Update

Welcome once again viewers, today I'm going to report an update for the blog that'd, obviously, involves music. I'm not going to say much since there's not much to say about the update for my blog but I will say that it'll be better than just reading about my reviews. From now on I'll not only be doing reviews and suggesting links of music but also I'll be doing videos either on pieces I've performed myself, top 5's, 10's and 15's and I'll also be giving people a chance to show off their music skills by allowing you viewers to make your own recordings of pieces you've played. I've by far only made about one video on my YouTube channel that involves music I've played but I'm also soon going to add yet another recording of one of the songs I've decided. I also will allow viewers to request songs and pieces of music they'd like to hear played.

I know this doesn't seem like much of an update, but hey, it's an update, what more could I add? If any of you have suggestions on what I should include in updates for this blog in the future let me know in the comments. Anyway, I'm Taylor, and I'll be back soon for more things music.

Now I'll bet you thought I forgot about adding a playlist or at least showing links to the songs I planned on using for my novel like I said I would show in the next blog, which this was originally for but I may as well add the links to the songs I've chosen that would resemble the events happening in not only the first book but my whole series, The Seeker Series. Hope you enjoy and if you have any suggestions let me know in the comments. This is only the songs I've got right now but I'm still looking for songs I think will best suit my novel series.

Bird's Poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZwgoYhoK84
Refrain of Memory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62efPCSMcoA
Soui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SroqLhKhVW4
Me and Creed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9U4FxUcrJI
Blue Clouds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPIm8z6nPXc
Melodies of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQnamLfHTlI
Hero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9TlCJPo_dA
Parting Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDyaL-MTEBE
Confidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bgMsiSU-Z4
Waves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbtel9K6fVY
If I were a Bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZvde0b0kkg
Broken Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyVGcj7Eq3U
Memories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wJwYA91rZQ
Kizuna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODALikxU22Q
Lost Skies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN0MZRmAcRE
Goodbye for Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdl45MSbRtU
Zero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SM3ziqqSWo
Fulfilled Desire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe-xndlvGr0
Illusions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTZ1z_mDikY
When I First Met You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck6EByokaVQ
White Clover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec-chiPtxrY
Girl of Terrace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYVBxxj903Y
The Other Promise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEqdvJmbuQI
See What I've Become: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc_9RT4q8YA
Soul Mates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zmM6723bTk
Farwell Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zVKUOsUgMQ
Icarus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3iSxmKECLo

Seal Lullaby Review

Hello once again, I'm back after a while with a new review on a piece I was given to review. Like in the last post this is only my opinion on the piece itself, don't judge what I say. I hope you enjoy this review on this piece also feel free to check it out yourself if you're willing to listen to it yourself. Now let's begin.

Hearing this piece makes me think of a lot of things as I hear it, mostly things I would imagine would happen during sad times in my novel series known as The Seeker Series. When I first started on my novel series not only have I been looking for ideas but also I've been looking for music that would match events that would happen some time in the story. Most songs I've listened to were emotional songs that I would think would match the story in tragic times also turns out emotional/beautiful music actually helps me calm down when dealing with hard times. I know this wouldn't be that important for this review but I would say this piece would be something I would listen to if I were to write my novels to add more feeling to the story. Now back to where we were.

When I first heard this piece it sort of took me somewhere else for a change, like somewhere I'd imagine in a novel of mine, in a memory from the past at a happy time like maybe someone's memory of seeing someone one last time. Mostly feels like I'm in a memory back in say I last saw a friend of mine over by a lake, as it's becoming the end of the day the scene begins to fade away and everything I was seeing was turning back into reality. That's what I like about this piece, is how much feeling and emotion is put into the song that makes it sad but beautiful and graceful at the same time. This would be a song that I would have a deep imagination about with many things I could use to describe what's going on.

The instrumentation of this piece that I could hear would perhaps include flute, piano, cello, trumpet or French horn, maybe saxophone and maybe violin. If there's any instruments you think I might be missing feel free to let me know in the comments and as I said before, don't judge me if I'm wrong. This is my opinion and my answers, not yours.

The style of this piece would sound, like I said, a memory that occurred a while ago before something bad might've happened. In my imagine, as I've said before, it's like it's a memory someone is having of seeing someone one last time in a memory or even a dream with them by a lake where they would spend their last time together before an incident that occurred with the lost one  and when the song gets into more feeling it's like the day's about to end and whoever's dreaming of the memory or dream doesn't want it to end since they really miss whoever else is in the memory or dream with them. That in terms is what it feels like to me.

Dynamic Contrast would include mostly either piano or metso piano, though  at the beginning it would have maybe metso forte for a little while before going down on the dynamics to either piano or metso piano. With the entire piece having piano and metso piano dynamics, it truly makes the piece beautiful, sad and emotional as it can be. That's something I like hearing in music. It's just the feeling that feels sad but also sounds beautiful at the same time. Those in my opinion are my favorite types of music.

The song doesn't sound repetitive to me since though it may have parts that are being repeated that can't be easily heard, or maybe it's just me. Honestly I'm unsure if there are any repeats. Other than Shadow Rituals that was reviewed in my other post it still sounds amazing without many repeats, it's more like how I would expect from Shadow Rituals since this piece has more in it other than repeats.

What I like about this piece is mostly how it sounds and how much feeling was put into the song that makes it one of my favorite pieces and would be worthy of being a piece that would help me out when I'm writing my novels. If you'd like to hear the songs I've by far chosen for my novels it'd mostly be pieces from anime and maybe pieces someone else has already made themselves; doesn't sound like something interesting but if you're interested I'll be sure to add these songs I've chosen in the next post.

Not only have I chose this song because of its beauty but because of how much it feels like a memory or a sad dream of seeing someone before something happened to them, I could literally listen to this song endlessly without getting bored and still be fascinated by how well written it is.

Like usual, if you're interested in listening to this piece then click on the link below and listen yourself and if you want you can tell me what you thought of the song in the comments. I'm Taylor, and this has been my opinion on Seal Lullaby.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf5Q9e3YGbc

Shadow Rituals Review

After getting a chance to listen to a song known as Shadow Rituals. On this post I'm doing a reflection on what I thought of the piece myself.

When I first heard this song it makes it seem a little like a battle theme for a about a few seconds before it changes. This part I really don't know how to explain. Most of this sounds like a kind of ritual that's going on that was being performed by people of the ancients. This piece is really hard to explain I'll definitely give it that. At some point in the middle it seems peaceful and takes the song out of it's ritual aura. The ritual aura does come back later on after that peaceful theme but in my opinion it seems a lot like the best part of the song. Soon it sort of sounds like battle music from the ancients and eventually ends with a cool beat.

The kinds of instruments I hear in this piece would include trumpet (1st and maybe 2nd), bongos, flute or piccolo, a bit of saxophone I guess, maybe tuba and/or French horn, clarinet, timpani, snare drum, cymbals, chimes, tambourine, cabasa and the wood block. At least these are the instruments that I think are in this piece. Feel free to add whatever types of instruments I might be missing and don't get mad at me for not knowing.

For the style in this piece it makes it sound like it was from the ancient times such as the time of the Indians. It may be modern but it sounds really good.

For the Dynamic Contrast there seems to be a lot of forte by the sound of it, some mezzo forte and mezzo piano, and only a small bit of piano. With the forte parts it really puts in a lot of excitement and the piano parts makes it seem peaceful and relaxing.

The song does repeat a little I guess but it still sounds good; though I would perhaps add a little more to the song if I were writing a song like that to make it much more interesting.

What I like about this piece is how ancient it sounds and when it comes to the piano part it sounds really beautiful, like as if it was telling from the heart about great times that went away whether it might've been today, yesterday, or from a long time ago. It makes me feel like I'm lying on the ground in a forest looking up at the sky through a big area clear of no trees around inside a forest. Why I like this is because I enjoy how beautiful it sounds and how it really sounds what it was called in a way. Really beautiful and exciting music just the way I enjoy it.

I really enjoyed the piece not because of its excitement and beauty but also who well written it is that makes you feel transported into a different world of the ancients. I'd rate this song a 7 out of 10 stars and two thumbs up. In other words in musical terms I'd rate it a 4 for such musicality and emotion put into this song.

If you'd like to hear it for yourself, I'd suggest you click on the link to the song below, other than that, I'm Taylor and this has been my reflection on the piece Shadow Rituals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vTxfpoGLUw

Novelty Announcement

Hello once again viewers. Welcome to those who have stay tuned since the first post and to those who're just viewing this post and previous posts up until now. In this discussion I'm going to be talking about something a little different. Don't worry this will be a one-time thing if I choose for it to be. Anyway, something I've been wanting to announce is my completion of one of my first novels and near completion of the series' sequel. Now I know what you're thinking. Is this going to be one of the novels I was making posts about for music that would give me inspiration and ideas for the story. I hate to say it but no. This one was one of my most recent projects that I've started to work on and somehow I've had more success in writing this story out of any other. In case you viewers are wondering what I'm talking about, I speak of my novels I called Scattered Memories and Fragile Dreams.

I will not be adding much details in the story for I'm not wanting to spoil anything but one thing I will say is this story is about people who go through a total of twelve trials in order to achieve their stolen memories and have themselves a second chance at life. Each trial is different among perspective so not everyone gets the same trial.

Upon the these people are those who serve under the Composer, the world's "king". Each person that joins under the Composer's rule has a different type of ranking, the lowest being the grunts and the highest aside from Composer would be Conductor. The other rankings to possibly get would be Solider, Reaper, Admin, and Trial Master. Unlike Grunts and Soldiers, these people of those ranks are given their special ability in which they can use to assist in the difficulty of the trials so long as they have the Trial Master's and Composer's permission. As for the Conductor, they share the same responsibilities as the Composer to get a better understanding if the Composer were to die (which wouldn't be common considering the Memory Realm grants immortality to those within the realm).

Much like how there's a ranking system in the realm, there are also rules that usually change and apply to the Composer. These of course change per Composer. In this Composer's case, the only rules that exist are if the trials change even in the slightest, they become erased (a term in the realm meaning their existence is destroyed. However, the soul supposedly still lives on until their memories are returned). In the Memory Realm, the people who take on the trials are called Forgetters since they're people searching for their lost and stolen memories. Once they complete the twelve trials, they have all of their memories except for one. So it is required that they pass through the Forbidden Door to receive their remaining memory (which is the memory of their death) and a wish they've been longing for that would last a lifetime. But they are given the choice if they wish to go against the Composer to take their role. However, the only thing about choosing this option is they're more likely to become erased than gain victory. That's why more people are likely to leave with their memories and wish.

As I've mentioned before, I am currently working on the sequel for this story since Scattered Memories only contains half of the trials. I hope to be done before the end of the year. If not, then hopefully before February. If anyone's interested in taking a sneak peek into my book feel free to send me an e-mail. I will only send the first and second chapters as they are currently they are being proof-read. But I do hope everyone enjoys the story I have set for them.

Blessed Are They Compare/Contrast

Long time no see. Welcome once again to this blog if you happened to come across it. If you're one that has been around since the last few posts I will say thanks for still tuning in. Anyway, for this post, I've been asked to do a compare and contrast on the song 'Blessed Are They' by Johannes Brahms. I don't know much about it other than our band is playing this for a Remembrance Day Service. Anyway, do feel free to check out the two versions I'll be comparing if you'd like if you're not all into reading but if you don't mind hearing my personal opinion then go right ahead. The links will be under this paragraph of text. Just don't judge, everyone's opinion's different. So, without further adieu, let's get onto this compare/contrast.


First suggestion (A German Requiem, Movement 1):
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Biiu2TeMTRs

Second suggestion: (FAMU Symphonic Band: Blessed Are They):
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDBmLmT-Il0


Before we begin with the compare/contrast I will be first putting out my opinion about the suggestions.
With the first movement of A German Requiem (otherwise known as Blessed Are They), I find this song to be quite beautiful with both the instruments and the choir. The people in the background I feel gives more of a meaning compared to when the music's by itself. The music's okay, just the choir makes it better and makes the song seem more powerful. Though I find that it seems to repeat (unless this happens to be an extended version of the song), I still like this one better. The instrumentation sounds clear which I find to make them easily identifiable. I would've liked to have done this variation for the service but I guess I can't exactly makes things go my own way. But this version I will say sounds better than the second.

With FAMU Symphonic Band's variation of Blessed Are They,  I find it to be alright. It doesn't sound as great as the first variation but it still sounds rather pretty. The band does play this really well but to me it feels a little empty in the beginning. It isn't until about halfway through that it sounds a bit more like the song should be in my mind. Though it isn't as beautiful as the first variation I still say its pretty and it's truly a song that sounds beautiful enough to make people cry.

Now onto the compare and contrast, the instrumentation in this song I find to be rather similar just that the second variation probably has more emotion towards its instrumentation compared to the first variation while the first variation does better at expressing the emotions and story that comes from the song. The dynamics I find were quieter in the first variation compared to the second so I would've liked it more if the instrumentation was slightly louder in the beginning because let's admit, the choir's already loud enough to practically shut out the instrumentation entirely if they so chose to. I find instrumentation to be a key to music while voices are like the add-on of the song. It isn't exactly necessary but without music it's just a bunch of words. Aside from all that, there's nothing much else I can say.

That's all for the Compare/Contrast for this beautiful piece. Do check it out though, I do recommend it, so thanks for viewing this post and hopefully we'll hear from each other again. Meanwhile, until next time. This has been yet another post. Bye!

Sonny Rollins "Saxophone Colossus"

Hello my wonderful viewers once again. Once more we have ourselves yet another album review in the jazz genre. This one happens to be from Sonny Rollins' album called Saxophone Colossus. I do hope you enjoy this review and if I missed anything or anything of the sort please don't criticize. Sometimes I have a tendency to forget certain things. Anyway, onto the review!

This album (created in around the 1950's) is a jazz album with a total of five songs featuring Sonny Rollins on saxophone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Max Roach on drums. These five songs are called "St. Thomas", "You Don't Know What Love Is", "Strode Rode", "Moritat (Mack the Knife)", and "Blue Seven".

The songs I liked in this album would have to be St. Thomas because of the catchy beat that it gives off and it's just quite a good upbeat song. I still remember performing this song for a jazz concert one time which makes it familiar and still lovable to this day. Though the solos did sound a little off at times I still enjoyed it. Strode Rode I can also say is another favorite of mine in this album mainly because the beginning has quite an attention grabber in the song and it's upbeat, catchy, and has a good melody. I'd have to say the only thing I didn't like about the song was when the band went silent expect for the saxophonist for a short while. Sure it made sense after a while and it maybe signified it was a solo but I wish it was better than that. With Mack the Knife (Moritat), this is another song that I'm familiar with and have performed with before. In this version I will say it does have a more catchy beat than I remember it to be. I really enjoy listening to it but not as much as the version that comes with vocals. At least then the song sounded much better. But I will say that this one's still great to listen to; the melody, the harmony, everything in this song is great.

The songs I didn't like in the album would have to be You Don't Know What Love Is because to me it doesn't sound that great. The melody sounds a little off in my opinion plus it's slow and I'm not that into romance if any of you were to know me. It doesn't really catch my attention as much but like I said, this is my opinion, not yours. Then there's Blue Seven. I didn't really like it as much because the beginning, in my opinion, was a little too quiet and the melody doesn't make as much sense. I'm not really into the melody of the song once when the beginning is done but I guess it's sort of alright. It may not be a favorite to me but I'm sure at least someone does. I also don't like the solos as much in this song either because they sort of sound a little bland in my opinion.

And that's all I have for this review. I do hope you guys enjoyed it. Feel free to add either a nice comment or check out the link below to listen to the album yourself. Anyway, I'll see you wonderful viewers in the next future post. See ya!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=botVi3_P9K0

Cannonball Abbrey's "Know What I Mean" Album review

Hello once again viewers. I bring once again, yet another album review. Though, to be honest, I'm not as much of a fan of doing an album review than a average but what more can I say? I may have myself no choice but I don't mind. Anyway, let's get on with the review!

This album (created in 1961), is a jazz album with a total of ten songs featuring Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on Alto saxophone, Bill Evans on Piano, Percy Heath on Bass, and Connie Kay on Drums. These ten songs are called "Waltz for Debbie", "Who Cares?" (Take 5), "Who Cares?" (Take 4), "Venice", "Toy", "Elsa", "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)", "Know What I Mean?" (Re-take 7), and "Know What I Mean?" (Take 12).

I've got to say that my favorite songs in this album would have to be Waltz for Debbie, take 5 of Who Cares?, and Toy. Mainly because they're songs I felt like I could either dance to (like with Toy) or because I thought the song itself sounded interesting in every way that caught my attention all the way.

I however didn't enjoy the song Venice as much since it was a quiet song to me, the beginning was so quiet I could barely recognize it as music being made. But that probably means I have hearing problems or something so don't criticize just because I can't hear it well enough. Then there's also Elsa that I didn't enjoy as much since the beginning was a bit bad in my opinion and it just suit my tastes in music among the jazz genre. In other words, it wasn't as upbeat. I'm not saying the song was bad, it's just that it wasn't my style of jazz. Nancy (with the laughing face) also didn't catch my attention as much because it too wasn't upbeat and it sounded a bit depressing at the beginning in my opinion. It's also a rather slow song for a while and for some parts.

I sort of found the beginning of re-take 7's Know What I Mean until somewhere in the middle where it changed its transition. I didn't like the fact that it felt long and slow but after the transition it made the song much better. But around the end, it changed back. I'd probably leave this as an in-between for a like and dislike, mainly because there's some parts I like and others I don't. The same goes for the twelfth take of this song. I didn't like the beginning but once the transition came up that was when I had my attention on it. I give my remarks for this song the same as the seventh re-take. An in-between.

That's all that I've got for this review, if you like it or have anything nice to say about it feel free to add a comment below. If you want to hear the album yourself then feel free to check out the link below. Anyway, that's all I have to say. So see you guys in the next future post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmFfy56nSzY