Aquatic Compositions (updated 4/03/14)

[Zorafim]

I'm taking requests, for anyone who's interested. I mostly enjoy creating character themes, but I also enjoy composing for locations and events.
If you're an artist, I'm more than willing to trade works.

My songs are listen in order of composition. The mediafire links are more up to date than the youtube videos.


Downcast Eyes

Composer's notes:

Spoiler!

Levia's theme, and my first composition. I used a simple, emotional chord progression and gave a mellow, modest melody to it.

Peripheral Gaze

Composer's notes:

Spoiler!

A battle theme I wrote using the chord progression of Downcast Eyes. It was heavily inspired by classic RPG battle themes, and that shows in many parts. Though the structure is the same as Downcast Eyes (and the two can be played on top of each other), the harmonies are much more rhythmic, and the melodies are more energetic. To make the connection between the two songs stronger, I added a track playing Downcast Eye's melody.
Despite being one of my earliest pieces, this is probably my favorite one.

Wild Blue

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

My first commission, from YoshiBlue. I tried to make it as strong as a western sound as I could, using as many western chord structures as I could find (which wasn't many), as well as instruments normally associated with western media. I think the harmonica is too strong, but overall I love the way it came out.

Summer Bay

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

Originally composed for Qoxolg's PSA-jam, I decided it deviated too much from the assigned theme. Still, it came out pretty great. This time, the theme I used was for a summer beach party. Somehow, this one was heavily inspired by many fun Mario songs. I used an approach that I tried and failed at in Wild Blue, and gave each instrument the chance to play the melody, as well as changing the mood of the song at that point. Despite being my most repetitive song, each part of it has something new going on for it. Definitely my catchiest song so far.

Lovely Abyss

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

This is the song I ended up entering to Qoxolg's PSA-jam. I thought since I already tried to make Downcast Eyes as aquatic as I could, I'd be borrowing too much from that. But this one definitely has its own flavor that Downcast Eyes doesn't have. This is a deep sea theme. I have a bass and cello doing conflicting motions to simulate the ebb and flow of the current, and had the harp play a third above those two for an unsettling tone. The flute plays a subdued melody, contrasting with the energetic sound the flute creates. Overall, I think this piece lives up to its name. It ended up creepy and beautiful.

Nostalgic Journey (incomplete)

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

This was another piece composed for Qoxolg's PSA-jam. All of the songs I used as inspiration were far too short for me to use for a long piece. If I had to try this again, I would try to make the piece shorter and catchier. I'm not planning on going back to it any time soon, though.
My goal was to simulate the skills of child of a person learning the piano. At the start, many mistakes are made. The pianist quickly becomes more skilled, and is eventually joined by his student.

Timid Guppy

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

This was my backup for the PSA-jam Nostalgic Journey was supposed to in. This is simply a remix of Downcast Eyes. The chords were changed to their major thirds, and a plucked violin and bell give a cheerful rhythm to the piece. The melody is largely untouched from the original song, except for a few notes which couldn't be played in a major key. Despite how well I believe it came out, it took only a few hours to complete, making this by far my quickest piece to compose.

Beauty of the Battlefield

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

My second commission, this time for a friend of mine. He was as enthusiastic about this one as I was, always overloading me with things to add so much that they started conflicting with each other. This one is simply his character's theme. Since his character is a hybrid aztec/hispanic special ops, I was able to do some interesting things for this one. First, the first half is an ambient stealth section, using mostly tribal instruments. I have to tell you, it was a pain getting the right sound, both from the instrument selection and the notes themselves. One of my constraints was that there wouldn't be a melody, which was really difficult for me to do. And later on, I kind of failed at that. But still, I managed to pull through. The eerie, empty sound is created by using a different mode of chords, dropping a flat where it's not supposed to be.
The second half is the ambush section. This uses more upbeat tribal music mixed with a spanish style. All the chord progressions are taken from spanish styles. I don't have too much to say about this section, other than I love making battle themes.

Song of Torva

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

This is a bard's song about Torva, the protagonist of my fifth dream. I need to thank Skyrim for giving me both the inspiration, and giving me a bunch of junk to steal. I'm sure this one sounds much simpler than my others, but it wasn't any easier to do. To do this one, I wrote a poem, then add a melody to the poem, and add interesting but simple chord progressions to the melody. This is also the first time I had to work with a human, which was a pain. He just couldn't sing the right notes or put the right emphasis in the right areas. I'm never going to work with myself again.

Vile Pandemic

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

A song heavily based on various Dark Falz encounters in the Phantasy Star universe. I used a low piano to simulate genesis bass notes, and had it play smooth and rough beats. Violin, Oboe, and Organ play against each other in mismatched and sometimes non-existent chords to create an evil atmosphere. I wanted something creepier, but I don't seem to have the skillset for that yet.

Captivating Madness

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

A commission for Sayara, I tried to capture Tingle as well as I could. Skittering strings pluck away inhumanly fast, while bass and viola create beautiful nonsense together. Periodically, lucid bells chime in innocence, and a mad organ roars to remind you of mad truth.

Bananigans

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

A commission from Shinureal for a game he's working on. He told me to write for some silly hijinks in the jungle, and that's what I did. A tribal drum beat and a fun bass lick keeps the jungle vibe, while a panflute and trumpet plays silly melodies against each other. It was tons of fun to write, but unfortunately, it doesn't have as much staying power as my other pieces. After a the one minute mark, I couldn't add anything substancial to the piece. I may come back to this and throw some stuff in it.

Warm Hearth

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

A warm, calm piece to celebrate time with your family. A guitar strums calmly, while flute and viola sigh in relaxed enjoyment. A gentle shake of jinglebells moves the piece forward.

Violent Fantasies

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

A harsh, repetitive piece focusing on chaotic rhythms, fast melodies, and shrill instruments. This was a commission from Neith for his character Teika, who has violent impulses and fights aggressively. I thought a metal battle theme would fit her well.

Ghostly Echoes

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

A calm, empty piece using glass instruments and synthesized voice. I wrote this for the winter PSA.

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/l567...n_Memories.mp3

Composer's Notes:

Spoiler!

A haunting piece, made for a horror game of a team mate. Uses piano, strings, and a music box (glockenspiel, really) to create a pained, nostalgic piece.

Changelog:

Spoiler!

3/25/14

Added "Ghostly Echoes" and "Stolen Memories" to the list. Added a work in progress to the thread.

12/12/13

Added "Bananigans" and "Warm Hearth"

12/08/13

Added "Captivating Madness"

11/29/13

Updated "Downcast Eyes", now at v3. Expect a v4 sometime in the future.

11/21/13

Added "Vile Pandemic"

10/19/13

Added my notes of each piece, for people to get a summery of it without listening to it.


9/02/13

Updated Beauty of the Battlefield. Both parts are up now.
Tested some soundfonts with Peripheral Gaze. I uploaded the results.


8/15/13

I started a changelog.
Added Mediafire links to the thread.
Updated the Mediafire links with an updated Downcast Eyes, Peripheral Gaze, Nostalgic Journey, and Playful Guppy.
Renamed Playful Guppy to Timid Guppy. Because Levia is not playful.

My Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zorafin
My DeviantArt: http://zorafin.deviantart.com/
My FictionPress: https://www.fictionpress.com/u/959174/
My Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michael-h-montgomery/