Final Version - Ludwig the Lounge Lizard

[aldicicco]

4/16 /09I placed my final version on my page for the Whacky Classic submission.Thanks again to everyone for their advice and comments.Alwww.taxi.com/aldiciccoBEETHOVEN MINUET IN G_________________________________________________________________I got inspired by all the classical renditions from everyone, so I took a crack at it myself.It's not a minuet anymore, but you can dance to it. Too bad there are no vocal parts - it calls for a little Elvis in the middle section.I'm still getting a handle on mixing, so I'd appreciate any comments and feedback. If you don't like something in the performance too, I'm all ears. Also, I've tried to incorporate recent advice from Mazz and Vince (EQ and stereo placement).Best wishes,Alwww.taxi.com/aldiciccoBeethoven Minuet in GPUBLIC DOMAIN CLASSICAL PIECES a la Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, etc. are needed by an Independent Record Label for a "whacked-out" Classical Box Set project for kids that they are currently working on. This company has signed dozens of TAXI writers for use on projects distributed by Sony/BMG, Universal, EMI, etc. They would like to hear interesting and unusual renditions of classical compositions and are willing to consider almost anything that is off the beaten path. Some examples they gave are jazzed up versions of a Bach Prelude or Fugue (a la Claude Bolling) or a saxophone quartet (with or without a rhythm section) or a rock version of a movement of a Mozart piece.

[eokamura]

Hi Al - This sounds really good to me. The only minor quibble I have with the mix is I wanted to hear more of the accordian on the left that is sort of holding out sustained chords. It's tucked back a little too far I think. Good stuff though, I enjoyed the listen. eo.

[llama]

Hey Al,Okay..you know I'm biased......but this is wicked cool!!!! But I will not put my curse on it and declare it a forward Derek

[georginasaint]

Al, I really loved this! It made me smile from the start!In the middle there's a chunk of it I don't recognize which is strange cos I'm a Beethoven girl. My only suggestion would be to vary the instrumentation a bit as it's fairly long (a good thing) and perhaps it would sustain interest more if it had - I don't know - a bit of build up towards the end? Anyway, it's a fab idea, well carried out!Georgie

[jeffgreenleaf]

This is very very good...!

[ideascapes]

Hey Al, good to see you at work on more stuff! I like the piece and think you'll always have something special with real accordion playing. Biggest issue I heard was a fairly dull overall sound. Did you run this through a low pass EQ? For comparison, I listened to the "World Jazz Experiment" on your page and it was a much brighter mix, so I know you can pull it off with your gear.I'd go back to the source and your mix environment to figure out what happened.Vince

[k o star]

hi AL, Cool song!I agree with Vince about the mix...I feel that it needs more high ends... for example I like the triangle sound and the stick sound in the background but it was kinda buried underneath the mix... perhaps the accordion is taking up too much space in the mix, if U know what I mean..hmmm, I enjoyed the piece alot though...-Kel

[aldicicco]

Thanks to everyone for their kind responses. I posted V2 a short while ago. A few things left to do..... Please let me know whether this improves things.eo - Glad you liked the tune. I brought out that accordion back-up. It sounds sweet being out front a little more.Derek - I've got another one of these in my bellows. Hopefully I can finish in time. This next one is dedicated to you!Georgie - Thanks for your suggestions on instrumentation. I enhanced the piano - still a work in progress. I plan to add more towards the end of the song to help with the build up and conclusion. Trust me, I didn't invent the middle parts. Strictly Beethoven. Don't worry though - many people fail to recognize familiar music played on the accordion!Vince - V2 was constructed under your guidance. Thank you very, very much my friend! Hope for your feedback here on V2.Kel - I know you have a good ear. Thanks for applying it to this tune. I brought out more of the high end percussion.Best wishes,Al

[k o star]

Yes AL... 2nd version much much better!!It's so much more interesting becos all the other elements, piano, perc, etc... are coming out!Good Luck on Ur submission for this one.-Kel

[ideascapes]

Sounds better, Al--you've managed to bring out the highs and the accordion is righteously prominent. Is your piano in mono? I seems very small in the mix.I don't know about "woofy," but the bass doesn't sound quite right to me. Might be the sample or however you're processing it. For upright in a jazz setting, I usually use a little EQ (cut very lows, maybe bump 100-150 Hz to taste), light compression, and a limiter.I'd like to hear a vocal in Italian on this one. Good work!Vince