A song- Tuscan Stroll

Your Music
#1

This is the song I wrote when I started getting back to writing music after a twenty year break. Back then, it was Cakewalk 3.0 and yamaha soundcard for all my sounds. Now it’s still Cakewalk, but I’m using VIs for pretty much everything, other than the rare audio recording. This song is all VI.

It’s in 6/8. Chord progression is almost exclusively Amin - Gmaj - Fmaj- Emaj, a chord progression I’ve liked for a long time and finally got around to doing something with.

Song style is…I guess I’d call it orchestral pop, kind of like what you’d hear from Yanni or John Tesh.
Features classical guitar and piano.
Inspriration- I called it Tuscan Stroll because to my ear it has a slightly Mediterranean sound to it, and the melody and chord progression made me think of someone travelling along the roads through the hills of Tuscany, and my wife and I had recently visited Florence, Italy.

DAW- Cakewalk by Bandlab

Sounds
Drums- Cakewalk Session Drummer
Bass- Kontakt factory classic bass
Piano- Native Instrument (NI) Grandeur
Classical Guitar- Kontakt factory nylon guitar
Trumpets- Kontakt factory trumpets
Trombones- Kontakt factory trombones
French Horns- Cinesamples Cinesymphony Lite
Alto and Tenor Sax- Cakewalk Dimension Pro
Bari Sax- Kontakt factory Bari Sax
Percussion- NI Cuba percussion
Strings- Cinesamples Cinesymphony Lite

Thanks so much for listening, and any comments you’d care to share with me. Always looking to learn something new.

Steven

4 Likes
#2

I love this Steven! Wonderful Jazz Band feel. Nicely arranged and well mixed. Nice and clean. Can hear all parts. The improvisations are kickass! You should consider notating it and publishing it at Sheet Music Plus. I use Dorico. https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/the-art-department-sheet-music/3008509

Very glad you are back writing again . . . so good to hear . . . warms my heart . . .

#3

loved this!

#4

Clinton

Thank you for the encouraging words! I appreciate your listening to the song. I confess, I’ve never thought about publishing anything. But now that you have me thinking about it- if I was to publish something, I think the song I posted previously might be the better option, since (minus the little fanfare at the beginning) it’s scored for big band (and so is set up for most high school and college bands).

I see Dorico is a notation software. I don’t know that i have the patience to do that; I get impatient enough in the composing process!

I listened to what you had on that publishing website. Great stuff!

Thanks again for listening and encouraging!

Steven

#5

Thanks!

Steven

#6

Fun piece Steven! I did definitely get the Mediterranean/Spanish Flamenco vibes to it which made me recall my trip to Seville back in 2001. My only bit of critique wold be, as a guitar player myself, I could tell the guitar parts were played like a keyboard instead of guitar, so the effect of the dueling solo parts between the guitar and piano sounded too similar rather than different instruments.

Really enjoyed this kinda, “Mediterranean jazz,” though!

1 Like
#7

Melodic loops from sample packs are a great approach to start fresh ideas or utilize as the primary melodic theme in your project. Here are three easy pointers on how to personalize them. 2) Take one of the notes from the melody loop and record it in a sampler as a single hit. You have complete creative power for the notation at this point.

#8

As soon as I heard the drums come in I got Yanni vibes - great job

#9

Thanks! I appreciate the encouraging words!

#11

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1 Like
#12

hey man, nice stuff, you should get this stuff copyrighted, To properly conduct your profits and copyright the appropriate items, you’ll need a reputable production firm that can handle all of these things. It’s just as important to discover the best music production studio as it is to find the best tunes.
I was looking for a studio on the internet and came upon this voice over agency.
They offer a wide range of services and have garnered several awards throughout the years.

1 Like
#13

Excellent chart, Steve! Loved the interaction with the two solos. I’ve always been a fan of French horns in jazz. You used them to great effect here. Long, lyrical French horn lines over rhythmic punches of trumpet and trombone is a favorite technique! Bravo, Steve!!

#14

Stan- thank you so much for the encouraging words! I appreciate your taking the time to listen. Glad you like the french horns- I love the sound that horns can get as they get louder.

Thanks,
Steven

1 Like
#15

Fantastic work, Steven! I’m actually stunned by how impressive this is.

First off, a brilliant arrangement with switching solo sections with the guitar and piano. All the solo lines were on point. Then the section starting 3:50 is just incredible. I would absolutely listen to a full album like this!

#16

Thank you Jacob! So glad to hear you enjoyed the piece!
It’s very gratifying (and still kind shocking) to hear other composers enjoy something I’ve written.

Steven

1 Like
#17

Hi Steven,

Just listened to your track - thought it was fitting that I listened to your return to music composition as you listened to my beginnings with trailer music! I really like it. The solos are incredible - did you compose them or are they improvised? Either way, very skilled. You obviously know your jazz!

I loved the stacked horns - really built things. Only think could think as suggestions would be that, as it’s a repeating and descending chord progression (I, VII, VI, V) you could maybe try some contrary motion in the harmony to build tension? Also a change in texture might be cool - I love in Latin jazz where the music breaks down to a simple unison bass and piano line with percussion.

Anyway, great work. Look forward to checking out your other stuff now.

1 Like
#18

Edward,

Very thoughtful of you to go listen to something of mine. Thank you for the kind comments!

The solos are…I don’t know…I’m mostly mousing the notes into the piano roll as I hear them in my head. So they are sort of improvised, but I’m not playing them in real time. So they’re sort of composed, too.

I like your idea of contrary motion. Wish I’d thought of that when I was working on that song!

Steven