn't he? [grin]

Hehe… yeah, not for the average pianist! Although with a couple lines removed it does become possible to play, however this was not my intention when writing it.

I changed some small things in it, though in the process might have messed the balance up a little bit (especially in the bass) but the chord changes are working now. Nice and, er... 'crunchy' [grin] (I hope)

Same download as above.

I've always liked toying with the idea of "edging in the incredible".

Like a really realistic rock drum line, and then, just a second, edging in what what obviously take an extra appendage, or a dedicated but bored extra helper.

Just for a WTF?

Hey, really nice piano piece. I too think the piano sample sound ok, and I personally am a great fan of using the computer to do what real musicians can't (otehrwise we'd just record real musicians all the time, right?).

One bit of feedback for you - it's a fairly expressive piece, but it's lacking any rhythmic rubato (playing with the tempo). I don't konw Reason at all, but is there any way of manipulating the tempo, like drawing lines to make it go slightly faster/slower? I use Cubase SX, and on this you can simply add points and the tempo will shift accordingly.

In fact, here's an example of what I mean. It too is a piano piece, and heavily quantised. But I played with the tempo track to get some rubato into it, make it feel more like a real pianist playing it.

Blue Sea

Good job! :)