Need advice on writing period pieces (1920's)

[markjsmith]

I'm trying to write a piece for the 1920's listing. I'm wondering how much I should try to make the recording sound like it was from the 1920's. I've heard a tune someone posted in P2P that was a really great sounding tune, but was a little over the top (to me) with trying to go for the recording ethic of that era.If anyone has had a few placements or at least forwards with these type of period pieces (early 20th century), I could really use the advice!

[cardell]

I also heard the track in peer to peer and I wondered the same thing.I would imagine that whoever uses the recording would add that effect at their discretion. Best to ask Taxi I suppose.Stuart

[mazz]

My gut feeling is that the songs need to sound like they're from the 20's, not the recordings. As Stuart said, the end user can do the EQing necessary to make it sound like the period if that's what they need.Unless they are specifically asking for it to sound like the period, which they aren't in this case, I'd make it sound like it was written in the 20s and have the instrumentation and playing reflect that era too, but make the recording sound great. In any case you'll have a good piece in your catalog.IMO.Mazz

[jlizerbram]

I was just listening to that piece in P2P. I think it would work great if they just took out the record-thread effect. If any supervisor were to use it, they might add that kind of effect during the production of their program, is my guess.

[jlizerbram]

On the topic of 1920s music, I was interested in trying to write a piece or two for the current listing posted (Y091209TW). I like the challenge of trying something new (well, old!). As I'm listening to examples, the original recordings are so muddied that it's hard to dicern which core instruments are regularly used. I'm not sure, but are these typical instruments used in a 20's band?-upright bass-brush drums-clarinet-trombones-pianoanything else? Just trying to pick some appropriate instruments from my samples. Thanks!

[markjsmith]

Also banjo (strummed). A lot of early swing had that going on.

[jamesm]

There was also a style with heavy, heavy vibrato in the sax section. Very schmaltzy-sounding now but was all the rage then. Lots of scooping on musical lines.You might try checking out "Jan Garber and His Orchestra". He's a great one for hearing the evolution of the music since he evolved to fit the current styles.

[jlizerbram]

Here's a great reference video. The sound is actually very clear for a movie from that time period. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRnvoBXizY

[ebjazz]

I submitted for this. If you'd like to hear my tune it's "Cue-1920's jazz" on my Taxi site below.Still don't know how to link a song...My instrumentation is cup-muted trumpet, clarinet, tuba, banjo(sort of-was and acoustic guitar) and some random percussion. And yes I played all the parts...

[cardell]

Sounds authentic Eric.Stuart