Castle Paradox

[Artimus Bena]

I have greatly improved this album over time, and with the generous feedback of Leroy. There's still more to do with it, but I'm finding that trying to edit and improve some of your first midis is practically futile. I've decided to leave it be, and move on. So here it is, the (probably) final version of Enchantae's Tower.

http://bena.castleparadox.com/TheString/ET.mid

The songlist has been updated, as well. My thanks to anyone who takes the time to listen. The music in this means a lot to me.


Heh. Expect another one of these albums some time in the future. ; )



[edit]
For those of you who like to skip to the best part: http://bena.castleparadox.com/TheString/ViolentDeath.mid
[edit]
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[Calehay]

Listening as I critique:

I wouldn't use orchestral hit. I mean, you have an orchestra right there, why not use it? It would probably sound a bit better to divide those little sections with different timbres.
I love these textures that are going around (around 3:30)
I'm loving your segues into new sections. It flows extremely smoothly.
Around 13:00 I'm not sure I'm hearing what's happening here correctly. What instruments are playing there?
Around 14:30 The melody here seems a little pushing the limits of the ear. It's that 5th note, it just seems to throw things off a bit. But maybe that's just me.
23:00 Picking up speed and momentum. The only thing keeping down is the orchestral hits. I know that orchestrating large unisons like that are a pain, but I think the payoff would be much sweeter and more forceful and poignant.
Around 26:20 I think that might be a little too soft. I couldn't hear anything but a faint noise that sounded like something else in the room until I turned up my speakers. If this was a live concert hall, we wouldn't have that problem, but that's the problem with electronic music.

The nice thing about composing an extended composition like this is that you have time to savor the moment and play with a little phrase for a few minutes. (If you don't believe me, try to write 18+ songs that move plot forward while moving in themselves and each lasting only around 4 minutes.) You do very well in this respect. I never really lost interest in your composition.

Nice work.
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Calehay

[Artimus Bena]

Wow. I'm really glad for the listen, calehay




I must confess I stole the whole idea from The Wall, and in somewhat of a tribute, I set up the very beginning and end just like The Wall, with the weird and quiet orchestration. Sort of a stretch for ET, I know, since the context is a bit different, but if you'll notice, I sort of set up the whole thing as a guitar album like pink floyd.

A lot of people have commented on the quiet parts at the beginning and end. If I were to change it, I'd probably boost up the ending part a dynamic, but keep the beginning one at that volume. Mainly to trick people into turning up their volumes for the first big bang. (Shh! Don't tell anyone! : P)


Thanks again,



Bena