The frozen alone (acoustic song)

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jeanette_c
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The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by jeanette_c »

Hey hey, of course it only would be, if I had enough acoustic REAL instruments:
https://youtu.be/KMzCrc4cB1U
It was my first experience with a few of the free SFZ that are linked from the plogue website, in particular the ShinyGuitar, archtop.
I know that - as it stands - it is more of a preproduction, but I can't play the guitar to save my life. So there! I at least played a live shaker. There are the three guitars, all loaded into LinuxSampler, that's the ShinyGuitar SFZ and two soundfonts (layered each with a synthesized guitar'ish sound) for the accompaniment, the piano is LinuxSampler too and the bass comes from Fluidsynth. The lead is my little Behringer Neutron and the vocals, alas, is me. I'll see about taking a few lessons.
Hope you enjoy it. Oh, and the times being what they are: it's "only" unrequited love.
Best wishes, Jeanette
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Rainmak3r
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by Rainmak3r »

Beautiful song! In parts it reminds me of "Little Susie" by Michael Jackson, one of his works I do like the most. I loved some of the chord progression changes, like the diminished arpeggio at 0:38: even the way it starts, with that Am9 (?) is beautiful and haunting. The synth solo starting at 1:45 is truly beautiful, especially thanks to how the chord progress in the background, changing the framework.

The guitar samples themselves seem mostly fine (even though it's not clear if they're simulating a classic or acoustic guitars, seems closer to the former), but as a whole there's no going around the fact it's not a real guitar unfortunately, or at least it does seem not realistic enough to me (but that's the ONLY thing I can play :lol: ). To me it feels more like a harpsichord at times (another sound I do love, though, so still a win!). I guess it's probably related to the lack of actual resonance from the guitar body, or no sound from fingers on the frets, which is what betrays it a bit.

But nits on the guitar apart, a truly beautiful song, and possibly one of the best I've heard from you!
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by jeanette_c »

Thanks @Rainmak3r ! I'm all too aware of the lack in real guitar. It could have worked if the arrangement hadn't been so guitar focus. I think one or two of them could sit well in a mix.
The piece starts with Am7, in a way. Later on things happen. It all depends on the notes the guitars play. As such I think of them as rather simple chords, made interesting by explicitly written lines for the guitars. :)
Thanks again, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by Basslint »

I like this a lot! The arrangement is great, almost as if you were born a guitarist! and I also immensely liked the theremin-like solo. Lyrics in the description would be appreciated though, I tend to focus on the music and can't follow the words :)

I hope someone will offer their guitar to you, I sadly cannot at the moment due to skill, work and gear constraints :( But even without a guitar, I think the piece already sounds good because you used the guitar more like a harp.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by jeanette_c »

Basslint wrote: Wed Apr 14, 2021 10:16 am ...
Lyrics in the description would be appreciated though, I tend to focus on the music and can't follow the words :)
...
Good point, with this:
Will you be there
When my arms are left empty and broken
To seal winter's void in my heart?
Would you touch my hair
And brush frost from my wounds?
Would you break my ice-shell apart?
-
When I wake bereft
From a sweet dream of you
To find that you are gone,...
Fading wisp of the night.
Then all that is left
Is the frozen alone,
When all ports are barred to my flight.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by jeanette_c »

Rainmak3r wrote: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:25 am ...
In parts it reminds me of "Little Susie" by Michael Jackson, one of his works I do like the most.
Well spotted. :) I thought that too, once I realised what I had done there. :)
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by Basslint »

Thanks @jeanette_c, very poetic and I am impressed with your mastery of the English language :D
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by Philotomy »

Very nice! Do you have a score or a lead sheet?

Edit: some parts made me think of Jim Croce's Time In A Bottle.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by jeanette_c »

Philotomy wrote: Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:18 pm Very nice! Do you have a score or a lead sheet?
There's a Midish project, from which I can export MIDI, but it will take a moment or two. Tomorrow...

Edit: some parts made me think of Jim Croce's Time In A Bottle.
And a definite hit! :) I more or less deliberately thought of time in a bottle, especially the turn on the dominant chord in the verse. It has a beautiful verse, but the chorus has always been a disappointment. :)
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by milo »

I was also thinking it sounded like Time in a Bottle, but I didn't get to this thread in time to call it before the big reveal. I actually like Croce's chorus -- the transition from minor chords in the verse to major chords in the chorus really punctuates the meaning of the song, at least for me.

My first impression of your song is that the guitar soundfont is pretty good. It even accentuates a few notes here and there, as if a finger hit the string a little differently that one time. The arrangement is quite guitar-y sounding.

This reminds me of an older song of yours -- I think it is called Lonely Journey, or something like that -- where you played a guitar-like sound. That song also has a nice guitar-y composition, but I didn't like the sound font on the previous piece as well as I like this one.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by jeanette_c »

milo wrote: Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:43 pm ...
I think it is called Lonely Journey, or something like that -- where you played a guitar-like sound. That song also has a nice guitar-y composition, but I didn't like the sound font on the previous piece as well as I like this one.
@milo , thanks for the feedback. The other sound was not a soundfont or any kind of sample, but a completely synthesized sound.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by alexson »

Hello Jeanette,

It's a lovely song. Great.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by pdechery »

Very beautiful harmonies, I'm surprised that it sounds so different from your other songs (at least the ones I've heard).

I remember some of them had great harmonies too, but I think this "baroque" style shows us better how a great composer you are.

Congratulations, great work!
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by PieterPenninckx »

Nice composition! I would maybe add a little intro, but that's all.
the vocals, alas, is me.
Well, you did it! That's what counts.

That being said, I know a soprano who wants me to compose a song, but I have no lyrics writing skills whatsoever (and "lalala" isn't good enough). But your lyrics are really great. So if you're into some remote collaboration, let me know and I can ask if that's ok for her too.
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Re: The frozen alone (acoustic song)

Post by jeanette_c »

pdechery wrote: Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:47 pm Very beautiful harmonies, I'm surprised that it sounds so different from your other songs (at least the ones I've heard).
There are a few odd ones. All pure instrumentals though and possibly all, before I got here. :)

I remember some of them had great harmonies too, but I think this "baroque" style shows us better how a great composer you are.
...
Many thanks for the high praise! I am honoured!
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