Compositions Done!

Since the last update my progress has been significant and efficient as today, I finished my second video and the two contrasting compositions that come with it. In approaching these second compositions I have learned many different ways to compose for video through both Cubase and Sibelius and the use of midi samples. Although there were a few setbacks encountered and areas that still need tweaked the projects practical development is approaching an end as I now focus on the effects my music has on contrasting two separate moods through write ups in research.

Throughout the project, my proposal has changed and altered slightly as I considered the pros and cons of my case. At the moment I see my main aim falling into two categories:

1. To show evidently how important music is to a motion picture and how it has the power to completely alter the mood or atmosphere of a scene effectively by composing to contrasting compositions to two short film sequences.

2. To promote myself as a composer to film and demonstrate that I can effectively create moods from separate video sequences.

So far I feel I have reached these aims to a reasonable extent however, I now feel that a third opinion is needed and so, I hope to construct a survey for each video to see how effective the music is on others for next week’s session. By then I also hope to have begun my write up and formatted all the the videos down. Before doing so however, I would like to research into the art of mixing as although I get the notes I want I would like to be able to create a better overall sound with my compositions. A reflections on these activities shall follow up soon!

Clip Compositions

Progress has been extensive this week as the basic templates for both my compositions to The Shining opening scene near completion. I have not yet formated them down into video file due to the relisation that video files can only be used as a template for music and cannot be extracted with the music but can only replace an existing video. Although this should not matter or disturb my work too much the fact is that I have altered them slightly on cubase to create stronger emotions. Due to this I now need to use such software as iMovie or Windows Movie Maker to alter the video before I can create a final copy. Even though this has slowed my progress slightly it is another concept and lesson to composing that I have established in using cubase. I have also began to grasp a greater understand of using the software for composition and the tempo a\t which I now work has accelerated significantly.
This week I hope to work on my contract and finish my second contrasting compositions, consisting of a dancing clown. As well as this I hope to finalize my composition of Uop which I hope to put in my final portfolio to help promote myself as mch as a film composer and show the power of music in film.

Back at college

Now back at college with a fresh beginning the deadline dates seem to be just round the corner with a mass of work still to apply to my project. It seems that the more I research this project the greater the alteration I adapt to my project. Over the holidays I have finished one composition to of a potential four however now that I am beginning to see the larger picture I am not even sure at this time, the content will be used.

As I am trying to make as strong an argument as possible to my case I'm always on the look out for new videos and it seems at this time I have found a better example to base my project on. Now that I have relatively more access to software such as Cubase my project now has a greater of potential. At the moment I have found two videos that I would like to use as examples for my project where elements of ambiguity and the chance to use a juxtaposition in my compositions has become more possible.

I hope to carry on throughout this week and pushing on with the remaining 14 weeks I have.

Work continues

Due to the college being closed, this week has been a catch up on my proposal in an attempt to accomplish the task by this week. After reviewing my work so far I feel I need to step up on the composing side of things as we near the end of the first semester. Work has begun on the first of my four pieces which at the moment stands as a ragtime piece on piano. Since I have no access to Cubase outside of college I have started to use Sibelius in my compositions. Although this takes a greater musicological knowledge to accomplish and seems a slightly slower method by the end, I hope to have an accomplished score to add to my portfolio. By exporting the track to Cubase as midi I will be able to work within and outside of college helping to make a more productive project. I aim to have my first piece accomplished by Christmas break and be started on my second.

Composition begins!

So now that my proposal is well underway I have begun focussing on the development of my chosen project and have begun composing the first piece to my silent movie. This piece will hopefully have a chirpy, rag – time feel to it that will make the audience view the scene as a comedy (that is if all goes to plan). At the moment I feel the best method of producing material is via Sibelius where I can import the video into the software and work off the electronic manuscript the software offers. I feel that I have underestimated this task and will now have to press on if I am to reach my target of two finished pieces by Christmas. The following weeks will soon tell!

Project Entry 3

After Monday’s lecture I now have a more clear idea of my project and proposal. Since my last entry I have spent a large amount of my time browsing archives and YouTube for a relative video that I can use in my project. At first I felt strongly about using a clip from an animation however after looking through a vast selection of them I have came to the conclusion that attempting to change the mood by only the means of music would be an extremely difficult task. Now that I have researched this topic I feel that the strongest candidate for my project would either be early film footage (1900’s) or a scene made up of views and landscapes. My lecturer has analysed my proposal so far and it seems with a little tidying up I should have accomplished the first task.

Project Entry 2

With a few days until my next lecture I have began preparing my proposal and laying out my project into smaller, more straightforward stages. I feel that I have taken on a great deal in this module however, with the level of work now at degree standard a lot more has to be asked for in order to pass. One objective I am finding difficult is choosing an appropriate scene to compose the two contrasting pieces for. I already have a few ideas however at the moment there is not an outstanding choice. I’m hoping that by the time of the next lecture I will have a good idea of the chosen movie/animation scene that I will compose for.