Thank you all so much for the kind words! I am trying to keep you all in the loop of my progress, and I just wrote one of the best songs I have ever written! It is currently just missing some transition sounds and it’s actual mix, but here it is!
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So..I am in the final throws of finishing a long standing album project idea (we’ve all got one right?). As part of the process of finalising the score, I arranged the whole thing into piano duets (we all have our different processes!). I was quite taken by the results so I’ve released them as a sort of ‘B’ album. Each of the duets features a different Pianobook pack. I thought I’d drop you all a line here in case anyone is interested to have a listen. I’m going to submit extracts from each track for use as Pianobook demos as well.
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Having finally purchased a Windows 11 system, I now have my first Crow Hill product: the Imperial Electric Piano. This is the instrument from TCHC that really speaks to me as I’m not a classical composer and rarely use strings or other orchestral instruments. This removes the last hurdle preventing me from having some ‘skin in the game’ and sharing one of my own compositions with the far more talented and experienced members of this forum… so here goes! My music derives from my love of music from the late 1960s to the early 1980s that sought in various ways to combine jazz and rock. The works of artists like Miles Davis, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Frank Zappa, Soft Machine, the (Jazz) Crusaders, Brand X, Santana, Bruford, Steely Dan, and (early) Chicago, to mention many examples, occupy a significant percentage of my record/cassette (!)/CD collection. This piece is influenced by Weather Report’s instrumental ballads, most of which were written by Joe Zawinul, from the Zawinul/Shorter/Pastorius/Erskine period (8:30, Night Passage, Weather Report). With the exception of the Imperial Electric Piano, all other virtual instruments and effects employed are freely available from various websites. IF anyone is interested, I’m happy to identify these plus supply chord sequences etc. Thanks for listening.
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This is rather lovely Steve! Very chilled and very 70’s. What was the virtual sax that you used?
Thanks for the very kind words, Ali. Means a lot coming from a composer like yourself. Yep, when you hear bass guitar drenched in chorus, SC Prophet 5 patches and a ‘string machine’ (in this case a Korg PE 2000) in the background it must be the 70’s! As I’m so new to writing music I thought it best to start with the musical styles I’ve been listening to for 50 years or so and know quite well, rather than styles I don’t yet have a grip on. The sax is MONSTER Sax:
It’s a Yanagisawa alto, I think an A992, recorded using a Neumann TLM 103 and played by Berklee graduate Devian Zikri. It has a number of key-switched articulations and is available for PC and Mac. Give it a try, it’s free! Thanks again Ali.
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Thanks Stephen 
. I shall check out the Monster Sax for sure. 
HI Stephen, that sounds great. Very 70s vibe indeed! What did you use for the drums? I love that snare sound. 
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. The snare is from the free Virtuosity Drums kit from Versilian studios:
It requires the free Sforzando player from Plogue:
It’s a nice instrument, lots of possibilities with drum tuning, mic levels, damping etc. Enjoy.
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Recently re-scored the title drop for the video game Cronos the new dawn, what do you think? Orchestration was the primary focus
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Thanks, Stephen. Will need to check that out!
A cool chilled track Stephen, you now most definitely have skin in the game. A great choice and use of your instruments, so well done.
I’ve been very busy at the moment during this Christmas season of goodwill which leads up to the end of the year. So before I forget I just wanted to wish everyone at the Crow Hill Company and everyone of you creative guys and girls in the Crow Hill Community all the best over the Christmas period. May you all have a brighter musical future in 2026 and even more prosperous new year combined with good health. God bless and stay creative.
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Thanks, as ever, for your very kind words Michael.
You’re welcome buddy. Just keep composing from your heart and you will do just fine, ok.
Backatcha, mate. Just keep that music coming.
You are on a roll. I can just sense it.
From your keyboard to God’s ears (eyes?), my friend.
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In the spirit of the season, I offer for your amusement A Summoning by Christmas Bells, a tale of mysterious happenings at a regional British cathedral. This is part of a series of songs from an imaginary Edwardian music hall which I’ve been working on for a couple of years - and probably isn’t as funny as I think it is.
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Nice 
sounds good and builds well
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Very Christmassy Ed 
(the story sounds suss tho, I think some people just got drunk on mulled wine and broke into the cathedral:joy:)
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