TAXI.com

Hey dudes, so I got clarification from Anthony at Taxi about this listing. They only want us to use the first section as ref (first 2 minutes or so) before it goes into crazy town (although it's not nearly as nutty as some of his other stuff). My question for you guys, they say no brass, would you avoid woodwinds? I don't want to submit something with a clarinet and then have it get returned because somebody thinks it's a trumpet. Are the screener's pretty well versed with instrumentation?

Here's the listing.

DOWNTEMPO INSTRUMENTALS in the MINIMALIST and MODERN style of Philip Glass are needed by a successful Independent Music Licensing Company with several high profile clients. They're looking for DREAMY and CALMING instrumentals that can work well for various scenes. QUOTING THE COMPANY: "No solo piano or brass. A great track to reference would be 'Pruit Igoe' by Philip Glass." Be sure your instrumentals have repetitive melodic motifs with plenty of movement and dynamics. IMPORTANT: Be sure your track maintains a specific tempo and has a clearly defined REPETITIVE or ARPEGGIATED STRUCTURE. This company offers a non-exclusive, 50/50 deal. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine).Ê Please submit one to three instrumentals online or via CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Tuesday, February 19, 2013. TAXI #Y130219IN

Thanks for checking on that and reporting back!

Yeah, thanks for the update. I figured they only wanted us to reference the early, melancholy part of the song.

Regarding the woodwinds, I would think they'd be just fine so long as they didn't end up sounding like brass. Flutes would most likely be the safest.

I'm a pretty big Philip Glass fan and was thinking of tackling this one myself - I've got a song from my wife/collaborator Suzanne Schnite that needs some serious reworking in order to fit the bill though.

Rich

Hey Brian,

thats cool that you got some extra info about this one.

If it were me (and it still might be if I can fit it in) I would go with the straight strings angle. I think that is the safest bet and the most like Glass's music in general terms.

If I were to use Winds at all, they would probably be like Rich says, woodwinds (maybe french horn), and would be doubling parts that the strings are playing already just for a change of color. but not mixed very hot, just in there in the BG. I wouldn't have any winds play lines by themselves or anything that would draw attention to them.

Rich and Andy, thanks for the replies. I don't really have any good string libraries that can realistically mimic an arpeggiated string section, it always sounds fake. Any suggestions?

I might use the flute + clarinet patch that I have that arpeggiates nice, and I was even thinking of some vibraphone, taking a risk of course, but it's better than nothing and I'll at least have some dreamlike Philip Glass cues handy if they get returned.

Im glad you guys are on this b/c Im still confused as all hell...

Downtempo? Calming?

Even the beginning of that piece isnt 'downtempo' or 'calming'- I dont get it.
I do get the no brass thing, that makes sense.

Yeah, I do mostly agree with you Salty: downtempo, maybe, as the reference track is about 102 BPM, but calming? To me it sounds like it's building tension from the get-go with a definite sense of unease. I think it's due to the pulsing arpeggios. The listing does specifically state "REPETITIVE or ARPEGGIATED STRUCTURE" though.

I suppose this licensing company thinks Philip Glass' "Pruit Igoe" is dreamy and calming. With that in mind we should write/record a-la that reference (however that may be).

Rich

yeah-
Im hoping they actually do want the 'ala' and not the 'dreamy' 'calming' thing- def would submit different things depending on what they actually are looking for.

Oh boy, the arpeggio thing too- I mean, for all I know they are gonna demand the flat6 thing in Igoe...dammit Jim, Im a composer not a copy machine. (if you didnt say that in Dr. McCoys voice- then you missed)

Einstein is dead, Long Live Einstein!

I'm thinking that the way to combine both the 'dreamy' and the 'a-la' is by arranging my track 'a-la' but paying close attention to performing it in a dreamy and calming fashion, i.e., no harsh attacks/velocities on ANY instrument and choosing those instruments wisely (e.g., soft strings/soft woodwinds, no drums or percussion).

Regarding the 'a-la' bit of this the real fear I have is copying the reference track too much. I mean, how the heck to you play arpeggios and NOT sound like Philip Glass???

Rich

Well it might do well to ref some similar but different music, like John Adams, shaker loops.