Snow is good for something

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

Ok, so this is all Tim Fatchen's fault http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

I'm afflicting you with yet another "improv" piece, inspired by the snow falling on the bean field next to our house. The melody started floating through my head as the snow flakes wafted down on the field. I ran for my keyboard and quickly recorded the melody into Composer, then cleaned it up before I lost it http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I had been playing around with some soundfont pads, and this one (the one I used for the mp3 recording at soundclick) gave the "sparkly" feel that I was seeing as the sun would be just bright enough through the clouds to make the snow twinkle.

The .not file will probably be most unimpressive to most of you, because it's ridiculously simple, but the complexity of the pad (it's a soundfont, johnypad4.sf2) gives it a pretty good foundation. I used one of the english horn players in Garritan Personal Orchestra for the melody line. I set up my sound card (SB Audigy2) to record the performance from Composer Pro, and saved it as a wav and as an mp3. I honestly have no idea how it will sound with a GM midi soundsource, because I recorded it using GPO. I have a feeling it may not sound so hot if it doesn't have that extra help http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Again, this was done with the Pro demo, so you'll have to use that to view the file. I'm getting addicted to the features it has, so I've been using it for "real" work. Sorry I'm not following directions, Mark ;)

You can find the mp3 recording at www.soundclick.com/beanfield_castle (http://www.soundclick.com/beanfield_castle)

ttfn,
Sherry
<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifBeanfield WInter
Beanfield Winter (Celtic snow).not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/Beanfield_Winter__Celtic_snow_-26609.not) (25.7 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Mark Walsen (markwa)]

Sherry,

This is a good example of what can be accomplished with improvisation and some good sounds. The sparkly bells track (not included in the .not file) really adds a convincing "finish" to the piece. I think the piece very well captures the quiet winter snow feeling. This is all done with just three instrument sounds, including the bells. The piece is at once sparse but also rich in depth.

Anyone who wants to check this out should look at the .not file (with the beta of Composer Pro) only to see the notes, not to hear the music. Hear the MP3 or hi-fi at www.soundclick.com/beanfield_castle (http://www.soundclick.com/beanfield_castle). Click the 'Music' link on the right side of the page to get to the list of Sherry's pieces.

Cheers
-- Mark

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Mark,

To give credit where credit is due, my .not only has 2 tracks, because that's all there is http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif The pad that I used is quite rich, with sounds of many instruments (including the tinkling chimes) layered together. So it is the pad, not my musical prowess, that gives the sparkle and depth to this particular piece. It is also part of the inspiration for the piece, because I had been messing around with it a day earlier, and when the melody started running through my head, this pad came instantly to mind as the backdrop for it.

If I remember correctly, I found this particular pad (it's a soundfont) at http://www.hammersound.net/ The name is johnypad4.sf2, and it is a free download.

ttfn,
Sherry

[Mark Walsen (markwa)]

Hi Sherry,

Thanks for the correction. Now I understand that what sounds like two separate tracks-- the low strings and the sparkle bells-- is really a single "pad" sound, that johnypad4.sf2.

Note to everyone, this is a good example of how you can combine soundfont .sf2 sounds with Garritan Personal Orchestra (GPO) library sounds.

Cheers
-- Mark

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

If anyone should want to see the notes and doesn't have Composer Pro, here is the midi file.

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifBeanfield Winter
Beanfield Winter (Celtic snow).mid (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/Beanfield_Winter__Celtic_snow_-26632.mid) (1.5 k)</td></tr></table></center>

ttfn,
Sherry

[Alex Shields (alexshields)]

Your Beanfield Winter song is pretty good. I like.