Passionate, Dangerous, Edgy and Romantic Tango rework

[georginasaint]

Ha! That made you click didn't it!
Well I have been too busy writing in the past few months to be on the forum much.
But this one, I really could use some new ears on. It's not for a particular listing, but to meet a request for - as my title says - passionate, edgy tangos.
Thanks for all and any thoughts.

http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2690383

Georgie

[ottlukk]

I thoughtt it both passionate and edgy. Nice.
Ott

[bwd]

Hi Georgina. I like the low piano runs. The violin melody is pretty and dramatic. Is that real violin? The big hits on the first beat get a little tedious from 1.23 - as does the echo on the drum hit. Maybe do the big hits on the eight beat before the beat as well now and again. In fact I think it's just the drum/perc that needs attention. Everything else is great. I'd go for a more traditional tango rhythm track. Doug

[georginasaint]

Thanks Ott and Doug,
Doug, I like your ideas re the percussion. I'll experiment with that. Percussion is always my weakest point!!
No, not real violin - it's the violin from EW Gypsy and various different patches from it.
Thanks for listening, and for your help.

Georgie

[mazz]

Hi Georgie,

Cool piece! Love that Gypsy Violin! You've managed to wrangle all those keyswitches and articulations well!

Sonically this piece confused me a bit. When the piano came in, it sounded a bit too "close" to me in contrast to the strings. When the violin came in, it was in the same space as the piano which is fine, but the piano never really steps out and takes the lead, which makes me want it to be treated as more of a member of the "band" sonically rather than a close-miked piano. I think turning the piano down and making it sound a bit darker will give the sonic cues that it's sitting amongst or behind the strings instead of right at the edge of the stage, since it's not a piano feature.

Form-wise, I think you can cut the intro at least in half and get right to the melody, unless you need the time for some reason, maybe to match a scene or something, in which case ignore my remark.

That being said, I think the low drums at the beginning drag the energy down, I would start with a light snare pattern (a tango pattern) and gradually build up the percussion until the violin goes up the octave at which point the low drums will serve to anchor the energy of the piece. Instead of low drums at the beginning, use double bass, again set back sonically in the strings doing that tango pattern (something like Half Note, Quarter Quarter, or the British equivalent in quavers! ).

Another thing that gradually adding the percussion will do will be to better define the themes. Right now the form is a bit hard to discern, at least this early in the morning! LOL I'd like to hear a slight crescendo and build of energy up to the end of a phrase and then back down some for the next phrase, with each phrase building slightly toward that violin high note section. That's a very tango-ish thing to do, IMO.

All in all love the piece, just a few tweaks here and there to put it over the top!!

Cheers!

Mazz

[georginasaint]

Mazz,
An a-MAZZ-ing response - thank you so much for so much detailed thought - I love the ideas, all of them.
As far as the flow of the piece, I felt strongly that it wasn't quite there yet, and I was hoping someone might address that - you hit the nail on the head.
I'll do as you suggest and I believe it will be far stronger for it.
Thanks again,
I think that's 302 beers I owe you at the rally this year, so far.

Georgie

[fusilierb]

I think you've gotten all the great advice you need. I really like the piece. Looking forward to the rework!
B

[mazz]

Mazz,
An a-MAZZ-ing response - thank you so much for so much detailed thought - I love the ideas, all of them.
As far as the flow of the piece, I felt strongly that it wasn't quite there yet, and I was hoping someone might address that - you hit the nail on the head.
I'll do as you suggest and I believe it will be far stronger for it.
Thanks again,
I think that's 302 beers I owe you at the rally this year, so far.

Georgie

The more I drink, the better you sound

Not really!

Glad to help!

Cheers!

Mazz

[georginasaint]

Hi - I'm back with a revision.
I'm not very successful with percussion, I fear it.
But here we go:

Stiletto Tango, Take Two:
http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2694157

Georgie

[davewalton]

Mazz,
An a-MAZZ-ing response - thank you so much for so much detailed thought -

I'll add a quick thing... might not be anything... but the piano riff (ascending) made me immediately think of "The Addams Family". That little (da-da-da-da), even though there's a grace note added, is very similar in pattern. You might taking those ascending piano notes and mixing them up, changing the rhythmic pattern.

FWIW,

Dave