MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Fall of Grace: Euphonium+Piano]

Inspiring...

This wasn't as sad as I thought it would be :'(

You've made me sad now :'(

I shed tears here.

Anyways, seriously, onto the song.

Another brilliantly composed work, I felt this piece had a lot of subtle tones of anger in it over sadness, this I credit to the french horn. It's blaring glory at key points made the song sound a tad angry, and the oppressive piano at the end, only compliments this idea.

The melody is one that makes me think of adventures, you know, shield in one hand, beer in the other... time to party >:)!

Some ideas to make a sadder sounding piece. Perhaps a nice oboe and flute combo? I think if you replaced that french horn with an oboe it would have a sadder feel to it, instead of that heroic defiance (where DID I put my shield anyways...).

But leaving the description behind I felt this was a pretty good piece. Deserving of a 5 easily.

Esn responds:

Well, I never meant "sad" as in "depressing"... there are different types of sadness. I've never been drawn to the "downright depressing" style myself (eg. some of Frédéric Chopin's nocturnes). ;)

The brass instrument was a Euphonium, not a French Horn (a French Horn would never be able to go that low), although I had to use the "Tuba" sound since GPO doesn't have the Euphonium... which is frustrating, since it's my instrument.

I couldn't add any other instruments to this one unfortunately (though you're right, it would've been nice) because it was an assignment for a certain York University class ("composer's world music ensemble")... which means that eventually it'll be played by me and a pianist. In retrospect perhaps I should've waited until I could actually record the performance to upload it, but I grew a little impatient I'm afraid. In any case, Finale 2007 + GPO certainly doesn't sound bad! The piece originally wanted to be longer but I had to put a line somewhere and say "this is it" because my assignment was only to write a minute of something, and it's already 1:40... and in any case, shorter submissions seem to get more love on Newgrounds. It sounds kinda complete as it is anyway - I can always upload a longer version later if I like (one of my problems is that my pieces just keep getting longer and longer - they escalate into these huge things!)

Thanks for the review. :)

[Little Tree Pond]

Truly excellent work.

... well I must say I am definately glad you brought my attention to your works. This is by FAR the best sounding song on NG I have ever heard. I am afraid you will have to recieve all 10's across, and to date this will only be the second time I do this.

I am a HUGE strings fan, so to hear that violin really just pushed my ears to the edge and then gently oh so very gently pushed them off that edge... now I have to find the bloated corpse somewhere...

The melody is exceptional, when I first started making music THIS was the kind of music I wanted to end up creating! I must know how long you've been composing, and where you got your inspiration and so forth.

As a final request could I also have the music sheet or midi for this song? I would really love to study and learn from this!

Enough with my flattery though, lets get on with the song.

The mood of the song changes incredibly effectively and so drastically, it's quite impressive. As if literally I enter another room and the transition is as long as it takes me to open the door and walk through.

My only ONLY suggestion I have for this song, is perhaps some percussional aspects, you know, a triangle hit, or when some timpini, I feel the two would really add another layer to the power of this piece as a whole.

The end, where it got softer, you have no idea how much that moved me. I am quite a fan of softer, sadder tones.

Awesome stuff, if you submit any other works, do keep me informed. Easily a 5/5 from me, EASILY! Keep them coming Esn.

Esn responds:

I'm very flattered by your praise, as I think that most of your work is fantastic. This piece, actually, was only the second one that I ever composed... I wrote it in grade 12 - I was in the Claude Watson music program in Toronto - and it had to be for a specific instrumentation (violin, cello and piano). It is played by the Gryphon Trio (who were sightreading, by the way) so any compliments on the playing must go to them. I know that my pieces often lack good percussion (although in this case it couldn't be helped), and that's because I'm simply rather clueless about how to compose for percussion. I'm much more in my element writing soulfull melodies in natural minor keys.

My inspiration for this came from just a whole slew of melodies that I created on my keyboard - they come into my head all the time, then I record them on my keyboard so that I can remember them later. This piece is made up of a few of them, although some of them are significantly altered from what they originally were (the bass line of the cello in the first fast section at the beginning was originally a melody in 3/4 time). There are some flaws here that I'm aware of - for example, the key change is a bit awkward (from A- to Bb+... there's no way to really do that seamlessly, is there?). And the piano line is rather monotonous sometimes.

Still, I'm glad that people like it. Now if only there was some correlation between the quality of the music and the quality of the flash submissions that use it. ;)

Anyway, I'll send you the files... thanks for the review.

[Time for Bed - vocal edit]

So relaxing...

I'ts 3 am right now as i'm listening to this... wow, bad move Maestro... so sleepy.

You sing very well, your voice has a very soothing quality to it, and WinTang's bedtime song compliments your voice very well.

I'm sorry I don't have words of criticism or ideas, i've listened to this three hours straight, and I just love sinking to it's core again and again.

5/5 from me. Keep them coming.

snoballandthmonyshot responds:

glad u liked it maestro. was quite concerned about ruining what was already a beauty of a track so i tried to keep the vox fairly dee lo, is cheesy as hell but works in it's own way i feel.
and btw a sentance isn't a paragraph;/
;ped

[{=Sea of Uncertainty=}]

Damn impressive...

Well here's a halloween track if ever I heard one...

You've got a huge collection of some insanely creepy soundeffects. Where did you get them?! I've been meaning to put together a nice creepy piece like this, but through lack of good sound effects am unable too.

Anyways, the song flows incredibly well, it had me on the edge of my seat quite well. Good thing it sunny out, or i'd have to slay some goats to appease the shadow gods that dwell in my room... the bastards...

I personally liked every soundeffect, they were all crazy effective.

I have no suggestions or ideas in making this better, just wanted to drop my support, 5/5 from me!

SineRider responds:

Actually, most of the wierd effects are reason samples, but filtered and altered. If you have Reason you can get alot of cool effects with the default sounds with some editing.

Orignally when I started maknig hte song, it was suppsoed to be my MAC6 entery. But I guess I went the compelte oposite way. =)

Thanks for the review.

[Opus for Violincello, Ver. 2]

Impressive!

Awesome! Extended! Listening!

The piece moves along pretty smoothly, I must say the image i'm seeing now, has somewhat changed, perhaps because of the extended parts, and the additional reverb really altered it's core, but not in a bad way.

I kind of wish you had brought in that cello sooner into the song, it just adds a whole other level of depth to it.

I'm glad you extended it, I was really able to fully enjoy it this time. Also you must have just created the most seamless loop I have ever heard. The silence at the end, and initial pause at the beginning has created a very convincing loop, so top marks for that.

Lets see... it's equally hard to really suggest any improvements or ideas this time around as well... I just don't think there is anything I could suggest, except to keep them coming! Another 5/5 bomb for you!

ShadowJim responds:

Thanks again for another glowing review! You are too kind.

And thank you for the first review. That was really my driving force to find a way to work the repeat into the song.

Lastly...Cello? You mean the bass, I'm guessing (comes in around 1 minute in). Feel free to PM me, if you wanna discuss the this or anything else further.

[Goldeneye "Silo-ed" || HM RMX]

Pretty impressive

Damn interesting HouseMasta. I must say I was quite taken by the song. My only qualm is the beginning. It did start off rather strangely, and though it was by no means unoriginal, it still left a sour taste in my mouth.

The percussional beat is uplifting, but on the other side of that coin I didn't quite feel it was anything new, or diverse.

The song itself flows well, there isn't really anything that strikes me as inconvinient, truely enough everything seems in order.

I am getting all these instrumental ideas, but no point in sharing them really, so i'll just stop here.

Good stuff HouseMasta, keep them coming!

HouseMasta responds:

im sorry about the original, its just an intro by me... it needed to be a remix, so i put my own thoughts into the song.

wont share with the rest of the class? aww...

[The Purest of Winters]

So pure and gentle...

Hey Dan.

I don't think I have to tell you that i've been listening to this piece for three and a half hours... straight.

I would also like to take the chance to say that because of your piece, if I close or change it, my ears feel uncomforatable... IT'S A DRUG NOW >:(

Anyways onto the song itself!

The gentled bells, and strings, as always your great sentimental abilities usher in a gate load of emotions that I am not ashamed to say have been... well frankly locked up tight in myself. I don't think i've ever felt this form of peace before.

And again, your piano, ALWAYS WITH THE ORGASMIC PIANO!

There is a great load of dynamics in the piece, and though there is nothing but serenity coming in from all angles, it leaves traces of excited power in its wake.

The image I get is so frieghteningly real. A small child runs up a hill, slated with the sheets of pure white snow, as large flakes fall down lazily. Falling down to make a snow angel the child looks up and watches the great gray sky, as it slowly disentegrates into the white haven that its made. I also see the clouds rumbling softly, only because I don't think i've ever actually seen that, and i think it would make for a good image :D.

I have absolutely no suggestions in making this better. Best of luck to you on the contest, I may as well give you my piece of the crown, for I am quite sure you will be the king ;).

First time I gave somebody straight 10's on this account. Take care Dan, keep them coming!

MilkMan-Dan responds:

Maestro, you've been here... holding my hand... through everything.

I'd really like to thank you for taking the time to get ahold of me and tell me about this contest. Like a true friend... you know me well enough to know that this is something I'd love to do.

You gave me hope and you gave me the spirit. I look forward to your submission because I have never seen any challenge set fourth to you that you did not conquer.

Brothers for life Maestro...

[Epic Orchestra]

Awesome!

As a instrumental artist myself, I must say this song absolutely blew me away. It is truly a very powerfully epic piece, very driving, very demanding, filled with a great feeling of sorrow, passion, and many overtones of remorse.

I'm listening to this piece through some pretty lousy headphones, so I apologize if some of my suggestions or ideas don't make sense.

First off, that has to be the MOST original percussional beat I have EVER heard. I have never heard such an interesting, almost random beat work so well for any song. If I were to guess you are using Edirol Orchestral for your pieces?

The cellos are a tad overpowering, and this is where I may be wrong. My headphones are quite bass illeterate, and so it tends to overcompensate the lower frequencies, this rings especially true with the timpini rolls, I could almost not hear the instruments.

I felt that timpini role was a tad too long. It kinda loses it's power.

Some bells? I didn't quite hear those awesomely awesome tubuler bells that I adore oh so very much.

have you ever considered a choir? I feel a nice deep with high choir would really add some flavour, this I mean especially near the end with the timpini roll. I feel that you put that in there for so long because you didn't really mix up the last part of the song.

Also Organ. I feel that your song portrays an emotion that would be excellently conveyed by a organ, one of great judgement, struggle, and of great proportions... epic ;).

Other then I felt the melody flowed insanely well, the mix of instruments were incredibly well performed, and everything just melted into place for me. Easily a 5/5 bomb from me crodian. I would like to invite you to listen to some of my pieces, and tell me your opinions on them. Keep up the fighting spirit, and keep them coming!

crodian responds:

Thanks for the great review! Yeah, it's EDIROL I'm using...it's fantastic. And thanks for the instrument suggestions, I agree with you on those.

The thing is, this song is made to be easily reproduced on www.splicemusic.com , an online music sequencer. It can only fit 8 tracks at the moment, so that's how many I made. I wanted ppl to be able to remix it easily :P

Check it out if you want, we could always use a pro! lol

[Fort Watauga]

Impressive!

Hello Bosa. Sorry about not getting to this song earlier, i've been listening to it for a long while now, I just havn't written a review... until now that is.

I must after reading your description I was expecting a more "indian" flavour, then those awesome bagpipes came in and immediately I discarded the indian image to feel the song better.

What i'm getting is a kind of festive feel. Like you would see in a great field, with dancing, festivities, campfires, and such smooth waves of emotion, of love, peace, and later on, even sorrow.

The french horns you introduce with that oboe and flute, really nailed that feeling of peace. Then it went all minor on my face, and this is where the sorrow, and slight overtones of darkness came in. It was quickly replaced by some peaceful, romantic strings though, so that ended quickly.

Back to the bagpipes after that, I felt this was a good move. That bagpipe sounds live. I know you have some friends who are able to play instruments, if this was him, I must truly commend him, those bagpipes are well played.

I must have listened to this song over 20 times, it just flows so well.

Loops well too, so good work. easily a 5/5 from me Bosa, another great. Keep them coming!

Bosa responds:

Fort Watauga is where all the fesitivties in our community are held. One, in favorite, is the Celtic festival. Every year, the colonists would hold a festival which contained mostly celtic craftsmanship. Once, a great battle forsaked them, and the indians drove them out. Well, we look back to those days and feast to our heritage. They had some dulcimers for sale.. I was going to buy one for you. The ones who sold them were dulcimer craftsmen. I learned quite a bit from them. Also, they had some medieval armor and weaponry. All was the jet of a blast.

[_Yumbo-Yak_Hymn of Hip Hop 2]

Neat

I didn't quite like the piano selected for this one. And instead of the note resonating, it cuts off pretty drastically, especially clear in the beginning. I would really advice using the reverb effect for future classical/hip hop fusion songs.

However once the strings and synths start going at it, it really starts to pick up. The hi hat issue has been resolved so that indeed make me quite happy.

That choir man... it would sound so damn good... if only you had found a better choir for it. Goggle Papalmedia choir, it's an excellent free soundfont for choir.

Reverb the choirs like crazy, choirs are only good if you reverb them so hard that their mothers start speaking reverbed!

Otherwise a very interesting mix, it's just the samples you chose this time around that kinda perked of me ears.

Still, good work Yumbo, keep going, you will get as far as you want to.

Yumbo-Yak responds:

Thanx and coming and checking it out maestro
I may let this piece, rest in peace
i'll google that choir,
If i make another piece, that i think u may be interested in i'll pm u, until then adieu, and keep searching for good pieces