All Reviews

SYMPHONY IN E MINOR - 6 Avante guard and quite interesting, but suffers from being overly-quantized and from lack of attention to expression.

OP 38, MOV 1 - 8.5 It is hard to believe it is the same artist on this piece. It certainly has its bright points but suffers from over-quantizing. Many of the piano notes are far too stocatto and needed to be held into the next notes. Very nice orchestration, and gets better the longer it gets into the composition, but the opening was rather off-puting to my ears. The ending, in particular, is terribly lacking in expression. This could really work - with more work and attention to performance. (Even Bach can be played badly.)

ILLUSIONS FANTASY - 8 Quantize locked (yeah, I know - but you have to edit to up a score). Fun and interesting to listen to. It kept me interested throughout, wondering what would be next. I really, Really liked this piece. Add some expression, rule your sequencer, and this could be very great fun! One can tap one's toes to this, and shouldn't be able to do so. It's a keeper.

HOT WAX SYMPHONY - 6.3 I would like to have heard this more fully orchestrated and less lock-step. Pleasing progressions, though vaguely reminiscent of a song I can't put my finger on. Very pleasant to listen to, but very badly needed some expression in volume and timing. Attention to detail would have helped the performance of this composition greatly.

LONELY WOMAN, CAPRICE - 6 Maybe it was just the quantizing or tempo of this song, but I had trouble getting comfortable with the progressions. They just didn't flow well to me, but maybe that's just me.

THE EARLIEST SNOWDROP - 9.4 Very enchanting! The modulation of the strings was nice, as was the volume expressiveness.

ABOUT A FAIRY - 6 This song starts out marvelously, then seems to meander a bit. There is not much attention paid to dynanmics. However, it is an enchanting song. I liked it.

TIME - 6.2 I had to listen to this several times before I made up my mind. The composition really, REALLY has possibilities, but very badly needs editing. Don't let your sequencer rule your music.

GHOST SHIP - 6 I rather liked this song - quite evocative. It seems a bit underorchestrated and overly-quantized. I'd keep this piece and work on it. It's a keeper.

THE EXODUS - 9.3 This was very interesting at times, and it was apparent that a great deal of work went into it. The overall composition and orchestration are absolutely superb. I suspect others may score it more highly. It marched to the quantizer too much for me. It had that toe-tapper tempo.

THE ILLUSIVE ECSTASY (sic) - 10 This is an absolutely wonderful composition which could have benefitted even further from a tiny bit more attention to expression. It is a bit choppy at times. Don't accept the note lengths dictated by your sequencer. I wish I'd written this. I'd die a happy man. I listened to it several times simply for the pleasure of it. Kudos cum laude.

CREATION: FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE PRESENT - 8 Pleasant to listen to, imagining a sound track and floating off into the Crab Nebula to be close to the birth of stars. Very nice effects, but I often wondered where the pan went, and I'm not sure that the effects made up for a lack of a unifying theme, or variations on a theme woven into the composition. It starts out rather nicely, and then seems to wander. Then again, so did the stars.

THE LEGEND - 6 Pan lost his flute, so to speak. Though I rather liked this composition, there is no expression in timing, the composition could have used more expression in volume, and it was distracting having so much happening right in the middle.

A LARK'S TALE - 9.1 I REALLY liked the evocative dialogue in this composition, and on the strength of that gave it a high score. Minuses were a lack of more volume expression at times and a bit better balance in volume between accompanyment and the tune at times. Overall, this is a very nice cinematic piece.

GNOME OVERTURE - 6 Inventive and jazz-like. It lost me at times, and I think it would have come across better if more fully orchestrated. The stocatto sound of the instruments gets old after a while. Rule your sequencer. Editing some portions to make notes overlap others (e.g. last a few ticks longer than a sixteenth note, eighth note, etc.) would smooth this out.

1981 - 9 For some reason, this reminds of some of Paul Simon's earlier works, like "Sounds of Silence". The melody is overly repetitive but the song is nicely orchestrated. Nice, spare use of percussion. This needs a crying guitar off to the side with lots of reverb.

MOODY - 6 This song gets down on its knees and absolutely BEGS for expressiveness. Overall, a VERY nice song to which to listen, but bland and, very, very repetitive - and strange at times. If you cut-and-paste, edit the pasted sections for variety.

ASK ME WHY - 5 I had to pull this up into my sequencer to confirm suspicions that little attention was paid to volume dynamics. In doing so, I discovered that there were two and three notes overlaid on each other in many tracks, and that volume dynamics (apparently added later) were obscured by the the loudest overlay - which was typically the same volume all the way through each track. That being the case, I couldn't give a fair evaluation of the work. Whatever editor you were using didn't replace the notes, just duplicated them. That is one reason I prefer to take care of all of that kind of business in my sequencer by hand in the first place during composition - which greatly reduces editing time later on.

MACHINE BRAINS - 3 The lead guitarist, once again, went out for the pizza and beer. The percussion track is the best of it, with the back-beat timing unusual and interesting. 1 for the song, 5 for the percussion.

WHEN DEMONS WAKE - 3 Absolutely BEGS for some dynamics and expression. Quantize-locked as well, but has possibilities with lots more work. This is worth keeping and working on some more.

CA IRA - 5.9 The performance lacks volume dynamics and expression, and there is no variation in repeated phrases. Very lock-step timing. This would be worth keeping and working on with more expression and more orchestration - and I'd slow it down a few ticks. Otherwise, it rocks!

ADOANAI - 4.5 I was almost turned off by the repetitiveness at the beginning of this composition, but it was worth waiting for it to develop. I would like to have seen more expressiveness, at least in volume. The song is the same volume throughout. To be fair, I pulled this up into my sequencer to check. All notes of all instruments are played at exactly the same volume throughout. 9 for composition, 0 for expression. This is a nice song - worth keeping and spending some time editing.

BLUE NIGHT - 6 I liked the piece, but it sounded like it was lacking a melody line. It would have sounded darker, and more expressive (I think) if the sax had been a baritone.

FOOLISH - 5 The upbeat part almost made me ask my monitor for a Bud. I'm not completely sure the rest of works together though. Maybe more expression in volume and timing would have made it a better blend. I probably should have scored this higher, and suspect others will.

THE LAST WOLF - 7 The song is a bit repetitive for its length. Some work on the pan of guitars, and choice of guitars may have helped (though, personally, I think few guitar sounds work very well in midi except classical guitar). I'd have panned those guitars apart more, and added one more to "howl" in the background. VERY pleasant to listen to. Keep it and work on it.

FALSE DAWN - 5 Like Adoanai, this is a very pleasant composition but suffers deeply in expression. All notes are played at exactly the same volume throughout and are quantize-locked, rendering it into "gameboy" music, in spite of attention to pan, chorus, reverb and the like. This is very much worth keeping and working on. The composer, and the composition, have great potential. 9 for composition, 1 for expression.

THE COMPROMISE - Recuse Why did you tell me you wrote this, you SWINE! Now, then, being the chiefest of extant Swine: Where are the volume dynamics - and when are you going to lose the d*mned birds? Too loud for too long. BTW - saw a bumper sticker the other day that you'd love - "SAVE THE ALES". I'm still listening, and it's STILL too loud. I have a shotgun, but can't shoot the d*amned birds without destroying my monitor. Actually, it really gets fun a few minutes in - though it it remains too loud for too long. I'm still listening.

ESCAPE - 8 This reminded me of taiko drums (am I spelling that correctly?). Though I'm not terribly fond of abstract/experimental music, I quite liked this. I think it drove the evil spirits out of my computer. Maybe the composition I've been working on for over three months will finally come together. This must have been fun to compose.

LONELY WOMAN, AMBIENT - 7.5 Not much here to which to listen. Try not to get too much in love with synth pad effects and choirs. They won't suffice for actual melody. I did like the attention to volume dynamics, but there was little pan, little expression, and little melody. There are some interesting themes in this piece that could be built upon, given some work. If it was mine, I would keep it. (Sometimes I give up on a piece and delete it.)

METROPOLITAN LUNCH - 8 I can easily picture this as the soundtrack for the credits of a movie behind a big-city street scene depicting people going about their business. Very pleasant listening.

DREAM ABOUT AWAKENING - 5 Sorta fun but (yeah, I know) terribly quantized-locked and extremely repetive. EDIT, EDIT, EDIT - or take care of it on the fly. Nice attention to timing at the end, however. Had you done that throughout, it would have been much better. If you cut-and-paste, edit the pastes for variety (try changing instruments, swapping instruments between tracks, moving notes around, etc.).

YUMINAY NI MIRO - 4 I never quite got a feel for where this was headed and, as I was trying, it ran off of a cliff. I listened to it three times to be sure I wasn't missing something.

Ron Roos

Symphony in E minor
7.9
Odd harmonies in this piece are a bit disturbing, but well
planned, and somewhat interesting.
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Op 38 mov 1, Piano Concert
9.5
Nice movements and orchestration. The timpani comes in at just the right times,
sounds like a real orchestra. Expression on the piano is very good, and the
builds feel cinematic.... dramatic. Masterful work.
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Illusions Fantasy
9.0
Another unbelievably well orchestrated compostition. Had to be difficult to
keep this under 6 minutes. I would have kept it going for hours,
and had yet another song too long to submit into the contest.

Hot Wax Symphony
4.5
Odd chords... a bit offkey. Interesting at first, then redundant.
Nothing to catch my attention.
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Oboe Concerto
9.0
Comments: Wonderful piece of music. Was unable to hear it for some reason, but happy that has been corrected, because I enjoyed it very much. Played with it in Cakewalk, using a clarinet for track 1 and pan flute for track 2, and added track 4, using the bass notes from the piano track (3) to create a cello line. Made it sound a bit richer, so my only comment would be that this piece in my opinion was a bit too simple (I realize it was written for only 2 instruments, but to my ear, a little more support from the orchestra was all it needed) My humble opinion, for what it's worth. A better piece than I could have written, though, so I'll give it a 9.0
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Lonely Woman, Caprice
7.9
Nice work. Smooth and flowing.
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The Earliest Snowdrop
7.0
Nice melody, but a bit boring. Reminds me of Vangelis.
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About a Fairy
7.3
Flute is too overpowering and distorts. I expect to see some wood nymphs
pop out from behind a tree. Very melodic, and thematic.Wraps up nicely.
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Time
8.9
Subdued chorused voices behind the metronome are nice. Flows well, and
the changes are dynamic and progressive. Nice piece of work here.
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Fanfare
4.2
Sorry, I'm not a fan of this one.
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Ghost Ship
8.5
Smooooooth, flowing, and interesting to the end.
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White Wastes
4.5
Not well developed. Too simplistic.
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The Exodus
9.9
This one really moves me. Goose bumps, man!
Inspired, without a doubt.
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The Illusive Ecstasy
9.3
Very nice work. Great use of timpani for punch, and harp to make it flow.
Now this one is another good example of what I mean by
"dynamic". Exceptional work.
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Creation: From the Beginning to the Present
8.9
Patient builds, and smooth transitions. Not as dynamic
as it could have been though. The Exodus demonstrates
what I mean by dynamic very well.
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The Legend
6.1
Loved the cello, would have chosen another string sound
instead of the voices in some places though.
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A Lark's Tale
8.4
Tra la la diddle dee dee .... spooky parts
really surprised me. Interesting idea here.
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Gnome Overture
8.1
I love the pizzicato strings against the marimba, but I tend
to overuse them too. The result is something that fails to work
into something else, with a different feel.. to keep it
interesting. Facinating work, though. I like it.

1981
7.5
Timpani is overused. Interesting tune, though, and
travels fairly well. Work on expression
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Moody
8.5
Nice compositon, very well thought out, but not as dynamic as it could be.
Drums are a bit uninteresting and overpowering. Some parts would have
been better without the drum track. Overall, good work, though.
Must have been fun putting it together.
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I Want To Believe
4.4
This is no more than a bassline, and for starters, not bad...
but desparately needs development.
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ApocalipseF
6.8
Orchestration needs work. I love this progression, and believe it
could be developed. Get rid of the bass solo at the end.
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Cassandra's Hope
XXXX
Cannot score this, it's my own work
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Ask Me Why
7.7
Arranged and expressed beautifully, for the simple piece that it is.
Watch the volume dynamic with the flutes, they tend to distort.
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Machine Brains
4.1
Choppy, and underdeveloped.
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When Demons Wake
8.2
I like the crispy organ... very harpsichord like. Started to bore me,
then the break came in, and the song took off and flew. Progressive
as hell. Woke me up.... does that mean I'm a demon?
Halfway into the change, you might consider using a stop, or a
drum solo... the beat gets slightly redundant. Nice job.
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Ca Ira
5.0
Starts off with a punch, woke me up, but didn't really go
anywhere after that
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Blue Night
6.2
Basic blues, just a bit offbeat, but not enough to
get my attention. Ever hear of The Mighty Flyers?
Look 'em up on Napster, and listen to them.
You'd never guess it was only 3 chords
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Foolish
7.4
Boogie woogie, with melodic blends. Interesting idea
that surprisingly worked out quite well. Work on your
expression. Instrument blends... well.. don't.
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The Last Wolf
4.2
Put me to sleep. I did like the accordian though.
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Kickin' Chicken
7.5
Punchy, back porch music. Pass the jug, Jethro.
Interesting blend of styles

For Jazzy
9.1
Beautiful piece of freeform jazz here. The trill sound
on the horn was perfect. Was that Dizzy? Great
example of how to use pitch bends.
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False Dawn
7.8
Interesting work. The bassline is a bit muddy.
Since you were using the charang, the synth bass
would have been more complimentary
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TECHNO - NEW AGE
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The Compromise
XXXX
Cannot score this, it's my own work

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AMBIENT
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Lonely Woman, Ambient
6.9
I just downloaded and re-listened to your song... I`ll assume it`s lonely woman.. the ambient one... Your dynamics were the problem... not the fact that my volume was low. I analyzed it in cakewalk and 1) your volume dynamics were all set to the low 90`s.... (which is usually fine) but they were all set the same, except the drum track and the bass track. You over-did it with the groove quantize, (shuffle A) and I think that may have been what affected the volume dynamics. I think this tune had some excellent imagination behind it, but I think you simply over-worked it in Cakewalk, and it fell apart. Also, you had about 6 tracks set to channel 8 for acoustic grand piano... why didn`t you use different channels and slightly different voices and expressions for each? I played with it, and assigned vibes, marimba, honky tonk piano, and even a bassoon track, and the sound expanded like you wouldn`t believe. You`ve got a good thing going, Hack... don`t rush it. Wait 3 days, then listen to it in the morning, or after smokin` a fat one. Try muting some of the tracks and work with no more than 3 at a time, then slowly start adding one at a time until each track enhances the next, and doesn`t add harmonic distortion. I`ll bump the score I gave you up to a 6.9, because I did not pick it apart the last time I reviewed it, because of the volume dynamics... (could hear a hiss)... but can`t do ya much better than that, because I think you could have done a lot better. I`m not pickin` on ya, or trying to be a hard ass, I`m trying to encourage you to take your time, cuz I think you`re onto some neat ideas, and the potential exists for much, much better quality work, if you take your time, and listen.
Save songs in stages as you develop them, so when you get into a situation where "oops!" you over-quantized it, and the sound jumps in and out at ya (like this one).... back up, and go with a smoother rhythm. Well, there ya have it, take it or leave it.
Cakewalk`s groove quantizer is useful for some ideas... but use your sliders, and don`t go with full power... a little bit goes a long way. Keep it up, you`ll go far.

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ABSTRACT - EXPERIMENTAL
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Dream About Awakening
8.4
Nice sweet melody, but I'm getting sleepy.
Well since that's probably what its supposed
to do, is relax me, I'll give it the thumbs up.

Escape
8.9
Excellent work. Dynamic, interesting, and fluid. Interesting throughout.
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Symphony in E minor = 8.5 A "heavy" music. I liked. Maybe the orchestration could be improved. Some passages are "empty", they have an idea, but the orchestration is not enough to achieve the goal. A great work undoubtely, that should be improved. It is unfinished.

Opus 38, mov 1 = 9.1 The melodies are what I like more in this music. The chord progression is simple (too much sometimes in my opinion, without surprise) following the melody very well. As a piano concert movement, it has not the dynamics usually found in a first movement. The good melodies and chords with good orchestration is the better, but it changes abruptely some times and after listening several times, it tires because has no surprises. The continuity is not so good. And first of all for a concerto: the piano lacks presence.

Hot Wax Symphony = 7.0 Has good themes. But it is too short and the orchestration is too much mechanical. Good ideas that could be improved with a better orchestration in my opinion.

Oboe Concerto = 8.5 It has the virtue of telling a story. Sometimes lacks better ideas in the middle as it was composed very fast, without thinking. Excelent ideas in the first half. Empty in the middle. Forced (as a homework to finish) in the end.

Lonely Woman, Caprice = 9.9 Very good chord progression. Surprising, it has a sad mood very impressive. The style change in the middle is also excelent. The piano sometimes seems skip some notes, as it was recorded. I liked a lot. Lacks some beginning and end parts more developed.

The Earliset SnowDrop = 8.0 Beginning is beautiful. After the beginning, it decreases the emotional appeal and becomes more traditional with no surprises or originality. The orchestration should be more developed. As a whole, it is well done.

About a Fairy = 5.0 Sorry, but I didn't feel the basic: good melodies. I think every music work should begin with good melodies. Didn't fit my taste.

Time = 9.0 Call the sound effects team in Hollywood!! We have a new composer for. Very interesting and captivating. I bet it reveals a lot of electronic music experience and skill. Excellent work!

Fanfare = 5.0 Too short. Difficult to score, but at least I can say that as a musical idea is GOOD! Now that you have the beginning, we will wait for the rest. Do it!

Ghost Ship = 9.0 Simple and effective melodies with excellent orchestration. Beautiful mood transmited. It really transmits an emotional feeling about a cinematic situation. Of course, for a ship with ghosts, maybe some strong variations should be expected. Ok, I understand the goal, where a ghost ship floats alone on the sea... but some strong surprise should be taken and it would be a great composition with more development. I really liked it because it transmits me feelings.

White Wastes = 7.0 Should be smoother. I think the midi parameters should be worked to get a better "white waste" effect, because the idea is good, the melodies are very good and have beauty. However, the orchestration and the lack of midi work hide its possibilities. A pitty, because it could be very better.

The Exodus = 9.1 Great work! Sure it is cinematic. Sometimes, it lacks development, exaclty because it is too much cinematic giving more importance to sound effects than music development. 10 as sound effect (or just cinematic). 8 as music. Yes, I know it is cinematic, but also I have to compare it with others because we are mixing categories. Anyway, it is excellent! I would increase its rating if it had a more emotional developed melodies.

Illusive Ecstasy = 9.0 Very good midi and orchestration work, impressive. As a musical composition I would increase my rating if could feel melodies more beautiful, chord progressions more interesting and surpising, or in other words: more beauty. I need more feelings for my taste.

Creation = 9.0 The instrumentation is very well done. Also, it tells a story, what is important (indeed for a cinematic work!). It transmits me feelings, what is important to me in music. What could I say else? However, it should be more developed. Has better ideas than most other entries in the contest, but it is not so much developed as them. Difficult task to choose a score!

A Lark's Tale = 9.8 Reminds me Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. I don't understand why other reviewers don't feel its power and musical life (I read what they wrote). Usually, they complain about loud sounds and/or other hardware/software issues. However, the MUSIC here is beautiful. (And my hardware/software works!). Very good orchestration to achieve the desired effects as in Peter and the Wolf. Too much short. Very talented composition.

Gnome Overture = 7.0 Interesting. Very good for a game or movie scene! Of course, it is far in development when compared with other midi works.

1981 = 8.0 Strong beginning!! As most rock style compositions, lacks variation and repeats too much some patterns. However it really has power. The first half is better than the second one. Should change more. 9.0 for the first part, 7 for the last part a somewhat monotonous.

Moody = 6.5 Too much repetitive and the chord progressions are not surprising. Too much traditional. I notice it reveals the same expertise in using electronic instruments as other music above (Time).

I Want to Believe = 6.0 Seems to be something I have heard several times, in one or other songs. However the work is well done. I would increase its rating if I could listen to better and original melodies. Why don't you try mix some styles and change things?

ApocalipseF = 7.5 The chord progressions are too much obvious and simple and the soloist part could be improved. It has good orchestration, but the melodies ... ah the melodies...Original end!

Cassandra's Hope = 8.0 Maybe I should not rate rock style, because it usually does not fit my taste... The primary weakness in this music it it has some simple chord progression patterns repeated extensively. Maybe 30 times in 3 minutes... isn't it too much? :-) I would increase my rating if I could feel more melodies, beauty in chord progressions, variations in rythym or patterns and so on. As a whole, it sounds mechanical because of these issues, can you understand me? From the technical point of view it is very well done but maybe, as I said, it just don't fit my taste. I want more melodies, solos and emotional chord progressions!!!!!!

Machine Brains = 8.30 Very interesting music. It seems good for guitar solos (it lacks). The drums are very good! And the distorted guitars (?) fit very well for the goal. Realy good. Reminds me some old Batman songs I was used to listen in TV! Also here I don't understand why other reviewers don't get it. Batman managers would like it. Sure the goal is achieved very close.

When Demons Wake = 8.5 Interesting mix of instruments giving the work a surprising and original style. I liked it! Very good development. Maybe you could add more percussive instruments (like piano, marimba, xylophone) to balance the general stream effect. The end could be more original. I liked the continuous dynamic and powerful effect the music sustains extremely very well.

Ca Ira = 6.1 I have the impression I already had listened this music several times inside other ones. It reminds me a mix of other usual melodies and traditional styles. The work seems be well done, but sorry, I don't feel anything listening to it.

Adoanai = 8.5 I would try to add more instruments to it. It has excelent passages that could be more developed. Transmits some moods very well.

The Last Wolf = 7.75 Reminds me an italian western film! Ringo and his tales. Should be named "The Last Bullet". It uses some variations, based in some "effects" in timing and solos, although the chord progression patterns are almost the same in all music and repeated endlessly. Seems a music was done in a hurry to participate in web contests.

Kickin' Chicken = 6.0 This composition has melody. Has rythym. Has continuity. But it lacks orchestration, use of more instruments and less repetitions. Comparing it with other midi works in this contest I can't give it a higher score.

For Jazzy = 8.0 Very good for illustrating a weird detective walking in Las Vegas streets looking for a cue at night. It has a strong cinematic mood. As midi work, it is very well done. As music, I don't feel in it enough beauty (melody, chord and harmony talking) to give it a better score than other works in this contest.

The Compromise = 7.5 Although it repeats too much the same patterns and chord progressions, it has somewhat power in it. Excellent as sound effects. As music, I have my doubts. The second part is more interesting. Now, notice that because of the extensive repetition of phrases, you could cut it to 10% and yet would get the same phrase sequence... As sound effects, 9. As music, 5.

Lonely Woman = 10.0 To me, one of the best music in this contest. The chord progression is very original for an ambient/jazz composition. The mood is very emotional. It is understood after listening several times, because the chord progression only gets understood better after some listenings. It is not an easy listening. Needs attention to the subtle harmonic variations the music has. Again, I didn't understand other reviewer's complaints about volume and hardware(?) issues. The composition is really good and very illustrative. The piano solo is beautiful and jokes around the harmonic progression.

Metropolitan Lunch = 4.0 Mechanical. No surprise. The chord progression is obvious, without any beauty. The midi is very well done, but I am evaluating the music and I didn't find it. Looks like an artificial flower to me.

EXPERIMENTAL Dream About Awakening = 9.3 What a mood! Reminds me some desert place near north pole. Finland? The nothing breaks the silence of the deep landscape. Very beautiful. Should be cinematic. Before the end it loses its continuity, repeating too much some phrases. Could be more developed to build a bigger work.

Yuminary Ni Miro = 4.0 So short in time, so short in orchestration, so short in melodies, so short in rate. What can I do to help you with my comments? Suggest you spend more time and effort in your compositions. Without labor and effort, there is no magic.

Escape = 9.8 Wonderful. Great orchestration. One of the best compositions of this contest. Sounded beautiful using my Merlin soundfont and Technics amplifier with 15" speakers.

I have listened to all the songs using Roland SC-88VL external GM/GS module.
Final scores are resulting from the following calculation:
80% for the composition (musical value) - score (1.0 - 10.0) x 0.8
20% for the technical value (arrangement, use of controls, editing) - score (1.0 - 10.0) x 0.2
English is not my native language, so please excuse my errors in the reviews.

CLASSICAL:
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1. Symphony in E Minor 4.8
2. Piano Concerto Op.38 mov.1 8.4
3. Illusions Fantasy 8.4
4. Hot Wax Symphony 4.8
5. Oboe Concerto 6.9
6. Lonely Woman, Caprice 6.2

1. The Earliest Snowdrop 6.2
2. About A Fairy 8.2
3. Time 9.0
4. Fanfare 4.2
5. Ghost Ship 5.8
6. White Wastes 6.0
7. The Exodus 9.1
8. The Illusive Ecstasy 8.9
9. The Creation ... 8.0
10. The Legend 6.6
11. A Lark`s Tale 7.8
12. Gnome Overture 6.0

1. 1981 8.0
2. Moody 7.4
3. I Want To Believe 4.5
4. Apocalipse F 6.4
5. Cassandra`s Hope 9.0
6. Ask Me Why 7.2
7. Machine Brains 5.9
8. When Demons Wake 7.7
9. Ca ira 5.6
10. Adonai 7.3

1. Dream About Awakening 8.0
2. Yuminay Ni Miro 4.6
3. Escape 8.7

Reviews by Pawel Jurdziak (June 2001)

Very long piece of music (almost 20 minutes), but quantity is not always quality. If you extract the best motives from
this long version and put them together in a much shorter sequence, the result will much better. I don`t know how
long you have been composing midi files, but if you are a beginner I would suggest that you try smaller forms first
trying to edit them musically and technically as much as possible. If the result is good you can try something bigger.
Score: 4.8

Very well orchestrated classical piece of music. Good dynamics and timing. I could not catch, however, a clear
musical line of the piano, especially in the first part. The second part is much better and the ending even very good.
No panning of the string instruments is the major technical fault, in my opinion. You have placed all of them in one
channel. Why not split them in different channels panned as in a real orchestra?
Score: 8.4

Very nice melody and harmony. Instrumentation and the arrangement is very professional. I liked the piano as well
as the way one instrument gave its part to another. Very well done. Also a very good use of effects and expression
controls.
Score: 8.4

It does not sound good to me. Equal velocities of all notes and total quantisation. I cannot say much about the
composition. It`s too short. We hear a repeated progression of a few chords and that`s not enough.
Score: 4.8

In fact it`s a concert for two oboes and a piano. Both oboe parts are very interesting. The piano part lacks a little
dynamics. The tempo of the music is, in my opinion, too steady for the classical piece. I would add several tempo
changes to make it sound more real.
Score: 6.9

It`s certainly a classical variation of the ambient version. You have changed the piano part and added strings. The
ending part is better here, but I prefer the ambient version. Maybe it`s for the jazzy style of the piano in the other song, I don`t know.
Score: 6.2

Very nostalgic atmosphere, but the harmonies in this composition are in my opinion too ascetic and repetitive. I liked
better the second part with the melody played by the piano.
Score: 6.2

Very nice composition in a contemporary classical style. I liked the chords progressions and the melody played by
the flute. However, the performance lacks lots of dynamics. Therefore the music sounds too static to me. The editing
of note velocities and expression should be done, I think.
Score: 8.2

Very impressive composition and technically almost perfectly done. The introduction is a little weaker, but the main
part - very powerful and well arranged. Maybe a little too much brass sound throughout this song. Adding a
contrasting part in the middle (with no brass) would not harm this composition, I`m sure.
Score: 9.0

It`s over before it has started. Too short in my opinion. It could be an introduction to a greater form, but as a single
piece it has little value.
Score: 4.2

Similar problem. The leading motive is quite interesting, but it`s just a start and it`s not enough to give any better
mark.
Score: 5.8

Sorry, but I could not make up my mind on any appropriate comments to this song. Just an average composition.
Score: 6.0

I`m sure a lot of work has been done to write and sequence this song. Very diversified with almost no repetitions and
very rich instrumentation. There are so many motives in this song, that you did not have enough time to develope
each one to a required extent.
Very illustrative music with interesting harmonies and timing. Only one technical complaint: I would like to hear
strings playing more legato and panned as in a real orchestra. Congratulations.
Score: 9.1

I can say almost the same as in my review of "The Exodus". I suspect it has been composed by the same author or
I`m wrong? I liked The Exodus composition a little better, so I give a little lower score.
Score: 8.9

Another good example of an illustrative music. As a standalone piece it is not so much entertaining, but the
instrumentation is really very well done. I think also this file requires much more editing of sound effects and
expression.
Score: 8.0

I admit this file has a good listening quality, but you achieved this mainly through the use of several well sounding
filling pads and less through the composing work.
Score: 6.6

Very adequate music for this category. Interesting arrangement and an inventive attitude to the composing work.
What I disliked, are very loud low sounds of pizzicato strings. They have caused an unpleasant resonance in my
earphones. More control of the dynamics would make the whole composition sound better, I think.
Score 7.8

Good illustrative background for a particular movie or a game sequence, but not of very high entertainment value as a
standalone piece of music. I liked the ending.
Score 6.0
------------------
Reviews by Pawel Jurdziak (June 2001)

Very interesting composition and instrumentation, creating a specific atmosphere, but a little too monotonous,
especially in the second part, being mostly a repetition of formerly introduced motives.
I think your song requires a small correction. All the notes (except those of tremolo sttrings) should be shifted by a 3/8 note to the right. They simply do not fit in the measure count. Tremolo strings sound out of step in relation to other instruments. I would also shift the strings acoordingly to get a better rhythmical harmony. There is also something wrong wit the drums. In the first part they sound as if the drummer were playing his part when listening to a somewhat delayed playback of the other tracks.
Score: 8.0

Moody
Frankly speaking, I did not like the general sound quality of this song. The composition itself is not bad, maybe a little too monotonous for my taste, but I think you have exaggerated with the sound effects. You give maximum reverb (127) and at the same time sustain all notes of the guitar and other instruments by extended overlaps. As a result you get very noisy sound which is not particularly pleasant to hear. I think the adequate use of reverb or delay controls would be enough to create a nice ambient sound.
Score: 7.4

I Want To Believe
Not much inventive accompaniment, based on a very simple, ordinary chord progression. Very repetitive. I would like to hear some melody composed to it.
Score: 4.5

Pleasant, entertaining music in the style of the 70-ties, but lacking a little bit on originality. When listening to it I had a feeling I had already heard something similar before. I liked the final part starting at m45/46. Good instrumentation.
Score: 6.4

Cassandra`s Hope
Excellent music! I have listened to it several times with equal pleasure. My congratulations. From the musical and technical point of view very well done. What is missing in this very well arranged composition, is either a clear melody line or an instrument solo, which would make the repeated fragments sound different.
I missed the leading melody so much, that I switched on my keyboard and improvised a few sax solos. The result was really good. Keep up the good work.
Score: 9.2

Ask Me Why
Nice melody played by the flute. On my synthesizer it sounded too weak in relation to the accompaniment. By the way, which flute can play three notes at a time in octave intervals?
The composition itself is somehow too repetitive. The monotonous background sound of the warm pad adds to it also. To keep the listener`s interest, I would place a more contrasting part somewhere in the middle.
Apart from that, a very clean and well done instrumentation.
Score: 7.2

Machine Brains
I liked the drums in this song. Other parts could have been done a little better, especially the guitar solos. They do not keep with the rhythm of the drums (see m.27-30, 35, 39, 43-46). You repeat the same phrases too many times in a row. This will surely not keep the listener`s attention. I think also the song of this type should not end with a fade-out. I expected a strong vibrating guitar chord followed by a passage of the drum strokes.
Score: 5.9

The organ introduction is very impressive. I liked the simulation of the great organ with the church organ patch and the swell organ with the reed organ patch. I would add here a third voice of organ pedals in some places. The music of this part is very much in the baroque style. The second part is a continuation of the organ introduction in the rock style. It starts very well, but in time it becomes weaker and weaker. I would cut it somewhere and add a solo passage of the drums or the guitar.
Anyway, very good composition and an interesting idea.
Score: 7.7

First four measures were very promising, but the rest of the music disappoints. It sounds very artificial with very
conventional chord progressions. Technically a lot remains to be done here.
Score: 5.6

Very clear contruction of this piece. I think it goes like that: AABBCBBCA.
My suggestion: instead of repeating BBC section for the second time, I would add a new D part or variate the
previous parts a little.
I liked this composition, particularly the middle part (m. 44-130). Very good bass line, well combined with the low left
hand notes of the piano.
Some technical improvements could be still done (note velocities, sound effects, expression etc.), but these are
minor faults as far as the whole composition is concerned.
Score: 7.3
-------------------
BLUES-SWING:
===========

This composition reminds me one of the midi files used in the Sim City game, I used to play some time ago. Apart from some typical blues harmonies you used, it is very far from the real blues. There is no life in it. Everything sounds as if played by an automated machine.
Score: 4.8

Foolish
I would say it`s rather a boogie-woogie style, at least the second part of your song. Very interesting delay effects, achieved by the splitting of the sax parts in two with shifted notes. Maybe a little exaggerated.
The chord progressions are not quite convincing to me. They sound somehow accidental in a few places. I would also make some changes in the ending. It is very undecisive.
Score: 7.0

The Last Wolf
Very nice and typical western motive. Good instrumentation. I liked especially the low sounds of the guitar. This patch reminded me of some italo western music in the style of Ennio Morricone, but it was adding well to the atmosphere of the song. A little too repetitive to me. I think the harmonica solo is unfinished. Logically, it should have either 4 or 8 measures. You have composed 12 and it sounds as if 4 measures were missing. Correct it.
Score: 7.4

Kickin` Chicken
Not very typical for a country & western music. The set of instruments and the rhythm - yes, but I think, the melody and chords are unusual to this genre. Interesting splitting of the drums part and well imitated banjo playing technique.
Score: 6.3

For Jazzy
Good swing composition. Your general idea and intentions were very good and I can imagine the result, had you done the midi arrangement work well. Unfortunately you did it in a very free style. The instruments do not keep up with the main rhythm. This music sounds as if played at a rehearsal where all musicians play their parts for the first time. They make rhythmical mistakes, try to improvise one solo or another with a better or worse result. Your song will sound very good indeed if you make the necessary improvements. Try to coordinate the rhythm properly. Rewrite the solos with more care. Try to use mostly notes from the scale or
the chords being played. Finally, edit the velocities so that the solo instruments are heard loud enough.
Score: 7.6

False Dawn
Too little jazz and too many repetitive phrases - that`s my first impression after listening to this file. Interesting
harmonies, but not particularly from the jazz genre. All seems to me too automated with no live music, typical to jazz.
Score: 6.6

The Compromise
I liked the second part with the flute improvisation. The first part is too monotonous. Thanks God you did not extend it any longer. The final part somehow does not fit to the whole, in my opinion. Technically very well done sound effects.
Score: 6.8

The Lonely Woman, Ambient
Well composed piano part with interesting chord changes, sometimes a little unexpected. In a few places I would suggest to use tonica in the bass line (instead of the dominant). For example in m35, 57 or 85 I would use C instead of E. It sounds better - guaranteed. Unfortunately, the lack of a clear initial and final part lowers the overall impression. In fact your song starts and ends in the middle.
Score: 6.5

Metropolitan Lunch
One of the best compositions in this contest.
Very clear, nice melody line and the chords progressions as if derived from the handbook of music. Well done bass part, fairly jazzy in style . Why have you placed this song in the ambient category? It fits to jazz or swing. Add a sax or vibe improvisation and you will have a good quality smooth jazz music. This song or its style reminds me of some compositions by Burt Bacharach or Michel Legrand. One improvement could be made - editing of each instrument, especially the sax. I would add some bending and modulation here. It would sound more live and real.
Score: 9.0

Dream About Awakening
Very nice ambient music, though "nice" is probably not the right word for the atmosphere created in this song. I felt really half asleep and half awake when listening to it. I liked the pizzicato strings monotonous accompaniment. Also the panning was done very well. I noticed a few interfering moments in the melodies played by both flutes. They did not sound good. If you listen to them solo, you will surely find out what I mean.
Score: 8.0

Yuminay Ni Miro
Too short and too mechanical performance. Composition? Well, it`s a question of taste.
Score: 4.6

A powerful, clear and very well done arrangement. The sounding of this composition is very interesting, including
several oriental lead motives, well fitted in the whole arrangement.
I think, the overall volume is a little too high in some places. I would try to graduate the velocities in order to achieve
the effect of the rising tension. Good work.
Score: 8.7

Donya Quick

Try as I might to not end up doing things at the last minute, time seems to keep conspiring against me. I ended up writing over my review file 2 days ago with a blank document and I`ve been frantically trying to redo it. Still working on scoring the last few pieces...

Comments: Interesting harmonies. The piece seemed to stick to the metronome too much though and was a little long in my opinion.

Comments: I thought the instruments in the very beginning sounded out of place with the rest of the piece, but what followed was wonderful.

Comments: Outstanding piece! Only criticism is that the orchestra hits didn’t seem quite as effective at the end as the rest of the piece.

Comments: Nice piece, not quite a symphony though. I liked the effects the guitar and French horn created.

Comments: Good combination of styles. It seemed to wander aimlessly in some sections, but otherwise held together quite well.

Comments: A lot of emotion in this piece. I thought the beginning and end were a little odd, but other than that it’s a wonderful piece.

Comments: I liked the combination of piano and guitar in this piece. In some places the strings (I think?) seemed to create overtones that were a little dissonant.

Comments: Seemed a bit abstract in one section. The name does describe it well. Good listening music.

Comments: Excellent beginning. It has a lot of potential. I would love to hear what follows!

Comments: The drum track detracted from some of the mysterious qualities of the piece, and it could have used a bit more dynamics, but was overall good. Would make nice background music for a computer game.

Comments: The rhythms and chord progressions were a too repetitive in the 2nd half of the piece. The opening with the bells was very effective.

Comments: The Middle Eastern tonality that wandered in and out of the piece didn’t seem to fit in one of two small places where it stood alone, though when it was combined with full orchestration it worked beautifully. Having done and heard a lot of Arabic music all my life and studying dumbec, I have a good feel for Middle Eastern tonalities and rhythms, and though you didn’t use the typical rhythms and sounds, you adapted them well to a more modern classical sound. Good work.

Comments: Impressive orchestration. I thought the transition around 4 min was a little abrupt though.

Comments: Charming piece. I particularly like the themes that develop around 2 ½ min.

Comments: The drums sounded too loud throughout the piece, but it may just be a sound card difference. The contrast with the strings between 3 ¾-4 min was good, but it could have been a little longer.

Comments: Another wonderful composition! The string effects in a few short places didn’t agree with my sound card, but aside from that everything was great.

Comments: To repetitive and metronomy. Gives a nice feel of melancholy. The effects at the end of the piece were interesting and could have been used more.

Comments: Could have used a bit more variation in the repeating melody and chord progressions, but other than that it’s a very good piece. It stopped playing at 4 min 33 sec and I don’t know whether that was the ending or if something went wrong because the midi kept playing with no sound until 5 min 55 sec.

Comments: With lyrics defining the melody the piece might work better. There seemed to be several instruments competing for the title of lead melody, and it wasn’t quite polyphony either.

Comments: Nice work! Makes me wanna get up and jam on my keyboard with the old dude!

Comments: The organ kept seeming like it wanted to lead up to something in the beginning and didn’t until the drums came in. Good harmonies.

Comments: Opening chord progression reminds me of another piece but I can’t put my finger on which one.

BLUES, SWING

Blue Night
Score: 8
Comments: Interesting use of instruments. Nice beat, smooth and yet bouncy with other instruments cutting through.

Foolish
Score: 8.2
Comments: Good theme development. A couple piano sections reminded me of some of Gershwin’s music for some reason.

COUNTRY AND WESTERN

The Last Wolf
Score: 8
Comments: Yeah Pardner! Sounds like a setup for a train robbery in the old west.

Kickin’ Chicken
Score: 7.5
Comments: Nice happy piece. Not very complex, but this piece doesn’t need it. The melodies aren’t very developed in some sections, but the harmony is great.

JAZZ

For Jazzy
Score: 9
Comments: Some of the higher notes were a little ear-splitting (probably just my speakers) but other than that, great piece!

False Dawn
Score: 8
Comments: Good beat. I particularly liked the solo section around 3 min 5 sec. Could have used a bit more melody or polyphony.

TECHNO, NEW AGE

The Compromise
Score: 7.8
Comments: Seemed to have some elements of jazz mixed in. Interesting blend of instruments and tonalities. I think the more chaotic sections could have been condensed though. The transition to orchestral sounds around 11 min was a little rough.

AMBIENT

Lonely Woman, Ambient
Score: 9.5
Comments: Could have had more dynamic contrasts, though I haven’t heard much ambient style music so it’s hard for me to say much.

Metropolitan Lunch
Score: 5
Comments: Smooth and easy listening. Sounds sort of like elevator music to me though.

ABSTRACT, EXPERIMENTAL

Dream About Awakening
Score: 8
Comments: The sections seemed too choppy to me. Good effects and orchestration. Didn’t seem all that experimental though…

Yuminay Ni Miro
Score: 5
Comments: Really only one section of something that could be a longer piece. Good abstract harmonies.

Escape
Score: N/A
Comments: N/A

Louise Missen

John Engelmann

If your rating is poor, relax--this is just one person's opinion and opinion doesn't mean #$%@. I'm sure all of you have plenty of talent; some just have more talent than MIDI can handle. My approach is only to list positive or interesting comments--no negative ones.

Because I have heard this MIDI file before and know its author, I feel that I would be biased in rating it.

Good use of dissonance. The piece has a good form that maintains the listener's attention. Has potential.

The echoes help maintain forward motion in the piece. The brief pitch bends in the string instruments add a lot of realism. The abrupt ending works well.

Good use of dynamics in slower parts. High energy in faster parts. Nice contrast at 5:02. The prolonged notes at the very end are just what the doctor ordered for an ending.

The polyphony is very interesting, especially when the piano comes in. One of the most "real" sounding pieces in this month's contest.

This piece got my foot tapping. Great use of space. The composer of this piece must have quite a bit of talent.

I like the fresh use of dissonance. Somehow the piece pulls along quite well--rhythmic placement of notes is excellent. The funky section really gets me goin'. Amazing that all this fit into a mere 20 kilobytes.

Bass line at c. 1:37 is a nice harmonic effect. Big piano chords at c. 3:25 contribute to a building effect. Overall, has a professional sound. Would make a good soundtrack for something on TV.

Because I have heard of this MIDI file before and know its author, I feel that I would be biased in rating it.

The entrance of the distorted guitar gives the latter part a late 1970's, "epic rock" sound (similar to Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf or the beginning of The Wall by Pink Floyd). I'd like to hear this one performed live at a concert. (On a side note, I listened to this using what I believe is the same waveset that the composer used, and I was truly blown away by the explosion sound effects in the piano part towards the end. I may have to "steal" this effect for one of my own compositions some time!)

Could work well as a theme song to a 1980's TV show (don't take offense--I happen to like the 1980's TV show sound). The switch to a bluesy style in the middle was completely unexpected. Drum fills sound sharp ("sharp" not in terms of pitch; rather, like "you look sharp").

This piece fits the description (about the 2-year-old daughter) to a tee. Lots of fine details--sounds like it took a long time to make. The brass chords are good.

Interesting ending--one isn't sure when it's really over, which is a useful effect.

I suspect that the difference between the sound font this piece was intended for and the wave sets on my sound card are too great for a fair evaluation. From what I can tell, it seems that there are a lot of interesting stereo "spacey" effects--would make a good soundtrack for some space-oriented computer animation, perhaps.

Certainly a very unique chord progression. Keyboard licks are decent. The gradual shifts in the drumbeat work.

Lots of enhanced sounds achieved by doubling up on instruments. Listening to this piece gives me a cool, breezy feeling, like I'm driving around town in the early evening with the windows open.

The sudden changes (e.g. when the piano ostinato ruggedly stops for a few seconds around 0:36) are effective at maintaining the listener's attention. So is the contrast of tempo between the A (0:00-1:46) and B (1:47-2:37) sections. The doubling of the piano with another instrument (guitar, I believe) makes for a very lush timbre.

I like the plunge into grace notes and fast arpeggios at 0:30-0:40. Good to hear a piece based on quintal harmony (as opposed to all major and minor chords) for a change.

Middle eastern scales are easily heard. These scales, when mixed with the techno-rock style you have going, make for a creative blend. I like the ending--seems like a note other than the tonic.

BLUES, SWING

Blue Night
Score: 8
Comments: Interesting use of instruments. Nice beat, smooth and yet bouncy with other instruments cutting through.

Foolish
Score: 8.2
Comments: Good theme development. A couple piano sections reminded me of some of Gershwin’s music for some reason.

COUNTRY AND WESTERN

The Last Wolf
Score: 8
Comments: Yeah Pardner! Sounds like a setup for a train robbery in the old west.

Kickin’ Chicken
Score: 7.5
Comments: Nice happy piece. Not very complex, but this piece doesn’t need it. The melodies aren’t very developed in some sections, but the harmony is great.

JAZZ

For Jazzy
Score: 9
Comments: Some of the higher notes were a little ear-splitting (probably just my speakers) but other than that, great piece!

False Dawn
Score:
Comments: Good beat. I particularly liked the solo section around 3 min 5 sec. Could have used a bit more melody or polyphony.

TECHNO, NEW AGE

The Compromise
Score: 7.8
Comments: Seemed to have some elements of jazz mixed in. Interesting blend of instruments and tonalities. I think the more chaotic sections could have been condensed though. The transition to orchestral sounds around 11 min was a little rough.

AMBIENT

Lonely Woman, Ambient
Score: 9.5
Comments: Could have had more dynamic contrasts, though I haven’t heard much ambient style music so it’s hard for me to say much.

Metropolitan Lunch
Score: 5
Comments: Smooth and easy listening. Sounds sort of like elevator music to me though.

ABSTRACT, EXPERIMENTAL

Dream About Awakening
Score: 8
Comments: The sections seemed too choppy to me. Good effects and orchestration. Didn’t seem all that experimental though…

Yuminay Ni Miro
Score: 5
Comments: Really only one section of something that could be a longer piece. Good abstract harmonies.

Escape
Score: N/A
Comments: N/A

Mikael Chan

The beggining... nice, delicate, solo by xylophone - the violin entry at measure 8 is beautiful. At measure 10, the rest of the strings come in, introducing an eerie mood. It's slow, and pensive until measure 18 where, with the entry of the woodwinds, it becomes more reflective and peaceful. I really like the way you are able to change the mood of your piece so fluidly - so that I, as a listener, can feel the change, but it is not obtrusive or overt - that's something that I believe to be the hardest thing in composition. At 27, you have a perfect build to the piano entry. It's beautiful melody and the harmonizing chords are wonderful. I love your "trill" notes. At 58, the movement feels like a water fall - a languid stream of fluid dripping down, and seeping into my mind through my ears. WOW! The plucked bass at 94 fits perfectly, making for a wonderful mood change. It keeps it light, but adds a nice thick dark texture. And what makes it better, is that there is not too much of it - just the perfect mix of instrumentation. I felt as though the climax of the piece was at measure 115. All the instruments are building, stronger and stronger - and everything moves so fluidly and beautifully - masterfully done. Finally, by measure 140, the piano part began to get tiresome - but then it ended - Just on cue! I don't know how you do it. ...The piece works incredibly well with itself, moods and ideas being blended together and molded into one refined work that is just so moving and wonderful. I have a question: Do you play out your piano part? or do you do step entry? WOW! Wonderful piece.

First thing: the beggining chord progression - the repetitiveness is nice - it holds together a fragile idea which is musik. -It stops and the pieces density falls and it feels hollow and empty until the chords return. At measure seven, the oboe entry: At first, I didn't like it - but then, it grew on me. the whole song sounded better to me every time I listened to it. Anyhow, the oboe entry is melow and melodic, fitting well with the piano. At 17, the piano begins to move, creating a beautiful, fast flow which really worked well with the oboe - I really liked it alot. As an oboe player, I look hard for technically incorrect stuff (in oboe lines) and I couldn't really find any - the only problem I have is that it's hard to hear or differentiate the two oboe lines - they're so different, and yet not. There was the fast and then the faster oboe line. But the "important" notes always seemed to come out to form the melody. The oboe parts are sort of like a "round" of some sort - the second oboe repeating the first oboe later on. I really like the piano part at 33, decending the way it does, leaving itself open to ideas at the rest, leaving the listener hanging for more - exquisite! Then you begin to repeat with change, the original theme. The piano solo at 50 was so beautiful - moving, fresh and intricate, then mixing again with the oboe parts which play and dance around each other with rests always in perfect places. They say that silence is as much musik as the notes - and your piece deffinately shows that. I liked the conversation you played between the piano and oboe at 77 it seems as though every conductor I've ever had has always pointed out when there was such a conversation, trying to impress upon us the importance of it. Well played! All in all, it was a very well done piece. You kept your idea focused so that pretty much everything worked well together.

First of all, because yours was such a long song, and I am in a time crunch, I only listened to your piece once. It may affect my judging, but listening to ANY song that is 18 minutes is taxing (espeacially if you have to pay close attention) Also, from what I have listened to over again, (the first five minutes) it seems as though you have several pieces or movements which you perhaps should have seperated for individual judgement. I notice that although the first strings and flute are playing along with the oboe, they are not heard (because the oboe is too loud) - I wonder as to the purpose of having those tracks play that at all. The "brass section" you used sounded a bit too "electronic" sounding, so I changed it to trumpet. The trumpet was very majestic, but perhaps it could have used a timp. build up when it comes in. At 18, it's disjointed, purposefully, but I don't feel that it works. The bass piano part is too slow and lethargic - its too heavy and loud - try bringing it back a notch. Your piano "climb": I think, perhaps it could try to have a cresc. and a tempo increase to build the tension - and then the brass could come in softer - it's way too loud. At 38, I can really feel the tension and energy and really like it. At 47, the strings and brass are too loud - it feels very ungood. There are too many fortes in this piece. You have a lot of potential with mood setting, but the velocitites you have... you gotta work better with your controllers buddy. At 95 (and other places later on) you have an oboe note held for 26 measures or something which lasts for 1:17 seconds. I don't know what that is, but it doesn't work - not only is it not possible for that to happen, but it sounds terrible, clashing and just droning on - shorten these long held notes - or give some breaks in it. At 154, finally, I feel something very interesting happening - its building, and it's fast, ans strong, and great - and then it fades out very nicely. Your style seems very cluttered at points... like ate some points in your piece, your just playing random notes, or having different ideas in the different tracks that don't work together. You have a very nice ending. The piece was pretty good.

JUNE 2001 ALL REVIEWS

Gerry Ellenson

Ron Roos

Donya Quick

Louise Missen

John Engelmann

Mikael Chan