Midi & MP3 Composition Contest for Composers, October 2001

CLASSICAL & ORCHESTRAL
Dustin Ross (25K), GM - Oct 8
Hello, glad to find a "real" midi contest. I would like to send you a little work I did a year ago. I used a shareware version of Music Master Works to compose it, also Cakewalk and Evolution Pro for improving filters, equalizing and tempos. This work could be classified as a "classical" or "orchestral" song. I own a SoundBlaster AWE64, with its default soundfont of 560kb on a 200Mhz processor. "Dustin Ross" it's a description of feelings, not a classical suite, with a pair of melodic lines. Feelings over feelings.

USA Tears (15K6), GM - Oct 8
I started to compose this a few days after the September 11th terrorist attack on the world trade buildings. Hopefully I have captured the sadness that we all feel for the souls that died in that attack, and the sadness and change that it has bought to the entire world. This is the Final polished piece of work. I would like to add a bit of thanks to all of you at Pixel Arts for helping me understand more about the technical aspects of MIDI. I thank you for answering my questions, and pointing me in the right direction. And thanks for your commentaries on all my works. Hopefully this piece of work will do a little better than the rest did, thanks for helping me bring out the music. and now Tears for America. GREAR: Quartz Audio Master Freeware 460E Sequencer. SB live 5.1. Merlin GM V1.3 28meg SF, 4-speaker system. Pen II 350 hertz, with Concert Hall effects this will sound better. Note: you may not see all or some of the controls with some sequencers. Controller 1 seems to add a bit of an echo.

Piano & Violin Sonata #1 Mov3 (29K7), GM - Oct 13
My first real piece for an instrument an a piano ; this is the third movement, I will send the second one and the first one later. I hope you'll like it ! - Equipement : SB Live! 1024 - Celeron 533 - 'NiceRolandPiano' (Roland XP-30. 6 Velocity layer, 16 bit 44.1kHz Stereo) and 'Candeza' violin (warning, please change the 'Viola' by 'Violin' in the midi, SORRY !!) - Midisoft Studio 4.0 & Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.

Largo for Violin, Choir & Orchestra (13K4), GM - Oct 13
A old piece (op 19) that was the second movement of a Orchetral Suite (my second), it's here a reorchestration where I added the violin , I love this peice for long time ! - Equipement : SB Live! 1024 - Celeron 533 - String1 : Tron String75, Violin : Violin VI (5,22Mo), Choir : Choir Korg Aahhs - Midisoft Studio 4.0 & Cakewalk pro Audio 9.

Mix Sax Moon Elves (61K), GM - Oct 13
It is orchestral and was composed using SBLive, 8M standard soundfont and Cakewalk.

Op2-3 (28K), GM - Oct 20
An old piece I composed when I was a child, third movement (the first was already submitted to the contest). It was sequenced using Merlin 8M Plus v1.2 Soundfont. Version for standard sound fonts HERE please.

Opus 255 (5K7), GM - Oct 21
No comments.

Little Prelude For a Christmas Song (21K), GM - Oct 26
Before a song is sung in church, the organist plays an introduction, to prepare "the mood" and set the key. Such a "prelude" picks up themes and motive from the song to be followed. Often, this can be a free phantasy or improvisation, depending on the talent of the organist. This prelude for string orchestra does the same: setting the mood for the following song "Alle Jahre wieder", a traditional German Christmas song. This song is not included here - the whole short prelude is an original composition. But if it sounds incomplete, that's why.

Another Prelude (43K3), GM - Oct 26
It is that time of the year again... and we are preparing for Christmas songs. Another prelude, for an old popular Christmas tune. Can you guess for which one?

March to Dixie (34K8), XG - Oct 30
Not my best effort, but fun at times. This started out as a dixieland project but insisted onbeing a march. The music tells me what to do as much as I tell it what to do.

CINEMATIC
The First Blush of Dawn (140K), GM - Oct 2
Created Cakewalk HS3.01 SB Live. Listening 8MB E-mu soundfont demand.

Waiting For... (30K7), GM - Oct 3
I used the basic sound fonts that come bundled with Sound Blaster live! I had to use my PC keyboard to make it. Thank god for Cakewalk!

Battle of Fleetzan (19K4), GM - Oct 8
The evil empire of Tilon has sent 4,000,000 million troops to storm the gates of Fleetzan, but are defeated by the 500,000-man garrison. The gates are a natural formation of land that have five canyons leading to the rich lush valleys of Fleetzan. The music tells the story of this battle. Gear: This MIDI has been remixing with Quartz Audio Master 4.6 Freeware, I've added controllers, changed some of the velocities settings, all the volume levels, added many pans, and is best heard with SB live 5.1 sets to generic effect, SB A Synthesizer. I felt that not much tempo change was need, so there is very little I could do here. It has the effect I original intended, loud and brash.

The Odyssey (132K), GM - Oct 14
I wrote this song to musically tell the epic tale of "The Odyssey" by Homer. In this song I tried to picture the drama, the romance, the adventure, and even some of the more comic exeperiences of Odysseus' long journey to get home to his wife Penelope. From drunk cyclopses to angry gods, Odysseus cunningly battles his way through many strange and unknown lands.

I Hate Mondays (63K), GM - Oct 18
Saved in GM 1 format. SBLive card with cadenza soundfontbank.

Summa Technologiae (47K), GM - Oct 26
There will be a day, thousand years from now, When the cruel machine which rules the world (00:00-00:55) Will start to break down. (00:56-01:04) And as its control weaken, human warriors will rise out from nowhere (01:05-01:27). And their hordes will search every corner of the earth. (01:28- 02:20) And they will destroy every part of the machine. (02:21-02:43) And women and children will get out from their underground shelters (03:11) And they will dance triumphantly worshiping their pagan gods, (03:38) On the naked soil. Midi1 sb live cadenza and Sonar.

I Got Monsters in my House (17K7), XG - Oct 26
I loved the cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbs. One of my favorite themes was the monster under the bed thing. The odd beat may put some off. Yamaha PSR530 (XG) synth, Cubasis, XGEdit.

Battle 2 (81K9), GM - Oct 27
3rd and last part of the Fantasy suite. Not much to say about this one. Adds a darker tone to the suite overall.

Cool Devices (34K), GM - Oct 28
The structure of this piece is based on the "cool devices" series. They start out somewhat normal, but then take all kinds of wierd twists and turns. The endings dont really fallow the stories either. So, the piece fallows this structure.

Melted Candles (55K2), GM - Oct 30
The wind howls through a minor forest in a major way. Wait a minute... this might be familiar... no, wait... How did we get so far off the trail? We were looking for a good seasoned grandfather ash to build a new dulcimer, but somehow..... distracted..... There's those eerie strings again, harmonies float in and out like the pulses of fear rising up within you....

POP - ROCK - RHYTHM
Confession (16K), GM - Oct 1
Soundcard: Sound Blaster 128 PCI Creative. I was 15 years old and badly in love. The idea of this composition was 20 years in my mind, and only now it materialized.

Boo! (72K), GM - Oct 8
A crazy little tune done in celebration of Halloween with a LOT of midi guitar. Composed on Cakewalk 8.04 with a AWE-64 soundcard and a 8 meg GM soundfont. Turn off the lights and crank it up!!!! ;-)

Cassandra's Hope (39K), GM - Oct 14
This tune was originally written in March, 2001, for my niece, Cassandra Hope, on her birthday, and is very special to my heart for that reason. The basic structure wasn't changed a whole lot since then, but the harmonies and melodies have evolved several times, as well as the arrangement itself.... I think it's ready for the world to hear now, after having added ideas here and there, and even having enlisted a little help from my friends, when I was just plain "stuck". It's getting very close to "finished", I believe. See what you think. I think you'll enjoy this song, and if you remember the original version, will agree it has been greatly improved. Enjoy!

The Day When (12K7), GM - Oct 18
This piece is a slow pop song. I used the SB live and Digital Orchestrator Pro to write it. It contains contrasting emotions with a moving melody and some uplifting moments. Instruments include harmonica, jazz guitar and synth sounds. I am dedicating this piece to the memories of the victims of the September 11th tragedies and their friends and families.

Spanish Night (99K), GM - Oct 18
Saved in GM 1 format. SBLive card with cadenza soundfontbank.

Crystalline (60K2), GM - Oct 23
Specs: SB Live. A pop-rock ballad with nice contrast between acoustic and electric guitars.

Doc Holliday (76K), GM - Oct 23
SB Live. A blend of riff-rock and harmony vocals. He rode out to the west with a gun, a flask of whiskey, and a bloody handkerchief . . . and the rest is history.

Freedom Fighter (63K5), GM - Oct 27
Not sure if I got the catigory right for this one, it's sort of between styles. It was started primarily as an experiment a couple of months ago in heavy-metal guitar effects but didn't stay in that style as usual with my pieces.

COUNTRY AND WESTERN
Texas (30K3), GM - Oct 22
Let's rock!

Low Blo Hoedown (37K), GM - Oct 26
It was composed on a Packard Bell computer using noteworthy composer software. Enjoy.

JAZZ
Ice (49K7), GM - Oct 26
This is my latest composition. I have placed this song in the jazz category, but its style is tending rather to fusion. It is in GS format, optimized for Roland sound canvas series (best heard on SC-D70), so I am not sure if it will sound good on other equipment. I have tried it on Montego II sound card, but the result was disastrous. I hope other sound cards will make it better. Perhaps it would be necessary to adjust volume levels of some instruments.

Walking, Gazing... (27K8), GM - Oct 26
This is one of my older compositions, written in 2000. It has more "jazzy" character than Ice and should sound better on various equipment. Sequenced with MicroLogic and SC-88VL.

OTHERS - UNKNWON
Batman Dance (13K), GM - Oct 20
Sequenced by Sound Blaster Live Value, standard GM Soundfont.

Dixieland Xmas (66K4), GM - Oct 27
I would apologise for my previous oversight.. This piece is entitled, "Dixieland Xmas", and is a medley of well known Xmas melodies, with a very different treatment. Trusting it will be listened to in entirety..

Tubular Diminishment (548K), GM - Oct 31
This tune will have a familiar "ring" to it. Based on "Tubular Bells" the melodies and harmonies here are as diminished as my capacity, hung in the minor keys with a twist of lime, and a rented copy of "Swamp Thing". Trick or Treat? Post the song please, and make a note that reviewers are not required to review it if they feel the size is too big.

OCTOBER

VOTES

CLASSICAL & ORCHESTRAL

CINEMATIC

POP - ROCK - RHYTHM

BLUES - SWING

COUNTRY AND WESTERN

JAZZ

TECHNO - NEW AGE

AMBIENT

ABSTRACT - EXPERIMENTAL - FUSION

OTHERS - UNKNWON

BLUES - SWING
Good Time (31K), GM - Oct 20
Composed using Cakewalk, SBlive soundcard and standard soundfonts.

ABSTRACT - EXPERIMENTAL - FUSION
Backslash (96K5), GM - Oct 2
Sequenced by Sound Blaster Live Value, 4-32M GM Soundfont.