POLL: Favorite GPO demo thus far?

[Alan Lastufka]

Which, of all the demos posted on the Garritan site, is your favorite?

This pole will be open for an undetermined amount of time and I\'m trying to talk Gary into some wonderful prizes for the winner...

We would like to have a \"Top Ten\" on our demos page for those that don\'t have the time to indulge in all 70 demos.

You may vote for as many of the demos as you\'d like (but please only once for each track and once for each post, it will make it easier to count).

And no, voting for mine will not win you one of the prizes, but it might get you into my good graces... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Just kidding... happy voting!

[Joseph Burrell]

\"Widow of War\" of course! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Also, \"The Swashbuckler\" which has been removed for some reason. \"Eternal\" by Jun. \"The Seventh Seal\" by Francesco. \"Tuscan Affair\" and \"Join the Sith\".

Edited because I\'m a moron.

[Styxx]

Oh my God you\'re joking right? How do you say one is better than the next? Call me crazy but each one of those compositions are unique. I wouldn\'t know how to begin to choose the best for a top ten. Be that it may, Why not each month have a different top ten list?
Picky Picky Picky.
Let\'s go ask the Wizard! Maybe he can give you the courage! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Wazzy]

[ QUOTE ]
This <font color=\"red\">pole</font> will be open

[/ QUOTE ]

What\'s this \"pole\" made out of? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I want to enter the poll but I am not sure if it is entirely fair if I haven\'t heard all 70 of the demos because - well just because. Out of all of them that I have heard I would say that my 2 all time favorites are Ahh Movies and Gary Christmas which are both by Francesco. Join the Sith, String-Adagio, Widow of War and yes Swashbuckler were some others that I really enjoyed enough to keep a copy of. There were other excellent arrangements of classical pieces like Beethoven\'s 5th, Magic Flute Overture and the New World Symphony which were awesome renditions of old classical pieces. There are really a lot of excellent demos. I guess I will need to listen to the other 20+ demos that I haven\'t yet in order to be truly fair. Anyway this is a start

Dave

[Styxx]

One more thought - \"I\'m trying to talk Gary into some wonderful prizes for the winner...\"
That would be great. But for me, just having my work on the demo page was the best prize I ever received.

[Joseph Burrell]

Ahhh, that\'s sweet Styxx. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Boneweasel]

I would definitely have to say my favorite is The Seventh Seal by Francesco. That\'s the piece that sold me on GPO..........

[avalongalaxy]

hy guys,

i think like styxx, the best prize for me is to have a song on the demosite of GPO.
I often wonder, how a composer can create a track like the tracks on the demosite.
I would like to create a piece like ADVENTURESQUE from Christain von Hage.
I\'d never wrote a piece like that, so that\'s my favourite.

[Alan Lastufka]

Glad to see everyone wanting to promote such a competition-less atmosphere. Perhaps a rotating Ten Spot would work... I\'ll talk to Gary about how much effort would go into updating the demo page every week with a new Ten Spot...

In the meantime, I still enjoy hearing which pieces moved you guys the most, even if it isn\'t voting for a \"pole\" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Adam Burford]

<font color=\"brown\"> Favorite #1: </font> The Easy Winners. Virtuosic GPO performance. I swear I\'m sitting right there next to group of musicians.

<font color=\"brown\"> Favorite #2:</font> Mozart Clarinet Concerto. I love the delicate detail. A beautiful performance.

[Hardy Heern]

Although I was keen on the poll idea I think it may be impractical. How can we keep up.....I\'ve just heard \"Under the old Magnolia\"........


Frank

[G Rudolph]

Or perhaps it should be categorized (like the Oscars). Seriously, favorite GPO Classical Music Performances, Film/Game Scores, etc...can anyone animate Billy Crystal to be the MC?

[Bela D Media]

Hey,
I want to jump in and go off topic for a second. You know, with all the great GOS demos...my favorite is still the intro of GOS &lt;flash movie&gt; composed by, Tom Hopkins.

Still love it, Tom!!

&lt;We now return you to your regularly scheduled program&gt;

[ailteoir]

i wouldn\'t know where to begin i think they\'re all good, with the possible exception of that irish nonsense by the man with the almost unpronounceable name.

mick ó c

[Styxx]

The possibilities become more endless with each passing day. I just heard \"Under The Old Magnolia\" as well as a few others and was very impressed. If this were a Rock N Roll battle of the bands contest this would be effortless.

[Joseph Burrell]

I strongly disagree, I love the irish demo. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Listened to it again a minute ago and I\'m very impressed you got GPO to do that at all. Very convincing for an ethnic song using a traditional classical library. Shows the diversity of GPO well. Great job.

[ailteoir]

thanks for the appreciation joeseph. i was truly surprised and delighted when gary asked if he could put it on the demo page. gpo is indeed a versatile program, it\'s just a shame i had to use the uilleann pipe samples from elsewhere. i tried to emulate the pipes with the english horn from gpo, and although i got close it was just not convincing enough.
maybe gary might release an ethnic add-on.

slán
mick ó c

[lavoll]

the stravinsky one

[L0W]

Of the classical demos:
Beethoven\'s 5th arranged by Haydn is what sold GPO to me - so that has to be my favourite, followed very closely by Magic Flute - the updated version posted on this forum a few weeks ago.

[R. Glenn]

Being a sucker for realism (within the obvious limitations of using samples of course) my personal favorites at this time are Duncan Brinsmead\'s stuff (Magic Flute, Clarinet Concerto), Tom\'s Easy Winners, James Ortner\'s Beethoven\'s 5th and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

So far...IMHO, they are the ones closest to \"the real thing\". To me, they showed GPO\'s potential and were important factors for me making the buy.

There are other very nice demos as well and new ones added all the time...apologies if I missed them...but the above ones sorta caught my ear.

Just my 2 cent\'s.

Cheers

Rodney

[Styxx]

[ QUOTE ]
Of the classical demos:
Beethoven\'s 5th arranged by Haydn is what sold GPO to me - so that has to be my favourite, followed very closely by Magic Flute - the updated version posted on this forum a few weeks ago.

[/ QUOTE ]

I feel the works of the \"Great Masters\" would not suffer if they never get to the GPO top ten lists. To me, this demo page is more about the \"new composers\" and what they have accomplished using GPO for their compositions. Please, do not misunderstand me. I am fully aware of the skill it takes to recreate the Great composers works. Beethoven, Bach, and the rest will always be famous and popular top 10 composers / masters. Afterall, they are who we look up to for inspiration throughout our lives.
Regardless, I’m for cultivating this as a contest (if you will) for our new composers and the greatness within them and their \"original\" compositions. I personally would like to see \"our\" GPO family of Great Composers get the recognition they so deserve.
Just my opinion.
Now get to work! Yes dear.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[R. Glenn]

[ QUOTE ]
I feel the works of the \"Great Masters\" would not suffer if they never get to the GPO top ten lists. To me, this demo page is more about the \"new composers\" and what they have accomplished using GPO for their compositions. Please, do not misunderstand me. I am fully aware of the skill it takes to recreate the Great composers works. Beethoven, Bach, and the rest will always be famous and popular top 10 composers / masters. Afterall, they are who we look up to for inspiration throughout our lives.
Regardless, I’m for cultivating this as a contest (if you will) for our new composers and the greatness within them and their \"original\" compositions. I personally would like to see \"our\" GPO family of Great Composers get the recognition they so deserve.
Just my opinion.
Now get to work! Yes dear.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Styxx...I see your point and I think it\'s a most valid one.

Speaking for myself, I think the fact that the classics are what you know and what you\'re accustomed to hearing is an important factor.

I know what most of the classics sound like, and I can compare the GPO renders to the sonic impressions in my head, as well as a recorded CD.

I also think it\'s a major question of composition and orchestration (the most crucial elements of all IMO). Apart from sounding familiar, many of the classical masters are considered to be the most excellent composers and orchestrators (hence the title \"master\")...which is not a small thing to compete with for the composers of today.

Yes, the composers of today maybe deserve more credit and I\'m not saying they\'re not good or even extremely gifted. It\'s just that all those old guys (composers) are considered to be \"masters\" for a reason...and personally, if I could just measure up to one zillionth of a fraction of what the old masters did....I\'d be one happy dude.

Also, the old dead masters might also benefit from GPO being so well suited for that type of music. All in all, yes....it might be \"unfair\" towards the living composers, but then again...the poll asked for personal opinions....so I guess this is what you get.

Still...being a noob myself, I find the challenge of trying to measure up to these high standards to be thrilling...it makes the journey more fun and interesting. I know I personally will probably not amount to much (if anything), but at least I had a good time trying. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hmmm...sorry, perhaps too much OT. I\'ll stop blabbering now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Cheers

Rodney

[Styxx]

\"Yes, the composers of today maybe deserve more credit and I\'m not saying they\'re not good or even extremely gifted. It\'s just that all those old guys (composers) are considered to be \"masters\" for a reason...and personally, if I could just measure up to one zillionth of a fraction of what the old masters did....I\'d be one happy dude.\"

From what I\'ve read in the history books half the Great Masters if not all felt the same about their music at one point or another throughout their lives. \"if I could just measure up to one zillionth of a fraction of what the old masters did.... I’d be one happy dude.\" I feel the same way but it\'s strange how I get so upset when I hear the work of the rest of you and compare it with mine. I have a strange ear that loves to find the best within everything it is exposed to. So far, there isn\'t one of you I do not enjoy in the least. But, it’s fine to be hard on oneself at times. I suppose it keeps us humble.

[Styxx]

\"United We Stand\" - Francesco Marchetti.
\"Romantic Oboe\" - Christian VON HAGE.
\"Window of War\" - Alan Lastufka.

[Joseph Burrell]

I\'ve fallen in love with the \"Romantic Oboe\" demo. I never paid it much attention on the page until a week ago. This song is amazing. Such feeling.

[Styxx]

I fell in love with a “romantic oboe” once.... but it left me for French horn! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[galvedro]

Hi all,

here are my 5 most appreciated GPO demos:

1. Mr. Carrillo\'s \"Winter\" demo,
2. Mr. Hopkin\'s \"Clarinet concerto\",
3. I can\'t remember who\'s \"Sacred of Printemps\"
4. Mr. Hopkin\'s \"Easy Winners\"
5. Mr. Marchetti\'s \"Gary Christmas\"

Regards,

Antón

[KevinKauai]

Why this craze for NUMBER ONE?

I refuse to participate (categorically) as this seems an unnecessarily \"crowning\" and divisive exercise.

kev /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Styxx]

[ QUOTE ]
Why this craze for NUMBER ONE?

I refuse to participate (categorically) as this seems an unnecessarily \"crowning\" and divisive exercise.

kev /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Kevin Kevin Kevin Kevin Kevin. Eezz not good to be upset, no? Eezz good to sit back and enjoy, yes? You have to agree, mines is better dan yourz, yes? No? I\'m telling mom on you! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
However, I can see your point. Everyone is so good here and a contest to see who is best is not the picture. It\'s not for me. This is just good old wholesome fun yankee style! Mom\'s apple pie, GPO in the sky, and Lisa\'s hotscakes darlingk kind of fun. Gives the hotel class!
Kevin, please don\'t get mad at me cause there are plenty before you dar is!
Blasted all Spock!
I fail to see the logic in you anger doctor. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Oksi Moron]

[ QUOTE ]
I feel the works of the \"Great Masters\" would not suffer if they never get to the GPO top ten lists.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know just what you mean, and I agree with you -- up to a point.

But how about this angle? Nine-tenths of the the classical music I really love isn\'t by old \"masters\" at all. It\'s by good forgotten composers, as in \"best, the enemy of.\" Germaine Tailleferre -- ever hear her harp suite, circa 1920? It\'s to die for, in my book.

My classical-music landscape is donut-shaped, with a big hole where the 19th century greats are supposed to be. John Dowland, Anthony Holborne, yes. Satie, Poulenc, Lars Larsson, yes. Wagner, Verdi, Beethoven? They surely don\'t need my help, as listener or performer.

There\'s nothing I would like better than to use my humble mockup skills to promote some of the \"unknown\" 20th-century composers whose works I love. I have access to a first-class university music library, and could easily book the next twenty years mocking up music that I know never gets performed or recorded.

Henk Badings -- ever hear of him? If the orchestral pieces of his I\'ve seen in the library are as good as the twelve guitar preludes of his that I\'ve played (and that have never been recorded), they\'d be well worth mocking up.

But there\'s this little problem of performance rights . . .

I know, I know -- I should be writing my own music. After 30 years of playing other people\'s notes, I started learning how to improvise about six years ago, and yes, there have been times when my noodlings have made me think, \"I are a composer, after all!\"

How many of y\'all have considered scouting the internet for promising midi demos by starving composers, and offering to flesh them out, free gratis? I tried it, once, when I was still pretty new to doing mockups, and the composer was understandably, uh, polite about my offerings. But I think I\'m getting close to being able to make a composer grateful rather than merely polite, and I\'m thinking about giving it another whirl.

Greg

[R. Glenn]

Oksi Moron...thank\'s for those great tips. Some of them I never heard of before. Much appreciated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[ QUOTE ]
My classical-music landscape is donut-shaped...

[/ QUOTE ]

Mmmmmmm...donuts.

Cheers

Rodney

[Styxx]

[ QUOTE ]
There\'s nothing I would like better than to use my humble mockup skills to promote some of the \"unknown\" 20th-century composers whose works I love. I have access to a first-class university music library, and could easily book the next twenty years mocking up music that I know never gets performed or recorded.


[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, Go for it! I am sure we would all love to hear the works of these composers you\'ve mentioned and more! All I was saying is the \"living composers\" on this forum (and the ones to come) who may never experience becoming forever preserved in a \"first-class university music library\" or elsewhere, should get first thought. This is GPO and they are displaying how this program has inlighten them to expose their creative powers inside. The Great Composers will always be \"Great\". This is our turn to shine for maybe what may turn out to be one \"Great\" moment in our lifes.
It\'s not just my opinion. It\'s my heart felt conviction. There are some really talented intelligent new \"living\" composers on this forum. I personally would love to see them get the spotlight they deserve as well.

That\'s my story and I\'m sticking to it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Time to go to work....slave.

[nexus]

After much listening, I feel I have to vote for one in particular. I wasn\'t going to mention anything here as I feel it can hurt the feelings of many composers here if they aren\'t picked.

But I\'ve been drawn to the piece \"View of Mt. Fuji from Edo\" as my favorite. When listening to it, never am I aware I am listening to a sampled orchestra, aside from it being very much in the \'classic\' style of modern orchestral music.

I hope my own compositions can sound this polished and \'real\'.....

[Oksi Moron]

I\'ve been less worried about hurting feelings than about besmirching a piece by giving it the Oksi Moron seal of approval. I\'m with you, Nexus, about the Mt Fuji piece, but I think I like Epidemic, also by Jamie, slightly better. Poised, cool, admirably understated, with nary a cymbal orgasm in the whole two minutes.

Duncan\'s Mozart clarinet piece reminds me how foolish I am for being so oblivious to Mozart.

Greg

[Skysaw]

[ QUOTE ]
...with nary a cymbal orgasm in the whole two minutes.

[/ QUOTE ]
Haha! Yeah, I guess I\'m as adverse to that as you are. In fact, I don\'t think I\'ve included cymbals in any of my classical pieces at all for the past 20 years or so. \'Fuji\' does have a big ol\' pile of bass drum, though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks for your kind words, Styxx and Nexus. Some day I\'ll get less busy, and start posting more pieces.

Jamie Kowalski

[addo]

1) The Seventh Seal by Franscesco Marchetti (funny, this sold me on GPO also! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
2) Winter by Joe Carrillo
3) The Sad Composer by Francesco Marchetti
3) Harbinger by Christian Bocher followed closely by
4) Widow of War, Alan Lastufka

There is so much good stuff demo\'ing what can be done.... all on the web site deserve a medal... including Michael O\'Caoindealbhain (Go hana mhaith michael ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif)

[nexus]

\"..Henk Badings -- ever hear of him? If the orchestral pieces of his I\'ve seen in the library are as good as the twelve guitar preludes of his that I\'ve played (and that have never been recorded), they\'d be well worth mocking up...\"

I would love to hear his works, Oksi. I have only heard a little of his musique concrete tape music.

I also believe he produced such music for Jerry Goldsmith to use in the movie \"Freud\" and help him with serial composition (he provided the \'tone row\' for Goldsmith to use in that score).

I\'ve never been able to find recordings of his works. I imagine it would be quite an undertaking to mock them up in GPO.

[MusicalCharities]

My favorite was the Star Trek voyger, or the original Star Trek theme. Both were exceptional , IMO.

[Nicole]

I will have to go with the Debussy demo:) Very very nice.


Speaking on matters of composers of the past, I rarely see Chopin listed in these topics! He did not write for orchestra(accept a couple concertos) and admitted he was a terrible orchestrater. Does this make him any less a composer? His contributions to piano in itself is incredible. His contribution to harmony(a very unique approach and highly chromatic) is right up there with the orchestral masters.:) Anyway I personally do not discriminate between compositions based off of how many instruments were used:) It could solely be a guitar imo.

[GigaLove]

[ QUOTE ]
.....Chopin.... admitted he was a terrible orchestrater.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? Unbelievable that such a composer GOD talks so joking about his skills..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Styxx]

[ QUOTE ]
I will have to go with the Debussy demo:) Very very nice.


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh now why did you have to say that! I never end an evening without listening to Debussy. I\'ll have to second the motion. Yes, very nice indeed.
And yeah! Where the heck is Chopin? We could start a whole new seqment. \"Rediscovering Chopin\".

Hey Mugsie!
Yeah Frank?
I think he\'s talking about Janis!
Janis who?
Ya know, Janis Joplin da singer.
Naw you meatball! Not Janis Joplin, birdbrain! Chopin the guy who sings at da club on Thursday nights you jerk!
Ah, yeah. Sorry boss. Yeah he\'s good. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif