Comments on: The Madness Encroaches

The Madness Encroaches

The Great Big Mulp — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:12:50 -0800

So, for this year's RPM Challenge I have decided to go all out and write a rock opera. This is one of the few songs I have worked on so far, and the first one that has been completed. Granted, this should be somewhere in the middle or the rock opera, but, still, it's the first one finished, so I'm posting it anyway.

Plus, I owe much thanks to danb and not_on_display for encouraging me to further explore other time signatures, as the first bit of this is alternating with each bar between 5/4 and 6/8. By the way, does that make it 11/4 or 11/8 or neither? That's the sort of nuance in notation I don't get.

By: man vs sun

man vs sun — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:57:18 -0800

As far as I've been able to glean from reading time signatures, it's how the composer feels the accented beats. some will lump the entire pattern into one time signature (Hank Levy - arranger for Kenton), and others will go to extremes to get every stressed note on the downbeat of the measure (Stravinsky - Rite of Spring).

Some versions of the latter are notated in straight 3/4 though, so YMMV.

By: Corduroy

Corduroy — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:12:29 -0800

I love the stuttered endings with the vocals, especially on the word 'past-st-st-st'. Killer trumpet line. Is that wet sound your mouth?

By: snsranch

snsranch — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:01:31 -0800

Wow, this is great! I love the trumpet line too, it totally pulls everything together into a solid mass of sinistre.

Also, with your layered vocals, this qualifies for one of this months Music challenges. Good show Hombre, I can't wait to hear the whole opera.

By: umbú

umbú — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:05:26 -0800

Excellent. I'm looking forward to hearing how this comes together.

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:58:58 -0800

This is how I wish the Residents sounded. (You have a much better voice, and layered trumpets.)

By: umbú

umbú — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:09:20 -0800

How did the rest of the rock opera go? I'd love to hear more.

By: The Great Big Mulp

The Great Big Mulp — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:35:44 -0800

It goes ... unfinished. Blech. But I should probably upload a few of the other semi-completed songs.