Original classical guitar piece - feedback appreciated

[MJLeeman]

I submitted to the following listing and received a return. Most of my submissions go to one particular screener, though that's probably coincidental and neither here nor there. I have been with Taxi since the end of February this year and have had two forwards, one by this screener and the other by another screener. I am very keen to nail the Taxi process, so I would be grateful to receive all the feedback which I can.

Here's the listing:-

ORIGINAL CLASSICAL GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a very successful Music Library with a tremendously long list of killer placements for TAXI members in Hit TV Shows!

This Library is on the hunt for a bunch of Instrumentals that are in the general stylistic ballpark of these references:

"Gran Vals" by Mats Bergström

"Ojos Brujos" by Manuel Barrueco

"Cavatina" by Craig Ogden

Quoting the Library: "Some additional Classical instrumentation in the pieces is okay, but guitar must be the focal point."

Please send well-composed, ORIGINAL, Classical Guitar Instrumentals with captivating melodies, great arrangements, and excellent musicianship. Authenticity is key for this pitch, so we don't recommend using any virtual instruments for this request unless they are indistinguishable from the real thing. Please be sure that your production is high-quality and polished, as well.

All submissions should be between 90 seconds and 4 minutes long, give or take. Non-faded, buttoned endings are recommended. Do NOT copy the referenced tracks in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed.

IMPORTANT: Your Submissions can NOT be commercially released on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. OR be encumbered by ANY other publishing, licensing, administration, and/or exploitation deals (whether non-exclusive or exclusive) including publishing/licensing agreements with CD Baby, TuneCore, etc.

This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal. You’ll split all upfront sync fees 50/50. You’ll keep 100% of the Writer’s share and the Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher’s share. You must own or control your Master and Copyright. Since this is an EXCLUSIVE deal, please be sure the material you submit for this pitch is not already signed with other Libraries or Catalogs. Please submit as many Instrumentals as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Sunday, October 24th, 2021. TAXI # S211024GT

TAXI # S211024GT

Here's the music:-

https://www.taxi.com/members/nwRU7pygQr ... il-the-end

Here's the screener's feedback:-

Feedback for "Until the End"
S211024GT
Share Your Feedback
What I like most about this song
I like the theme, the ideas, and the guitar playing. This is nicely recorded.

I think you could improve this song by
I like the melody and the theme, but this is somewhat repetitive and would really benefit from some dynamic contour, variation and more expression.

I returned or forwarded this song because
This stays in the same place, at the same intensity, for too much of the time. It could stand more expression, more dynamic contour and more build going into a more dramatic ending.

Additional things I noticed...
Mood is off target with the listing request
Too Repetitive

Return

Any comments would be gratefully accepted.

Cheers
Michael Leeman

[Merryband1]

Hi Michael!

We got similar reviews on our returns. I appreciated the suggestions on how to improve in the future. My two were off-target, too, compared to the reference tracks. I also got "too repetitive," which in a way I understand. Mine also didn't have enough dynamic range.

I like your track a lot. It has a sweet, mellow feel. Maybe it isn't strictly classical music, but the tone and gentle quality are lovely. So, maybe our tracks weren't right for this listing, but that doesn't mean they couldn't find a home elsewhere!

Best wishes,
Merry
PS hope to see you at the Rally prequels and the Rally!

[MJLeeman]

Hi Marion

Hasn't it been an informative annual TAXI Road Rally (my first one after having joined earlier this year)!

Thank you very much for your above comments on this guitar track. As I was fortunate to have had the music reviewed by two music library CEOs at the Road Rally on Saturday, I have done a second version by basically remixing and eliminating the string accompaniment so as to end up with a solo guitar piece, except for the 4-bar intro which also appears again around the middle. In those parts I have redone a softer accompaniment to the single line guitar melody. I think that I will redo these short parts to include a broken chord accompaniment in the solo line, then do away with the strings entirely, as suggested by one of the RR guests. The other reviewer suggested that there should be less repetition (he said that it goes on and on and on ...), and I interpret those comments as meaning that the piece might need to be restructured as a cue rather than as an instrumental, probably something like Steve Barden's A-A1-A2-B-A3-A4 format, where there is repetition of a single theme, with variety provided by new textures and timbres which are introduced - I would like to have a go at this type of version as well. Anyway, here's the reworked instrumental version so far.

https://www.taxi.com/members/nwRU7pygQr ... -version-2

Cheers
Michael Leeman

[Merryband1]

I absolutely loved the Road Rally! I'm glad you were able to be there virtually, too!

Yes, I think taking out a lot of the string accompaniment has helped. You could go either way with it, I think... either restructuring it as a cue or maybe adding another melodic element to add more variety, which is what I'm going to do with the Waltz I was trying to finish but didn't manage before the deadline. I just had an A B A, but now I think I"ll take a page out of Strauss and go A B C D, possibly with a return to A but not necessarily. I'm still working on the difference between cue and instrumental, but I'm planning to order Dean's book on Demystifying the Cue shortly and I know that'll help!

I haven't been able to play my classical guitar since the rally. I'm in the process of taking off the tuning machines so I can glue the poor headstock back together. I may post photos somewhere. It was a challenge recording the two pieces with the headstock in a C-clamp! I'll put on fresh strings once the glue finishes drying.

I'm looking forward to hearing more of your work!

Cheers,
Merry