Garritan
10-23-2004, 09:49 PM
Andy Brick, well-known film and game composer, conductor and symphonist, has submitted a new work called "Gygran's Song". This piece is a monumental undertaking and was entirely done with the new GPO updates.
http://www.garritan.com/mp3/GygransSong.mp3
(The work is almost 5 minutes and is close to a 7 MB download).
Here is a description in Andy's words:
In an evocative, eerie and yet solemn opening, I introduce the main theme in a simple duet of the bass flute and the double bass clarinet. Since it is indeed rare to find either instrument in any orchestral sample library, I thought I would take advantage of the library and employ both at the opening. The theme slowly evolves and grows until, upon its fourth iteration, all instruments in the woodwind choir have been introduced and we are led into a grand and sweeping string development reminiscent of epic cinematic film scoring. After an orchestral shift leads us through a moment of wondrous mystery, a final presentation of the opening theme arrives at its climactic resolution.
The middle section is again introduced by the woodwinds presenting a secondary theme. But this time their fanciful display is transferred to the wonderful Steinway in this library as it demonstrates its playfulness and agility. As the trumpets begin to add statements of grandeur the fortissimo horns present the entire orchestra in a wonderfully colorful display of both themes playing simultaneously. Particularly impressive to me was how well all the instruments handled the multitude of articulations called for in my score
I take us through a short dynamic, metric and orchestral diminuendo which arrives at the third section in which the Horn choir is featured in a development of the opening theme. So often employed as a simple use of power, the Horns here demonstrate the wonderfully tranquil yet majestic nature of the section. The majesty is brought forth by forte trumpets as they lead the Violins, Violas and Celli and Contrabasses to a final reflection of that opening theme.
To complete the dynamic cycle and pay homage to the Garritan Orchestral Strings, I let the GPO strings sing a deeply pensive and reflective coda. If you listen carefully, you will notice how well the GPO low woodwinds fill out the string choir.
The GPO Instruments used:
Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Oboe, Modern Oboe, Oboe D’Amore, English Horn, Bb Clarinet, Bs. Clarinet, Contr. Bs. Clarinet, 3 Bassoons, Contr Bassoon, 4 French Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Tenor Trombones, Bass Trombone, 2 Tubas, Harp, Piano, Croatales, Orchestra Bells, Triangle, Tambourine, Snare, Timpani, Suspended Cymbal, Piatti, Gong, Windchimes, Solo Violin, Violins 1&2, Viola, Celli and Basses (Lush, Trem, Pizz, Sus & Short bows)
About the Artist:
Andy Brick is a prolific composer, conductor and symphonist of music for film, television, live concerts and interactive games. He has extensive experience composing and recording live and midi orchestral scores for cinematic soundtracks and is a winner of numerous prestigious awards for his original music, including ASCAP Young Film Composer Award, ASCAP Popular Music Award, and CINE Golden Eagle Award.
Brick has composed music for Game projects by Electronic Arts, Sony, Interplay, Broderbund, Saffire, Mattel, and Konami and 3DO. His game score credits include Rick Dyer's (of Dragon's Lair fame) The Far Reaches, for which a bonus soundtrack album of Brick's music was released. He also scored Dyer's epic Tolkien-like fantasy adventure Kingdom II: Shadoan released on PC and PlayStation 2. In 2002, Brick provided new music for the US release of Arc The Lad Collection (Working Designs), one of the best-selling RPG videogame series in Japan. Furthermore he has written music for the groundbreaking game music symphony album Merregnon II (www.merregnon.com (http://www.merregnon.com)) recorded with The Prague Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir. As Music Director/Composer, Conductor and Senior Orchestrator, Brick worked alongside producer Thomas Boecker (Merregnon Studios), and veteran game composers such as Yuzo Koshiro (Shenmue) and Chris Huelsbeck (Star Wars: Rogue Squadron). In 2003 & 2004, Brick scored two of the largest blockbuster game titles Sim City Rush Hour and the highly anticipated Sims 2. Brick's score for Rush Hour was recorded with the 80 member Moravian Philharmonic. Sims 2 was performed and recorded under the direction of Mr. Brick with the 110 member Bratislava Symphony. In spring 2004 Andy once again took the podium and led the Filmharmonic of Prague through the recording sessions of Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Let us know your thoughts. I hope you enjoy this incredible work!
Gary Garritan
http://www.garritan.com/mp3/GygransSong.mp3
(The work is almost 5 minutes and is close to a 7 MB download).
Here is a description in Andy's words:
In an evocative, eerie and yet solemn opening, I introduce the main theme in a simple duet of the bass flute and the double bass clarinet. Since it is indeed rare to find either instrument in any orchestral sample library, I thought I would take advantage of the library and employ both at the opening. The theme slowly evolves and grows until, upon its fourth iteration, all instruments in the woodwind choir have been introduced and we are led into a grand and sweeping string development reminiscent of epic cinematic film scoring. After an orchestral shift leads us through a moment of wondrous mystery, a final presentation of the opening theme arrives at its climactic resolution.
The middle section is again introduced by the woodwinds presenting a secondary theme. But this time their fanciful display is transferred to the wonderful Steinway in this library as it demonstrates its playfulness and agility. As the trumpets begin to add statements of grandeur the fortissimo horns present the entire orchestra in a wonderfully colorful display of both themes playing simultaneously. Particularly impressive to me was how well all the instruments handled the multitude of articulations called for in my score
I take us through a short dynamic, metric and orchestral diminuendo which arrives at the third section in which the Horn choir is featured in a development of the opening theme. So often employed as a simple use of power, the Horns here demonstrate the wonderfully tranquil yet majestic nature of the section. The majesty is brought forth by forte trumpets as they lead the Violins, Violas and Celli and Contrabasses to a final reflection of that opening theme.
To complete the dynamic cycle and pay homage to the Garritan Orchestral Strings, I let the GPO strings sing a deeply pensive and reflective coda. If you listen carefully, you will notice how well the GPO low woodwinds fill out the string choir.
The GPO Instruments used:
Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Oboe, Modern Oboe, Oboe D’Amore, English Horn, Bb Clarinet, Bs. Clarinet, Contr. Bs. Clarinet, 3 Bassoons, Contr Bassoon, 4 French Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Tenor Trombones, Bass Trombone, 2 Tubas, Harp, Piano, Croatales, Orchestra Bells, Triangle, Tambourine, Snare, Timpani, Suspended Cymbal, Piatti, Gong, Windchimes, Solo Violin, Violins 1&2, Viola, Celli and Basses (Lush, Trem, Pizz, Sus & Short bows)
About the Artist:
Andy Brick is a prolific composer, conductor and symphonist of music for film, television, live concerts and interactive games. He has extensive experience composing and recording live and midi orchestral scores for cinematic soundtracks and is a winner of numerous prestigious awards for his original music, including ASCAP Young Film Composer Award, ASCAP Popular Music Award, and CINE Golden Eagle Award.
Brick has composed music for Game projects by Electronic Arts, Sony, Interplay, Broderbund, Saffire, Mattel, and Konami and 3DO. His game score credits include Rick Dyer's (of Dragon's Lair fame) The Far Reaches, for which a bonus soundtrack album of Brick's music was released. He also scored Dyer's epic Tolkien-like fantasy adventure Kingdom II: Shadoan released on PC and PlayStation 2. In 2002, Brick provided new music for the US release of Arc The Lad Collection (Working Designs), one of the best-selling RPG videogame series in Japan. Furthermore he has written music for the groundbreaking game music symphony album Merregnon II (www.merregnon.com (http://www.merregnon.com)) recorded with The Prague Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir. As Music Director/Composer, Conductor and Senior Orchestrator, Brick worked alongside producer Thomas Boecker (Merregnon Studios), and veteran game composers such as Yuzo Koshiro (Shenmue) and Chris Huelsbeck (Star Wars: Rogue Squadron). In 2003 & 2004, Brick scored two of the largest blockbuster game titles Sim City Rush Hour and the highly anticipated Sims 2. Brick's score for Rush Hour was recorded with the 80 member Moravian Philharmonic. Sims 2 was performed and recorded under the direction of Mr. Brick with the 110 member Bratislava Symphony. In spring 2004 Andy once again took the podium and led the Filmharmonic of Prague through the recording sessions of Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Let us know your thoughts. I hope you enjoy this incredible work!
Gary Garritan