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Another Piano/Flute/Horn Melody arrangement in Bb and Slow waltz about 2:47 Duration.
This track is just for fun for doing some experiment for Xmas-ish sound/bank.

Enjoy it, if there is any comments would be nice...
Thank you for listening!

Edit:
1> Add the MIDI file.
2> Add the final mixed track

LongStudios

..

Thanks for the listening, braincell!
Is it really that bad?
I'll have planning for Xmas CD pretty soon!

LongStudios

Well, LHong, you make progress with the sound in your arrangement, surely. Especially the strings sound way better than in your first attempts.
But the composition ... You wanted to create a sweet-sounding melody to play it during Xmas time, didn't you? IMHO there are some harsh mistakes in the composition, especially when you move to D at 0'58 or at 1'14 or in Db at 2'16. Some instruments ignore this, and this is a kind of music where it doesn't match.
The two surprising stops at 1'40 and 1'58 sound a bit strange, too - like a dropout of my DAW.
Perhaps Braincells short comment wants to say, that in this forum the posted music is more advanced and progressive. But - I repeat myself - it's all a matter of taste, and I know people who like this kind of music.
They shall have it!
For you I would recommend a hard study of real classical music. Learn how Mozart or Beethoven or Schubert or Tschaikowski make a "simple" 8-bar-melody and how they develope it. Your compositions need a better form, I think.

Greetz, Thomas

Thanks Thomas,
It was an experiment for the Sound collection to do the Xmas CD!
Appreciated your words and the comments!
I’m glad to hear and learn from you, you are right and have good advised. I’m still slowly learning classical from the famous Composers!

1> Agree about "the two surprising stops at 1'40 and 1'58 sound a bit strange...", it is great comment, I will need to make a bridge for it!

2> About "move to D at 0'58 or at 1'14 or in Db at 2'16. Some instruments ignore this..", I’m not sure what you were noticed, but it is good to know, say at 0'58 is a “D7th” then “Gm” at 1’00, it does interesting (chord) but not a mistake (Just arranging as the aggressive (third/sixth) chord changed). About at “1'14 or in Db at 2'16”, I must see the score/arrangement in order to tell what’s going on, may be same above issue at a few places?

3>I had a few more arrangements in same Melody for the contest, in case you are interested, you can find the MP3 files as follows:

a> Piano arrangement (See the Final mix – It is for another experiment)
http://www.planetz.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22820

b> Completed arrangement for the Challenge contest (Rule: We must use the provided Melody and dedicated sample libraries in arrangement, any style is allowed but within 3 minutes duration. Next week will be deadline for the submission. Of course it is just for fun, nothing to win rather than as honored to be)
http://www.planetz.com/phpBB2/download.php?id=1475

Any comment about the above song is welcomed!

Best regards,

LongStudios

Would you send a MIDI file of this piece to me? Then I could say more exactly what I mean. I'll import it to Cubase SL 3.

Cute little tune.

One of the biggest cues I can give you is this:
Don't try to redefine the harmony of Christmas music by inserting that D7#9 (the dreaded Jimi Hendrix chord) before your Gm. In the case of this particular tune it just doesn't work mostly because of the calmness you are conveying. Stick to a conventional D7 by raising the upper voice of the strings to F# and that will do it. Also, the flute in the D7 bar should play an Eb instead of an E in order to announce the Gm better.

Another thing, change the D to a Db in that broken chord in the French horn. There is also a held note I would like not to hear. The French horn is a monophonic instrument after all.

A very important thing to remember about this style of music, try to have an even number of bars for phrase duration. When composing a waltz you must always think that people may dance to it and they will get easily put off by your phrase structure.

Just a few ideas to think about.

Paul and Thomas,
You guys are great!
In case you do not mind to spend time with it, I'm more than happy to share!
I think that I'm getting old now!
Okay, please give me about 30 Minutes or less for wrapping up the GM-MIDI file.

Thomas, is it what you need in order to view it in the Cubase?

Regards,

LongStudios

Thomas,
I just have its MIDI file in the top page, it is not exactly GM compatible but very close, except the Volume and Velocity for a few instruments such as Harp (too Hi) and Guitar/PianoBright (too Lo). You will figure out!
Note:
Total 16 MIDI tracks (Track 9 is not used), each track has own MIDI channel!
1> Track No.2 (French horn1) should be muted during the Mix!
2> Track No.12 (PianoBright) was used as the guitar (steel) in the mix.
3> Track No.1 & 8 as the main Melody.

My best,

LongStudios

I'll have a shot at the MIDI file myself

Cool, Paul!
It seems be good in the collaborating!

My best,

Long

Thank you for sending the MIDI file, I'll import it in Cuibase SL 3.1 and try to check it carefully.

Thomas

Check your email.

Thanks, Thomas!
I will check the mail!

Regards,

LongStudios