Overall, not bad. I like how you mixed the original bond theme form with the runway.
I agree with Goldenzen both on the weird synth and the use of electric bass.
Here are some things that may help improve your piece!
1.) French horns would very rarely IF EVER play that low - and even then they definitely wouldn't do more than a phrase. If you're going to play that low often, it would be better to have trombones / euphonium / tuba play that instead, since you're primarily just doing brass hits. Did you only have french horns and trumpets?
2.) The Dulcimer riff at 0:28 implies that you're going to move somewhere else, but you don't, you just go back to the primary theme.
3.) At 0:36, it would be better for the cellos to be louder + everyone else be softer to help the melody in the cellos come out more.
4.) At 0:45, the trumpets could definitely join the violins / violas, a crescendo would be great too. Also, if you had the violins double octaves (8va) there would be more "flare" or motion into the next section.
5.) At 0:47, since your coming right off of a Mannheim Rocket, it wouldn't be the best idea to give the cellos the theme - not a very high-octane instrument for the situation - particularly the register you chose. Perhaps give to trumpets and horns instead?
6.) Also, since you move to a much slower and quieter section after that, you could give more contrast between the two by having more brass/string activity after 0:45 - it seems to be the climax of the piece?
7.) Hearing it again, your texture (especially at the beginning) sounds thin. Is that intentional?
8.) At 2:16, I definitely like the switch to swing, it was a nice touch, but again, I thought there was going to be more movement, and it ended up being anti-climatic. The texture (especially brass) was very thin - especially when compared to the original bond theme recording.
9.) At 2:48, I like that you have all the string playing the primary theme in unison, however, I don't know if the texture of the rest of the instruments is able to support all the unison playing.
10.) To help with what Jonathon [SSL] mentioned about the "orchestra effect," try googling "orchestra layout" or something, and hopefully you'll see some pictures of the layout of an orchestra - this is very helpful because you can adjust your panning / volumes appropriately (for example, you wouldn't have french horns on the left.)
11.) To help with texture / orchestration options, you may want to think about including other instruments.
These are instruments that are commonly found in orchestras but (I don't think) were present in the piece:
- piccolo
- flute
- oboe
- english horn
- clarinet
- bassoon
- contrabassoon
- trombone
- euphonium
- tuba
- viola?
- bass drum?
- timpani
Although you had trumpet and french horn, trumpets / trombones are generally written for in 2 or 3 parts, and horns are typically written for in 4 parts.
Goldenzen talked about "pitching" the cellos too much - the glissandos sound odd because only the cellos are doing it. If the violins / violas(?) did it as well, it would sound more pallet-able.
Overall, great effort and well done! I can tell you put time into it, and it's obvious when someone does compared to when someone just duct-tapes something together!
I only mention those things to help the piece improve (make it MORE cool!) and to help you improve in your writing!
Well done and keep it up!
Author
Topic: Goldeneye 64 OST - New Orchestral Versions! (Read 9140 times)