SAD, PIANO-Based INSTRUMENTALS

[Muledog]

Hi everybody!

I would greatly appreciate some feedback on these two sad piano pieces for the listing below.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Thanks,
Thomas

https://soundcloud.com/user-183566869/empty-hours

https://soundcloud.com/user-183566869/the-sorrow

SAD, PIANO-Based INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a rapidly growing British Music Library that's been using TAXI as its primary source of new music for a large-scale catalog expansion.
They're looking for Down-to-Mid-Tempo Instrumentals that would fall in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references:

"Crying Alone" - Sad & Emotional Piano Song Instrumental
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMvCfm_AjYo

"Teardrops" - Beautiful Sad Piano Instrumental
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3onzY4MNxE

“It’s Hard to Say Goodbye” by Michael Ortega
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Am4cHMBKM


Please submit Original, well-performed Piano-Based Instrumentals that evoke a sad, melancholy, and/or somber mood. Solo Piano pieces can work well for this request, as well as pieces that have some additional (albeit minimal) instrumentation as well: i.e. violins, cellos, etc. Instrumentals that stick to one emotion from top to bottom will work best. If your Instrumental is able to underscore somber scenes like funerals, breakups, and other painful life moments, you should be right on target for this request.
TAXI TIP: If you’re using a sampled/virtual Piano, be sure that it doesn't sound synthetic or obviously MIDI-driven as that won’t work for this pitch
All submissions should be 2 to 4 minutes long, give or take. Non-Faded endings will work best. Do NOT copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, texture and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed.
This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal, so please be sure the material you pitch for this opportunity is NOT already signed with other Companies or Catalogs. Any sync fees will be split 50/50 with the Company. You'll get 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 to submit. Please submit as many Instrumentals as you'd like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PST) on Wednesday, June 19th, 2019.  TAXI Dispatch #D190619SP

[ttully]

Hi Thomas,

2 nice tracks!

The ONLY think I could think of ...is yours are a bit faster than the examples and have a bit more melody.
But I am trying to find something wrong....nit picking!


Good luck
My 2 cents worth,
Tim

[Muledog]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the help! Those are two valid points.

I wrote those for another listing a while ago and was hoping they would work on this one. I wonder if they're so different than the references that it would be easier to develop new ones closer to the target from scratch. I'll see if those will work slower and simpler. If not I'll save these two for another listing and write some different ones that line up better.

Very helpful to get your second opinion!

Thanks,
Thomas

[mikehamm123]

I thought both are fantastic.

[LongBlackNight]

Hey Thomas...These are nice little gems. I think they stand a good chance getting a forward as well as getting signed.

Of the three refs, Crying Alone is written in the freest style and exudes the most pathos, while the other two sound more like "songs." Yours fit comfortably within the center of mass of those three pieces, IMO. I'm amazed at anyone's being able to get a "slow, sad" song in under 2:00 minutes.

If I had to choose a favorite, I would pick Empty Hours, but The Sorrow is definitely there as well.

What kind of piano are you recording? I find it difficult to record a real piano (although I'm using a Yamaha upright, not a grand). Your sound has a nice pensive, "rainy day" aura to it.

-jp

www.LongBlackNight.com/songs

[Muledog]

I thought both are fantastic.

Thanks Mike,

I appreciate the feedback! I've been working on an additional one that may match the listing better and will have that up tomorrow.

Thanks,
Thomas

[Muledog]

Hey Thomas...These are nice little gems. I think they stand a good chance getting a forward as well as getting signed.

Of the three refs, Crying Alone is written in the freest style and exudes the most pathos, while the other two sound more like "songs." Yours fit comfortably within the center of mass of those three pieces, IMO. I'm amazed at anyone's being able to get a "slow, sad" song in under 2:00 minutes.

If I had to choose a favorite, I would pick Empty Hours, but The Sorrow is definitely there as well.

What kind of piano are you recording? I find it difficult to record a real piano (although I'm using a Yamaha upright, not a grand). Your sound has a nice pensive, "rainy day" aura to it.

-jp

www.LongBlackNight.com/songs

Hi jp,

Thanks! I'll submit them then. I gave up on real pianos a while ago. I used to have a 100 year old Steinway upright but keeping it repaired and in tune was too much hassle. The best I've found is the "Imperfect samples" of the Fazioli ebony concert grand:http://www.imperfectsamples.com/website ... mplete.php
I use that with Waves Abbey Road plates reverb to give it that "rainy day" sound. I like the sound of the Fazioli and it reminds me of the Steinway Yamaha and Kawaii concert grands I've played. I've been working on a third song to try to come closer to the reference and will be posting that tomorrow. Thanks for listening and thanks for the critique!
Thanks,
Thomas

[LongBlackNight]

Awesome. Thanks for the link, and may the muse be with you.

[Muledog]

Hi everybody!

I would greatly appreciate some feedback on these two sad piano pieces for the listing below.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Thanks,
Thomas

https://soundcloud.com/user-183566869/empty-hours

https://soundcloud.com/user-183566869/the-sorrow

SAD, PIANO-Based INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a rapidly growing British Music Library that's been using TAXI as its primary source of new music for a large-scale catalog expansion.
They're looking for Down-to-Mid-Tempo Instrumentals that would fall in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references:

"Crying Alone" - Sad & Emotional Piano Song Instrumental
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMvCfm_AjYo

"Teardrops" - Beautiful Sad Piano Instrumental
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3onzY4MNxE

“It’s Hard to Say Goodbye” by Michael Ortega
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Am4cHMBKM


Please submit Original, well-performed Piano-Based Instrumentals that evoke a sad, melancholy, and/or somber mood. Solo Piano pieces can work well for this request, as well as pieces that have some additional (albeit minimal) instrumentation as well: i.e. violins, cellos, etc. Instrumentals that stick to one emotion from top to bottom will work best. If your Instrumental is able to underscore somber scenes like funerals, breakups, and other painful life moments, you should be right on target for this request.
TAXI TIP: If you’re using a sampled/virtual Piano, be sure that it doesn't sound synthetic or obviously MIDI-driven as that won’t work for this pitch
All submissions should be 2 to 4 minutes long, give or take. Non-Faded endings will work best. Do NOT copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, texture and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed.
This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal, so please be sure the material you pitch for this opportunity is NOT already signed with other Companies or Catalogs. Any sync fees will be split 50/50 with the Company. You'll get 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 to submit. Please submit as many Instrumentals as you'd like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PST) on Wednesday, June 19th, 2019.  TAXI Dispatch #D190619SP

Thanks Tim, Mike, and JP for the great feedback!

I've worked up one last song for the request and have posted it:

https://soundcloud.com/user-183566869/much-sadder-now

It's called Much Sadder Now and I'm hoping it lives up to its name.

If anyone has any suggestions on this one I still have a day and a half to fix it before submitting.
Thanks again for all the help and kind words!

Thanks,
Thomas

[ttully]

Hi Thomas,

Well..its sure sad!

Is there some string instrument holding a constant legato note thorough the entire piece...or is is some weird resonance.
If it is a string instrument.... it seems a bit fake from the extremely long note.
If it is a viola or something...maybe you can stop and start it and or have it play a few different notes....i'm not sure.

But besides that..It is good.

Again...my 2 cents worth,
Tim