Morricone Tribute: Whispers Across the Wasteland

[ChameleonMusic]

Thanks! On second listen, I noticed the connecting themes between sections or perhaps I paid better attention as the song moved from section to section.

My issue with the vocal/whispering sections at 8 second, 47 seconds, 2:14, 2:38, 6:18, and 6:56 is that I felt like I was hearing a lyric or whispering but couldn't quite understand what was being said.

The experience is a bit like being around a table in a noisy restaurant trying to pay attention to a conversation but not being able to quite hear it (I guess none of us will have that issue for a while). As a listener, it distracted me from the music which is very strong. The yelling (maybe that isn't the right word?) that started at the 3 minute mark was also distracting to me.

As on the first listen, the composition, production, and mixing is very strong and I enjoyed the piece.

8 seconds - yeah, that's the Whispers from the track title!

47 secs - I assume you mean the male / female vocal duet? It's just wordless singing...traditional in many cultures and something Morricone himself used quite often.

2:14 / 2:38 - female lead vocal...again wordless singing to the syllable 'haaay'

6:18 - a device used by many classical experimental composers and in some ethnic traditions as well (Morricone certainly used it at times)...rhythmic chanting / singing similar to modern beat boxing...again, there are no words...just sounds.

6:56 - yeah, that's the Whispers from the track title again!

Yeah, I take the point about distracting...i can get that entirely! Certainly unusual!

I think they might work better if there was an actual film? Not sure, as they don't distract me at all, but I'm not exactly in the best place to judge!

As I was doing this as a personal tribute to Ennio, I put them in at hopefully appropriate times as I know they were techniques he used...I think the whispering in particular might be a little high in the mix maybe for some? Not gonna change it for now, but I've made a mental note about this sort of thing for the future.

The other possible big issue here with the 'tribute' side is I've sort of done a film suite medley approach to try and encompass a lot of ideas...which doesn't always lead to the most coherent overall structure without the visual input!

Thanks for taking the time to explain! Always useful.

[ChameleonMusic]

I like what I've heard but initially after the orchestral swell the guitar is a bit too simple to emulate picking; it improves in complexity.

However, I enjoyed this; this drop whistle though, hmm. Interesting if not unprecedented?. The huaws as if to prompt a horse to gallop, but by not being accompanied with the feeling of motion or movement or those sounds; the stuff of adventure in the genre and style like cocunuts; like bells and chimes, timpanies and violins at times; alternatively gunfire even, whips, swells of a sort with chamber orchestras commonly.

Without the layering; above mentioned: Impact was weak. Studying those things timed can be trying but it's every detail that counts.

A slight twang on the mechanical string instrument perhaps prudent too. The rest is enjoyable. Like a movie from then on in. Perhaps the movement came easily to you due to its natural grace.

Thank you very much for listening and taking the time to leave feedback...

the guitar is a bit too simple to emulate picking

Yeah, I see your point, but...It's not a guitar / not meant to be a guitar particularly...just a sound I created layering together nylon gtr / electric guitar / vibraphone / log drum!

drop whistle though, hmm. Interesting if not unprecedented?.

It's a sound Morricone himself used to introduce comic moments...I own a Swanee Whistle so I threw it in there!

The huaws as if to prompt a horse to gallop, but by not being accompanied with the feeling of motion or movement or those sounds

Again, I get your point, but this is meant to be a comic scene introduced by the swanee whistle / flexatone percussion ( I called it "Grandpa Jones and a Chipmunk Called Sam")...

Linked to the Chipmunk idea...the lack of any serious movement beyond the widely panned tuned percussion is 100% deliberate...you ever tried to pull a wagon behind a chipmunk! ?

Studying those things timed can be trying but it's every detail that counts.

Believe me, I'm not short of any studying where music is concerned!

A slight twang on the mechanical string instrument perhaps prudent too.

Agreed...Yes, twangs can work with this style, but it was tried here but was too much for two reasons - invaded the mix and interrupted the melodic flow...

The sound is actually 3 layers - piano, steel pans and dulcimer!

The rest is enjoyable. Like a movie from then on in.

Cheers and thanks again for taking the time! Much appreciated.

[ChameleonMusic]

I did like Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and company back in the 1960s. This is obviously in that same area - different, dramatic, varied and it tells a story ins my head even without a film - like those Morricone medley cassette tapes of film music that were sold in HMV. I still have one - A Fistful of Dollars. It is not quite the same as Mr Morricone of course but it is a fitting tribute to his genius.

Thank God it did not go BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA for 9 minutes.

Yay! A Leone fan!

Thanks for the feedback!

Especial from 'Paladin on a Horse'! yes, I get the reference!

[jcub]

My reaction might simply be my lack of familiarity with Morricone other than in passing while watching a movie. The challenge of doing an original "tribute" is finding the sweet spot. I have run into that issue with original tributes I have done. If you get too close, it is a considered a rip off. If you stray too far, it isn't a tribute!

[ChameleonMusic]

My reaction might simply be my lack of familiarity with Morricone other than in passing while watching a movie. The challenge of doing an original "tribute" is finding the sweet spot. I have run into that issue with original tributes I have done. If you get to close, it is a considered a rip off. If you stray too far, it isn't a tribute!

Yeah... That was always in the back of my mind as a potential issue, so my approach was simply to write the music to an imaginary Spaghetti Western film after deliberately watching two beforehand to get myself in the right zone!

Leave itto others to judge how successful it all is!

[ChameleonMusic]

Impressive how much work you did here with all the details. Great!
Being also a huge Morricone-Fan here. So I of course get all the special instruments used here. I guess I like part 7 the most. If I dare say it though: It was soundwise brilliant, but - only for my special humble taste - somewhat too clean and in the face. Missing some dirt (I cannot say what this could mean specially, sorry)
I guess it may come because of the brilliant sample-libraries used here (?), dunnow.
Good work anyways, senor!

Hi Thomekk,
Thanks for the listen and feedback!

Being also a huge Morricone-Fan here. So I of course get all the special instruments used here.

One thing I forgot when creating this...NOT everyone gets Morricone or even knows who he is!

Glad you do!

I guess I like part 7 the most

Not thought about that aspect...maybe I can't, being too 'close' to it! I might possibly develop it into a more coherent piece at some point - focusing more on just one / two sections.

It was soundwise brilliant, but - only for my special humble taste - somewhat too clean and in the face. Missing some dirt

I 100% agree with it being clean and in your face - Guilty!

I did experiment extensively (couple of days) with giving it that Morricone Spag West gritty vibe and then just abandoned the idea on the grounds that:

1) It would possibly push it too much towards being 'Ennio' and not enough 'me'!?
2) It just didn't sit well with the modern sample libraries / synths I was using (you hinted at this)...somehow they lost something in terms of roundness and punch that would not be lost with real instruments...the retro vibe just diminished them somehow if that make sense.

There probably was some way of making it work, but I just couldn't find it to my own satisfaction!

[Paladin on a Horse]

I did like Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and company back in the 1960s. This is obviously in that same area - different, dramatic, varied and it tells a story ins my head even without a film - like those Morricone medley cassette tapes of film music that were sold in HMV. I still have one - A Fistful of Dollars. It is not quite the same as Mr Morricone of course but it is a fitting tribute to his genius.

Thank God it did not go BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA for 9 minutes.

Yay! A Leone fan!

Thanks for the feedback!

Especial from 'Paladin on a Horse'! yes, I get the reference!

possibly that old western series was more watched than I thought as you are the second one to get it.

[donkey tugger]

Good stuff as usual, although I never watch westerns (given there's no spaceships in them), so am not really aware of much of Morricone's music.

Points deducted for no terrible attempt at wit in the title a la 'Once Upon A Time in West Yorkshire' . Well, it amused me at the time...

[ChameleonMusic]

Cool, I also appreciate the effort gone into this.

Thanks for the listen and comments!

[ChameleonMusic]

I really enjoyed most of this. I do wish the listener was given more time to soak up the ideas. There are constant transitions, some of them jarring, in between short sections. It seems like the highlights of what could be a longer work were stitched together.

I especially loved 0:00-1:44. I wanted to linger in this space for a while but it jumps into a compressed "A Day In the Life"-style orchestral transition and then jumps to the enjoyable Francesca section. So while all three of these sections are brilliant, taken together, the effect is kind of dizzying.

To quote the philospher Flavor Flav, "Hey yo Chuck, I don't understand this man! Yo, we got to slow down man, you losing them!"

Hi Frantz - as always many thanks for your valuable feedback!

I do wish the listener was given more time to soak up the ideas...It seems like the highlights of what could be a longer work were stitched together.

It's a very fair point. I went for the medley idea as it seemed to be the best way to touch on various aspects of Morricone''s film work. Yes, in hindsight it could come across as a little bit unsatisfying maybe, especially without the background context of an actual film where the listener would've already heard the full versions of each section.

I especially loved 0:00-1:44. I wanted to linger in this space for a while

I will definitely develop some of the different sections into full pieces...this one in particular I think + the Francesca melody in its various forms.

I think for the serious Morricone aficionado it probably all makes more sense as he threw out a lot of these fast-changing medleys from his Spag West films...I realise that not everyone has studied his work quite as obsessively as myself...apparently there are more than I expected who have never even heard of him at all!

[Frantz]

I will definitely develop some of the different sections into full pieces...this one in particular I think + the Francesca melody in its various forms.

I think for the serious Morricone aficionado it probably all makes more sense as he threw out a lot of these fast-changing medleys from his Spag West films...I realise that not everyone has studied his work quite as obsessively as myself...apparently there are more than I expected who have never even heard of him at all!

I am looking forward to hearing future developments from the themes in this composition.

I did watch "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" about 10 years ago so I have some superficial Morricone knowledge. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy all the violence so I didn't go further into Spaghetti Westerns. I do have a distant, positive memory of the music though.

[Hellfog]

I like this. I have listened a lot to Morricone western scores, and watch a bunch of spaghetti western movies. I could really hear your Morricone influences in this.

[ChameleonMusic]

Good stuff as usual, although I never watch westerns (given there's no spaceships in them), so am not really aware of much of Morricone's music.

Points deducted for no terrible attempt at wit in the title a la 'Once Upon A Time in West Yorkshire' . Well, it amused me at the time...

Cheers DT!

I never watch westerns (given there's no spaceships in them)

Points deducted for no terrible attempt at wit in the title

Currently working on a track provisionally entitled 'Rise of the Replicants' ...God, that could go so badly with a little dash of wit!

so am not really aware of much of Morricone's music.

Shame on you...shame on you all!

[ChameleonMusic]

I will definitely develop some of the different sections into full pieces...this one in particular I think + the Francesca melody in its various forms.

I think for the serious Morricone aficionado it probably all makes more sense as he threw out a lot of these fast-changing medleys from his Spag West films...I realise that not everyone has studied his work quite as obsessively as myself...apparently there are more than I expected who have never even heard of him at all!

I am looking forward to hearing future developments from the themes in this composition.

I did watch "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" about 10 years ago so I have some superficial Morricone knowledge. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy all the violence so I didn't go further into Spaghetti Westerns. I do have a distant, positive memory of the music though.

I think for a film composer who is regularly rated in the top 5 of all time, he's NOT as widely known as many think! That's something I've learnt on KVR and elsewhere this last week!

[ChameleonMusic]

I like this. I have listened a lot to Morricone western scores, and watch a bunch of spaghetti western movies. I could really hear your Morricone influences in this.

Yay! Another EM fan!

Cheers for the feedback!