Composing

Discuss, share content, offer tips and advice on hardware, software, style, strategies, process, work-flow and the business of scoring a film, video or theater production

Stephen Folker
Favorite Composer And Why

I'm not a composer. Rather a writer, director, and cinematographer. However, when I write a story, I'm always listening to the same movie soundtracks, to get the create flow going. I love Nick Caves and Warren Ellis. So, I'm curious, for the composers out there, who is your favorite composer? And wh...

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Pamela Jaye Smith

John Williams is always impressive. Good choice, Greg.

Arhynn Descy

Well, hello Stephen....lovely to see you in this lounge! It usually depends on my mood and what music/composer that I feel like listening to. I have a lot of different favourites, but I always have ti...

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Stephen Folker

Arhynn Descy - hope you been well! :) We'll have to catch up soon. Wonderful composer - thanks for sharing. Best wishes with the horror film!

Arhynn Descy

Stephen Folker thank you and yes, let's catch up soon.

David Laguillo

Vangelis and John Williams. Vangelis because he was able to get the perfect intimate feeling of movies, and John Williams for his epic and wonderful themes that will survive for generations.

Chris Nelson
Thanksgiving

Christmas theme songs

a white Christmas

I’ll be home for Christmas

Celtic women

frosty the snow man

here comes Santa clause

jingle bells

rocking around the tree

the Carl of the bells

let it snow Celtic woman

o holy night Celtic woman

the little drummer boy

sled ride

dad leaves my apartment theme

Chr...

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Maria Restivo Glassner
Song project for an Ocean Life advocacy script

Hey guys! I am doing a pro bono song project for a screenwriter advocating for Ocean Life, She wrote the lyrics, and I set up the vocals and melody. The song is to go along with the screenplay she wrote that is currently making the festival circuit. All we need is someone to provide either acoustic...

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Elena Maro

Maria Restivo Glassner I am sending a direct message. Thank you :)

Maria Restivo Glassner

Elena Maro wow!! I just listened to once upon a time. Incredible! It was transcendent with gorgeous subtle touches. Honored to make your acquaintance.

Elena Maro

You are so kind Maria Restivo Glassner , thank you very much. That piece has a special place in my heart as it comes from the last piano sketch I wrote before I left Italy to move to Los Angeles and p...

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Maria Restivo Glassner

Elena Maro, I can feel the hope in this piece. It shakes away the weary dust of everyday life and reminds me of what I am searching for. I am so glad you took the leap! The world will be better for it...

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Elena Maro

Maria Restivo Glassner , you are so kind you made me blush. Thank you :)

Geoff Hall
The Work of Arvo Pärt (a video with limited subtitles)

I was driving back from Plymouth to Bristol late one night, many years ago when I had an unexpected encounter on Classic FM radio and the music of Arvo Part - a piece called ‘Summa’. Perhaps his music is understood best, in the darkness, or our darkest hours. It was one of those haunting experiences...

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Geoff Hall

And for your delectation, here is ‘Spiegel im Spiegel’.

https://youtu.be/FZe3mXlnfNc?si=7l2_wmM-9ga3J46v

Elena Maro

I discovered Arvo Part's sublime compositions in the early 90s, when I was working as a professional dancer and we performed on his music. It might be for that experience, but I think that a few compo...

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Geoff Hall

You are welcome, Elena Maro

Geoff Hall
Prince - on Music and Filing Cabinets

The success of music is in its being made, not what the critics think about it. After all, we create for our audience and not for the critics out there.

https://youtube.com/shorts/qJJkVV6Dqf4?si=UJhZQ10p6kOn47Ux...

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Prince on What Makes Music Successful and Creating From the Heart
Prince on What Makes Music Successful and Creating From the Heart
"If you ask any artist, the music is a success upon creation." - Prince on BET Tonight in 1998.If it's great in your eyes, then it's already a success. Don't...
Elena Maro

The gems you find, Geoff Hall. Thank you for sharing.

Elena Maro

And thanks for sharing, Linwood Bell !

Geoff Hall

Elena Maro thanks Elena. Thank you for watching it!

Geoff Hall
David Bowie - never play to the gallery

This I think is true, not just for musicians, but for screenwriters too.

Thoughts please…

https://youtu.be/cNbnef_eXBM?si=Y6vwo-8p9C-r-4zJ

Geoff Hall

“Go a little bit out of your depth…then you’re in the right place.” Yup, that’s where I am just now!

Geoff Hall
Legendary Cellist Pablo Casals, at Age 93, on Creative Vitality and How Working with Love Prolongs Your Life

I always love finding the gems amongst the archives of Maria Popova’s The Marginalian. This article about cellist Pablo Casals rang true with me on so many levels.

“…like many exceptional people, he cultivated his character through an early brush with suffering. In his late teenage years, already a c...

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Legendary Cellist Pablo Casals, at Age 93, on Creative Vitality and How Working with Love Prolongs Your Life
Legendary Cellist Pablo Casals, at Age 93, on Creative Vitality and How Working with Love Prolongs Your Life
"The man who works and is never bored is never old. Work and interest in worthwhile things are the best remedy for age."
Emily J

This is great, thanks for sharing @Geoff!

Linwood Bell

Pablo Casals was interviewed by George Carlin. Carlin asked him why, at age 93, he still practiced three hours a day.

The Maestro’s response: “I’m beginning to show some improvement.”

Geoff Hall

Emily J you are most welcome, Emily J.

Geoff Hall

Linwood Bell Linwood! Hahahahaha! That is a wonderful sardonic wit! Love it.

Kerry Kennard

Wow - great post and thoughts / ideas to ponder, Linwood. I added a short Motif in Violin tonight before making the MIDI transfer to Logic. - in the Violin part. I think I wanted the part to

Stand out...

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Ashley Renee Smith
The White Lotus Composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer on Haunting Theme 'Renaissance'

Hey Composers,

Check out this awesome breakdown by composer, Cristobal Tapia de Veer. I'm obsessed with his outdoor office setup and love for natural sounds and how they inspire his music!

What are your thoughts about his process and insights?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMYPAxSiuMo...

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Sam Sokolow

This is too cool! Amazing how he works and creates such powerful music. And he gets to wear cool crocks while he does it. Goals! Thanks, Ashley Renee Smith!

Elena Maro

Fantastic, Ashley Renee Smith ! Cristobal Tapia is one of my favorite examples about how to create impactful, distinctive music for visuals. In order to achieve that I think we need two things: inspir...

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Linwood Bell

Love it! Thanks for that share. I hadn't seen it. He must have written that in December with that Carol of The Bells nod and all.

Ashley Renee Smith

So true, Elena Maro! I love how inventive he is even under typical project constraints.

Maurice Vaughan
How To Negotiate A Composer Agreement

When you decide to write music for Film and Television as a full-time job, you’ll soon realize that from that moment on it is not just about your music, but about the music business. There is so much to know and to learn about the process of negotiating a deal. I am going to share some of the exper...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Elena Maro. I'm about to share your blog on Twitter (X) too.

Elena Maro

You are a star, Maurice Vaughan , thank you so much!

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Elena Maro. Hope you have a great weekend.

Elena Maro

Thank you, Maurice Vaughan . I wash the same to you.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Elena Maro. Thank you.

Mark Gosney
The new CineSamples Musio product??

How many of you composers out there are using the new Musio product from CineSamples? I've thought about it, but am concerned with what seems to be a growing trend of everyone developing a proprietary player for their new cloud based subscription service, and the possible stability issues that could...

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Linwood Bell

I haven't tried that yet but I'm interested in hearing more about it, too. I was doing the East/West thing for a while but let it go. I wasn't using it that much with the projects that I've been doing lately. Those subscription fees really start to add up. I don't even wanna think about it.

Mark Gosney

I was doing the East/West subscription too for a while, but the monthly costs get old. when you purchase outright and have it paid for you're done. That's why I'm not really interested in the Musio product.

Linwood Bell

We need Musio+ that includes Hulu.

Linwood Bell
Moses The Lawgiver - Lyle Mays

Lyle was/is one of my favorite composers. In case you missed it, here's a sample of the music he wrote for Moses the Lawgiver featuring Ben Kingsley. Quite beautiful, isn't it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaB6QnXE2rw...

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Sam Mannetti

Great share Linwood!

Mark Gosney

Very beautiful actually!!

Kerry Kennard

Yes, very nice

Allen Lynch

Beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing Linwood.

Leonardo Ramirez

Linwood Bell - this piece is a perfect example of how to hook a listener in the first five notes.

Geoff Hall
The Beatles' 'Now and Then' Documentary

It's amazing what can be achieved by the use of technology.

Here, this short documentary shows the technology Peter Jackson developed for the 'Get Back' film. It's a fascinating insight into the relationships that made The Beatles so special.

Thoughts on a postcard, below...

https://youtu.be/APJAQoSCwu...

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Elena Maro

Linwood Bell Geoff Hall we should make a Stage 32 Composing Lounge expedition to Abbey Road ;)...

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Linwood Bell

I wish....I did buy the Abbey Road cellos today though. :)

Elena Maro

Linwood Bell - Well some good shopping for the studio is always a good start! ;)

Linwood Bell

It's a never ending money pit. I watched Rick Beato's vid on this tune and he showed some software that will pluck out the vocal of a 2 mix. I went to the site and bought 90 minutes of time for $18. I...

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Geoff Hall

Elena Maro that sounds like a great idea!

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