I think (like some of the other people in the comments) this could be greatly improved by adding some layering and harmonies between the different instruments. But even as is, I can imagine this in a foresty game where you play as a bunny (or something similar) meandering around looking for food. Very good start, especially for your first time composing!
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Journey (Base Audio)'s itch.io pageResults
Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
Correlation to theme | #75 | 2.916 | 3.045 |
Impression | #78 | 2.481 | 2.591 |
Quality | #81 | 2.307 | 2.409 |
Creativity | #81 | 2.611 | 2.727 |
Overall | #81 | 2.579 | 2.693 |
Ranked from 22 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
Orchestral
Message from the artist:
I don't play any instruments and this is the very first time I've attempted to make music - feedback and comments are more than welcome, and deeply appreciated!
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
Inspired by exploring/traveling through grass and forest maps and areas in games
Comments
A really beautiful effort from a new composer! I enjoyed listening. You've got some promising themes, I'd love to someday hear them layered over a few more harmonies - but that will probably take a few more sessions of experimentation. :)
For a first track, this shows a lot of awesome intuition and creative spark! Delightful rhythms on the outset, nice sense of build-up; bravo! Judging it as a track against the rest, I still think you did well to incorporate the theme, but for quality, you may want to check your reverb, and leave just a little more space between ideas. (If it makes you feel any better, this is far from my first attempt and I literally goofed the reverb on my track!! These things take time.)
Wow this is impresing considering your first track, my first track was absolute garbage and I even had some musical backgound xddd But yeah, some parts are not working as good as they could. I don't want to be harsh, you'll learn as you develop more songs. Keep up the good work! ^^
This is an excellent first try at music! I can't wait to hear what you come up with as you make more.
This is really solid for a first foray into music. I'd say the next is to expand your harmonic knowledge; rather than doubling parts, study other orchestrations for how they make disparate instruments into a cohesive unit. You could revisit these melodies with new backing and see where it takes you. Keep it up!
This is actually very impressive for your first time making music!
I would just tell you what the great Hans Zimmer once told me (in a YouTube video): Music is a language that everybody speaks. You can pose questions and answer them, or explore the question even further.
My goal is always to tell a story with the notes that I write (not sure if I get the job done all the time, but I try).
Hope this was helpful :)
The oboe introduction was great and introduced the first motif! Would love to hear the oboe later on in the piece with that motif again! Focusing around that pentatonic scale for the majority of that beautiful middle string section, it would've been lovely for double bass or cello to kick in to provide additional harmony! The melody was beautiful but it definitely needed some harmonic context!!! At the section when the piano is introduced. The reverb from the previous key signature is still ringing and causes some dissonance which doesn't sound intentional. For this, I would recommend a slight gap, to let the reverb from the strings fade out. Or possibly introduce more instruments to provide more harmonic context. When switching keys a really useful tool is the use of a diminished chord! On a piano, you can find a diminished chord anywhere by pressing a note and holding it, counting up 3 semitones, and holding that next note. Do this 2 more times and you'll find the pattern repeats itself! This chord is perfect for modulating to different keys or a new melody as it can relate to pretty much any other tonal center. I found the piece very impressive for someone that does not play instruments and has never made music before! When I first started I always found melodies to be my weakness and you've done very well for yourself making something that sounds full of emotion. Great work! <3
Strong strings! I'm a fan of a strong string section. The piano kinda seemed unnecessary, at least in this section of the music, but maybe you had future plans for it. Definitely got the forest exploration vibe from the slow strings that layered and unwrapped, like foliage becoming denser and looser as one travels through the brush
Things I enjoyed
- String and Piano samples appear to be fairly high quality, so good choice with those!
- The whole thing gives an interesting feeling of stillness, I think this is because of the instruments chosen? The long reverb also helps.
Things I didn’t enjoy
- The interactions between the piano and the strings were kind of nonexistent, most of the time it seemed like they were playing the same instrument.
- Melody meanders and twists in ways that I can’t really follow/remember. I had a music teacher who once told me “you can think of music as a pattern that changes over time”, so keeping that in mind would probably help your music overall.
From reading your description it looks like you’re just starting out in music, so sorry if I was harsh! You did good for where you’re at, so keep trucking along!
A very personal exploration here. With a melody which gradually mutates to become surprising. Why not. It is all the more admirable that this music is created by somebody who does not define herself as a musician or composer, and who nevertheless offers what is most difficult: to hold more than three minutes for the same music, developing it over time. Very simplistic in its orchestration and presentation, but which perfectly illustrates for me the idea of contemplating clouds, lying in a field, during a great journey.
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