music theory project - don't do sadness

double-post.

Updated On: 1/23/07 at 09:45 PM

thanks for the feedback. i'm sorry you didn't enjoy it.

Brainpolice, Please post the link again or PM me with it.
I look forward to hearing your opus...
And please dont let Lightguy Jackass crap on your day-He is obviously very repressed.

haha, thanks for the feedback again. as i said, this was not intended to be some sort of polished product...just part of a music theory project...which was to arrange/transcribe a song you heard on the radio or on a cd. the thing that bothers me the most about it is right before the line about "summer wind" the lowest note i wrote for the viola is very dissonant and contrasts heavily with the vocals.

if you're actually interested in more serious stuff, you can check some of the other tracks on that site. i am simply a high school amateur musician, still learning a crapload everyday. thanks again for giving constructive criticism, not merely insults.

Updated On: 1/21/07 at 10:27 PM

Hey Zach,

Nice job. I know how hard it is to do this and you did a great job and you have a decent voice. I would check some of the synthesized string chords in the very beginning when they come in and the first couple string parts in the hook/chorus, but otherwise you pretty much nailed the transcription. How long did it take you and where are you studying?

---

they are real strings, haha. we are all just high school kids, and i did this whole thing as a music theory project on arranging/transcribing music. some lines i took liberties with in the viola and violin, but the entrance you speak of is right on in the beginning and pretty much right on in the chorus. most of the liberties i took were with the viola, mainly because i love to use the 6th, and on the syncopated entrances i ghosted the third eighth note by just having the viola play. i am by no means a trained vocalist, i sing in the shower, and sometimes in school musicals.

i like to write and arrange music however. if you're interested in some other stuff check out.

http://www.myspace.com/misterherb

also, if you want the transcription, i'll try to post it in a user-friendly format...because right now it's in sibelius.

Updated On: 1/23/07 at 01:14 PM

i think you might dig the other songs on my myspace. the strings in the chorus play a little on the melody to "blue wind," which is pretty neat. the only one who was really familiar with the song was the cellist, who is a beast of a player.

i don't have a very good musical theatre voice...my vibrato blows, that's why i thought that i might be able to get away with this. i was curious if you'd want just like a piano score, with mock-ups of string lines etc. or if you'd want the entire score (piano, guitar, cello, violin, viola, bass, vocals). if anyone's interested, i can make an almost music-minus-one...karaoke thing...so that you can sing it with out vocals. umm, check out psycho killer (STOP MAKING SENSE) version.

http://www.myspace.com/misterherb

i don't know if i'll have the time. this was sort of a one-time thing for a music class. i really shouldn't waste more of my time with spring awakening and singing, as i have to return to my bass clarinet practicing. I have a massive solo in this concert in a little over a week.

i very much enjoyed it. I'm learning to arrange some pieces myself (I'm only on GarageBand though, you sound like you are WAY ahead of that ) I thought your voice fit the song wonderfully and very much enjoyed the strings. Keep up the great work!

thanks again for the feedback. it's great to start in garage band, however a music notation program like sibelius works excellent if you have a midi controller. with songs similar to those from spring awakening it's pretty easy to figure out melodies and rhythms once you figure out the chord structure. there is some flexibility with harmonies, for example rhythmically the violin part and viola part are practically identical in this song...however by using the violin as a more stagnant line that holds closely to the chord root and 5th, and creating interesting intervals with the viola, you get these interesting passages and tension resolution type stuff.

I did an arrangement of "Summertime" for bass clarinet, piano, ride cymbal and vocs, and "Psycho Killer" with electronic drums and acoustic guitar. I don't know if you'd be interested in that stuff, but David Byrne of Talking Heads fame is almost as weird and awkward as Moritz.

Updated On: 1/24/07 at 09:30 AM