Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
Tags
A jam submission

A Piano in a ForestView project page

Submitted by gullo — 10 hours, 35 minutes before the deadline
Add to collection

Play soundtrack

A Piano in a Forest's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Creativity#133.2423.400
Challenge#143.5283.700
Composition#152.7652.900
Overall#153.0513.200
Mixing#162.6702.800

Ranked from 10 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Title
A Piano in a Forest

Description
I used the Legacy Knight piano. I didn't have a clear structure in mind, just went bit by bit. I decided to play by hand instead of using a piano roll, although I'm not a piano player, but I wanted a natural feel. Only one section at the end uses a grid, because I wanted a dance-like vibe in that part

Plugins used
Legacy Knight piano, ableton stock delay and convolution reverb.

Link(s) to your submission
https://on.soundcloud.com/ELTPW
https://youtu.be/_VAoxOrdgus

Leave a comment

Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.

Comments

Submitted(+1)

It's a great idea that the theme at 0'54", which is in minor key, is taken up again in major key at 1'33.

I have the feeling that your composition is telling us a story, it seems very human in the way you play it.

I imagined someone falling asleep and going into a nightmare. When he slowly awakens (1'05"), it takes a while for him to realize that it was just a dream, and then he comes to his senses playfully (hence the major theme).

I may have gone too far in my interpretation, but I wanted to share it with you.

Developer

It sounds like the plot from a David Lynch's movie, so I might have been subconsciously inspired haha 

I believe that all stories are all out there, and a playful and creative mind like yours can find them.

Thank you so much for listening and sharing this interpretation, I think it fits well, and I like it!

Submitted (1 edit) (+1)

I really liked how it picked up at 1:20 - I was hoping for much more of that jazzy section. It was a provocative use of reverb at the start. Apropos of nothing the beginning reminded me of "Little Snowflake"- probably because of the season.

Developer

Thank you for listening and commenting! I was a bit afraid of the part at 1:20, but I'm glad you appreciated :) I didn't know Little Snowflake, but it's nice that it reminds of something cute, I like cute stuff

Submitted(+1)

That dance like section at the end was really cool, the high notes of the piano almost became like percussion.

Developer

That was my goal, I'm glad it came through! Thank you for the comment

Submitted(+1)

I really like how the opening builds up the atmosphere. The following section that begins at 0:09 is very contemplative and beautiful, I think experimenting with sprinkling in more dissonant notes like 7ths and 9ths here and there might help make it even more expressive. In the build-up section from 0:54 to 1:04, gradually making the rhythm a bit more complex by adding syncopation or faster notes might help make the following slow-down even more compelling and interesting. For the final dance-like section, experimenting with syncopation in the left hand might be fun, and could help highlight the contrast between that section and the previous sections. Overall, I really enjoyed how you took one central motif and explored how to create different moods with it!

Developer

Thank you for the very deep feedback, it's very useful, and I think everything you said makes sense. I think I've been a bit lazy harmonically, using almost only triads, and rhythmically, especially in the last part. I can imagine how your recommendation would improve the composition, so thank you so much for this!

Submitted(+1)

i like it! although at some points the rhythm doesn't really feel good imo (like at 0:34) but that could just be a personal preference :00
good work!!

Developer

Thanks for the feedback! I think the rhythm is objectively whacky in some points haha

Submitted(+1)

I like that you made it very human by playing without the grid but it doesn't really flow to the more structured part very well IMO.

Developer

You're right, I realize now that probably I should have played by hand to the metronome instead of just using a grid, in order to avoid this issue. Thank you for the feedback!