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#042 Fancy A Stroll
The soundtrack in this week's episode is called Fancy A Stroll. It’s a mid-tempo soundtrack with roots in the British rock of the 1960s, but suggests something darker and more mysterious than a groovy, ‘swinging 60s’ sound. It’s a less glamorous take on the heyday of rock music, featuring orchestral sounds and harpsichord to convey a sense of old-fashioned vintage charm. It was originally written for a Brighton-based children’s theatre production of Alice in Wonderland. This soundtrack is suitable for depictions of 1960s ‘mod’ fashion, dated rock culture and stories with a post-war British setting.
IN THIS EPISODE
* The vintage Brit rock sound often used keyboard instruments such as harpsichords, organs and mellotrons. Harpsichords didn’t have pedals. They were a later invention. Either way, the hard staccato sound of a Baroque-era harpsichords doesn’t really suit the track, and I used the MIDI hold parameter (CC64) for a smoother, sustained sound. (DEMO)
* Orchestral sounds always connect the listener to the past. A big string section is usually reminiscent of some kind of classical music, and can be used to create nostalgia. LA Scoring Strings glissandos are awesome! Over-using certain sounds reinforces their stereotype more loudly.
* No bass guitar. We already have piano and double bass. Thinking in frequencies rather than images.
* This track uses harp and solo violin, both unusual for a song rooted in the rock genre. These instruments were included to serve the theatrical nature of this piece and purposefully disassociate the track with the stereotypical ‘swinging 60s’ sound.
* This piece was written for theatre. The outro is a segue into a new scene. To create a deliberate ‘start point’ for whatever comes next, I used both ritardando (slow down) and a new chord (Eb+), both used for the first time in the whole piece, both simultaneously. Stacking musical devices in this way announces the intention more clearly to the listener than just using one at a time. Key changes, tempo changes, new first-time chords and new instrumentation can all be used to signal a change in how the listener should feel.
DOWNLOAD THIS TRACK
* Download it https://gum.co/aTANE
* Use it https://johnbartmann.com/faq
* Search for more https://johnbartmann.com/music
SOUNDS & DEVICES USED
* Native Instruments: LA Scoring Strings, Grand Piano, Harp, Harpsichord, Studio Drummer
* Acoustic guitar, violin, tambourine
SHOW NOTES
* The Bard and Troubadour Theatre Company was responsible for the commissioning of this piece of music https://twitter.com/TheLadyAmelia
* The Stranglers - Golden Brown is a famous example of harpsichord in a rock song
* The In With Two Outsiders podcast theme https://solidgoldstudios.co.za/channel.php?title=outsiders
ABOUT THIS SHOW
You’re listening to How I Make Music, a weekly podcast for the musically curious to go behind the scenes of composition for storytelling in a digital era. Hey, I'm John Bartmann. I’m a composer from South Africa. My soundtracks, moods and themes have been used in podcasts, audio dramas, and also in commercial film, TV and radio. Every Wednesday, we break apart one of my own compositions and investigate the stories and insights into how it was made and its effect on listening ears. How I Make Music helps you better understand how to make, select and use music to create gripping storytelling.
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Home
MY BANDS! Pravda https://pravdaofficial.com + Pebble Shakers https://pebbleshakers.co.za
CONTACT
https://twitter.com/johnisthemusic
https://johnbartmann.com/contact
View all episodes
By John Bartmann
5
99 ratings
The soundtrack in this week's episode is called Fancy A Stroll. It’s a mid-tempo soundtrack with roots in the British rock of the 1960s, but suggests something darker and more mysterious than a groovy, ‘swinging 60s’ sound. It’s a less glamorous take on the heyday of rock music, featuring orchestral sounds and harpsichord to convey a sense of old-fashioned vintage charm. It was originally written for a Brighton-based children’s theatre production of Alice in Wonderland. This soundtrack is suitable for depictions of 1960s ‘mod’ fashion, dated rock culture and stories with a post-war British setting.
IN THIS EPISODE
* The vintage Brit rock sound often used keyboard instruments such as harpsichords, organs and mellotrons. Harpsichords didn’t have pedals. They were a later invention. Either way, the hard staccato sound of a Baroque-era harpsichords doesn’t really suit the track, and I used the MIDI hold parameter (CC64) for a smoother, sustained sound. (DEMO)
* Orchestral sounds always connect the listener to the past. A big string section is usually reminiscent of some kind of classical music, and can be used to create nostalgia. LA Scoring Strings glissandos are awesome! Over-using certain sounds reinforces their stereotype more loudly.
* No bass guitar. We already have piano and double bass. Thinking in frequencies rather than images.
* This track uses harp and solo violin, both unusual for a song rooted in the rock genre. These instruments were included to serve the theatrical nature of this piece and purposefully disassociate the track with the stereotypical ‘swinging 60s’ sound.
* This piece was written for theatre. The outro is a segue into a new scene. To create a deliberate ‘start point’ for whatever comes next, I used both ritardando (slow down) and a new chord (Eb+), both used for the first time in the whole piece, both simultaneously. Stacking musical devices in this way announces the intention more clearly to the listener than just using one at a time. Key changes, tempo changes, new first-time chords and new instrumentation can all be used to signal a change in how the listener should feel.
DOWNLOAD THIS TRACK
* Download it https://gum.co/aTANE
* Use it https://johnbartmann.com/faq
* Search for more https://johnbartmann.com/music
SOUNDS & DEVICES USED
* Native Instruments: LA Scoring Strings, Grand Piano, Harp, Harpsichord, Studio Drummer
* Acoustic guitar, violin, tambourine
SHOW NOTES
* The Bard and Troubadour Theatre Company was responsible for the commissioning of this piece of music https://twitter.com/TheLadyAmelia
* The Stranglers - Golden Brown is a famous example of harpsichord in a rock song
* The In With Two Outsiders podcast theme https://solidgoldstudios.co.za/channel.php?title=outsiders
ABOUT THIS SHOW
You’re listening to How I Make Music, a weekly podcast for the musically curious to go behind the scenes of composition for storytelling in a digital era. Hey, I'm John Bartmann. I’m a composer from South Africa. My soundtracks, moods and themes have been used in podcasts, audio dramas, and also in commercial film, TV and radio. Every Wednesday, we break apart one of my own compositions and investigate the stories and insights into how it was made and its effect on listening ears. How I Make Music helps you better understand how to make, select and use music to create gripping storytelling.
SUBSCRIBE
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube
RSS
Stitcher
TuneIn
Home
MY BANDS! Pravda https://pravdaofficial.com + Pebble Shakers https://pebbleshakers.co.za
CONTACT
https://twitter.com/johnisthemusic
https://johnbartmann.com/contact