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Forest Secrets...a work that is planned...but has NOT produced much in results...

http://www.korgforums.com/mp3/forestsecret.mp3

Regards, All!!! Johnny...(ellll)

EDIT:..Here it is as a single song "Before The Rain" and the rest will be re-worked...to make up a small group "Forest Secrets"....I dropped the strings a bit ..re-set the flute and horn a touch and slowed it by 4 MM..to 80, I believe from 84...(there will be a little bridge at the end of this number...)

Thanks All John ellll

Hi John

This is again very beautiful. I love the expansive expressiveness you always achieve. The sound is really good - hope you are feeling happier with your results too.

The strings make me think of gentle breezes and I am a big fan of your absolutely beautiful pensive cadences, like at 2:35 and 4:14. You really capture a feeling of dreaminess and I enjoyed the middle section with it's swells and fades.

Your music is very inspirational - keep writin' and postin' it.

Regards from
Dee
---------------

Finally got time to sit down and give a listen. I think the string pads are too strong in much of the beginning, it seems to distract me from the beautiful piano and other accompanying sounds. Maybe it's just that I'm not nuts about that particular string pad. However, the different voices coming and out and the hidden melodies in here are really quite beautiful. I like the quiet parts the best so far, but this is my first listen. Around the 4 minute mark it's just lovely and I really like how the piano sounds here. OK, my suggestions for my ears would be to tone down the string pad and work the stuff with the flutes or whatever those other instruments are, which add a tremendous touch and showcase the piano the most, keeping it the loudest. Also, if you need louder string pad portions for emphasis maybe pan them to the side somewhat, or do 2 different string pads one left and one right and see how that might separate them and allow the piano to come thru better. I think I like this piece better than the last one you did, which I did like as well, but this one seems to have a better sense of thematic development. I'm not sure it's complete from that angle as well, but it seems to take me on a journey as it should. You certainly don't take on any easy projects here, John. So my hat is off to you for even getting this far, when it comes to orchestrating all these parts and voices I know you can spend many hours and still not get it right. But your stuff comes out very nice even on the first try, and they can only get better, that's assuming you have the time and patience, which I hope you do. Do post another version if you get a chance I would love to hear how you end this.

The opening of the song...really almost the first half...was a bit much. Not a lot for me to distinguish. But a little before the halfway mark you really branched out, the sound thinned a bit and it was beautiful.

I find the second half of the song very accessible and lovely.

George hit it with his comments on your strings. Personally I would use them as an added flavor given the patch you chose. They need to be tucked back so we can hear the distinctive lead.

The ending was totally cool. It sorta just stopped. And sometimes that works.

It just dawned on me. This song feels a little backwards. It seems like you should start with just a solo piano and then build up to the arrangement by the time it ends.

I think this song has produced good results though. I too want to hear a revisit using the suggestions you choose to implement and your own hearts desire as well.

Jon

Hi Guys..And Girls!!

Yes..the string sound is too forward...and should be softened...Will take care of it...

The idea developed to be just a stroll through the woods...and then rain....but I got carried away in the thematic repeats; I just had fun with them......

Let me work back through the first section and see where it leads me...

Also had another I have worked on pretty hard..but decided this was more finished...The other will be continued for Next month....maybe.....

My Thanks!!!!

John ..Johnny ..ellll yeah I know..too many names..I will thin them down soon

Friends..

Please check the shorter, more simple song, using some of your suggestions...

Thanx!!!

John...ellll

About your revisit on this song.....

Wow!

John I think you nailed it bro. I could feel almost everything you did here and you captured a nice theme that carried me from the beginning till the end.

The levels of everything are JUST RIGHT!

A touching delivery of the piano was enough to move me...and the gentleness of the various instruments calling out, almost like sunlight peaking into a dense forest exposing various elements...absolutely LOVELY!

Some of your best work indeed this revisited project. Bravo!

Jon

Hi John

Yes I agree with Jon ...... this is really one of your best so far. I also thought of sunlight peeking through the trees.

A great improvement, for me mostly in the clarity of the various parts, without losing the dreaminess.

Regards from
Dee

Johnny, right at 1:58 I hear drops falling and hitting the forest flora. I really like that the instruments are more separated and well mixed. The more the indivdual timbre are out there, the more colors we get to see in the forest. It really helps with so much going on to hear those horns and flute timbres. I enjoy what your fingers are doing on the keyboard. I never tire of "not knowing" where your finger are going to go. You and the keys are old acquaintances. I don't know classical outside of my "Bugs Bunny music appreciation training" I got on Saturday mornings, but I hear huge experience (musical and with life). I love the musicalship, the pasion and the much better mix.

Thank you and thank you!

Well, I love the strings now, they sit exactly where they need to. Wow, this is so much better, it's really fantastic, I could listen to this again and again. In fact I believe I will. You get an extra cookie this month, John.

Hi Friends....I am really a bit amazed...

Yet, I also felt that I found some improvement in the mix, tempo and timbres...

I thank each of you ...Jon...Dee...Jaz...George...my word!! you are kind,.. and valued very much by me...

I do hope to tighten up a few notes on the piano that are a bit too forward..( ) to put it better way too loud....and then work on the following section for the rainstorm..which you noticed...is starting in the end of the "Before The Rain"...

I will try to get it correct and maybe a simple score as well by fall...We will see...I have been a bit out of sorts and will have to "Pull my socks Up..." and get on it!!!

My best regards, and thanks!!! Johnny...John...ellll

Dear John,

I listen to Forest' secret today at the office, and now I'm at home, listening to it again and again...
I can see beautiful scapes...I can't really do such amazing piano+orchestra pieces, it sounds like a lot of creatures coming out from all corners, it's not "timed" at all...I mean that when I sequence this kind of stuff it always sounds that I'm clearly using a click, it sounds "false".
In that case it's so real...very very good, this OASM gets you better and better every month!


Regards

Many thanks Diego, for such kind words....!

Maybe I will try a little choral writing again sometime.....('Fraid to do it here, after hearing your ideas...!!!)

My Regards!! Johnny -=-John (elll)

Hi ellll,

Thank you for providing me with my monthly classical dose

I didn't hear the first version you posted, so am listening to the latest version I think.

Your tunes are so complicated yet simple - complicated in voices, but easy to listen to. I really like the piano playing here - this might be your best OSAM tune to date - not only for execution, but for arrangement as well. I liked the ending - one thing though - allow a couple seconds before stopping recording as the fade was done fading yet - minor nit.

I find commenting on classical music difficult as the organization is hard for me to get my mind around. I can say I enjoyed this, closed my eyes and found it very relaxing.

I'm on version 2 as well
Delicate and uplifting at the same time.
I started to notice some of the pauses you put in on the piano, they are subtle, but give a sense of anticipation for next part.
A classic in every sense, a lovely piece that evolves all the way through.